WEBVTT 00:00:23.265 --> 00:00:28.228 Good morning and welcome to the September board meeting of the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority). 00:00:28.353 --> 00:00:30.105 We’re gonna start with public speakers. 00:00:30.188 --> 00:00:31.189 Lucille? 00:00:31.857 --> 00:00:39.239 Now, for our public speakers whom I would like to remind that in the interest of time and fairness to all 42 speakers 00:00:39.698 --> 00:00:42.409 we limit everyone to two minutes. 00:00:42.951 --> 00:00:47.122 Please be aware of the clock in front of the room and the warning light you will see 00:00:47.122 --> 00:00:51.418 reminding you that you have 30 seconds left to conclude your remarks. 00:00:56.048 --> 00:01:00.385 Two weeks ago today I had knee surgery on my right knee, 00:01:01.762 --> 00:01:05.223 bandage, severe limp, a cane. 00:01:07.392 --> 00:01:09.478 Five days out from that I was allowed to get out of the house. 00:01:09.561 --> 00:01:11.646 My first trip was to my doctor. 00:01:11.646 --> 00:01:13.231 Where did I find myself? 00:01:14.066 --> 00:01:18.653 Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street, going down the stairs where Malaysia Goodson died. 00:01:19.404 --> 00:01:24.034 I’m looking down those stairs as I’m barely stepping down, one go at a time, 00:01:24.117 --> 00:01:27.245 with people brushing past me, pushing past me. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:33.040 I kinda saw what she saw. 00:02:03.220 --> 00:02:09.200 Monday I emerged from the E train and found an elderly man at the base of the stairs, 00:02:09.580 --> 00:02:11.540 his groceries broken and scattered, 00:02:11.920 --> 00:02:15.100 his head in a large pool of blood. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:20.220 Cops tried to get his name, the ambulance came, 00:02:20.700 --> 00:02:22.900 and the MTA mopped up the blood. 00:02:23.660 --> 00:02:25.060 It didn’t make the papers. 00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:36.920 After Malaysia Goodson and after all the lawsuits 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:40.140 this shouldn’t keep happening but it’s gonna keep happening. 00:02:40.540 --> 00:02:41.560 - Thank you, sir. 00:03:07.380 --> 00:03:12.360 I was also once a poor college student that majored in mechanical engineering at the City College of New York in Harlem. 00:03:13.200 --> 00:03:16.800 Engineering school is tough and twice as tough as someone with a disability. 00:03:17.320 --> 00:03:20.240 I not only had to deal with [an] intense subject matter and a grueling workload 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:23.660 but a harsh commute that easily took me four and a half hours round trip 00:03:24.580 --> 00:03:27.380 instead of two like my able-bodied classmates. 00:03:39.760 --> 00:03:43.160 I didn’t know anything about it until 10 years ago when I became disabled. 00:03:45.020 --> 00:03:47.240 Because nobody knows, because it’s hidden in plain sight, 00:03:48.700 --> 00:03:51.620 because you don’t see people with wheelchairs on the subway. 00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:10.820 Now ever since I’ve been in a wheelchair, roughly 15 years I’ve been in a wheelchair now, 00:04:11.380 --> 00:04:15.620 I’ve been promised that the subway stations will all be someday made really accessible 00:04:15.940 --> 00:04:17.580 and there wouldn’t be any transit issues. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:22.820 And yet 15 years later I’m still seeing that there’s problems getting to the train. 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:46.580 Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that the MTA violated the Americans with Disabilities Act 00:04:47.180 --> 00:04:54.720 by not making the Middletown Road station in the Bronx accessible when it renovated there. 00:05:02.200 --> 00:05:04.140 I live in Astoria, Queens. 00:05:04.140 --> 00:05:09.060 And I was going down when they were doing the Broadway, Astoria — the N train station. 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:12.560 And I see this staircase going in about a year ago, and I yell up, I said, 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.360 “Hey, are you putting that in for [an] elevator?” 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:19.720 And they said “No, it’s just for another staircase.” 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:56.400 I am just trying to find out why is Rochdale Village being ignored? 00:06:02.020 --> 00:06:05.180 We don’t even have a ramp. We’re not ADA compliant. 00:06:05.960 --> 00:06:08.920 We have 28,000 people that live in Rochdale Village, 00:06:09.220 --> 00:06:11.620 50 percent seniors and I’m one of them. 00:06:13.820 --> 00:06:15.800 Please do something about it. Thank you. 