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CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Some riders claim MTA's OMNY system is overcharging. Here's why the agency says not to worry.
Some New York City subway riders allege the MTA's tap and go system, OMNY, is charging them for rides they didn't take. As the MTA pushes back on those claims, here are some ways riders can be sure to protect their fare. "It's one charge after another" Most New Yorkers don't track every trip. But some claim they do and say they're being taken for a ride. One TikTok video about OMNY's tap and go payment issues has been viewed 28,000 times, and Reddit is flooded with similar complaints. "I think I am being charged for rides I didn't take," said rider Nikki Krat, adding, "It's one charge after another, and I haven't taken the train in days." Another rider said she received back-to-back charges and returned to the MetroCard, instead of tapping. But with the classic cards being phased out, soon OMNY will be the only option. MTA says riders are not being overcharged Last month, concerns about the billing issues became so widespread, the MTA wrote online, "Rest assured you're not being overcharged." Due to a software update, it says there is just a delay between the tap and the charge. "The way the system is supposed to work is that people are charged immediately," explained Lucas Gutterman, a consumer advocate with Public Interest Research Group. In 2023, riders could check the location of their swipes online. But then, for security reasons, the MTA disabled the "trip history" feature. Two years later, the agency says it's still evaluating new tools to serve customers, and to call customer service for account questions. "I was on hold for about an hour and then, almost instantly after someone picked up, the call was dropped," said rider James Crowley. What to watch out for Until the issues are fixed, Gutterman says riders should track their trips and dispute if they feel they've been overcharged. "The number of trips you took should match the number of times you were charged," he said. "If those numbers don't match, then you have a problem." CBS News New York reached out to the MTA about the issues. The agency said no one is getting overcharged, but it understands the concerns of customers who have experienced processing delays. It's also working to increase hours and staffing at the call center.
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
No Kings Day protesters could top 75K in NYC, as NYPD, Port Authority increase presence
More than 1,500 'No Kings Day' rallies are expected to disrupt hundreds of cities in all 50 states Saturday, protesting President Trump as the Army's 250th anniversary military parade takes place in Washington, DC. A map on shows planned demonstrations across the US and Canada in what organizers call 'a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration.' Jamie Bauer, a representative of No Kings, told The Post that crowds could exceed 75,000 in New York City alone. Advertisement 7 New York City protesters could exceed 75,000 as 'No Kings Day' rallies are expected to disrupt hundreds of cities in all 50 states Saturday — protesting President Trump as the Army's 250th anniversary military parade takes place in Washington, DC. A No King's demonstration was also held in NYC in April (above). In the summer of 2020, the largest protest over the death of George Floyd drew 25,000 people. A law enforcement source told The Post they 'have to be prepared for those kinds of numbers on Saturday.' The Port Authority is also beefing up security at the George Washington Bridge and Lincoln and Holland tunnels, as well as bus terminals and PATH stations. Advertisement The No Kings site notes that 'folks should stay on sidewalks and not block any traffic.' 7 More than 1,500 rallies are planned across the US as well as Canada. The law-enforcement source said the NYPD is less concerned about planned groups like Rise and Resist and more worried about unannounced potential 'troublemakers' in the mix. Here's where and when No Kings Day events are scheduled in NYC: Manhattan Advertisement The city main march planned is set to take place at 2 p.m. EST at Bryant Park and move down Fifth Avenue to Madison Square Park. 7 NYC's main protest will begin in Bryant Park. Tamara Beckwith A second 'spur march' will form one block north, at Grace Plaza. It will be 'a New Orleans-inspired funeral second line parade as a unique artistic delegation,' according to organizers. Another rally is planned at Columbia University, specifically for Columbia faculty, staff, students and alumni, at 1 p.m. outside the school's gate at 116th and Broadway. Demonstrators then plan to 'travel' to Bryant Park, and organizers have instructed attendees to bring a MetroCard. Advertisement A spokesperson for Columbia told The Post the demonstration is expected to occur off school grounds, and therefore is being managed by the NYPD. 7 A No Kings demonstration is planned for the gates outside Columbia University, which has seen many pro-Palestine rallies since Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. James Keivom Brooklyn A No Kings Brooklyn protest is scheduled for 1 p.m. at a 'private' location, reported by Patch to be at Cadman Plaza West and Johnson Street. A stationary rally is also planned at Grand Army Plaza at 1p.m. Queens Demonstrators will meet at 12:30 p.m. at MacDonald Park in Forest Hills before marching along Queens Boulevard to Maple Grove Park, where a second rally is planned. 7 A No Kings demonstration, including a protester from Queens, took place in Longmont, Colorado, in April. Chris Goodwin/desrowVISUALS/Shutterstock Staten Island At 1 p.m., a No Kings protest is planned at 1698 Victory Boulevard, between Fairview Avenue and Manor Road, in Castleton Corners. No Kings is orchestrated by the 50501 Movement — short for 50 protests, 50 states, one movement — a grassroots group that reportedly formed on Reddit. They have held several No Kings rallies this year, including in on President's Day. Advertisement 'The No Kings movement is committed to a non-violent, peaceful expression of our horror at this administration's blatant and dangerous disregard for the Constitution,' Bauer said. 