Comments on: Straphangers’ Russianoff Will be Named to Spitzer Team

By: someguy

someguy — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:16:32 +0000

Macchiavelli, there is a difference between private companies contracting specific tasks for government-operated facilities and private companies operating the facilities themselves. In the former case (what we have now), the government agencies running facilities have little direct incentive to run as efficiently as possible, and the contractors doing work for them have no incentive for the greater good of the system either – just to get paid for each individual project (or, as you put it, pad their own payroll with moral hazard). On the other hand, in a case of private operation of public infrastructure, the operating company has every incentive to make the finances work, to create a system that people want to use, to balance costs and benefits (rather than their getting lost in an overall government budget where users have no price signal in their choices).

I am no hardcore neo-liberal, but I think private-public partnerships deserve a try here – the public sector isn’t doing such a hot job with our transportation system right now.

By: Nicolo Macchiavelli

Nicolo Macchiavelli — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:38:24 +0000

Thruway privtization? Private companies, construction, design, system, consulting are all over the MTA and the Thruway Authority padding their own payroll with moral hazard. Just what we don’t need is more of it.

Gene has done great work protecting and advancing the interest of the riders. The two fare zones would not have ended without the political space he and Pataki created for each other in a magic moment of good policy a few years back.

The straphangers do have a one note song with regard to fare policy (lower) that keeps them rolling along with the support of the riders. A more modern approach with regards to fares, taken by NJT and other agencies in the area, would allow modest fare increases on a regular basis that better allows the agencies to budget. Rather than fighting off all fare increases until the system is starving itself then having a huge, desperate fare increase.

Pataki and Giuliani cuts in tax support exaccerbated that problem. Now Lee (is in a Cheney position to pick himself as leader?) or whoever takes over the operation for Spitzer will have to do some heavy financial lifting.

By: JK

JK — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 15:56:58 +0000

There is a lot of stuff NY could and should be doing. With our land use and transit mix, we could be showing the world how to do things right. But we have a legislature(which remains largely unchanged) that has not proven receptive to innovation in transportation or other policy realms.

By: Someone who knows

Someone who knows — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:54:06 +0000

“Is Lee Sander the head of that transition team?”

Now that is a scary thought, particularly given:

“The transition team’s job is to hire the mgmt team not to make policy or run the show.”

Ask anybody at City DOT about the management team Lee picked. He has the worst judgement about competence and integrity I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some doozies. Lee’s a nice guy, and not a bad theory/policy schmoozer, but when he actually has to do something he’s beyond hopelessly inept.

By: someguy

someguy — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:40:24 +0000

Privatization might help, but ultimately what’s needed is true cost pricing of road use – something like what Oregon is studying and what the UK is planning to implement. Mileage-, distance-, and pollution-based tolling via GPS or some other method. Ultimately that’s the most efficient and fare way to fund transportation use, for both transit and roads.

By: JK

JK — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 13:19:15 +0000

The transition team’s job is to hire the mgmt team not to make policy or run the show. Solving the money problem at the MTA (and SDOT for that matter) is a matter of political will, not financial wizardry. The wizards have already figured out how to bond every penny of income — and that’s the problem. The calculating to be done now is what new funding sources offer the biggest money bang for the political buck. Thruway privatization looks appetizing.

By: Clarence

Clarence — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 06:24:22 +0000

Russianoff is damn hero in this town! Can’t count how many times I have seen him on the subway system.

By: Pete Sikora

Pete Sikora — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 03:40:52 +0000

Ditto someguy… Gene Russianoff is one of the reasons the subways aren’t the mess they once were – and could become again without people like him. Muruch, you might not have a budget to put those buses on the road without the straphangers campaign. Save your venom for a better target.

By: someguy

someguy — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 03:22:44 +0000

Muruch, there’s always going to be a role for activists and gadflies, just as much as there will always be a role for the people who actually make things run. Without interested third parties, there would be no checks on the quality, efficiency and fairness of government policy and actions. Russianoff does a superb job being reasonable, rational as well as pithy.

By: Muruch

Muruch — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 03:18:11 +0000

As to Russianoff – it’s easy to be a gadfly who isn’t accountable to anybody but a gaggle of reporters for the next pithy quote. If he actually had to run a transit operation he might have a sense of the complexity of it and mightn’t be so glib and quick on the attack. As someone who has actually been part of the effort of getting buses on the road, I say this to the Straphangers and other armchair critics: “Make service, not soundbites.”

By: Glenn

Glenn — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 02:57:52 +0000

Um…that’s glad to “hear” it…

By: Nicolo Macchiavelli

Nicolo Macchiavelli — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 01:42:55 +0000

Is Lee Sander the head of that transition team? Who else is on it? Are there any financial people involved that know how to organize debt?

By: Glenn

Glenn — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:41:37 +0000

Glad to here it. I couldn’t think of a better advocate for mass transit commuters, alternative transportation and people who want a livable city!