Reinvent Albany Opposes Governor Cuomo’s Last Minute Proposal to Permanently Appoint State Budget Director to MTA Board

MTA Board Members Cannot Serve Two Masters on MTA Issues

Reinvent Albany strongly opposes the Governor’s last minute proposal to make major changes to the MTA’s governance structure by making the state budget director an ex officio appointee to the MTA board.

We believe it is inherently impossible for the state’s budget director, who must sign-off on numerous MTA contract and aid agreements, to fulfill his fiduciary duty as an MTA board member. We note that the state budget director is directly involved in the decision not to give the remaining MTA $7.3B in direct state capital aid pledged in the 2016 budget.

We are extremely concerned that this major legislation is coming to a vote with zero opportunity for public comment under the guise of a confirmation hearing. We are disappointed that the Senate and Assembly leadership are effectively rubber stamping a proposal that has profound long-term implications by the Governor without public review.