Community Dialogues: Straphangers Campaign

Our guest today is Jaqi Cohen, the Campaign Director of the Straphangers Campaign. The advocacy group fights for accessible and affordable public transportation around New York City.

We spoke about how the MTA’s massive budget deficit stands to disproportionately harm communities of color. Since we spoke, the MTA has increased its emergency bailout request to the federal government from 10 billion dollars to 12 billion. Officials have also said they plan to cut service by 40 percent if the funding isn’t secured by November.