At a New York City Council hearing, she said fewer than 40% of eligible riders enrol, leaving about 500,000 people paying full fare; 380,000 are currently enrolled.
Menin wants automatic enrolment and free buses and subways for residents at or below 150% of the poverty level, blaming a multi-step application and high re-enrolment drop-off.
Human Resources Administration officials defended efforts to streamline the system but gave no enrolment targets, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani has not backed the proposal and says universal free buses will not happen this year.
As social program costs soar and revenues fall, what is the true price of the mayor’s progressive vision?
With AI eliminating entry-level jobs, is New York City building a future that its own graduates cannot afford?
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