Latest news with #MTA
CBS News
3 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
After storms cause massive subway flooding, MTA chief calls on NYC to grow sewer capacity
MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber is calling on New York City to build up its sewer system after massive subway flooding during Monday's storm. He spoke to CBS News New York's Dick Brennan about what happened and how to fix things for future storms. Video from the West 28th Street station in Chelsea showed water gushing from a drain and completely flooding the platform. "This manhole cover was levitating about this high because there was the water pressure actually exploded it out," Lieber said. Out of the subway system's over 490 total stations, about 20 were put out of service during the storm. "That's no excuse for those 20 stations that were unavailable, had bad conditions. But this is not going to knock out the whole system and we were ready to go the next morning," Lieber said. He said hundreds of people worked overnight to make sure the trains were back up and running for the Tuesday morning commute. During those storms, the subway system got hit with a double whammy — torrential rain from above and a sewer system that couldn't handle it below. New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala says they've done a good job to maintain the sewer system, but climate change is sending storms nobody could have expected. "Addressing storm water resilience to fix this underground infrastructure is going to be the work of tens of years, decades. We put out our report last spring that estimated a total cost of roughly $30 billion," Aggarwala said. But Lieber says the city has to step up and pay up to fix their sewers. "Because the rainfalls are going to keep happening, we need them to grow the capacity so it doesn't back up into the subways," he said. Lieber says the city could focus area by area if the money is there. "There is no quick solution to the big issue, but you can do it in a localized way," he said. In the meantime, Lieber says the MTA is hardening its infrastructure. One of the improvements to fight subway flooding the so-called step-up into the station. By placing a raised platform at the entrances to underground subway stations, the water then has to rise higher before it goes cascading down the steps into the station. Lieber says the MTA already spent $8 billion on resiliency after Hurricane Sandy and has spent close to $1 billion from the new capital budget. He says the system has a knack for bouncing back and is hoping to be ready when the next storm hits.
New York Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Andrew Cuomo proposes mayoral control of NYC transit system — rivals say he ‘had his chance and failed to deliver'
Andrew Cuomo — who infamously paraded around his control over the MTA while governor — proposed City Hall take over the reins of the transit authority as he tries to revive an independent bid for mayor following his embarrassing primary loss. 'I know the MTA very well. It's a behemoth. It's bureaucracy on top of bureaucracy,' Cuomo said Wednesday on Fox 5's Good Day NY. 'I would propose that New York City take over management of the New York City Transit Authority. …Let the mayor manage the New York City Transit Authority.' Advertisement 5 Cuomo said that the mayor should have control over the subway rather than the MTA. Fox5NY The campaign proposal quickly drew snickers and eye-rolls from transit advocates and election rivals who called out the disgraced ex-gov's transit controversies while at the agency's helm. Cuomo's notable moves steering the MTA include driving out beloved transit chief Andy Byford, using $5 million of the cash-strapped agency's funds to bail out upstate ski resorts, spending more than $100 million on decorative lights and tiles on bridges and in tunnels, and the notorious 'summer of hell' transit service in 2017. Advertisement 'Andrew Cuomo had a decade as governor — and complete control over the MTA — to make changes. If he believed in letting New York City take over the Transit Authority, he could have done it then. But instead, he played politics with our transit system, centralized power in Albany, and micromanaged from afar while subway service suffered and riders paid the price,' said Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election as an independent. 'Now, years after he walked away, he suddenly has ideas? It's a little late for that. …Cuomo's comments are nothing more than political theater from someone who had his chance and failed to deliver.' Cuomo's oversight of the MTA as governor makes him a bad pitchman for giving City Hall control of the subways and buses, said John Kaehny, director of the watchdog group Reinvent Albany that monitors transit service. 5 Andy Byford, Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Transit Authority, announced he will be leaving the MTA at a board meeting thursday. William Farrington Advertisement His handling of the MTA was 'endless drama,' Kaehny added. Cuomo spent more than $100 million on vanity projects to erect decorative lights on the MTA bridges and tens of millions of dollars more to retile two city tunnels — the Brooklyn Battery and Queens Midtown — in the state's blue-and-gold color scheme, instead of using the dough for desperately needed subway repairs, he said. He also approved the controversial law to impose congestion pricing on vehicles entering the Manhattan business district to help fund the MTA's capital plan and got construction of the decades-delayed Second Avenue subway line completed. Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa quipped that 'I'm reliving the summer of hell' when asked about Cuomo's transit takeover plan. Advertisement 5 Curtis Sliwa and his Guardian Angels patrol the city's subway lines helping the homeless and keeping New Yorkers safe while they travel. Matthew McDermott 'Cuomo had his chance and he ruined the subway system,' Sliwa said. 'Running transit is not what a mayor does. He wants to be governor.' One government watchdog said Cuomo, who is now running on the independent 'Fight and Deliver' ballot line, looked 'desperate.' 