The MTA is eliminating station customer assistants from 17 train stations throughout Brooklyn.

Although some straphangers argue they need clerks in their neighborhood, the MTA says, "the reduced staffing of stations is necessary to help balance New York City transit?s operating budget.?According to the MTA, more than 500 station customer assistants and about 200 agent positions will be eliminated across the city.

MTA officials say each of the affected stations will have at least one full time clerk in a booth for 24 hours every day, each day of the week.