| Releases & Statements
“Subway and bus riders got sacked,”
said Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum after hearing about the court
ruling. “Not only are riders going to wind up paying for
the sweetheart deal between the MTA and the Jets, this decision
also sets a bad precedent, allowing government agencies to predetermine
the outcome of bids.”
“New York City subway and bus
riders deserve to have a fare that’s fair and transportation
that gets you where you’re going on time. That’s what
this lawsuit aimed to do: prevent the MTA from squandering precious
resources at a time when its balance sheet is full of red ink
and the subways are full of problems.
Betsy Gotbaum filed suit against the
Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) over its handling of the
bidding process for the Hudson Rail Yards. Gotbaum sought to stop
the MTA from selling the right to build over the rail yards to
the Jets on the grounds that the process was unfair and the deal
was not in the best interests of New Yorkers.
“The MTA failed to fulfill its
legal responsibility to transit riders and New York City residents,”
said Gotbaum on the day she filed the suit. “The Board of
Directors apparently doesn’t get it: subway service is a
disaster. It’s time to start worrying about the deteriorating
state of our public transportation system.”
Gotbaum’s suit, which was filed
in Supreme Court, asserted that, by accepting the Jets’
bid, the MTA was in breach of its fiduciary duty to make the deal
“most beneficial” to the public and to ensure a process
“that fosters fair and open competition, is conducted under
the highest ethical standards, and enjoys the complete confidence
of the public.” The suit detailed a series of statements
and actions on the part of the MTA that suggested the process
was manipulated to favor the Jets.
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