A state senator from Queens reacts to the nomination of a new MTA Chairman.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the appointment of Joe Lhota Wednesday saying Lhota has a "proven track record needed to address the enormous challenges facing the nation's largest mass transportation system."
State Senator Michael Gianaris says Lhota's return to the MTA alone won't solve the problem.
He says his plan to provide resources and an emergency manager to oversee maintenance and repairs is the best way to get the mass transit system back on track.
"I have called for a plan to give the MTA the funding it needs by putting together a temporary surcharge on people who make more than a million dollars a year for a three year period. That should generate enough money to give the MTA the breathing room it needs to do the repairs, get its house in order, and figure out what it needs to do going forward," said Gianaris.
Lawmakers aren't scheduled to come back to Albany until January but Gianaris says he's hopeful action will be taken on the MTA before then.