Now, New York’s leading business groups are asking President Trump to back funding for transit agencies and city and state budgets as part of the stalled talks over the next coronavirus aid package. The letter comes as local leaders warn of 22,000 municipal layoffs — including sanitation workers and first responders — and massive cuts to transit service without additional help from Washington. The standoff has resulted in repeated jousts between Trump and Cuomo through dueling press conferences in recent weeks. Monday’s letter from the business chieftains beseeching Trump for aid warns the situation is particularly acute for the region’s transit network. In New York, the MTA is largely funded by fares, local taxes and tolls, all of which have plummeted.

Source: The Local September 14, 2020 18:32 UTC