But you gave the answer! Clear trash cans! Novel!

It turns out we can do the same here, but it was never really about security. It was about cost cutting. Always.

Sadly, a lot of MTA stations have taken out trash cans as well. It turns out that people put trash in them and then someone has to empty them. Novel, I know.

Anyhow, the MTA figured out there's less trash in the stations if you don't have trash cans, because (most) people will just hold on to their trash rather than throw it near/on an overfull trash can. Also, then the MTA doesn't have to empty any trash cans. A real win/win if you're the MTA and a real lose if you're a customer who wants basic services. See also: bathrooms.

This would be like if a restaurant decided not to use utensils because they were sick of cleaning them, and just told everyone to eat with their hands/bring their own. But hey, when you're a government service ...

Yeah this is a next year/next quarter issue at this point.

The survey they issue regularly is not the same as comment on the budget.

Give this guy a NYTimes OpEd. You nailed every aspect of this.

(also, user name checks out - probably a lot of visits to 33rd/MSG 😆)

Trying to get that now

That's the spirit. Me too!

I'm absolutely going to get this and you better believe I'm going to DM it to you.

I did the same. A good start! I am trying to figure out how to submit public comment to Port Authority. We're going to have to get loud.

You can blame the system or you can participate, I guess.

OK, I'm as guilty as anyone: a keyboard warrior who complains about PATH service (especially nights and weekends) and then managed to not do anything about it.

This slide is taken from the Port Authority proposed budget here: Board / Committee Presentations & Transcripts (panynj.gov) which you can find under 2022 December.

Here's the problem: we have to submit comment to the Port Authority to get heard. Right now, they're saying only 1 person complained about weekend service on PATH. 1 person. ONE. They only got 18 total comments. So if you're reading this and agree, submit a public comment. We'll over run them with complaints about the weekend and night service.

There are a bunch of other informative slides (like this one about the passenger volume) being at 66% of the 2019 numbers, which I would attribute to both the loss of workers going into offices, but also the reduction in service.

https://preview.redd.it/lj07cvqc22ia1.png?width=1281&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=b29197d8a33f5e9cd45507203f2e8b428379e217

Ugh. That's so scary. We just need an ounce of enforcement on aggressive drivers and we'd get such better driving from everyone.

I am with you, but this is a good way to get in real trouble. Most of these drivers are unhinged in some way, and all it takes is one guy with a problem to hop out of the car, push you down and steal/break your phone (or much much worse) if they're worried about the picture. Yeah, that's escalation on their part, and a crime vs traffic violation, but all it takes is one.

For my part, I've been giving them a wave and trying to move on.

This sounds silly, but NYC has been doing this! It's not for moving violations, but it is a start.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/nyregion/they-earn-tens-of-thousands-by-turning-in-idling-trucks.html

Well they were C- bagels when I went in Nov, so it would be nice if they improved the recipe. Did they change since then?

Gift card to Downtowner - local home goods and they can pick up something from a super local place.

The point of the financing is that you *don't* have to hit the lottery to afford a ~$25K capital outlay. You just pay monthly and your electric bill is lowered by more than your monthly payment.

Already doing it with Community Solar!

I am exactly where you are. I submitted some info to a few different companies and everyone ran away after talking to me for 5 minutes when they actually looked at the satellite imagery one typical example: "is your roof, like, _attached_ to other roofs? Do you live in an apartment?" It was as if the tech had never seen a row home before.

I'm extremely well qualified to do a DIY install, but I simply don't trust myself to not screw up my roof and cost myself $10s of thousands of dollars and a huge hassle.

I've already signed up for Community Solar - a total no brainer - it's just a net savings for everyone, regardless of your opinion of solar/solar incentives/GHG reduction.

Thanks for these details - I have some other leads based on this post, and will update when I lock in someone to do this so hopefully you can get on this path as well.

This is great, thanks so much for the details.

Hope this also helps someone else. I'm hoping for similar results, we have less roof, but less sky lights.

Can you share your approximate square footage of roof as well as the amount electricity you generate?

What was the cost? Did you finance?

Please share which details you can.

The math checks out for them to offset quite a bit of electric costs, but everyone's roof and tree coverage varies.

Usually with financing, the panels can generate enough electricity to pay for the monthly costs and then some. After the financing is paid off, you get even more savings monthly.

The biggest thing for me is resiliency. With solar and a battery, I won't have to worry about a branch knocking out my power and waiting several days for a repair. I've had quite a few friends have this happen, and it can be extremely dangerous in winter (ice storms) to go very long without power. I don't have a fireplace to light in an emergency, etc.

Is this really a suggestion to reach out to someone who lives at 197 York? Isn't that a bit... invasive?

Thank you, I hadn't searched the NJ sub.