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JULY 7 — COUNTY LOSING $1 MILLION A MONTH IN UNPAID BUS FARES. COUNTY EXECUTIVE ASKS COUNTY BOARD FOR $50 FINE FOR FIRST VIOLATION. $100 FOR SECOND FARE BEATING OFFENSE
Watch the Press Conference Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pjgzzp-RpE
NEW LAW INTRODUCED TO HELP CURB FAIR EVASION ON BEE-LINE BUSES
Proposed Legislation Would Establish Civil Penalty for the Theft of Services on Bee-Line Buses
(White Plains, NY) – In an effort to promote fare compliance and ensure the safety and sustainability of Westchester County’s Bee-Line Bus System, the County has introduced a proposed local law that would establish a civil penalty for the theft of services on the Bee-Line.
The proposed legislation—submitted for adoption to the Westchester County Board of Legislators—would amend the Laws of Westchester County by adding a new Chapter 643, creating a non-criminal enforcement mechanism for individuals who fail to pay the required fare to ride the Bee-Line.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Fare evasion is costing us about $1 million dollars a month, and it poses a serious threat to the safety, fiscal integrity, and the long-term success of our Bee-Line system. This legislation is about accountability, not criminalization. It provides a fair and proportionate response to a growing problem that affects all riders. This is about protecting the integrity of the system while being mindful of who’s riding, and why they might not be paying.”
According to a 2018 report by the Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation, the Bee-Line serves approximately 100,000 riders per day at over 3,000 bus stops throughout the County. The system is a vital resource for students, seniors, commuters and residents who rely on public transit every day.
Currently, fare evasion falls under New York State’s Penal Law Section 165.15 (Theft of Services), a Class A Misdemeanor. However, Westchester County is now seeking to address the issue through local civil penalties rather than criminal charges.
Key provisions of the proposed local law include:
- A civil fine of $50 for a first offense of fare non-payment.
- A fine of $100 for each subsequent offense.
- Authorization for County and local law enforcement to issue appearance tickets.
- The option for violators to either pay the fine or appear in local court.
The County urges the Westchester County Board of Legislators to adopt the proposed local law and support the continued reliability and equity of the Bee-Line Bus System.
JULY 5—-CONGESTION PRICING 6 MONTH REPORT FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL. IT’S WORKING NEW YORK
SIX MONTHS IN, GOVERNOR HOCHUL HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESS OF CONGESTION PRICING: TRAFFIC IS DOWN, BUSINESS IS UP, AND CRITICAL INVESTMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO IMPROVE TRANSIT
State of New York Has Succeeded in Blocking Federal Attempts to Unwind the Effective Program
Traffic is Down Throughout the New York City Region; Quality of Life Has Improved; Transit Ridership Has Surged to Post-Pandemic Highs
Economic Activity Has Increased in New York City in the First Six Months of 2025
Program Will Fund $15 Billion in Transit Improvements From the Hudson Valley, to Long Island, to New York City
Governor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that in its first six months, New York City’s congestion pricing program has succeeded in reducing traffic and raising revenues to fund transit improvements across the region, while economic activity in New York City has flourished. Activated at 12:00 am on January 5th, the nation’s first urban congestion pricing program reduces gridlock in Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) below 60th Street by charging motorists to enter the zone. Revenue from congestion pricing is on track to reach the forecasted $500 million in 2025, allowing the MTA to advance $15 billion in critical capital improvements to mass transit on its subway, bus, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North Railroad systems.
“Six months in, it’s clear: congestion pricing has been a huge success, making life in New York better,” Governor Hochul said. “In New York, we dare to do big things, and this program represents just that – traffic is down throughout the region, business is booming, transit ridership is up, and we are making historic upgrades to our transit system. We’ve also fended off five months of unlawful attempts from the federal government to unwind this successful program and will keep fighting – and winning – in the courts. The cameras are staying on.”
