Fighting to put the brakes on the MTA’s closed-door policies

Assemblyman Michael Benedetto:

Assemblyman Benedetto: Reining in New York’s public authorities

The Assembly and Senate recently passed legislation to hold public authorities like the MTA accountable to New Yorkers. Assemblyman Benedetto urges the governor to sign this vital legislation into law. The bill would:

Create an inspector general with jurisdiction over authorities - and a fixed term and salary to help ensure independence - to make sure authorities are given the kind of oversight they’ve lacked
Create the Authority Budget Office to review the finances of public authorities
Mandate training for authority board members, strengthen ethics, and prohibit authority executives from sitting on the boards
Improve standards for independent audits of authority spending
Establish new rules to regulate the sale of authority property

The MTA’s long history of mismanagement

According to figures from a 2002 Federal Transit Authority report, New York City commuters pay a higher share of the costs of running a transportation system - 53 percent - than any other city in the country. And the problem is getting worse, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has increased fares twice this year already.

We have seen the effects of public authorities going unchecked. In 2003 the MTA was found to be keeping two accounting books - hiding more than $500 million from New Yorkers. Additionally, many New Yorkers were outraged to learn that former U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato was paid $500,000 to simply make a phone call to the MTA on a real estate developer’s behalf.

It is clear that as a state authority, the MTA has very little accountability to New Yorkers. It is time for Albany to implement serious reform of the MTA and other public authorities to protect our working families’ hard-earned money.

Let’s hear your thoughts on the MTA

***Click here for printable view.***

To help Assemblyman Benedetto better serve you, please complete this short questionnaire and mail it back to his office. Thank you in advance for your time and input.

How do you commute to work? (circle all that apply)

car bus train walk
How do you get to the bus stop/station? (circle all that apply)

car walk other
Please rate railcar/bus quality and comfort (circle one)

very good good fair poor
Please rate train station/bus stop maintenance (circle one)

very good good fair poor
Please rate on-time service (circle one)

very good good fair poor
Please rate affordability of fares (circle one)

very good good fair poor
How would you rate the MTA’s handling of commuter issues? (circle one)

very good good fair poor

Any additional comments

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Address:

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Mail to:
Assemblyman Michael Benedetto
3369 E. Tremont Ave.
Bronx, NY 10461
(718) 892-2235

Bus stop in Harlem?

There is currently no Harlem bus stop on the express bus line. This forces many commuters to have to backtrack from 84th Street to get home. If you support a new Harlem bus stop, please sign and return this form to help Assemblyman Benedetto convince officials to create the new stop.

Signature

Assemblyman Michael Benedetto
3369 E. Tremont Ave. • Bronx, NY 10461
(718) 892-2235 • benedem@assembly.state.ny.us

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