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Anxiety grows as possible NY rail strike nears

By WTOP Staff

FRANK ELTMAN
Associated Press

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — Anxiety grew among the nearly 300,000 daily riders caught in the middle of a labor dispute as a weekend strike at the nation’s largest commuter railroad grew closer.

The eight unions representing Long Island Rail Road’s 5,400 workers and Metropolitan Transportation Authority managers didn’t negotiate on Tuesday, a day after both sides said talks aimed at averting a 12:01 a.m. Sunday strike had collapsed.

Meanwhile, the head of a commuters’ group complained that riders are being forgotten by both sides amid the feud over pay and contributions to pension and health care plans. Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council Chairman Mark Epstein also said contingency plans for a walkout were providing little comfort.

The MTA last week revealed plans for school buses to take commuters from some Long Island stations to subway stops in New York City, the opening of large park-and-ride lots at Citi Field and Aqueduct racetrack, and a public relations effort aimed at encouraging people to work from home.

“They may be providing us with school buses, but we’re not children,” Epstein said. “Our concern is they stay at the table. No progress can be made when they’re not talking. Our message is return to the table. If the difference is a gap or a gulf, it will not be getting any smaller if they do not talk to each other.”

MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast said Monday there were no current plans to resume negotiations. Anthony Simon, the unions’ chief negotiator, said in an interview at his Babylon, Long Island, office that he had not heard from the MTA on Tuesday.

“So what we’re doing is preparing our membership and their families for the unfortunate possibility of a shutdown,” he said. “I’m not too optimistic.”

There is widespread consensus that a strike would have a devastating impact on both New York City and the suburbs to the east. Commuters and others were predicting hours-long traffic jams, overflowing parking lots near subway stations and a spectrum of other inconveniences.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli estimated that a strike would be a “devastating blow to a region that is still struggling to recover from Superstorm Sandy and the recession” and estimated economic losses of $50 million a day.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he was taking a “see how it goes” approach to the dispute.

“It often gets pushed to the brink and this is a major negotiation,” Cuomo said. “The LIRR is vital to Long Island. Long Island households do not have any additional funds to pay for an increase in fares.”

Commuters appeared exasperated over the looming strike. Some blamed workers for balking at paying for health care and pension costs.

Kevin Bigelow, a lawyer from West Babylon, blamed “typical union greediness. They’re the most overpaid, underworked union in the country.”

Lenny Mastrandea, a post-production colorist from Lindenhurst who takes the LIRR every day, said: “I pay for my health care. I think contributing to health care is fair.”

The railroad’s unions have been working without a contract since 2010. President Barack Obama appointed two emergency boards to help resolve the dispute, but the MTA rejected both nonbinding recommendations. The emergency board’s last proposal called for a 17 percent raise over six years while leaving work rules and pensions alone. The MTA offered a 17 percent wage increase over seven years and the pension and health care concessions.

“My contingency plan is to work from my kitchen table but I’m not sure how long I can pull that off,” said Nancy Schess, an attorney from Syosset, getting on a train in Hicksville. “I’m very, very nervous about it. I’m very much hoping they can get it together and reach a deal.”

___

Blidner reported from New York. Associated Press writers David Klepper in Albany and Michael Hill in Babylon contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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