Updated 05/08/2009 11:52 AM
MTA Head Elliot Sander Announces Resignation
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MTA Chief Executive Elliot "Lee" Sander announced Thursday he is stepping down from his position, just one day after lawmakers in Albany approved a bailout for the cash-strapped agency.
The agency said Sander submitted his letter of resignation (full version below) during a meeting with Governor David Paterson's first deputy secretary, Larry Schwartz.
His resignation will take effect on May 22nd.
The news comes just one day after lawmakers in the State Senate and Assembly approved an MTA rescue plan that included a provision to combine the CEO and chairman positions.
There was also immediate speculation that Governor Paterson would replace Sander and name his own appointee to run the agency.
"Certainly dealing with that issue in the context of the economic meltdown exacerbated the situation. And so I don't think it's fair to say that the MTA is responsible for that," said Sander.
"It's always easy to criticize, but it's a very big agency, he's inherited a lot of problems and I think he tried to address them to the extent that he could in a couple years," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Sander, who took over the MTA on January 1, 2007, after being appointed by former governor Eliot Spitzer, has generally received high marks for his leadership and is credited for bringing greater openness and accountability to the agency.
When asked about Sander's future Thursday morning, Governor Paterson seemed intent on shaking up the agency's leadership.
"We're going to have a widespread clean-up and clean out of the MTA and start getting this place working in an effective way," Paterson said. "Because the one thing that I learned through this process is that the public doesn't trust anything the MTA says."
It's expected MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger will also be stepping down as part of the restructuring.
There's no word yet on who will head of the agency.
Meanwhile, city straphangers had mixed reactions to Thursday's announcement.
After months of preparing for higher fares and possible service cuts, some feel a changing of the guard at the MTA was unavoidable.
"Someone's gotta be the fall guy so from time to time it is the person at the very top. They have to be accountable, they're running a big machine here," said one New Yorker.
"I have a feeling that he'll be replaced by someone at the same salary and he will be replaced right down the line. So we won't save any money," said another New Yorker.
"It has been a great honor to lead the 70,000 hard-working men and women who run the world's greatest public transportation system. I am tremendously proud of our accomplishments making the MTA a leaner, more efficient and effective organization. Each of the MTA's agencies is performing at peak levels, the relationship with our employees is dramatically improved and we communicate more frequently with our customers. The integration of the MTA's three bus companies, the merging of back office functions across 7 agencies and the introduction of line general managers on the subway system will save the MTA millions and improve the agency's performance. New innovations like rider report cards, text message alerts and Select Bus Service have improved the customer experience. There is more work to be done, but I leave confident knowing the MTA is headed in the right direction. I am grateful to Governor Paterson and Governor Spitzer for this wonderful opportunity. I wish Governor Paterson the best of luck in choosing a successor who will build on the progress the MTA has made over the past two and a half years."