Ravitch takes centerstage, this time in Albany

For many in New York State politics, 2009 has been the year of Richard Ravitch. He was appointed in 2008 to head a commission designed to save the MTA from fiscal ruin, and as the first five months of 2009 unfolded, he was front and center during contentious fare hike hearings and State Senate debates over a controversial tax-and-toll rescue plan. Eventually, the Senate passed a watered-down version of the Ravitch Plan that incorporated his payroll tax and various other fees but not the East River Bridge Tolls. No matter the outcome, everyone praised Ravitch for his tireless efforts and calm demeanor.

Yesterday, Ravitch, who celebrated his 76th birthday on Tuesday, received a late present from Gov. David Paterson. In an effort to end the partisan wrangling and 31-31 standoff in the State Senate, Paterson appointed Ravitch as the state’s new lieutenant governor. The position had been empty since Paterson assumed the governorship from Eliot Spitzer last March. While largely ceremonial, the lieutenant governor is responsible for casting tie-breaking votes in the Senate and for taking over when the governor is out of state. Since Pedro Espada had laid temporary claim to the latter duties, Paterson had been under pressure to pick someone — anyone — to head off a full coup by the feckless politician from the Bronx and/or Westchester.

When the Ravitch news came down late in the day, a few transit watchers e-mailed me with the alert. Did I think, they wanted to know, if the Ravitch appointment is a harbinger of good things to come for the MTA? After all, Ravitch is one of the authority’s leading proponents, and he can, in the parlance of New York State politics, get things done. As Gary Reilly mused on his blog, “Now if Ravitch can get a second bite at the apple with the MTA funding situation (bridge tolls et al) we might have some hope yet.”

While I would love to see Ravitch usher through some groundbreaking MTA legislation and initiatives over the next 15 months, I can’t get too excited about his new role. First, Paterson named Ravitch to the spot simply because he is largely bullet-proof. Many politicians — including New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo — do not believe Paterson has the constitutional authority to name a new Lieutenant Governor. State Republicans and perhaps Cuomo as well will pursue a legal halt to this appointment.

But by naming Ravitch, a largely non-controversial figure and a beloved New York State bureaucrat, he has thrown the ball back into Cuomo’s court. As Steve Kornacki wrote, it was a perfectly executed and rather savvy Hail Mary pass from a reluctant governor who hasn’t show much in that regard. As Paterson tries to get the state government back on track, as he deals with a faltering economy and numerous other problems, transit will as always sit on the backburner until a crisis arises again in six or ten or twelve months.

I wish Ravitch, with his new-found position as the state’s number two guy, could bring about the transit revolution that we need and want. His boss though doesn’t have the political capital do it, and Ravitch’s role will be to act as a peacemaker and peacekeeper until the state elects a new governor in 2010. We can dream, but don’t hold your breath. Transit advocates are in it for the long haul even as our best ally finds himself in an unlikely position.