By: Maryana Averyanova
Students, faculty, and advocates marched across boroughs on Friday, March 27, calling for free OMNY cards and increased funding for the City University of New York (CUNY).
The march began near Brooklyn Borough Hall and ended at City Hall, where elected officials and organizers delivered speeches. During the march, demonstrators emphasized that rising transportation costs are making it harder for students to attend classes, work, and stay enrolled.
The event came one day after the introduction of a state bill aiming to create a pilot program providing CUNY students with up to five free transit rides per weekday. The proposal, Senate Bill S9581, was introduced on March 26 and is currently under consideration.
It also comes during ongoing budget negotiations at both the state and city levels. On April 1, the New York City (NYC) Council released its response to the mayor’s preliminary budget, outlining priorities as discussions continue.
“You have to choose between am I gonna pay the $3 both directions to, you know, to get to campus or not? Or am I gonna be able to get food for lunch today?” said James Davis, president of the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), the union representing CUNY faculty and staff. “That’s not a choice that anyone should have to make.”
Student leaders expressed the weight that the fare has held over them.
“A lot of students have to think about whether they can afford to go to class or not,” said Rhoda Wilson, College of Staten Island (CSI) Vice President and Vice Chair of Legislative Affairs of the CUNY University Student Senate. “Either go to class or go to work.” She also shared her own experience. “The only way I was able to get here was through my ASAP MetroCard,” Wilson said. “I get those benefits, but a lot of students don’t.”
Organizers are also pushing for a proposed $1.4 million pilot program, included in CUNY’s budget request, that would fund student transit with $700,000 from the city and $700,000 from the state. The effort is backed by a coalition of groups, including the CUNY University Student Senate, PSC, New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), uAspire, Young Invincibles, and CUNY Rising Alliance.
“People have to choose between class and livelihood,” said Akkeem Polack, Chairperson for the CUNY University Student Senate.
Polack followed this quote by stating that programs like ASAP and ACE show that when students receive support, they are more likely to stay in school and complete their degrees.
“When a student has to choose between an OMNY card swipe and a meal, that is not a personal failure – it’s a policy failure,” said Robert Jackson, the New York State senator for District 31 who introduced the bill.
“Two rides make a difference whether a student can attend class or not,” said Rita Joseph, a NYC Council member and chair of the education committee, who said the city is considering ways to support the pilot program through the budget.
“It doesn’t just affect your studies. It affects your entire life,” said Steven Raga, a New York State assembly member, adding that transportation costs place additional pressure on students and their families.
Speakers at City Hall said access to transportation affects students’ ability to stay in school and complete their degrees, especially for those balancing work, family responsibilities, and classes.
As budget negotiations continue, students and advocates say they will keep pushing for funding. For many who crossed the bridge that day, the message remained clear: getting to class should not depend on whether students can afford the ride.
For more information regarding PSC or CUNY University Student Senate, visit their respective Instagrams: @psc_cuny and @usscuny