The historic presidential moments on the rails by Carl Mydans, courtesy of Time, Inc./gallerym.com
The last time you rode the subway, bus or light rail, did it strike you that your route was “occupied” by snobbery?
In last weeks spiral by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, he jousted with a weed in one arm and a hole in his left sock. You see, Gingrich became entangled in survival. The pure reason one American chooses to ride the subway, take a bus or hop on the light rail is typically not because their Bugatti is hiding in the garage. And if the Bugatti owner along with a Scion enthusiast is caught in the subway it’s likely that local convenience and population density are the reasons – in addition to avoidance of 1 foot potholes. The media has had a field day with Newt’s New York attack. The New York media of course, outside of the stringers, interns or business development folks, are shooting around in NYC Ford Escapes, Toyota Hybrid Camrys or the less, environmentally desirable – but surely comfortable – Towncars. In Manhattan, they call these transportation options taxis. BMW of Manhattan sells you either the ultimate driving machine or the Mini-Cooper. Should you be from the tri-state region, the NY/NJ Transit Authority, MTA/MetroNorth or even the jammed LIRR toils to keep the trains and buses on time. The MTA builds the infrastructure that entitles tourists and locals a direct connect from the tightly woven big city boroughs. Yes, Donald avoids the subway and, in fact, has equally squawked on how he finds it difficult to take advice from strategists and bankers who have yet to make millions and have to shoot to an office meeting on the 4, 5, or 6. Mayor Mike, more than financially sound, has created an environment that enables all walks and all kinds to keep the city and it’s culture a cherished gem in the American landscape. While Newt might not make it to the front, the economic landscape will define the political destiny for the American consumer who is Newts audience. So Newt: Get a Metrocard – or at least a zipcar when in America’s premier city.
