MTA chair dishes on budget proposals

Presented by NY Renews, a project of Tides Advocacy

Public transit riders have been left between stops as state budget negotiations continue to largely focus on changes to the state bail laws.

But we have a sense of what lawmakers and mass transit executives are pushing for as discussions among Democratic lawmakers continue behind closed doors more than a week past the April 1 deadline.

In an interview with POLITICO, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber cast doubt on a Senate proposal to raise money for the cash-strapped agency by setting up a residential parking permit system in New York City neighborhoods, an idea he previously expressed reservations about but said he was “open” to considering.

“Putting aside the politics of residential parking permits in New York, it’s not a tested revenue stream,” Lieber said, adding he doesn’t want to “roll the dice” on a policy that may not yield enough cash.

He continues to back Gov. Kathy Hochul’s spending plan, which would raise new money by hiking the payroll tax on certain businesses served by the MTA and directing future casino tax revenue and licensing fees to the agency. It would also require New York City to contribute an additional $500 million to the agency, a premise that Mayor Eric Adams has strongly opposed in his meetings with lawmakers in Albany.

Lawmakers from the five boroughs say they are considering taxing streaming services or ride-hail trips to limit the hit to the city.

“The key for me is that everyone has to take on a little bit of responsibility,” state Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) recently told POLITICO. “Suburbs have to pay their share because they benefit from transit. The city is going to have to pay some costs because they benefit from transit.”

Whatever they decide will directly affect riders’ wallets, with a fare and toll hike still under consideration, absent significant state support.

IT’S WEDNESDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: [email protected] or on Twitter: @annagronewold

WHERE’S KATHY? In Albany and New York City delivering remarks at the National Action Network’s Keeper of the Dream Gala.

WHERE’S ERIC? In New York City delivering remarks at the National Action Network’s ribbon cutting ceremony for the Annual National Convention. Later, he will make a rat-related announcement and meet virtually with Secretary Denis McDonough of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Next, the mayor will deliver remarks at a signing ceremony with Paris Baguette and American Chamber of Commerce Korea, attend the National Action Network’s Keepers of the Dream Gala, and deliver remarks at National Symposium for Korea Finance Society’s 15th Anniversary Celebration.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The prior administration didn’t have a mayor that’s a computer geek and willing to go where others wouldn’t go” — Eric Adams on his support for controversial policing technology like the crime-fighting canine robot “Digidog.”

WHAT CITY HALL IS READING

“Larger raises for cops could add another $700M to city’s deficit,” by New York Post’s Nolan Hicks: The collective bargaining deal struck last week between Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s largest police union could deepen the city’s eye-watering budget shortfall by another $700 million, a new analysis shows. The new costs would come from larger raises that were promised to the Police Benevolent Association by City Hall in the new labor agreement, which has yet to be ratified by the PBA’s rank-and-file.

“Security Robots. DigiDog. GPS Launchers. Welcome to New York,” by The New York Times’ Dana Rubinstein: “The police-cordoned-off block of Times Square on Tuesday made the so-called crossroads of the world look even more dystopian than usual. There were two security robots that onlookers compared in appearance to R2-D2 from “Star Wars” or a Dalek from ‘Doctor Who,’ as well as a gun-shaped device that police officers can use to shoot GPS-enabled trackers onto fleeing vehicles. Then there was the return of Digidog, a robotic dog to be used in life-threatening police situations. And presiding over all of it was Mayor Eric Adams, who told the assembled news media that the city would again deploy robotic dogs — almost two years to the day after the New York Police Department bowed to public criticism and stopped using the technology.”

“City Council Passes Bill to Ban Guinea Pig Sales,” by THE CITY’s Haidee Chu: “City leaders this week took another step toward banning the sale of guinea pigs within the five boroughs. The City Council on Tuesday voted 42 to 7 in favor of a bill banning the sale of the furry rodents — delivering to the mayor’s desk a long-stalled proposal sponsored by 36 out of 51 Council members. ‘Guinea pigs should be adopted, not sold in pet stores,’ said City Councilmember Lynn Schulman (D-Queens), who chairs the health committee and held up a guinea pig doll during the committee vote earlier in the day to express her support. ‘You can see I’m touching this — most guinea pigs you can’t touch. They’re very sensitive.’”