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:30.480 Unfortunately, the elevator being out at Bowling Green 00:06:31.420 --> 00:06:35.060 made my trip instead of two trains, seven. 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:37.460 Really good morning! 00:06:37.460 --> 00:06:38.320 - Thank you so much. 00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:48.940 Subway rides themselves are difficult for me to maneuver. 00:06:49.300 --> 00:06:53.360 If I have a seizure I might be unaware or confused of what’s going on during and after the seizure. 00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:02.680 I have lost my balance and fallen on the train because I had a seizure 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:05.180 but was fortunate enough to have a working elevator by the time I got off my stop. 00:07:06.640 --> 00:07:12.020 But not everyone is fortunate to have an elevator at their stop, much less an elevator that works. 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:31.220 Ugh, for Chrissakes! Take a picture of this and send it in to the MTA. 00:07:31.880 --> 00:07:33.260 The fucking assholes! 00:07:33.840 --> 00:07:36.720 Everyday for three weeks it’s been broken. Is that what you’re here for? 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:32.280 It’s sad to say but I sometimes feel like society thinks people with disabilities don’t lead productive and meaningful lives. 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:35.600 And that is reflected in the services that we receive. 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:54.320 I’m against all fare and toll increases and here's why — 00:08:54.320 --> 00:09:00.640 Neal, could you pay attention please, thank you. That'll be very kind of you. 00:09:01.020 --> 00:09:05.200 - Mr. Pinheiro, I want to remind you there're some rules of conduct — 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:06.220 I know that Freddie. 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:11.500 - Forgive me, I've reminded speakers of that in the past. You’re not the first. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:18.440 If you would please confine your comments to everything other than engaging individual board members, I’d appreciate that. 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:23.740 We know that, Freddie! But they should pay attention when we speak also, Freddie! 00:09:23.880 --> 00:09:30.320 It's not fair! So I hope that you guys pay attention to every single of us 00:09:30.520 --> 00:09:35.480 And vote "no" for the fare and toll increases. That's all I have to say. 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:37.120 I’m one of the plaintiffs in these two lawsuits that have been fought in court by the lawyers for the MTA with all of our money. 00:10:37.520 --> 00:10:44.400 All of us taxpayers, all of our money is getting spent, millions at a time on lawyers to fight — for what? 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:46.680 What would it take to settle these suits? 00:10:46.740 --> 00:10:54.300 A schedule! A binding legal agreement with a timeline for full accessibility by 2034. 00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:59.120 That’s what we need, that’s what we demand because it’s attainable. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.920 I’m almost nine months pregnant and pretty soon I’m gonna be another mom 00:11:14.920 --> 00:11:18.260 struggling on the New York City subway stairs with a baby and a stroller. 00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:30.120 Malaysia Goodson died at 22 years old while carrying a stroller and her 1-year-old child on the stairs. 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:39.400 I’d like to start and give the first part of the time of my comments 00:11:39.400 --> 00:11:42.560 by having the cousin of Malaysia Goodson just say a few words. 00:11:46.400 --> 00:11:51.220 I just want to speak from my heart. This is not easy for me or my family. 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:53.920 Like I feel like my cousin should still be here. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:57.720 She had her 1-year-old daughter in her hand walking down these stairs. 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:07.820 It’s not fair, I feel like you guys are raising the price and nothing is being done. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:16.520 I feel like y’all have to do something fast, quick, before something like this happens again. 00:12:16.520 --> 00:12:17.620 You never know.