With the MTA facing a $1.2-billion deficit, the agency’s CEO and Executive Director Elliot Sander has declined a raise this year. His salary will remain at $275,000 with benefits that push his compensation package to around $350,000. While this is a hefty amount, Sander is probably underpaid considering the scope of his job and the MTA. However, he took a big PR hit when he accepted a $10,000 raise recently and couldn’t in good faith accept another raise right now.
Meanwhile, Sander made sure to drive home the symbolism of declining a raise. I think it’s a symbolic move but an appropriate move given where the MTA is,” Sander said to the Daily News. “We need to make the point to the Legislature that we’re prepared to sacrifice, and that’s what we’re doing here.”
2 comments
He could “drive home the symbolism” even more by taking the train with the rest of us plebes, assuming of course he lived in NYC, which I doubt.
He lives in Queens but in the LIRR-accessible area and not on the subway.