All's fare in transit-system politics
A file photo of New York State Assemblyman Michael Montesano holding a press conference at the Hicksville Train Station. (August 2, 2010) Credit: Howard Schnapp
Mass-transit politics always boils down to who pays whom and how much. By this measure, a hearing in Manhattan on Friday of the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions qualified as intensely political.
For nearly three hours, Commmittee Chairman James Brennan (D-Brooklyn) comprehensively questioned Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Jay Walder and aides. Nassau's plan to drop the MTA as its bus contractor came up; Walder said this could save his agency $29 million a year because the county has so drastically reduced its payments.
"We're happy to continue to provide . . . good, quality service, but only if we're being paid to do that," Walder said.
Committee member Michael Montesano (R-Glen Head) put it in a different light. He noted that Nassau owns the buses and facilities but cannot control employee contracts. Prompted by a question from Montesano, Walder recalled the controversial 2009 arbitration award that gave bus and subway workers wage hikes totalling more than 11 percent over three years.
Montesano said privatizing staff in Nassau would offer the county "some control over salaries, benefits, contributions to health care, the pension arrangements. So I think it would be more cost effective for the county." He deems paratransit operations, now run by MTA's Long Island Bus, an important aspect of any transition.
Montesano last year succeeded fellow Republican Rob Walker -- who as County Executive Edward Mangano's chief deputy these days, plays a relevant role.
Long Island Rail Road President Helena Williams also appeared. Several years ago, as deputy to Mangano predecessor Thomas Suozzi, she negotiated funding with Long Island Bus, which she'd earlier run. On Friday, Williams testified on the LIRR East Side Access project -- which Walder said accounts for $2 billion of a $10 billion capital-plan shortfall facing the MTA.
OF PRIMARY CONCERN?:Lawyer Brad Gerstman, founder of Gotham Government Relations, says he's mulling fellow Democrats' exhortations to run a primary for North Hempstead supervisor. Gerstman, of East Hills, reported putting $300,000 into an exploratory fund for an unnamed office. He cites criticisms of two-term incumbent Dem Jon Kaiman. Kaiman says: "It's a free country. He has a right to put himself forward and we'll let the people decide."