New York State and the MTA have successfully fought off repeated legal challenges to congestion pricing and have stood up to block the unlawful attempts of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Trump Administration to terminate the program. In May, a preliminary injunction was issued in the case of Metropolitan Transportation Authority v. Duffy, keeping congestion pricing in effect pending further court proceedings and enjoining the federal government from taking retaliatory measures in response.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Congestion relief is a massive success and validation of the initiative keeps pouring in. The program is achieving all of its goals in terms of traffic reduction, increased travel speeds, safety, noise reduction and more. And not only is Congestion Relief delivering all the projected benefits – and more – it’s also proving that New York State government can effectively execute major, ambitious initiatives that improve the quality of life in ways New Yorkers notice and appreciate.”
MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said, “In addition to all of the benefits New Yorkers are already feeling on our streets, Congestion Relief is delivering accessibility at 25 subway and railroad stations, modern subway signals for AC and BDFM riders, new subway and rail cars, and countless other essential projects for our public transit system. The new MTA is hard at work advancing these projects better, faster, and cheaper.”
Since the congestion pricing program took effect on Jan. 5, it has delivered a wide array of benefits according to data from the MTA and other reports and studies from business groups and other data sources.
Congestion pricing is reducing traffic and improving quality of life
In just six months, congestion pricing has succeeded in reducing traffic, speeding up the flow of traffic, and reducing delays – not just in the Congestion Relief Zone but throughout the region. The number of vehicles entering the zone is down by 11% since congestion pricing started. Every day, 67,000 fewer vehicles enter the zone, and since the program started, more than 10 million fewer vehicles have entered the zone compared to last year.
According to a report from the Regional Plan Association and Waze, traffic delays are down in the Congestion Relief Zone by 25% and across the metropolitan region by 9%. Delays are also down by 10% in the Bronx and 14% in parts of Bergen County, NJ. Time lost to traffic jams is down 12%, giving seven minutes for every hour spent in traffic in 2024 back to commuters’ lives. Travel times on river crossings have decreased by 6% to as much as 42% in 2025 compared to 2024. In the Holland Tunnel, rush hour delays are down by 65% since congestion pricing began. In the Lincoln Tunnel, MTA express buses are traveling almost 24% faster than in 2024. Roads and highways approaching the Congestion Relief Zone, including Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn and the Long Island Expressway, are also moving faster than last year.
Reduced gridlock has improved quality of life in New York City. Crashes in the Congestion Relief Zone are down 14%. Traffic injuries are down by 15% in the zone, and the safety benefits are being felt citywide. Just this week, the New York City Department of Transportation released data showing that pedestrian fatalities on New York City streets are at historic lows, matching levels last seen in 2018.
Additionally, air quality has improved and noise pollution has reduced since the program was launched. Honking and vehicle noise complaints to 311 are down by 45% in 2025. A new report from the City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released on July 2 showed steady or decreasing levels of fine particle air pollution (or PM2.5) at most sites, both inside and outside the Congestion Relief Zone.
Transit service and ridership are on the rise
Transit ridership across all modes has increased from January-May 2025 when compared to the same period last year. All MTA modes of public transportation have had post-pandemic record high ridership in the first half of 2025.
- Subway: +7%
- Bus: +12%
- LIRR: +8%
- Metro-North: +6%
- Access-A-Ride: +21%
Transit service has steadily improved in 2025 to near record levels. In May, subway On-Time Performance was 85.2%, the best non-pandemic month in recorded history. Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North On-Time Performance have consistently been at or near 97% and 98% respectively in 2025. Buses are moving faster thanks to congestion pricing. Bus speeds have increased by an average of 3.2% within the CRZ, with some routes increasing by as much as 25%.
Governor Hochul and the MTA have also made historic investments to improve bus service. Service was increased on eight key Express Bus routes in March and on 14 high-ridership local bus routes on June 29th. The MTA also launched the first phase of the Queens Bus Network Redesign on June 29th, bringing more frequent and direct service with better connections to 800,000 Queens bus riders. Phase 2 will launch on August 31.
