Announces New Initiative To Get "Good And Honest" People On The Ballot To Help Working New Yorkers

Green Party of New York State Committee members from Bronx County will appear at the MTA Fare Increase hearing at the Westchester County Center today.

"The crushing MTA doomsday budget is squarely the fault of our elected officials for failing to do anything to help their constituents" said Lukas Herbert, a Green Party official from the South Bronx. "People, like State Senator Reuben Diaz, have held the State Legislature hostage while they attempt power grabs over things like preventing gay marriage - all while the economy goes down the drain. Why arent they dealing with this MTA crisis? Are things like gay marriage more important to their constituents than keeping subway and bus fares affordable?"

The Green Party hopes to point out that many of the politicians who have ignored the MTA problem have run on the ballot on the Democratic, Republican and Conservative Lines. "This has got to stop," said Herbert. "We need good and honest people on the ballot - and the Green Party is ready to win back ballot status, and give New Yorkers a real choice when they go to vote through more candidates for local offices."

While the Green Party has been active with a number of initiatives in the Bronx, party officials are also looking to get progressive-minded Westchester residents involved as well. "Westchester does not currently have a Green Party organization," said Bronx County Green Party Chair Carl Lundgren. "We know that Westchester has a lot of people who care very much about the same issues the Green Party cares about - some of whom have already registered as Greens. Bronx Greens is here to help give voice to your concerns, and perhaps to help you organize a Westchester local to call your own."

In addition to the Westchester public hearing today, officials from the Bronx County Green Party will also attend the Bronx public hearing at Lehman College next Wednesday - February 4.