NYC Asks for Transpo Donations

As a response to global warming and the President-elect’s plea to increase eco-friendly jobs, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority is proposing a green initiative designed to ward off further deficit. Despite the hike in fares scheduled to take place this June, the agency is banking on a new source of revenue to help fund green projects: its riders. The hope is that environmentally conscious commuters will make a (tax-deductible) donation to the cause every time they purchase a MetroCard. While the feel-good campaign has its merits, it’s hard to envision New Yorkers smiling over this proposal—or smiling over anything for that matter—in this ominous economy.