Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
[Heads up: technical issues affected the audio quality on this episode. Thanks for bearing with us — the conversation is still worth it.]
The MTA says far fewer bus riders are paying the fare since Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office. Fare evasion has been a problem in the city for years, but MTA Chair Janno Lieber says Mamdani's campaign promise to make the city's buses free isn't helping. Mamdani has a different assessment, and blames the issue on the affordability crisis. WNYC and Gothamist transportation reporter Stephen Nessen and editor Clayton Guse explain what may be driving the issue and what comes next as the MTA plans to step up enforcement.
Photo: Stephen Nessen - WNYC/Gothamist
Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org.
Episode Notes:
• Bronx man faces federal hate crime charges in Central Synagogue attack
• New Staten Island trash complex lets city make way for hundreds of new homes (gothamist.com/news/new-staten-island-trash-complex-lets-city-make-way-for-hundreds-of-new-homes)
• Luigi Mangione admitted to killing Brian Thompson. Why does NY still want a trial? (gothamist.com/news/luigi-mangione-admitted-to-killing-brian-thompson-why-does-ny-still-want-a-trial)
• Mamdani hasn't made NYC's buses free. Riders stopped paying anyway. (gothamist.com/news/mamdani-hasnt-made-nycs-buses-free-riders-stopped-paying-anyway)
[Heads up: technical issues affected the audio quality on this episode. Thanks for bearing with us — the conversation is still worth it.]
The MTA says far fewer bus riders are paying the fare since Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office. Fare evasion has been a problem in the city for years, but MTA Chair Janno Lieber says Mamdani's campaign promise to make the city's buses free isn't helping. Mamdani has a different assessment, and blames the issue on the affordability crisis. WNYC and Gothamist transportation reporter Stephen Nessen and editor Clayton Guse explain what may be driving the issue and what comes next as the MTA plans to step up enforcement.
Photo: Stephen Nessen - WNYC/Gothamist
Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org.
Episode Notes:
• Bronx man faces federal hate crime charges in Central Synagogue attack
• New Staten Island trash complex lets city make way for hundreds of new homes (gothamist.com/news/new-staten-island-trash-complex-lets-city-make-way-for-hundreds-of-new-homes)
• Luigi Mangione admitted to killing Brian Thompson. Why does NY still want a trial? (gothamist.com/news/luigi-mangione-admitted-to-killing-brian-thompson-why-does-ny-still-want-a-trial)
• Mamdani hasn't made NYC's buses free. Riders stopped paying anyway. (gothamist.com/news/mamdani-hasnt-made-nycs-buses-free-riders-stopped-paying-anyway)