WHAT ALBANY'S READING

“Hochul: New York updates sexual harassment policy for employers,” by Spectrum News’ Nick Reisman: “New York state officials have finalized an updated policy for combating sexual harassment in the workplace for employers in the private, as well as non-profit sectors, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced. Changes include how to address remote workers, gender discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. At the same time, the Department of Labor also announced a new training video for employers, as well as online resources to help workers understand the new policy and mandatory training requirements.”

“State Senate leader contemplates ending Commission on Judicial Nomination,” by Times Union’s Joshua Solomon: “State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins wants to eliminate the Commission on Judicial Nomination, which screens and finalizes a list of candidates from which the governor can nominate someone to serve on the Court of Appeals. Stewart-Cousins told reporters at the Capitol Tuesday that she is contemplating a constitutional amendment that could allow voters to strip a main component of the ‘merit-based’ selection process the Legislature agreed to nearly 50 years ago.”

“Budget deadlock over bail holds up talks on expanding NYC charter schools,” by New York Post’s Zach Williams and Carl Campanile: “Eleven days past an initial budget deadline, Albany Democrats remain so stuck on bail reform and housing issues that legislative leaders say serious talks have yet to even begin on expanding charter schools in New York City. ‘There has not been – no,’ state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) told reporters Tuesday at the Capitol when asked whether ‘substantive’ discussions had taken place on the matter. ‘Bail and housing have been dominant in our conversations thus far.’”

“New York will stockpile abortion pill misoprostol after Texas ruling,” by Crain’s New York’s Amanda D’Ambrosio

TRUMP'S NEW YORK

“Trump to return to NYC Thursday for second deposition as N.Y. Attorney General James ramps up fraud case,” by Daily News’ Molly Crane Newman: Donald Trump will return to New York City on Thursday for his second homecoming in as many weeks to sit for another deposition in state Attorney General Letitia James’ sprawling financial fraud case, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to the Daily News on Tuesday. The former president’s second sitdown with James’ in her $250 million fraud lawsuit against his family real estate business and its top executives comes after Trump recently appeared in a Manhattan courtroom to face a litany of felony business fraud charges.

“Manhattan DA Bragg sues Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan over Trump case interference,” by WNYC’s Samantha Max: “Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is suing House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) over what he deems a “brazen and unconstitutional attack” on his office’s prosecution of former President Donald Trump. Bragg announced the suit on Tuesday, days after Jordan’s committee subpoenaed Mark Pomerantz, a former assistant district attorney who was investigating Trump before he resigned from the DA’s office in 2022. Bragg has faced criticism from Trump supporters after he secured an indictment of the former president last week.”

SPOTLIGHT

POLITICO is launching its inaugural Mayors Club today, a project focused on taking the pulse of local government around the country by surveying 50 mayors — one from each state — on a range of hot-button issues, and Rochester Mayor Malik Evans has agreed to take part.


In the first of several installations, #TheFiftyMayors reflected on how they tackle crime and policing in their cities. We also asked all of them what issue keeps them up at night the most.

AROUND NEW YORK

— The new art museum in Buffalo set to open in June r eceived $1 million in federal funding for its “Great Lawn.”

— A diaper-changing station will be placed in most NYC park’s restrooms by 2027.

— Here are five reasons why Chicago was chosen by Democrats to host their 2024 convention.

— Half of the 1,700 people on the Nassau County Police Department’s gang database have no reason or little explanation to be included in the list.

SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: CBS’ Rita Braver … Peter Scher of JPMorgan Chase … Fred Ryan … ABC News’ Eric Ortega … CNN’s Greg Clary … Woody Johnson … Tommy Schanzer

MEDIAWATCH — Carl Higbie has been named the host of Newsmax’s new daily 5 p.m. show “Carl Higbie Frontline.” He most recently hosted Newsmax’s “Wake Up America Weekend.”

MAKING MOVES — Rasmia Kirmani, a public housing expert, has been elected chair of the Center for Justice Innovation’s Board of Directors.

WHAT WALL STREET IS READING — “Private equity moves to cash in on Washington policy shops,” by Sam Sutton in POLITICO’s Morning Money newsletter

Real Estate

“More Housing Density in New York City? Not So Fast, Say Some City Lawmakers on Key Hochul Proposal,” by THE CITY’s Gabriel Poblete: Suburban legislators are fiercely resisting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s ambitious plan to build 800,000 new homes across the state over the next decade, largely along MTA commuter lines. And now April 10 has come and gone, the second deadline Albany has missed to come up with a state budget, with bail reform and housing among the issues still caught in the lurch