In this weeks Long Island Tribune on the front page there is a headline "County Executive Mangano Launches "Nice" Bus, that is the name of the newly privatized Long Island Bus-assuming it is passed. A sub headline reads "Will Save Taxpayers $32.4 Million a Year."
Ok. I mean let's assume this is right for arguments sake. The follow up question is not asked: how much will it cost them as consumers? And how much more for those taxpayers who worked as long-term unionized workers on Long Island Bus? How much do they lose?
Then how much does the Long Island economy that already has high unemployment and substandard consumer demand further lose by the loss of income for many bus drivers who will either be fired or see their wages and/or hours reduced? Then an increase in bus fares-they have agreed to a one year moratorium on fare increases-will further take money out of the economy.
Of the top of my head I don't know the answers to this but why does no one even ask the question? I will be quite pleasantly surprised if this constitutes a net plus for us Long Islanders here in Nassau, tax savings or no.
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