Nassau Standard

Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and the Senate Minority Conference have put forward a legislative package aiming at restructuring the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) amidst ongoing concerns over fiscal mismanagement, declining ridership, and rising subway crime.

Despite a proposal for a $64.5 billion five-year Capital plan by the Governor, fiscal accountability at the MTA is under scrutiny. Ridership levels have dropped and remain below pre-pandemic figures, coupled with a significant rise in subway crimes. Assaults on police officers have increased by over 150 percent since 2019, while felony assaults rose by 55 percent compared to that year. In response, the Senate Minority Conference criticizes the potential tax hikes aimed at funding MTA deficits.

"The MTA is fiscally mismanaged...the Governor and Legislative Majorities continue to push for yet another tax hike—another bailout for a system that has failed the people it serves. Enough is enough," stated Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. "Our legislative package will bring the accountability, transparency, and real reforms necessary to fix this broken system," she added.

Another critique came from Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, who highlighted the need for accountability and transparency within the MTA. "As spending goes up, ridership continues to plummet...they are looking to the constituents...to foot their bills with another possible payroll tax. It needs to stop," Ortt commented.

The legislation proposed includes measures to bolster public safety, such as allowing police officers to use MTA services for free and increasing penalties for crimes committed on MTA property. Moreover, the package advocates for transparency and fiscal accountability, including the repeal of congestion pricing, the establishment of the Long Island Transportation Account, and the creation of the MTA Control Board to oversee financial discipline.

This legislative initiative underscores the Senate Minority Conference's intent to address the issues of public safety, accountability, and fiscal management that have plagued the MTA, signaling a push for substantial reforms in the transportation system.