Foamland Security: Ferry Riders Say de Blasio’s Subsidies Spare Them Subway Trauma

Keith Bearden took the subway to work for twenty years, but he can’t deal with it anymore. The 45-year-old, who works in publishing in downtown Manhattan, now opts for the NYC Ferry, recently championed by Mayor Bill de Blasio as “a game changer” for commuters in waterfront neighborhoods like Astoria, where Bearden lives. Bearden’s commute is slightly longer now, but subway-less. “It got to the point where the MTA was giving me panic attacks,” Bearden told the Voice while riding the ferry on a recent beautiful spring day. He described the ferry as “really nice” and “a bit more civilized.” “Also there’s beer,” Bearden added, noting the amenity is welcome in both directions of his commute. “Some days you just want to start your morning with a beer.” On May 3, de Blasio announced NYC Ferry would be getting an additional $300 million in city funding over the next five years, bringing the grand total of taxpayer spending for the service to $600 million. The mayor’s goal is to allow more people to ditch the city’s subways and buses and enjoy the fresh harbor air, much like Bearden now does. The question, though, is whether taxpayers should be paying for… Read full this story

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