Brian there on WNYC, and yes, now we continue our election series, 30 issues in 30 days.

It's day 20 and issue 20.

Our free buses, the best bang for our transportation book.

Free buses, as you probably know, are a pillar of Democratic mayoral frontrunners around

Mob Donny's transportation plan.

The proposal piloted by Momdani as Queen's Assembly member last year, there was a pilot project,

aims to speed up the notoriously slow bus system

and help New Yorkers struggling with the city's high cost of living.

In our 30-issue series, we've been addressing some with explainers and some with debates.

This is going to be on the debate side.

So joining us to make their arguments are Charles Komenoff, transit activist,

and mathematician. His Excel traffic spreadsheet model was used by New York state officials

in drafting the 2019 congestion pricing law. You either love him or hate him for that. He has

endorsed Mom Dani's free bus plan and Eric Goldwyn, assistant professor and program director

at NYU's Marin Institute of Urban Management. His article in the journal Vital City is more skeptical,

it asks, are there other ways to achieve Zeran Mamdani's campaign promise to make transit more affordable?

Charles and Eric, thanks for coming on WNYC today and engaging. Hi there.

Hey, Brian. Hello. Thank you. And let me start with a clip from last night's Channel 4, Politico,

Telemundo, mayoral debate. Since this is Mamdani's core proposal, let's start with what

Mamdani had to say when asked about free buses on the debate stage last night, 30 seconds.

We will make buses free by replacing the revenue that the MTA currently gets from buses.

This is revenue that's around $700 million or so.

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