'The NYPD has been respectful of our first amendment rights in the past, and we don't expect that to change.' Long Island protests are planned in Port Washington, Mineola, Huntington, Babylon, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Hampton Bays, Sag Harbor, Orient and East Hampton. 7 There have already been several No Kings rallies this year, including this one in Philadelphia. AP Nearby marches will take place in Weehawken, Yonkers and Jersey City. Advertisement Other 'flagship' rallies are planned in Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Charlotte and Atlanta. 'From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we're taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like,' organizers declared on their website. Protest organizers have dubbed the Army parade, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, 'a made-for-TV display of dominance for [Trump's] birthday.' That event, which will travel down the National Mall, reportedly will include uniforms, arms and vehicles from every major American war, starting with the Revolutionary War and including Abrams tanks and P-51 Mustangs. Advertisement 7 Saturday's protests will be held at the same time as a Washington, DC, parade celebrating the US Army's 250th anniversary. The day is also President Donald Trump's birthday. AP No Kings pledged not to hold a rally in DC, after President Trump warned that protesters at the military parade would face 'very heavy force.' 'Instead of allowing this birthday parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day: people coming together,' the group's site says. Advertisement While there is no mention of masks on the No Kings site, attendees are encouraged to sign up for individual protests with their name, email and phone number. Organizers emphasized 'a commitment to nonviolent action' on the signup, saying, 'We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.'
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Michael Goodwin: Dems agree NYC is too expensive — and voters can't afford them being in charge
If there is a single point of agreement among all the Democrats running for mayor, it's that New York is too damn expensive. They uniformly call it an 'affordability crisis' and pledge to do something about it if elected. They are largely correct — the cost of living in New York has become absurdly high. Advertisement Although part of the trend grew out of the inflation sparked by massive spending by federal, state and local governments during the COVID era, there is also a long history of Gotham being one of most expensive places in the nation to live. A study shows that, in comparison to the national average, food prices in the five boroughs are about 22% higher, while housing is 278% more expensive. Making ends meet The United Way finds that basic costs for city households have risen twice as fast as the median income and estimates that about half of them need help from the government, friends or family just to make ends meet. Advertisement As Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani recently told The New York Times, 'There are far too many New Yorkers who do not know if they will be able to call themselves that next year, who do not know if they will be able to afford their rent, or their child care, their groceries, or even their MetroCard.' True to his socialist affiliations, Mamdani is promising the longest list of freebies, but his rivals have all joined the spree. Even Andrew Cuomo, often regarded as the most centrist of the bunch and the leader according to polls, is no shrinking violet in the giveaway games. The candidates' promises to address the problem sound very nice — until you realize that nearly everything they are offering would ultimately drive the sky-high cost of living even higher. Advertisement Already that burden is one of the top reasons why New York City and state lead America in losing residents to lower-cost jurisdictions. Congestion pricing is the latest example of how and why the cost of living here keeps rising. If the candidates all want to raise prices even higher, they should support a joint slogan: 'Dear Voters, If you're not broke yet, just wait.' The problem is that government compassion doesn't come cheap. Advertisement In fact, it's outrageously expensive. That's certainly true in the case at hand. The candidates' 'solutions' are just promises to give away more stuff to more people, such as free bus service, free child care, free this and free that. It's all wrapped in the language of compassion for the poor and working class. But what the lefty Dems leave out of the conversation is an honest explanation about where the money would come from to pay for all their added goodies, and what the impact would be of an expanded redistribution scheme to deliver them. Don't be fooled by the lack of details. That's intentional because the numbers would be frightening. Take away to give away But hiding the truth doesn't change the fact that because City Hall can't print money, it will first have to take more from residents and businesses if it is going to give away more. Advertisement Consider the obvious impact on businesses. If they are taxed more, most will make up for it by raising prices on their customers, cut the pay of their workers or reduce the number of workers. When a business goes broke, the city gets no taxes and the workers have no income. Because higher taxes always impose a trickle-down cost on some people, a similar outcome is true if the government raises income taxes on individuals, sales taxes or property taxes. Advertisement Somebody somewhere along the line is going to feel the pinch of every added dollar the city takes to give away to someone it declares more deserving. For those forced to pay more, the 'solution' to the problem means their cost of living is going to get even higher. That's why the candidates' plans need to be seen in light of the current budget. As it stands, City Hall will raise and spend a whopping $112.4 billion this year — nearly as much as the entire state of Florida. Advertisement New York state, meanwhile, will raise