Economic activity in New York City is up
Gridlock is bad for the economy. According to a report from the Partnership for New York City before congestion pricing was launched, businesses and individuals were wasting hundreds of hours sitting in traffic, costing the economy $20 billion per year. Congestion pricing is a locally developed solution to a generational challenge.
Already, the benefits of congestion pricing are improving New York City’s economy. Commuters are saving as much as 21 minutes each way. Time savings help businesses make deliveries and save costs. The annual value of these time savings could be as high as $1.3 billion. In May, business district pedestrian activity within the Congestion Relief Zone increased by 8.4% compared to May 2024. This growth is much faster than for business districts outside of the zone, which saw an increase of 2.7%.
Business is booming in the Congestion Relief Zone in 2025. Broadway just posted its biggest season ever with $1.9 billion in ticket sales; retail sales are on track to be up $900 million in 2025 compared to 2024; Hotel occupancy was 87% in April 2025 compared to 85% in April 2024; Commercial office leasing in 2025 Q1 is up 11% compared to 2024 Q4 and up 80% since 2024 Q1. At the same time, New York City now has the most jobs in its history – nearing 4.86 million in April 2025. That represents 1.6% growth over April 2024, outpacing the national average of 1.1%.
The MTA is investing in transit improvements funded by congestion pricing
By enabling the MTA to issue $15 billion in bonds to fund projects in its 2020-2024 Capital Plan, congestion pricing is powering improvements across the MTA network. Improvement projects funded by congestion pricing include:
- 435 additional R211 subway cars – including 80 additional open-gangway cars
- 44 new, more reliable dual-mode locomotives for the Long Island Rail Road
- 300 new M9A cars for Metro-North and the Long Island Rail-Road
- Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signal upgrades on the A and C lines between Downtown Brooklyn and Ozone Park, allowing for more frequent and reliable service
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades at 23 subway stations, including new elevators, reconstructed platforms, and other improvements
Additionally, funding from congestion pricing allows the MTA to move forward with the tunneling contract for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, which will be awarded in the second half of 2025.
BASEBALL AT THE ALL STAR BREAK– THE SIESTA
WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK By “Bull” Allen. July 5, 2025:
Hello there everybody, THIS is Bull Allen.
I am sitting in the Mel Allen Honorary Broadcast Booth in the open mezzanine under the Upper Deck in the Ghost of The Big Ball Park (Red used to the stadium that in its glory days) Macoombs Dam Park at 161st and River Avenue in The Bronx in Heaven
I am looking at the Home of Champions stretching out in the endless green carpet of the outfield of yesterday where the legends played: The Babe, The Rabbit, The Old Crow, The Mick, the Lou’s, The Jet, The Moose, Ellie, Old Country, Roger, Bernie, The Stick, Poosh Em Up, The Chairman of the Board, Prince Hal, Steady Eddie The Super Chief, The Yankee Clipper, Lefty, Red, King Kong, Bob Meusel, Willie, E-5, played pitched and still play in this Ghost of a Ball Park in Heaven.
I am seeing a second straight season of altered baseball, a Yankee team lose 15 of their last 21 games. Leave 634 runners on base, the most in the major leagues. Lose 12 of 18 1-run ball games in the last 3 weeks, and lose 5 extra inning games, winning only 1.
The bullpen, I am tempted to rename the “Gashouse Gang” has blown 9 saves.
The same offenders keep throwing away 1 run leads with throwing high strikes for leadoff hits, compounding that felony with walks and fat homers. 3-run homers which rebuild the lead after the Yankees tie it up. The pitchers that do this, consistently seem to do it, but instead of blown saves, they get losses on their record.
The Homer happy Bombers have now lost 5 in a row to Toronto and now the Mets on 4th of July.
The batters have a consistent problem. They leave runners in scoring position with 2 outs a lot. The team does not have a hitters that can hit to the opposite field to advance the runner. They swing for the fences and hit homers with the bases empty and not when there are two on.
I have not seen a season of inept Yankee baseball like this in my 65 years of watching the Yankees play.