'He's really desperate to throw ideas out there and see what sticks,' said Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute think tank. Cuomo's pitch comes after Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani grabbed attention during the primary by proposing fare-free bus service that would be financed by $9 billion in higher taxes on millionaires and corporations. The recommended tax hikes would require Albany's blessing. 5 Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander speak at a Riders Alliance rally in Flatbush, Brooklyn in support of improving reliability and infrastructure around mass transit in New York City. LP Media 'He's looking for a simple idea to counter Mamdani's free bus proposal. This is not it,' Gelinas said. Splitting up the MTA would be a complicated issue. Nearly $9 billion in taxes are imposed on businesses by the governor and legislature to fund mass transit and the regional agency — that also includes the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North commuter rail lines — has nearly $50 billion in debt. Advertisement 'It's a silly proposal. It will never happen,' Kaehny added. Such a transfer of power would also require approval in Albany, from the legislature and Cuomo's successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul. 5 Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks to supporters during a Democratic primary watch party, Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in New York. AP Hochul said she's not addressing the 'hypothetical' proposal. Advertisement 'Governor Hochul is not commenting on hypothetical campaign proposals, she is focused on delivering for the millions of riders who rely on the MTA every day,' a Hochul spokesperson said. It's not a new idea. In 2019, former City Council Speaker Corey Johnson proposed breaking up the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority and transferring city trains and buses to a mayoral-run agency called 'Big Apple Transit' — or BAT. During the Democratic primary campaign, Cuomo proposed increasing subway and expanding outreach by social service workers and providing alternatives to homeless individuals removed from the transit system.
Politico
10 hours ago
- Business
- Politico
Who's giving to Hochul and Delgado?
GOV RACE $: Small donors are still a small part of the campaigns of both Gov. Kathy Hochul and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado as they head toward a Democratic primary matchup next June. Hochul's campaign committee raised $120,000 over the past six months from individuals who gave $250 or less, accounting for 3 percent of her $4.4 million haul. Delgado raised $112,000 from them, or 8 percent of his $1.5 million. An ability to tap into small donors could be crucial in the months ahead. Next year will be the first gubernatorial election in state history with a matching funds system, letting candidates tap into as much as $7 million in public money. Hochul has not yet made clear whether she'll attempt to participate in the new system. A campaign spokesperson said the governor will be making an announcement on her plans soon, possibly after the Republican field becomes clear. Delgado has committed to joining the system that can let underfunded candidates close the financial gap. Hochul has $17.5 million in the bank to Delgado's $1.4 million. One major factor limiting Delgado as he seeks public financing: The system is limited to donations from state residents, and out-of-state money has accounted for a third of his fundraising. He brought in $89,000 from Virginia, $61,000 from Connecticut and $58,000 from California. That compares to $150 Delgado raised from Syracuse residents and $25 from Buffalonians. Delgado is also limited by the fact that some of his fundraising has gone to a still-extant lieutenant governor committee. Money to that won't be counted under the formula for public money, which requires candidates to raise at least $500,000 from 5,000 state residents, counting only the first $250 of donations and money from people who gave $1,050 or less. Delgado is currently at $126,501 from 1,722 state residents under the formula. So he's made progress in the first four months of his campaign but still has a ways to go. Until public financing comes into play, the big donors are still the most important. Gubernatorial candidates can currently raise $9,000 per donor for the general and an additional $9,000 for a primary. Hochul received the $18,000 max from 55 people. These top donors included former MTA board member Nancy McCartney. While McCartney's now married to a Beatle, her ex-husband Bruce Blakeman is currently Nassau County executive and among Hochul's possible Republican opponents in 2026. The Democratic governor also received $8,000 from former Republican New York City mayoral nominee Joe Lhota, as well as $18,000 from his wife, Tamra. Hochul, who has supported expanding the state's film and theater tax credits, received plenty of big checks from Hollywood and Broadway. That includes $18,000 from Kevin Huvane, the agent for Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep. She received the same amount from Byron Allen, the owner of a conglomerate whose assets include The Weather Channel. The governor has also been fundraising for the state Democratic Committee. The top donor to the party was the Greater New York Hospital Association, which has given $1.2 million since June. Most of Delgado's fundraising has been for the primary. Only 10 donors gave him more than $9,000, contributing a combined $83,000 he'd need to sit on until next July. His top donors included marijuana company Naturae. Two executives there gave him $18,000, while another gave him $9,000. Musician Natalie Merchant — a longtime Delgado supporter — kicked in $9,000. — Bill Mahoney From City Hall 'CEASE AND DESIST' FOR PALADINO: Lawyers representing the girlfriend of a slain left-leaning activist are demanding a public apology from Council Member Vickie Paladino after she claimed the murder victim's girlfriend did not immediately call the police following her boyfriend's killing. In October 2023, Claudia Morales was with her boyfriend Ryan Carson when he was brutally attacked at a Brooklyn bus station. In the aftermath, Morales became the target of right-wing harassment revolving around claims her and her boyfriend's politics contributed to his murder. In a series of now-deleted social media posts — which came in response to a photo of Morales posing with Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani — Paladino made similar claims that Morales' politics impeded the murderer's prosecution, claims that Morales' lawyers say are baseless. 