NEW YORK TAXPAYER MONEY THROWN AWAY

INTO THE TRASH; DOWN THE TOILET

Would you put your money into a project before you had any idea whether it might succeed? Would you purchase an item before knowing if it had any use? Would you pay several consultants to do the job of one? Would you throw your money in the trash can or flush it down the toilet? Yet, that’s business as usual in the City of New York.

Time and time again our money is tossed out for redundant paperwork, projects that can’t work, carelessness and incompetence. Here are just a few.

Early voting

I love early voting. It’s a great convenience, making it easier for many more votes to be cast. The problem is that it’s an incredible money pit. People dribble into the centers here and there and often no voters are present at all. Yet the huge spaces are full of tables and scanners with two people at each. It’s nice that the poll workers are making out so well but do we really need that many at each location? A real convenience for voters; wonderful for the workers; the cost to tax payers is enormous. The concept is very positive but unnecessarily expensive.

Coney Island ferry

The much anticipated Coney Island ferry has been another cash toilet. The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) decided that the best place for the landing should be Coney Island Creek, remote from the amusement area and all but a small section of the neighborhood. Ignored were the wildlife and the locals who use the area for recreation and subsistence fishing. Also ignored is the rapid silting of the entry to the landing which would necessitate constant dredging. Before dong all proper testing of currents and drifting sand, a landing was placed at a cost of about $7 million plus the cost of the already compromised dredging.

Excessive consultants, surveys and paperwork

Under planned and under surveyed, unusual for a city that generally piles on the paperwork with surveys and consultants galore. Costs incurred by these additional services, many redundant, run up the price of city projects; another incredible waste of our tax dollars. And if they’re all necessary, as the city claims, how did they blow it on the ferry and so many other projects?

Over the speed bump to the hospital

One of the most absurd blunders occurred when the city started placing speed bumps to slow down traffic. They managed to place one on the street used by ambulances approaching a local hospital….bumpy ride for those already in pain. With all the paperwork and computer generated models, did anyone actually view the site?

Computer program or reality

When working on a transportation project several years ago, I noticed a monitor that reflected a computer generated model of traffic at a specific location. This was based strictly on statistics with little apparent regard for the many variables. All the money for consultants with reality too often cast aside.

Free subway and bus rides

While the MTA cries that ridership is down and fares must go up, it’s very easy to ride for free. Several unattended entrances, rather than have the floor to ceiling turnstiles, use those easily jumped. As I stand on the platform, among those taking the stairs directly from the street, I often see more jump than pay.

Sometimes, one will jump and open the emergency exit as family or friends march in. And since emergency exits exist in all stations, you might sometimes find someone holding one open for anyone who wants to take advantage. With violence rampant in the city, attendants are often scared to challenge fare beaters.

Buses too suffer from numerous free rides as so many either hop on through the backdoor or brazenly walk right by the fare box. How much is this costing the public? Maybe fares wouldn’t have to be raised if the MTA was more efficient and not so careless.

Dumping money from Covid

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a true horror. Now that it’s somewhat subdued, the city has virtually given away $200 million paid for supplies. By auctioning equipment and selling ventilators for scrap for $500 thousand, we watch our tax dollars fly away.

Taxes up; services down

While utter waste by government and its agencies go unaddressed, the average New Yorker bears the yoke of increased taxes, fares and fees and decreases in vital services.

These examples only touch on the subject. Delve into any city agency and you are sure to find massive waste of our money. It’s amazing how many of our tax dollars provide no return to the public.

Are we alone?

But is New York alone? I suspect that all big cities are guilty, with their own large bureaucracies creating chaos with their budgets. I’d love to find statistics on how much of each city’s budget goes to waste. I’ve tried to no avail and highly doubt that they exist.

4/2023