“You can’t secure bonds with taxi money. If the Legislature decides to do otherwise, so be it. I wasn’t elected.” Ravitch
Hurricane Earl took aim at North Carolina on Thursday and is on track to lash its barrier islands with dangerous winds and pounding surf before cutting a path up the U.S. East Coast.If you hear a distant fanfare this weekend as you huddle around the last barbecue of summer, chances are it is Labor Day signaling the start of the home stretch to the Congressional mid-term elections. From here on out, we’ll see more ads, more posturing, more mudslinging, and great herds of political pundits thundering across the land with all the enthusiasm and grace of buffaloes in a rut. And no one will be more aware of all that than a man whose name is not on any ballot, and yet has everything on the line: President Barack Obama.An oil and gas platform operated by Mariner Energy burst into flames on Thursday and unleashed a mile-long oil sheen into the Gulf of Mexico, in the region’s first major offshore disaster since BP’s oil spill began in April.Coming fresh off of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” reunion (did you all catch that horror show? One word: cray-cray) is the announcement that Bravo is set to release yet another Real Housewives franchise, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” next month.Hollywood loves a good formula, and this fall movie season is rife with tried-and-true plot setups that will give you deja vu.From Baltimore to Lancaster avenues and along Market Street in between, University City is abuzz from the arrivals of college students and professors back after summer vacation.Tiger Woods fans have put up with the philandering, the text messages and the domestic spats. Now comes what may be the hardest thing of all to tolerate: losing.While breast-enhancing surgery has become almost a norm for American women, men are also heading to the plastic surgeon’s office more often — to have their man-boobs (moobs) removed. If you are what you eat, then most Cape Codders would be a clam — or maybe a lobster roll A land named for a type of fish should abound with chances to sample tasty seafood, and Cape Cod does not disappointSo you squandered an estate note on a bachelor’s degree, then trudged through more entry-level hardships and thankless internships than should be legally permissable, only to backslide into a self-esteem shattering, résumé-derailing grind, several tax brackets below your dignity. 
“You can’t secure bonds with taxi money. If the Legislature decides to do otherwise, so be it. I wasn’t elected.” Ravitch
Senate Democrats claimed to have enough votes Thursday to pass their own MTA bailout plan with no bridge tolls. It includes a $1 surcharge on all cab rides, a payroll tax and higher vehicle registration and drivers license fees.
Others weren’t convinced of its chances.
“I’ll be introducing the bill tomorrow,” said Sen. Martin Malave Dilan (D-Brooklyn). “[Majority Leader Malcolm Smith] indicates he has the 32 votes to pass it.”
Smith hedged. “We hope to have it fixed by next week,” he said. “Nobody’s going to like all the ideas.”
The cab surcharge is unpopular. Taxi drivers will rally today in support of a temporary jet fuel tax that Bronx Assemblyman Peter Rivera claims could raise $2 billion annually for mass transit.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg also slammed the surcharge Thursday, because part of its proceeds would fund roads upstate. “New York City already sends more money to Albany than we get back,” he said.
Smith replied the mayor needs a history lesson: Upstate supported the city during its fiscal crisis. “This is one New York,” he said.
Former MTA chair Richard Ravitch remained skeptical about the Senate plan raising enough to rescue the MTA. “You can’t secure bonds with taxi money,” he said, sounding a little fed-up with politics. “If the Legislature decides to do otherwise, so be it. I wasn’t elected.”
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In the July MMMpod, Young Veins talk about breaking away from Panic! at the Disco, Keith Lockhart talks about Buckwheat Zydeco throwing the Boston Pops for a loop, Zooey Deschanel talks about how Roy Orbison inspired a She & Him song, Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells talks about how awesome Funkadelic is, and we talk about how awesome Jimmy Cliff is, who in turn talks about Sam Cooke and divine intervention. An explosive show for July! Oh yeah, and we also test your knowledge of America songs in the MMMPod medley.
