Res. No. 730
Title
Resolution calling on New York State Governor George Pataki and the New York State Legislature to restructure the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to include voting members representing the riding public and labor.
Body
By Council Members Liu, Addabbo, Barron, Clarke, Comrie, Davis, Felder, Fidler, Foster, Jackson, Martinez, Nelson, Quinn, Recchia, Rivera, Seabrook, Vann, Yassky, Weprin, Reyna, Sears, Gonzalez and Gennaro
Whereas, Currently, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board is comprised of a seventeen voting members, including the chair, who are appointed by the Governor with New York State Senate advice and consent; and
Whereas, The MTA board has an additional five non-voting members who represent the riding public and labor; and
Whereas, In this time of fiscal hardship, all public agencies must spend taxpayer money efficiently and effectively; and
Whereas, The MTA can demonstrate its commitment to serving the public by including board members who represent a broader constituency; and
Whereas, The New York State Assembly has introduced several bills that would require the MTA to broaden public participation in the agency's decisions; and
Whereas, Such bills, respectively, are: A.706, which would allow the New York State AFL-CIO to select a voting member of the MTA board, A.2128, which would allow the coalition of employee unions to select and recommend the appointment of an additional voting member to the MTA board, and A.3457, which would enable each of the five borough presidents from the City of New York to each appoint an additional voting member to the MTA board; and
Whereas, Enacting the aforementioned bills would provide the MTA board with greater input from two of its largest constituencies, New York City bus and subway riders and the employees who keep the mass transit system running; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the New York City Council calls on New York State Governor George Pataki and the New York State Legislature to restructure the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to include voting members representing the riding public and labor.
APB
LS#2044