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Governor Paterson was saying hi to commuters at a Midtown subway station yesterday (photograph courtesy the governor's office)
Yesterday morning, after the State Legislature agreed to bailout the MTA, Governor Paterson took to the underground, taking a subway to the 42nd Street-Bryant Park stop. He told commuters, "We're going to have a widespread cleanup and clean out of the MTA. And start getting this place working in an effective way. Because the one thing I've learned through this process is no one trusts anything the MTA says." Cut to a few hours later, when MTA CEO Lee Sander announced his resignation.
Sander, a former city transportation commissioner who was appointed to the position by former governor Eliot Spitzer, had offered his resignation to Paterson earlier this year; when Paterson accepted it (apparently yesterday), the Post reports that Sander said, "I am disappointed, but I respect the governor's decision." The Post also adds that Sander's last day is May 22 and "he'll collect a year's salary of $350,000, according to terms set in his employment letter." According to the NY Times, "Mr. Sander and Mr. Paterson have never appeared to have a close relationship. While Mr. Sander spoke directly with Mr. Spitzer, he generally dealt with Mr. Paterson’s staff."
Now the speculation begins for who will be appointed; one contender is former NYC deputy mayor and NYC budget chief Marc Shaw who helped usher in Metrocards when he was with the MTA (Shaw has been advising the governor lately). Paterson's office said, "The governor is committed to finding the strongest possible candidate to lead and manage the MTA."
Transit Workers Union Roger Toussaint praised Sander to the NY Times; Sander, notably, reached out to Toussaint after he was appointed (the pair lunched at the Old Homestead). Toussaint told the Times, “He took the first real major steps to turn the agency around, to restore the customer-service orientation there, to restore employee confidence and to make the agency more transparent and accountable. My greatest concern here is that the progress made could be lost if the governor makes a wrong choice."
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Folks are saying Sander is a scapegoat and his resignation only puts on the appearance of reform. The MTA's board will still be made up of wealthy political appointees who never take mass transit.
Even though Hevesi's allegation of the two sets of books are being disputed left and right, there's still the question of the MTA's real estate assets; how much are they worth and how much are they being sold off for?
By the way Rockland County wants out of the MTA altogether.
Cost cutting really should start at home, like reducing the MTA CEO salary to a rate commensurate with other public service executive positions.
I agree, when i read that, i was like are you F'ing kidding me??? Jesus, isn't his salary alone 1/4 of the deficit they're facing? Why the hell should anyone bail their asses out?? And why can't we hold them more accountable, like they're doing with the big 4 car companies & banks?
While his salary may be high, I don't think it was 1/4 of the deficit. If it were, the deficit would only be $1.4 million. That's kind of nothing in MTA-land.
Do those clerks even have a purpose anymore? I haven't approached one in over 10 years.
They serve mostly no purpose. I saw a family about to lose it when the clerk completely ignored them while they were trying to get through the special entry gate with their children and elderly parents. The wife was literally waving her arms a foot away from his face. I wasn't involved but even I was getting angry.
Anyone who Toussaint likes is bad news.
Hey Paterson! go after the fucking unions and stop gouging the goddamn paying customers... Try it just once...
I will bet anything that within a month there will be a money laundering scandal associated with his resignation.
That turd burglar.
At the risk of repeating myself... Paterson should appoint Eliot Spitzer to replace Sander!
Straphangers Campaign is saying that Sander was actually pretty solid. Once again, people (including the Governor) are deflecting blame from the State Senate, where it squarely rests.
Does the MTA need to cut waste? Sure. But by focusing on that issue people are avoiding the realty that the MTA is dramatically underfunded by the state.
"Because the one thing I've learned through this process is no one trusts anything the MTA says."
the art of being frank: a demonstration of why Paterson rules!
"Governor Paterson took to the underground, taking a subway to the 42nd Street-Bryant Park stop"
Where did he start at? Probably from Grand Central on the 7 train.
"(the pair lunched at the Old Homestead)."
On the taxpayer's dime no doubt.
SHUT UP, TOUSSAINT!
I have confidence in Paterson and his ability to make good selections for open jobs. He did so well with the open Senate seat.