The MTA suffered a bit of trash talkin’ from the City Council over the weekend. Apparently the MTA is allowing properties it is responsible for to turn into dumping grounds for discarded furniture, dirty diapers, graffiti and rubbish of all kinds, according to a council report.
But, top MTA spokesman Tom Kelly retorted, “Both council members know the efforts that we take to try to be good neighbors, but this is strong rhetoric to get them headlines on a Sunday afternoon.”
While the MTA is an easy punching bag, I think most New Yorkers know that the shadowy areas under the elevated lines trestles can downright nasty and even a little intimidating. Who’s ultimately to blame the city or the MTA? Even Counilman Eric Gioia, who presented the report, admitted the law is “murky.”
In other news, the New York Post reports that NYC Transit began testing new “robo-train” technology on the L line. Trains running between Third and Eighth Aves. will be in the hands of the computers -- part of CBTC or “communications-based train control.”
And the Daily News said transit workers should expect a lighter pay check next week as the MTA begins docking them three days pay for their “illegal” December strike. The MTA said workers should give up any hope that the penalties be waived.
-- Chuck Bennett