and spend $255 billion, with much of that money coming to the city. Additional agencies, such as the MTA, have their own budgets, which spend tens of billions more. Clearly the problem isn't a shortage of money to spend. Advertisement The problem is a shortage of responsible spending. Thus raising spending for 'new needs,' as the politicians call their freebies, by hiking taxes and fees at this point is almost certain to create as many problems as it solves. There is still time for the Dems to lay out a plan to actually reduce government costs. The first debate was little more than a bidding game to see who could promise more new giveaways and most vehemently denounce Donald Trump while pledging to 'resist' his presidency. The second and final mayoral debate, required by the NYC Campaign Finance Board, will take place Thursday, with primary day falling on June 24. It's incumbent on the moderators to demand that Mamdani and all the others explain, with specifics, where they would get added funds and who would pay them. Glib lines like taxing the 'top 1%' mean nothing because those families already pay inordinate amounts of the city's personal income tax. According to a city comptroller report, in 2021 the top 1% — about 6,000 families who reported incomes of $1 million or more — paid a whopping 48% of the city's total income tax haul. It's neither fair nor sensible to demand they pay more, when packing up and leaving altogether is proving to be so popular. Leftward lurch Unfortunately, we haven't heard much of a different message from other candidates in the race, including Mayor Adams, who is running as an independent. With GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa widely considered not viable, there is so far no check and balance on the Dems' leftward lurch. The vast majority of their spendthrift City Council candidates and those seeking other offices on the ballot are proving to be automatic supporters of larger and more expensive programs. National conversations about cutting taxes and reducing government waste, fraud and abuse have yet to find meaningful support in New York. That must start to change this week. Libs' stupidity taking a toll There they go again: Another major media outlet is confusing victimhood with the consequences of wrongdoing. The bleeding heart Boston Globe writes, 'Unpaid fees jeopardize thousands of Mass. driver's licenses,' saying, 'Thousands of Massachusetts drivers each year face the possibility of losing their legal authority to drive unless debts unrelated to road safety are paid in full.' Among the debts it cites are tolls the drivers evaded. Here's a crazy idea: The drivers could pay the tolls and keep their licenses. Why is that so hard?
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump, immigration and Israel loom large over final days of NYC mayoral primary
NEW YORK (PIX11) — With just five days remaining until early voting begins in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, candidates are focusing on President Donald Trump calling in the National Guard to deal with protests in Los Angeles. Most anticipate dealing with a similar situation in NYC if elected Mayor. More Local News Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, once considered a longshot, has seen his campaign gain a lot of momentum in the last two months. Despite his rising profile, while greeting voters in Harlem, Monday, it was clear many New Yorkers are still feeling him out, including Mamdani's skepticism over Israel and the Jewish state's actions in Gaza. Mamdani said he believes it is not Trump nor Israel that will come to define this race for the Democratic nomination, but affordability. 'We're the most expensive city in the country,' Mamdani said. 'New Yorkers care about whether they can afford rent, daycare, even their MetroCard.' Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo did not hold any public events on Monday following a busy weekend of meetings with religious groups, particularly Jewish New Yorkers. Cuomo was a guest on a Bloomberg podcast and said he believed President Trump was overplaying his hand by calling in the National Guard. 'Create chaos in L.A., create chaos in New York, create chaos in Chicago—pretty soon, you create chaos in the nation, and that's bad for the economy,' Cuomo said. Meanwhile, City Comptroller Brad Lander is among those emerging as an alternative to both Cuomo and Mamdani. On Monday, Lander held a press conference to outline his detailed plans for protecting immigrant communities and pushing back against President Trump's policies. 'We need a mayor who can do two things: stand up to Donald Trump on behalf of New York's values and govern the city more effectively,' Lander said. 'New Yorkers need both.' With early voting set to begin on Saturday, the race is expected to heat up in the coming days. In particular, analysts are watching for any formal cross-endorsements between candidates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-con on parole for Manhattan tracks shove arrested in new subway attack
An ex-con out on parole for shoving a transgender woman onto Manhattan subway tracks a decade ago has now been arrested for assaulting a straphanger with a metal rod, police said Monday. Rolan Reid confronted a 28-year-old stranger, asking her, 'Where's my MetroCard?' in the 14th St./Sixth Ave. station about 4:10 p.m. Sunday, cops said. He then threw the rod at her, police said. The victim suffered a puncture wound on her left forearm and was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. Reid, 42, was arrested for felony assault and weapon possession. On June 1, 2015, Reid threw garbage at a 28-year-old transgender woman before shoving her onto the tracks at the Bleecker St. subway stop, police said. 'What are you looking at?' Reid demanded of that victim as the two stood on the downtown 6 train platform, police said at the time. Reid then attacked the victim. The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where she was treated and released, police said. Reid was convicted of attempted murder and in December 2023 was conditionally released on parole after serving nearly seven years in prison, records show.
