NY-NJ PATH riders protest fare hike

Hundreds of PATH train riders, who commute from New Jersey to New York City, joined in protesting a huge fare hike. The protest on Aug. 8 was called quickly by the Jersey City Peace Movement, Action 21 and the Asian Merchants Association of Jersey City. The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey is attempting to ram through an increase that takes the fare from $1.75 to $2.75 and raises tolls on the Holland Tunnel to $15 for those who pay in cash. The Port Authority is really a gigantic bank that pays out billions in interest payments on bonds to banks and hands out sweetheart deals to real estate developers. Public transportation has been given to special “authorities” so they can rob the people with unpopular fare hikes while shielding politicians from blame. But the PATH train system belongs to the people and should be run by them. All the speakers said the combined unemployment, high rents and food prices were totally impoverishing them. The slogan “End the wars, fund people’s needs” was cheered by the crowd. More actions are planned.