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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jeremiah Gonzalez on Fair Fares Program Expansion
5:15:16
ยท
155 sec
Jeremiah Gonzalez, a Bronx resident, testified in support of expanding the Fair Fares program to include individuals up to 200% of the federal poverty level. He emphasized the importance of affordable public transportation for job seekers and as a strategy to reduce fare evasion.
- Gonzalez shared his personal experience as an unemployed individual benefiting from the Fair Fares program
- He argued that expanding Fair Fares could help address the root cause of fare evasion
- The testimony highlighted the critical role of the subway system in New York City's daily life, particularly for job seekers and those attending medical appointments
Jeremiah Gonzalez
5:15:16
Can you hear me?
5:15:17
Alright.
5:15:18
Esteemed members of the city council, good afternoon.
5:15:20
My name is Jeremiah Gonzalez.
5:15:22
I live in The Bronx.
5:15:23
I was born in The Bronx.
5:15:24
I lived in this city my entire life.
5:15:27
I obtained the subway countless times to get to where I need to go and it was the subway that got me here today.
5:15:34
Now, I in my 20, I've grown to love the transit system.
5:15:40
The subway, this transit system, it's a lifeblood of our city.
5:15:43
How can New York City assist about it?
5:15:45
I took the subway to get here as I said, but there are many and millions even who take the subway to get to work and to school.
5:15:52
There are many more who travel via the subway to say their medical appointments.
5:15:56
Hey, some of them are trying to get to a job interview for example.
5:16:00
And listen, I am unemployed.
5:16:03
I'm currently looking for a job.
5:16:04
As you may know, sometimes you get a job interview offer, you're asked to go to another part of the city to show off your skills.
5:16:10
A job interview is already nerve racking, a make or break moment for your future career.
5:16:15
So sometimes, unfortunately, people who get a job interview can't make it.
5:16:20
Some of them may not have enough money, $5.80, to spend on a trip there and a trip back home.
5:16:25
As a person looking for work, I don't want that fear to be in my mind.
5:16:29
So I'm glad to know that fairy fairs exists and I I I really have fairy fairs, I told you.
5:16:38
This is my fairy fairs army cart.
5:16:40
Right?
5:16:41
And I live in The Bronx, I just ate the bus to get to the subway.
5:16:46
I imagine you've seen some scenes of people who are skipping the term styles, who are walking to the other doors not paying their fair share.
5:16:55
Some of them might not bother paying the fair and some of them, well, some of them can't pay because they don't have enough money.
5:17:03
They might not know about fair fares or maybe they're not even eligible and that's why I'm here with my fellow colleagues to urge the state council to instead of providing fair fares to individuals, meaning 145% of the federal poverty limit, increase it to 200% of the FPL.
5:17:21
Right?
5:17:22
Now, fare evasion is a major problem that plagues the MTA.
5:17:28
I'm sure you've seen news about that lately, but you don't solve a problem by cutting off a snake's head, you solve a problem from roots.
5:17:35
And I think the root of problem is that they won't pay because they can't.
5:17:39
I think that fair fares is an excellent way to help reduce that fare evasion.
5:17:44
And I hope that you folks will agree with me and with the rest of us on that point.
5:17:49
Thank you, esteemed council members.