MTA calls them "new fares and discounts." Sure, it's "new" but it's also "less." See them here:

http://mta.info/mta/fares_discounts_101230.html

Video added below (big metro card makes an appearance).

There was just something about two photos on the Nassau County website. The Office of Economic Development and the Industrial Development Agency are represented by photos of nine very attractive people (five women and four men) all wearing county buttons on their lapels. I know there are attractive folks working for the county, that's not the issue. Don't try to make this about that.

Something just told me to look a little harder. Click to see:

Investigators with the city and city council are reviewing hundreds of videos and tips about the storm response. Both are preparing for next week.

I have some questions now.

New York City Council will hold a hearing on Thursday, January 6 at 10 a.m. to discuss reports that workers faked subway signal inspections. The MTA Inspector General began another inquiry into this issue this summer. Reports criticizing the MTA's signal inspections surfaced within the past decade.
 

Wow. Did you hear that.

The people in charge are expecting two to six inches. I'm typing it out because we need to realize it won't be as big as the last week. But they are even more aware.

I looked Mayor Bloomberg in the eye today. Click to see....

(need to add live shot here from newscast)) Mocker will do.

The December Blizzard of 2010: Evaluating the City’s, MTA's and People's Response

NYC Council says this: "As evidenced by the widespread problems that occurred in the wake of last month’s blizzard, the City’s response and clean-up efforts were not anywhere near up to the standards that New Yorkers are accustomed to. To help us better understand what went wrong and what we need to do to prevent such problems from happening again, the New York City Council has scheduled two oversight hearings."

Email written remarks, as well, to speakerquinn@council.nyc.gov.

Today's storm wasn't much. I wanted to see the view from Queens. Did they follow their new action plan?

 
I added public comment hearing info below (locations and times for next week)

Parents have asked why school decision won't be made until 5 a.m. I called DOE and asked. Here's what I learned:

Mayor and Chancellor make decision. It is possible that a decision may be made earlier. They usually call it the night before only if they storm is going to be bad, for sure (and if it already has dumped snow on the ground). I know this makes getting a sitter or arrangements tough and I've brought that up.
pix11.com will have updates
311 will be immediately updated, as will http://schools.nyc.gov/

Here's the other big link to watch: http://mta.info/
I've added more (click to get them)

5 PM Office of Emergency Management and Mayor's office notifies us
WEATHER EMERGENCY DECLARED.

525 ADDITIONAL INFO ADDED this is not an official "snow emergency" as has been discussed

(update 10pm) Official NYC snow response page http://www.nyc.gov/html/snowupdate/html/home/home.shtml

click for more info --

Schools in. Trains running. How are the roads?
I'm headed out.
Make sure to grade the mayor and MTA for their report card.

About for mayor and MTA. We had 761 grades.

I caught up with the Mayor outside Mike's Diner in Astoria. He had a traditional soup called Avgolemono (Greek Lemon-Egg Soup). I checked the internet for a ingredients:

* 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
* 3/4 cup long-grain rice
* 2 cooked chicken-breast halves, skin discarded and meat shredded
* 2 large eggs, at room temperature
* 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
* 1 lemon, thinly sliced

Click for video and results:

Big changes coming to the F in Brooklyn. Tomorrow morning neighbors willl start a petition to get more bus service during the work.

http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/FG_CulverViaduct.htm has info or click here

And I went back to an escalator we have been watching. And Jodi and I segue to talk to snow.

These public meetings continue for the next week. What do you think about us covering all of them? I added the schedule below.

 
Sanitation tells me to tell you to call 311 if your neighborhood has trash piles. Let me know how that goes.

I will be adding the info on bus changes over the weekend and we'll talk about it next week. In the meantime send me messages about your bus experiences (mocker@pix11.com or FB or twitter.com/gregmocker)

Changes coming to a number of bus lines. What's up with yours.