Sometimes You Don't Get What You Want -- You Get What You Need

By Jocelyn Geboy in Miscellaneous on Sep 12, 2007 5:44PM

Good news. NBC5 reports that with four days left to the forewarned service cuts and fare hikes on the CTA, Governor Blagoevich has stepped up with some help. He now says that he will try and find some money in "state coffers," and offered up a figure of $20 million. We realize that what he's offering is just a quick fix, but sometimes you put a butterfly bandage on a wound until you can get to the ER for stitches.

Ron Huberman says that the CTA needs a structural fix rather than a short-term one, and we heartily agree. But we have to say it isn't nice to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when this proposed money saves riders from service cuts and raises to the fare system (not to mention employees' jobs) . The NBC5 article reiterates that "The Legislature is expected to meet next week to address the CTA crisis, but without a longterm solution, the CTA is looking at about 700 job cuts, 39 route cuts and fare hikes up to $1 for a single ride." Huberman said that a check for $20 million by Friday would, in fact, provide a temporary reprieve for Chicago-area commuters. We can't see the harm in taking Rod up on the offer.

"The Chicago Transit Authority. I hate you." by TheeErin