They only win when they put up 7 to 10 runs, and even then that kind of lead is not safe with this group of bullpen and inconsistent starters.
Now fans, I know you scoff at my criticism of the new rules in baseball.
The Yankee performance this summer is a replay of what the team started doing last July when the same thing appeared. Sleepy ball. You recall they got hot against a soft schedule in September and finished first. But when they hit the World Series against good pitching from the Dodgers, the bullpen collapsed and the Yankees lost in 5. The obvious Yankee need going to this season was more starting pitching and bullpen improvement.
However, due to injuries, the bullpen has been inconsistent and I am being generous here with that adjective
Going to the 9th with a lead in Yankee Stadium today, is excruciating for fans in the upper deck who do not leave the game early. This is not Manuel Rivera coming out of the bullpen. And they know it. The stadium is silent with anxiety. It is never a 1-2-3 inning. It’s usually a 10 batter inning and the visitors have a big winning lead.
But when the Yankees fall behind early because of inept pitching or “Hold the lead” pitchers do NOT hold the lead. The game becomes “unwatchable.”
Yankee Starters are barely giving 4 good innings. Before they leave giving up 4 runs. And then….and then, the bullpen parade starts. The Yankee bats fail to get the big hit.
Toronto the first strong team the Yankees have played in awhile, swept them four games and scored 36 runs in 4 games off Yankee pitching. There was no good pitching.
The Mets also having trouble in June (it must be a New York thing), have seen pitching and bullpen problems too.
I remember in the time George Steinbrenner was running the Yankees, if they were going bad the manager was gone in midseason. He fired Billy Martin and brought in Bob Lemon in 1978 with the Bombers 14 games behind the Red Sox. The Yankees caught them and won the playoff in Fenway on Bucky’s homerun.
At this point, the Yankee manager has worn out his bullpen, the guys come in every day he has to use so many pitchers. He has no confidence in any of them and this wears down the pitchers’ confidence. When you warm up you throw 20 pitches…then you come in and throw 20 more in action. This wears down arm and control which is evident from pitcher performances the last 2 months.
The manager has not learned. The pitchers have to go out every day. There arms are ready to fall off. The starters are demoralized.
The Yankees score a lot of runs but the last month that has been sporadic. And when they do hit the other team hits more. This is an insoluble dilemma.
The front office has the option of trading for pitching (ONE 7 inning stsrter please, 2 would be great and closer)
The confidence of the young pitchers on this staff is shot. One has 4 blown saves for example. He has been ruined.
The team needs a pitching coach or manager who knows how to handle pitching. It’s not pitch counts that make pitchers. It’s knowing how to pitch.
“Stuff” makes good pitchers.
“Control” makes pitchers effective.
“Confidence” makes pitchers tough.
“Toughness’ instills fear in the hitter as Sandy Koufax once said.
Right now the bullpen needs rehab, rest. The Yankees could lose 8 more games before the daily horror of the next game ends. The Yankees have Mets for two games. The Seattles for 3 games and the Cubs for 3. The Yankees will roll the dice every time one of their in-shock relievers is summoned.
It is not enough to say “We’re the best team in the league right now.” (The manager said that yesterday.}
The Tigers and the Astros are.
The Yankees are praying for 6 rainouts this week.
The manager has proven to be inept and not learn from his mistakes.
The players may like him. But he is the worst manager the Yankees have had in decades.
If the Yankees would exhume Billy Martin’s coffin and put Billy back in the dugout in the corner the present manager could consult with Billy through the coffin and we might improve.
It is time to relieve the general manager and the manager who refuse to recognize their mistakes.
It is time for sportswriters to explore the fatigue in the bullpen. It is time to question strategy. It is time to question the week hitting bench with the lack of clutch pinchitters like Oscar Gamble and Enos Slaughter of the past, and an infield prone to crucial errors and failure to turn Double Plays in the clutch. you cannot run a baseball team on stats analysis and projection.
Heart counts.
It is time.