Don't put tax load on NYC commuters

Jerry Kremer's article in favor of reinstating the commuter tax is terribly unfair and inappropriate ["An alternative to the MTA payroll tax," Opinion, May 16].

He proposes to use the commuter tax to replace the Metropolitan Transportation Authority payroll tax. Why not go straight to the source of the problem, the MTA itself? How about the MTA running a more efficient operation? After all, it has a monopoly and should be able to break even, if not turn a profit.

If other sources of revenue for the MTA are necessary, why target just those who work in New York City but live outside of the five boroughs? While we may not pay income taxes to the city, we do pay property taxes in our home counties. Even though that may not help the city, eating lunch and shopping in the city and paying sales tax helps the economy. Commuters use minimal services, and certainly not education, garbage removal, etc.

Isn't the cost of living on Long Island, in addition to Long Island Rail Road and subway fares, high enough without adding an MTA inefficiency tax? At least with the payroll tax, employers can look to offset the levy in such a way so that everyone feels the pain a little rather than just targeting commuters from the suburbs.

Stephen Frampton, Syosset