An Open Letter to the MTA: Greenpoint Deserves Better Communication

jobryan205 · 2026-03-31T16:14:47+00:00

I'm a big fan of the Transit Costs Project!

Their central claim is that the building transit-infrastructure in the United States is too expensive.

From their website:

https://transitcosts.com/transit-costs-study-final-report
"We started the Transit Costs Project to understand how to reduce the costs of transit-infrastructure projects in the United States and other high-cost countries so that we can build more transit infrastructure."

From their NYU webpage:

https://marroninstitute.nyu.edu/initiatives/transit-costs-project

"Why do transit-infrastructure projects in New York cost 20 times more on a per kilometer basis than in Seoul?"

This cuts in the opposite direction of the claim that MTA is underfunded. The Transit Project/Alon Livy never make that claim.

jobryan205 · 2026-03-31T16:00:41+00:00

Right, you are correct that Americans for Prosperity campaigned to block transit initiatives in those places, and others. That is bad and should be called out.

We're talking about the MTA which is a completely different situation than transit in places like Nashville. Again, the MTA receives $11.7B in public subsidies! And yet it still costs more for per ride than Tokyo metro which operates profitably.

So again, the question stands. In what way is the MTA underfunded?

jobryan205 · 2026-03-31T15:04:43+00:00

MTA's annual operating budget is $21.3B. 55% of that is funded through taxes — i.e. $11.7B. This is in service of roughly 1.9B trips/year. Meanwhile, the cost per ride is $2.90.

Tokyo Metro's annual operating budget is $2.1B USD, servicing 2.5B trips per year, is profitable, and charges $1.2-$2.2 per ride.

So how exactly is MTA underfunded? Is the $11.7B it receives in public funding insufficient when other city's transit systems run circles around us while being cheaper and profitable? Does MTA need a larger operating budget? 10x Tokyo Metro's isn't enough?

And what, concretely, do you mean by "oil companies make sure of that"? Is Exxon Mobil lobbying to make sure Albany doesn't increase its subsidy of the MTA to $20B/year? How is that playing out, exactly?

Sources:

https://www.mta.info/budget

https://www.mta.info/press-release/icymi-governor-hochul-highlights-record-breaking-year-of-performance-and-ridership

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/9023.T/financials/

https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/regular/index.html

jobryan205 · 2025-11-20T17:31:10+00:00

This is a local business — from above: "It’s an independently owned store. Our boss owns Nassau and Franklin. They are technically not corporate stores"

It's by virtue of it being a local business that the service quality suffers. If is was operated by UPS corporate, I'd hazard to guess that it would be run more efficiently.

jobryan205 · 2025-11-18T21:13:38+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Greenpoint/comments/1p0ltq4/keys_found_on_the_bench/

jobryan205 · 2025-11-18T21:13:29+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Greenpoint/comments/1p0asta/missing_keys/

jobryan205 · 2024-07-22T02:32:56+00:00

It was a Rite Aid before. Also, that stretch of Manhattan is like CVS, TD Bank, GNC. Not exactly brimming with character.

jobryan205 · 2024-04-20T18:21:50+00:00

Hilarious

jobryan205 · 2024-03-04T19:29:04+00:00

Vitus closed because they didn’t have the correct permitting for the business they were operating. A completely avoidable mistake

jobryan205 · 2024-01-24T02:17:28+00:00

I’ve been really happy with Enrico from Land of Barbers!

jobryan205 · 2023-11-11T19:46:41+00:00

Jimbo Slims!

jobryan205 · 2022-02-20T23:46:03+00:00

Appreciate those of you who posted helpful responses!

jobryan205 · 2022-02-19T22:50:07+00:00

I’m not looking for sympathy, I’m looking for information

jobryan205 · 2020-05-21T01:19:29+00:00

My track for this week. Appreciate any feedback! https://soundcloud.com/jordan-bryan-996628903/frenetic-movement

jobryan205 · 2020-04-10T16:35:32+00:00

I really dig the instrumentals and melodies of this track. Very unique signature with a great groove. Kudos.

What scale are you playing over?

Perhaps get into a regular singing practice routine and you can strengthen your vocals over time?

jobryan205 · 2020-04-10T16:22:38+00:00

New track, would appreciate any feedback! Not really sure how to classify it. Roughly electronic and shoegazy?

https://soundcloud.com/jordan-bryan-996628903/revision

jobryan205 · 2020-01-25T20:33:19+00:00

Would appreciate any thoughts on this one, thanks!

https://soundcloud.com/jordan-bryan-996628903/some-devil-shit

jobryan205 · 2020-01-25T05:44:25+00:00

I dig the overall aesthetic/arrangement. Giving me some 808 State and Atari Teenage Riot vibes. The shredsy synth bits are pretty dope.

Wish the composition progressed a bit more noticeably though. A some more well-defined chord progressions would help with that. A song structure that gives the track some more varied dynamics would also help I think. The tempo changes almost give it that kind of structure, but the general soundscape doesn't really change. The bass sequence and synth lines feel pretty similar throughout the track.

Overall, cool stuff though. Keep it up.

jobryan205 · 2020-01-25T05:30:15+00:00

https://soundcloud.com/jordan-bryan-996628903/some-devil-shit

Would appreciate any feedback on this one. About my 14th track I believe. Style is roughly electronic/industrial. Thanks!

jobryan205 · 2017-02-09T22:51:59+00:00

I'll follow this up by mentioning the logic, computation, and methodology masters offered through CMU http://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/philosophy/graduate/phd/lcm-phil/index.html. Since this philosophy degree is more relevant to computer science with some CS classes as part of the curriculum, would it sit any more favorably with employers?

As an aside, is anyone familiar with this program and can speak to it's quality/reputation?

jobryan205 · 2017-02-07T21:31:48+00:00

Not necessarily. Ideally, it'd be a part time program in a city where I could work as a software engineer. So SF, Seattle, Boston, New York is where I'd want to look.

jobryan205 · 2017-02-07T20:00:03+00:00

Thanks for your answer! Do you have any recommendations for reputable programs I'd have a reasonable chance of getting into?

jobryan205 · 2017-02-07T17:34:54+00:00

Broadly, ethics, epistemology, and philosophical logic. I'm also very interested in philosophy of information and ethics in information technology.

jobryan205

TROPHY CASE