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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Akkeem Polack, Vice Chair of Legislative Affairs at University Student Senate, CUNY
4:16:32
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132 sec
Akkeem Polack, representing CUNY's University Student Senate, advocated for including $500,000 in the FY26 budget to fund a pilot program for free MetroCards and OMNI cards for all CUNY students. He emphasized how transportation costs are a significant barrier for many students, affecting their ability to attend classes and manage their finances.
- Over 200,000 CUNY students depend on public transportation, with monthly transit costs around $132 or $1,500 annually.
- 64% of students worry about affording transit, 53% have skipped meals to pay for it, and over 70% have missed or been late to class due to fare costs.
- The proposed free transit program would improve equity, particularly benefiting low-income, first-generation, and working students, potentially improving attendance and graduation rates.
Akkeem Polack
4:16:32
Hello.
4:16:32
Good day everyone.
4:16:33
My name is Akim Polak and I am a student at York College and the vice chair for legislative affairs for the University Student Senate, where we represent over 245,000 students.
4:16:45
So as previously mentioned, we're here to talk about something fundamental which is just getting to class.
4:16:52
You know too many CUNY students, they rely on public transportation and this became a huge barrier, not a bridge.
4:16:59
You know that's why we're urging the council to include the 500,000 in the f y twenty six budget to fund our pilot program for free metric and omni cards for all CUNY students.
4:17:10
You know, through the USS, we've gathered petitions over 5,000 students who shared how tired they are of choosing between the fair and their future.
4:17:20
And you know, I've seen personally classmates get meals, you know, ask friends for swipes, or even walk long distances just to make it to campus.
4:17:30
So it's not just an inconvenience, it's just unjust.
4:17:34
And just to put all the numbers into play here, over 200,000 students, they depend on public transportation and in a monthly metro cost, a monthly metro metro card or OmniCard cost $132, so that's around 1,500 a year.
4:17:52
Sixty four percent they worry about affording transit.
4:17:55
53 of students they have skipped meals to pay for it.
4:17:58
Over seventy percent have missed or been late to a class because of fair costs.
4:18:03
That's a problem because it affects your GPA and your attendance record and overall your position in school.
4:18:11
So these aren't just statistics, they reflect real setbacks, delayed graduations, and broken momentum.
4:18:18
So it's about equity.
4:18:20
Transportation costs hit low income first gen and working students the hardest.
4:18:25
Free transit for CUNY students would immediately ease the pressure, improve attendance, and help more students stay on track to graduate.
4:18:34
So we're not asking for the impossible, we're asking for an investment in potential because there's a chance for the city to put its values into action.
4:18:42
Thank you.