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I want to discuss "president Obama must remove Sean Hanninty from the air" he's too vicious with liars. Don't like him and never will.

Bobby G: Debt service is about 13% of the MTA's budget: http://www.mta.info/mta/budget/feb2009.htm

I have a theory about why Lee Sanders was fired. Let me first say that I am a life long Democrat and libersl. I lived through the destruction of the NYC school system for 20+ years by the appointment, cometimes for money,
of political hacks in positions of authority without concern for competence. When Gov. Paterson came into office I was concerned because his father, althought probably not involved, was a large part of that Democratic Party. I reserved judgment. His appointment of Senator Hilldebrand led me to believe that my first inclinations were correct. It will be very interesting to see who gets the job as head of the MTA. I hope that I am wrong.

Michael D. White #6 - Your concern is valid, but that pretty much happened. Mayor Bloomberg wanted this valuable property to be transfered to his friend and the MTA board rolled over and unanimously approved it. They do whatever the governor and mayor want without ANY regards as to how it damages the MTA and the future viability of the agency. Not only will the MTA handover the railyard, it will incur the expense of making the transportation upgrades required (hundreds of millions) for this property to be profitable for the developer.
Taxpayers subsidizing organized crime

I had thought that the good thing about Sanders being booted was that I wouldn't have to hear him lie on my radio.

Please?

Part of the reason people are so angry is the overwhelming impression that the vast majority of the decision-makers on public transit feel *none* of the affects of their decisions.

Sander may be an exception to this. But a significant percentage of MTA board members enjoyed free E-Z passes. The people in Albany clearly don't use the MTA.

Many city officials get free parking at their workplaces.

And Michael Bloomberg likes to pretend he takes the subway. In fact, on the now-rare days when he takes it at all, he has a multi-car armed escort ferrying him to an express train.

Here's a suggestion: Mandate by law that ALL city officials take public transit to work.

c'mon brian!!! this is hogwash. other places would love to have this system? this is the greatest city in the world with a disgusting, wasteful sub par subway system.
i don't want to hear about the old structures etc...it is SO apparent to anyone who rides the subway that the waste and mismanagement pervades the entire system. one quick example- why are those people in the booths??? they are USELESS, USELESS overpaid morons with horrible attitudes and a pay rate and benefit plan that most ny'ers would die to have.
good riddance sander

Why didn't the MTA Board speak up and complaint about Bloomberg's request to hand over valuable MTA real estate to politically connected developers. These were assets that could have been used to pay down the debt.
We need an MTA board that is independent, transparent and accountable and that will call out the governor and mayor when they try to use the MTA as a cash cow or to divert funds and wealth away from public transit.

Many of us are very concerned that this period of MTA turmoil and change might result in something extremely stupid and political hackish happening: An MTA approval of a transfer of the Vanderbilt railyards to Forest City Ratner for the increasingly indefensible Atlantic Yards megadevelopment.

Michael D. D. White
Noticing New York

Many of us are very concerned that this period of MTA turmoil and change might result in something extremely stupid and political hackish happening: An MTA approval of a transfer of the Vanderbilt railyards to Forest City Ratner for the increasingly indefensible Atlantic Yards megadevelopment.

Michael D. D. White
Noticing New York

Mr Sander was a very good CEO of the system. I remember how it was in the 70's and 80's.
Mr Sander, hold your head up high! You did a great job!

Mr. Sander:

At the very least thank you for coming on the Brian Lehrer Show and answering questions.

Mine is: What percentage of the operating budget is debt service?

Mr. Sanders seems to be a nice guy and he was not responsible for the mismanagement of the agency, but it is depressing that an accomplished man like him has not been man enough to come clean and be honest with the public about the mismanagement and the abuses of Governor Pataki.
He is currently lying by claiming that the Legislature made them take this debt. The MTA board could have spoken up and it was Governor Pataki who got you to take on too much debt and you guys stayed quiet.

Oh please, sorry it's under these circumstances. Yeh, bye Lee, please close the door gently behind you when you leave.

Please don't go!