... mean-ingful investments in increasing service or creating new transit options in the boroughs. In part, this is a function of the unique and to many New York- ers, uniquely infuriating—governance ... boroughs into New York City in 1898 and further enabled by rail construction and, for better and for worse, new intra -city highways.The consolidation not only made New York the empire city, but also ... WATER RATES In 2008, the city approved a 14.5 percent increase for water and sewer rates in the five boroughs, the largest increase since 1992. Overall, water and sewer rates in the city have...