Dear Letters Editor:
Sen. Charles Schumer’s seven point plan for reform of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shows chutzpah. Consider these talking points.
Schumer calls on the authority to stop spending money on projects which take away from its basic mission and transportation.
Since his election to the Senate in 1998, he has been silent as the authority spent billions on projects at the request of either governor, which had nothing to do with either its basic mission or transportation.
Schumer wants more open meetings.
As a senator he participated in numerous closed door committee meetings and Democratic Senate caucuses. Many of his campaign fundraiser’s geared to pay-for-play campaign contributors who had to pony up thousands of dollars per ticket were closed to the media.
Schumer wants the twelve member board of commissioners from New York and New Jersey to select the authority’s director and deputy directors.
Why doesn’t he ask that the same reforms apply to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority?
Everyone knows that the MTA president serves as the pleasure of the governor. As such, he has little independence to make any decisions which might impact the governors political future or next election.
Schumer calls for the authority to submit procedures that will allow a detailed annual operating budget and a multi-year financial plan that can be adopted after opportunities for public review and comment open up the budget process to afford the public an opportunity to comment.
Why doesn’t he advocate the same for our federal budget?
Every year, he works hand in hand with Democratic Senate majority leader Harry Reid in introducing both legislation and budgets in the dead of night.
Even fellow members of the Senate have no time to read the hundreds or thousands of pages contained in toxic legislation before being asked to vote. If Senators don’t participate in any open process, how can either the media or public?
Schumer wants to end the abuse of agency political patronage.
Schumer has never been critical of political patronage appointments by any mayor, governor or president.
Was the hiring of his wife Iris by past New York City mayors to serve as New York City Department of Transportation or vice chancellor for the City University of New York totally on the merits?
It had nothing to do with being the spouse of a powerful Senator? Did her appointments have no relationship with his ability to impact the level of federal assistance, regulations or tax code legislation which could benefit NYC?
Schumer will say or do anything if it will generate some free press to keep his name in the headlines be it in print media, television or radio.
Schumer is the consummate self champion of egos!
Larry Penner
Great Neck
