As a daily commuter in New York City, the voice behind the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announcements has become an integral part of my journey. Unfortunately, I find Velina Mitchell's voice to be grating and unpleasant. This sentiment is shared by many fellow commuters who believe that her voice does not contribute positively to our commuting experience.

The MTA serves approximately 5.5 million riders each weekday according to a 2019 report by the New York Times. That's millions of people who are subjected to these announcements multiple times per day. The impact on our daily lives is significant and it's time for change.

We understand that Ms. Mitchell may not have control over how her voice sounds, but we believe there are other roles within the MTA where she could excel without negatively impacting so many daily commuters.

We call upon the MTA management team to reconsider their choice of announcer for their public service messages and choose someone whose voice can be more universally appreciated by its diverse ridership.

Please sign this petition if you agree that it's time for a new voice behind the MTA announcements.