TANSTAAFL...

At least not for the MBTA Board of Directors any more...

T Board Bags The Free Lunches

BOSTON (WBZ) ― From now on, the MBTA Board of Directors may have to brown-bag it.

There will be no free meal at the board's December meeting. Last week, our I-Team uncovered a long standing MBTA tradition: a free lunch for board members at taxpayer expense.

But we learned today that the T is pulling the plug on the chafing dishes. Our I-Team also learned that for the fiscal year that ended in June, the total tab for the lunches came to just under $5,000.

Now, granted, $5K isn't a big chunk of change, all things considered. But in these uncertain economic times, where state budgets are getting cut and taxes, tolls, and fees are all being raised, it's the height of arrogance for the MBTA (which, BTW, is absolutely hemorrhaging money) to continue offering free (i.e. taxpayer-funded) lunches to the Board of Directors.

Watch the accompanying video. The attitude of the MBTA head is just amazing. He's completely non-plussed that the Board is getting a free lunch, just saying that it's always been that way. With the MBTA some eight billion dollars (yes, billion with a "B"), back wages not paid to the tune of $53 million, and fees and prices being increased across the board, $5K a year is a small figure, to be certain. But it's the principle of the thing.

That's my $5k going for those lunches, dammit. I want it back.

That is all.