2 ms·

It's not "absolutely trivial" and it's not "obviously what they do in NYC". It is a convoluted system of city and state tax credits, partial discounts, etc tha

It's not "absolutely trivial" and it's not "obviously what they do in NYC". It is a convoluted system of city and state tax credits, partial discounts, etc that you must do every year. Not only do you have to file additional forms as part of your tax return, you must also recertify your disability annually. And if you are simply low income, you can apply and then you receive a 50% discount after your first 10 trips into the city each month. If you are going into the city 2-3 times a week, you receive no discount. https://www.mta.info/fares-tolls/tolls/congestion-relief-zone/discounts-exemptions https://www.mta.info/fares-tolls/tolls/congestion-relief-zon...

estearum 1mo ago
While the number of options for receiving relief can be large/varied/complex, each individual program is definitely not complex. Low-income: Show your tax return <$50k/yr or show your enrollment in a public assistance program. Disability: Get your disability assess annually or show enrollment in the already-existing disabled-people transit assistance programs. Not sure what you think is non-trivial about either of these?
- strictnein 1mo ago
  You seem to be avoiding the point that to get a discount you must travel into the city by car more than ten times a month and those first ten times are full price. And then you must pay 50% of the price after that. Then, in April, you may get some tax relief. This is a good system and trivial in your mind? Because the average low income or fixed income person can just float that money for a year and then maybe get some of it back? And you can't even do it if you've moved recently. If all of your documents don't have the exact same address you are out of luck. If you've moved since you filed your taxes and your address on your car registration is your old address you're out of luck until you file your next taxes and update your registration. And then you have to mail it all in and just wait until you get a response. And if it's denied you get to start the process again. And then next year you get to do it again. This isn't "trivial". Trivial is submitting your social security number, VIN, drivers license, and address.
  - estearum 1mo ago
    You're mixing two distinct relief systems. The standard low-income relief program does not entail any tax credits or fronting any money. It does not require a disability assessment. It's just a discount attached to your EZPass and you can get it if you're already enrolled in a federal or local public assistance program. A different relief program gives you a post-facto tax credit. These are two different systems. One is easier for one group, the other is easier for a different group. Sure go make it more trivial. No complaints there!

estearum 1mo ago

While the number of options for receiving relief can be large/varied/complex, each individual program is definitely not complex. Low-income: Show your tax return <$50k/yr or show your enrollment in a public assistance program. Disability: Get your disability assess annually or show enrollment in the already-existing disabled-people transit assistance programs. Not sure what you think is non-trivial about either of these?

strictnein 1mo ago
You seem to be avoiding the point that to get a discount you must travel into the city by car more than ten times a month and those first ten times are full price. And then you must pay 50% of the price after that. Then, in April, you may get some tax relief. This is a good system and trivial in your mind? Because the average low income or fixed income person can just float that money for a year and then maybe get some of it back? And you can't even do it if you've moved recently. If all of your documents don't have the exact same address you are out of luck. If you've moved since you filed your taxes and your address on your car registration is your old address you're out of luck until you file your next taxes and update your registration. And then you have to mail it all in and just wait until you get a response. And if it's denied you get to start the process again. And then next year you get to do it again. This isn't "trivial". Trivial is submitting your social security number, VIN, drivers license, and address.
- estearum 1mo ago
  You're mixing two distinct relief systems. The standard low-income relief program does not entail any tax credits or fronting any money. It does not require a disability assessment. It's just a discount attached to your EZPass and you can get it if you're already enrolled in a federal or local public assistance program. A different relief program gives you a post-facto tax credit. These are two different systems. One is easier for one group, the other is easier for a different group. Sure go make it more trivial. No complaints there!