[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7aTE2rhWA[/youtube]

Nassau County is staring at the loss of over half of its bus routes and 18% of Able-Ride paratransit service for the elderly and disabled by the summer. What will cuts to Long Island Bus mean for the county? Earlier this month, TSTC traveled to Hempstead to hear from bus riders, bus drivers, business interests, and local civic and advocacy groups. Not surprisingly, the answers that came back were grim: Workers who won’t be able to get to work. Students who won’t be able to get to school. People who will lose their mobility. See the video above, or by clicking here.

Local advocates are focusing their efforts on Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, who has ultimate responsibility for funding Long Island Bus. For the last decade, the MTA has provided more of the bus system’s funding than the county has, though no other suburban county receives such a deal. The agency now plans to cut this contribution. But rather than sit down with the MTA, Mangano’s only response to the crisis has been a promise to cut funding to the bus system even more, as part of a push toward a vaguely described privatization plan which could mean higher fares and even less service. Mangano’s office can be reached at (516) 571-3131, or webmangano@nassaucountyny.gov.

Advocates will rally with bus riders and transit workers at 3 pm on March 23 at Hofstra University, just before a scheduled public hearing on the cuts. Contact LI Jobs With Justice at lijwj01@gmail.com or visit TSTC’s Long Island Bus action page to learn more.