By Philip Newman
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, under pressure from state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, has ended its policy of handing out free E-ZPasses and MetroCards to MTA board members.
Cuomo told the MTA that such perks, including free, lifetime MetroCards and E-ZPasses, were illegal because they constituted compensation for board members who officially serve without compensation.
The MTA issued a statement last Thursday saying “in light of Attorney General Cuomo's opinion, the MTA will amend its longstanding practice of issuing free passes on the agency's transit network to its current and former board members.”
The MTA, which first said it would go to court in defense of the free pass policy, said the change would be subject to approval by the agency's board. It was unclear what a rejection of a vote to change the policy by the MTA board might bring.
Cuomo, at a news conference on the street outside his Wall Street area office, said last Thursday “the MTA is right to change course and alter its policies relating to current and former board members getting free E-ZPasses for life.
“No longer will board members get a free ride while everyday New Yorkers pay their own way. The MTA, like all government agencies, must follow the law like everyone else.”
Aaron Donovan, an MTA spokesman, said the new MTA policy applies to both E-ZPasses and MetroCards, but current members of the MTA board could use them only in connection with their MTA duties. No mention was made of how this limitation might be enforced.
Meanwhile, two members of the state Senate said they planned to introduce legislation making free E-ZPasses or MetroCards illegal for MTA board members.
Sens. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn) said they would jointly sponsor legislation in the Senate to outlaw the practice.
“The free taxpayer-financed E-ZPass tags being given to both past and present MTA board members for life is completely unwarranted,” Lanza said. “The hardworking taxpayers of New York should not be footing the bill for these free rides, especially in these difficult economic times.”
MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger said following the MTA's May 28 monthly meeting that the agency thought it had acted properly in issuing the passes, a policy of longstanding.
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext 136.
