New York lawmakers known as for the governor-appointed chairman of the New York Town transit formula to be fired amid accusations he downplayed a rash of subway crime to reward new New york tolls which can be aimed toward using commuters underground.
In feedback on a Bloomberg podcast, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber argued that crime on the MTA has declined and that the new viral incidents are giving an influence of a system-wide protection disaster.
“The entire stats are sure. Closing yr, we [had] in reality 12.5% much less crime than 2019 . . . , ” he stated.
“However there is no query that a few of these high-profile incidents; horrible assaults, have got in other people’s heads and made the entire formula really feel much less secure.”
SUBWAY MAYHEM SPURS CUOMO TO URGE HALT TO NEW NYC DRIVING TAX
Sen. Steve Rhoads, at podium, and participants of the New York State Senate name for MTA chairman Janno Lieber’s ouster. (NYS Senate GOP respectable photograph)
Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., shared a clip of Lieber ceremonially unveiling one of the vital new “Congestion Pricing” setups close to Lincoln Heart and stated the company “wishes an enema; beginning with Janno Lieber.”
“Consider being such an a–hole as to have fun screwing New Yorkers out in their hard earned cash only for the privilege to pressure to paintings,” Lawler wrote, adding that Hochul “must be defeated in 2026.”
Lieber ripped Lawler in reaction, telling MSNBC that the Rockland County lawmaker was once dabbling in “complaint politics.”
Lieber claimed {that a} plurality of Lawler’s constituents – in bed room communities 30 miles north of town – already depend on mass transit and that handiest “one p.c” make the day-to-day pressure down the Palisades to the “congestion-pricing” zone.
HOCHUL CHRISTMASTIME BOAST OF SAFER SUBWAYS CAME AMID STRING OF ALARMING VIOLENT ATTACKS
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (Getty)
New York’s new $9 toll to go into any a part of New york beneath Central Park has enraged commuters, in addition to citizens inside of its bounds.
Commuters from Lengthy Island discovered themselves bottlenecked in looking to get admission to the closing unaffected access to New york – the Higher Degree of the Queensboro Bridge.
One East Aspect luxurious development’s go out additionally by accident pressured citizens thru a toll gantry, despite the fact that they’re looking to move uptown; clear of the zone, whilst outer neighborhoods braced for a deluge of suburbanites on the lookout for parking to steer clear of the toll.
New York Senate Deputy Minority Chief Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island, torched Lieber:
“Janno: pull your head from your piles of statistics, get out from in the back of your laptop, and stroll a mile for your riders’ sneakers earlier than you forget about, disregard and insult them,” Lanza stated.
“The folks of this state and town deserve the reality and actual answers, no longer eggheads looking to persuade themselves they’re doing a excellent activity.”
Sen. Invoice Weber of Valley Cottage added: “Albany Democrats declare congestion pricing is to scale back visitors congestion, however at what price? It punishes on a regular basis other people—operating oldsters, firefighters, seniors going to physician’s appointments, and people who already combat to make ends meet.”
“For them, this isn’t only a toll; it’s some other impediment of their day-to-day lives. Inform me, how is that modern?” he requested.
Sen. Steve Rhoads of Nassau prior to now quipped that the MTA’s acronym stands for “Cash Thrown Away” and stated this week that his constituents who depend on trains just like the LIRR have grown distrustful of the company.
“[Lieber] has no thought what it’s to be a working-class New Yorker,” Rhoads stated. “Whilst affordability and protection are large issues for actual other people, they’re summary ideas for him.”
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber, Gov. Kathleen Hochul and fifth Ave’s new toll gantries. ((Luiz C Ribeiro/Gardiner Anderson/Theodore Parisienne for New York Day-to-day Information/Tribune Information Carrier by means of Getty Photographs.)
Lieber was once prior to now an government at Silverstein Homes — not too long ago overseeing a International Business Heart mission — a transportation adviser to President Invoice Clinton and Mayor Ed Koch, and a journalist for the New Republic.
He was once additionally the MTA’s capital building officer underneath Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo, who nonetheless strongly helps the congestion pricing plan, not too long ago informed Fox Information Virtual thru a spokesman that he, then again, has reservations about whether or not now’s the appropriate time to turn on the tolls – given the insecurity in subway protection and adjustments within the town because the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s plain that New York is in a dramatically other position these days than it was once in 2019, and with out a find out about forecasting its penalties in line with information, no longer politics, it would do extra hurt than excellent to New York Town’s restoration,” Cuomo spokesman Wealthy Azzopardi stated closing week.
State Sen. Alexis Weik, R-Suffolk, known as the video of Lieber’s Broadway sign-reveal “a despicable display of glee and greed” and known as for a monetary evaluate board to scrutinize the transit company’s books.
Based on the slew of requires Lieber’s ouster, MTA Leader of Coverage & Exterior Family members John J. McCarthy defended the transit boss.
“Below Chair Lieber’s management, the MTA has added provider, opened new terminals and equipped document on-time efficiency for his or her constituents on Lengthy Island and the Hudson Valley, whilst turning in probably the most dependable subway provider in a dozen years,” McCarthy stated.
“However it appears, none of that forestalls out-of-touch politicians from bloviating.”
