Among the elected officials opposing the fare increase and higher bridge and tunnel tolls was Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.
Yesterday's development also received a measured response from state lawmakers and transit advocates who have opposed the fare increase.
Why bother?' " The riders' council, a longstanding advocacy group, has decided to oppose the fare increases for the first time, Ms. Mason said, a change from previous years where the group decided that higher fares were necessary.
"I wouldn't discount the corrosive effects of cynicism in this, on the failure of a movement to oppose this fare increase to materialize," said Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky, a Westchester Democrat who has been active on transportation issues.
While the buildings — 341, 345 and 347 Madison Avenue — may not be of architectural note, the authority's headquarters and its hearing rooms have been the site of many a raucous demonstration, by employees, transit riders opposed to fare increases and cuts in service, or opponents of development on authority properties.
Q: Would you support or oppose increasing fares for riding Metro trains and buses?
ACCURACY It is true that Mr. Thompson opposed higher fares and higher fees, especially from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
And, weaving in scenes of Mr. Thompson talking to ordinary New Yorkers on the street, it emphasizes his credentials as a defender of the middle class, saying that he opposed higher fares for mass transit.
Of course, there were plenty of veto items on the menu for stomachs unaccustomed or opposed to British fare.
Ms. Dolinsky, however, is forthright about the likelihood of such an increase, given the city's fiscal problems: "If you read any news clips, I've said historically, we're always opposed to a fare increase, but you're going to get a fare increase.
