Yes! Say Transit Groups to Governor Cuomo’s Call for Legislative Leaders and Mayor to Join Him Personally At Public MTA Capital Program Review Board Meeting

Reinvent Albany • NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign
Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC)
Riders Alliance • TransitCenter
Tri-State Transportation Campaign

Statement

Transit watchdog and advocacy groups strongly support Governor Cuomo’s proposal that he, legislative leaders and the mayor of New York City all represent themselves on the MTA Capital Program Review Board (CPRB). The groups say a public discussion of the MTA’s $50B plus 2020-2024 capital plan by the state’s political leaders would inject much needed transparency and accountability to wrangling over the public investment in the transit system at the core of the New York City and State economy. The groups thanked Governor Cuomo for his proposal and urged him to “represent himself” at open and public CPRB meetings regardless of what other leaders do.

Transcript of Governor Cuomo in radio interview with Alan Chartock October 1, 2010.
(Source: Governor’s office.)

Governor Cuomo: Well because the way I do it is just by injecting myself publically. Now, I’ll give you the next step the capital plan – you’re right – they just came up with the capital plan of $50 billion, which is the largest capital plan in history. Which we need, I believe that. Not just for the city subway for Long Island Railroad, Metro North. And you’re right, it’s a concern for the entire state because it’s a big revenue generator. They came up with the $50 billion plan. What’s supposed to happen now? Well they put forth the $50 billion plan. Then goes to a committee called the CPRB and the CPRB are innocuous, anonymous committee where the State Senate, State Assembly, the Mayor of New York, the Governor get to appoint somebody to this committee. And that committee any one person on that committee can veto the plan. How can that be?