S: Is for Subway Screw-ups and unsatisfactory service!

For a city as cosmopolitan as New York, it's sad that the transportation system is unparalleled, however it is quickly if not already failing. Could it be because they want to raise the fare, so their showing how truly incompetent they can be? The transit system is already known for raised fares under false pretenses. Could this be another tactic? All of this has happened while the quality of service has declined. When we were told that the system needed work on one thing it's leaders spent the money on others. Receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and state aid — maybe billions: there have been scandals in the MTA over how it adds up the numbers — and still runs in the red almost every year, yet still has “gaps” and “structural imbalances.” Government enterprises takes what puts its citizens in danger and certifies it as acceptable. Isn't that what happened with the collapse of the Minneapolis bridge? The lack of accountability in this country is staggering. Tonight I had to be in the village to see a play. I took the C subway at West 4th for what I thought was a quick ride home. I was so wrong! First two men started to fight with guns showing in their pockets. The fight went on for a good 20 minutes. There were approximately 12 workers down in the subway, not one used their radio and called police, lifted a finger to stop the impending disaster or made one effort to stop it. Thankfully one of the men left down the stairs to the relief of every rider. If someone had been shot would the MTA have been responsible or would they hire a lawyer to cover their lack of protection? It turns out that the C wasn't running so I was told to take the A, but at 59th street we find out the A now runs express and transfer to the 1. Approximately 70 people all transfer to the dismay of finding out that the 1 is not in commission. When the subway worker in the booth is questioned we were told the 1,2,3 lines and the A,C,E lines are managed by different entities and the only thing he can recommend is to take a bus or go express and hope when you transfer downtown you can get to your destination. With the uncertainty of the later I head to the bus. It took fearing that I would be shot, two subways, one bus and 2 hours to get home. It should of taken 20 minutes. I live near 3 major tourist attractions, The boat basin, The Natural History Museum and Central Park. I have tried to complain when my subway card has been eaten by a bus or subway terminal the official will tell you he sympathizes with you, but rarely do they make amends. I'm sure tonight's problems would have them ducking their accountable for the problems of public services. Will it take a disaster on a National scale to make those in authority listen to the failure of this system? We have already been forced into a monopoly with the rising costs of cabs and the exuberant cost of keeping a car in the city, shouldn't the system which has been forced upon us be responsible for getting us to our destinations safely? BTW isn't taking public transportation ecologically sound and a good way to contribute towards the fight against global warming? I know I for one am irate as I watch the whole system sliding down the toilet and that is a F.A.C.T.