Revere gets tough on MBTA proposal

REVERE – Speaker of The House Robert DeLeo said the proposed MBTA fare hikes and service cuts would be catastrophic for Revere.?It would be a disaster for the people of Revere,” DeLeo, D-Winthrop, said at Tuesday night?s MBTA public hearing in the Paul Revere School?s auditorium, which was packed with concerned residents and public officials, including acting MBTA General Chairman Jonathan Davis.The MBTA has presented two proposals for reducing what it says is a 2013 budget deficit of $161 million and long-term debt totaling $5.2 billion, according to an overview of the proposals.Scenario one increases overall fares 43 percent and includes service cuts to save $38.3 million in operating costs. Scenario two increases overall fares 35 percent, but includes service cuts to save $78.4 million. Both plans cut commuter rail service on the weekends and after 10 p.m. on weekdays.?We find money to bail out banks and the car industry but when it comes to everyday people with basic needs they are left on their own,” Mayor Dan Rizzo said. “I find it very discouraging.”Senior citizen Audrey Noelle expressed worry over what would happen to The Ride.?It can?t be touched,” Noelle said. “I know when I was healthy I could walk for miles. There are many people that could walk to Wonderland. However, we are not getting any healthier and any younger.”School Committee member Carol Tye worried about what would happen to students who depend on buses and the subway.?Poverty is steadily increasing. We feed them breakfast, lunch and now sometimes dinner. We are raising their children because parents can not,” Tye said. “Parents can not afford this. Students can not afford this.”Governor Deval Patrick made a brief appearance before the meeting took place. He walked around the auditorium talking to residents about their concerns.?Thank you for coming out tonight,” he said to Noelle.?We are just hoping we don?t have to pay a fortune,” Noelle laughed.?I hear you,” Patrick said.This was the first of these current MBTA meetings Patrick has attended, according to state Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein.Other residents were upset about the 90 seconds they were only allowed to speak.?Ninety seconds isn?t enough to speak. We have been listening for 40 minutes from non-T users,” William Bell said.?I know it is not an easy problem,” Rizzo said. “We have to put our heads together on this.”Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].