It’s Day Three of E-ZPassgate. Let’s recap.
On Tuesday, the Daily News reported on the free E-ZPasses for life that MTA board members, current and former, received in exchange for their public service. On Wednesday, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo ordered the MTA to stop, and the MTA magnanimously complied.
Just kidding. The MTA vowed to take the issue to court, and now a state authority and the state’s top lawyer at an impasse.
As details about this ridiculous story have emerged, we’ve developed a clearer picture of the MTA perks. For instance, as William Neuman reports in The Times today, the free E-ZPass rides are valid only on MTA-controlled tolls. The board members have to pay Port Authority tolls out-of-pocket.
Meanwhile, the Daily News noted that public transit perks are included as well. MTA board members receive free lifetime passes for themselves+1 on Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road and free lifetime MetroCards too. Wouldn’t you want to get your hands on a free unlimited ride MetroCard valid forever?
So all this drama got me thinking: What are some of the other unreported MTA perks? One can only wonder…
Free rush hour crowds for life — If any MTA board members want to experience the joys of a crowded commute, they can use their free MetroCards to ride the subways during rush hour. It’s the experience of getting shoved around a packed subway car, and it’s free!
Free Sauna (Summer Only) — If any board members are feeling the strains of a busy day riding around the MTA bridges and tunnels for free, they could always duck into the subways during the summer for a nice sit in the sauna-like conditions underground. It’s a great way to sweat off a few pounds.
Free Waits – This one’s fairly self-explanatory.
So there you have it. Along with all the free stuff the MTA Board members — some of the most successful real estate barons in New York — receive come some great ancillary perks. The rest of us pay $2 (or less) per swipe for this benefits, but these folks can get them for free. I hope they consider that as they fight tooth and nail for the free E-ZPass benefits.
3 comments
I have lots of gripes against MTA, but this ain’t one of them.
Its so petty and obviously political – it makes me angry there are even officials *thinking* about it. Just drop it – there are WAY bigger MTA issues to address.
You’d think they had cops walking their dogs or something.
[…] well that ends well for E-ZPassgate. This afternoon, the MTA issued a statement about the long-standing practice of issuing free ride perks to their board members. Said the statement: “In light of Attorney General Cuomo’s opinion, the MTA will amend […]
MTA board members a.inquire the real count of free E-ZPass benefits cards per member,wife kids mom father-in-law doorman you know 2WHY IN GOD’S NAME IS Barry Feinstein doing on the mta board. does anybody know federal investiagtors let him take a copout he was ordered to leave TEAMSTERS LOCAL #237 OF N.Y.C. EMPLOYEES UNION & TOO CEASE & DESIST ALL TEAMSTER TIES AIN’T NOTHING LIKE CORRUPTION FOR “UN-TOUCHABLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!