'Your misuse of elected office to defame a private citizen for political gain has forced Ms. Morales to seek legal representation, and we are formally demanding that you cease and desist all such communications concerning our client and issue a public apology for your defamatory statements,' Morales' lawyers wrote in a 'cease and desist' letter obtained by Playbook. 'Your conduct has caused Ms. Morales to suffer significant harm and has further ignited a wave of vile online harassment and threats that put Ms. Morales and her loved ones' safety at risk.' Morales' attorneys said Paladino's statements were knowingly false and defamatory. The letter also notes Morales called 911 and cooperated with law enforcement at every stage of the investigation. Carson's killer was convicted in February and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. Paladino has deleted the posts criticizing Morales. She did not respond to Playbook's multiple requests for comment. Morales' lawyers are also urging City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the Council to take action against Paladino. — Jason Beeferman From the Capitol 'THERAPIST-IN-CHIEF': Hochul is ministering to nervous business leaders in an effort to assure them a potential Zohran Mamdani mayoralty won't spoil New York City. The moderate Democratic governor — who is yet to endorse the upstart democratic socialist who won the party's mayoral nomination in June — has pitched herself to the private sector as a backstop. 'I've become the therapist in chief it seems. I'm saying to everybody, 'We're going to be okay.' Maybe it's the mom in me. I know how to calm down situations, and we'll get through this,' Hochul told MSNBC's Morning Joe today. 'Don't panic, everybody. Let the process play out. Let the voters decide and then we'll deal with it. But I did raise those same concerns, and they need to be addressed.' The new role is a tricky one for Hochul, who is running for reelection next year. Mamdani is pressing for hiking taxes on New York City's wealthiest residents, a proposal that must pass in Albany before it can be law. The governor has opposed income tax hikes. Raising taxes would put her at odds with deep-pocketed donors. Hochul insisted she can work with whomever is elected mayor in November. 'I can work with whomever the voters want me to work with,' she said. — Nick Reisman IN OTHER NEWS — SUBWAY HEAT: DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and Rep. Jerry Nadler clashed at a House hearing Wednesday, each accusing the other of lying about rider safety in New York City's subway system. (POLITICO Pro) — CUOMO CONFESSION: Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo admitted in an interview Tuesday with NY1 that he 'did not run a good campaign.' (Spectrum News) — IN LIMBO: Bills to protect access to gender-affirming care were quickly passed by the state Legislature, but the local laws have stalled in Albany awaiting Hochul's signature. (Gothamist) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Time Out
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Surfliner at Grand Army
Grand Army is a neighborhood cocktail and oyster bar. Whether the evening in question calls for casual drinks or serious cocktailing, light raw bar fare amid steamy summer vespers or a cozy crackling fireplace amid a winter chill, a night out with friends or with a date, Grand Army fits nearly any bill with aplomb. Airy and inviting, the room isn't huge, but pockets of privacy are easy to find. There's ample seating with tables scattered throughout and plenty of spots at the pretty wraparound bar, plus outdoor tables when weather allows. The vibe is neighborhoody–with local art and photographs on every wall, including the bathroom, one might even say ' Brooklyn-y.' But, to be clear, that's in the best possible way. While it doesn't rely on schtick, Grand Army's cocktail program plays with theme. In the past, clever, inventive menus have referenced the MTA, honky tonk, game shows, Mean Girls, and Nicolas Cage (just to name a few)—each with their own suite of entirely new concoctions to suit the motif. In this way, return visits promise both fidelity to what makes the bar inviting in the first place and the kind of novelty that gently encourages exploration. Also available are a healthy selection of craft beers on tap (approximately $12), a variety of easy-drinking bottles and cans ($4–$12), and a curated collection of wines by the glass ($16) or bottle ($64). With emphasis on the excellent raw bar, Grand Army's food is mostly cold and mostly seafood, with a privileged place reserved for oysters. That doesn't mean that your oceanically-averse friends won't find things to enjoy; tater tots with homemade ranch, hot dogs loaded with bacon and cornichon, and vegan meatballs with garlic confit are all easy sells at less than $16 per. But, truly, it's hard not to recommend one of their quality seafood towers, the dual selections of which are cheekily called 'low-brow' and 'high-brow,' and go for $65 and $110, respectively. With so much to offer so many, it's easy to understand why, over the past decade, Grand Army has staked such a solid place in Boerum Hill's heart.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Climate
- News.com.au
Chaos in NYC as flash flooding sends city underwater
New York City was resembling its fictional counterpart Gotham yesterday as the city experienced its second wettest hour in history. The Big Apple was overcome by 2.07 inches (52mm) between 6.51pm and 7.51pm in Central Park – bested only by the nearly three inches of rain that fell during the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in 2021. The heavy downpour wreaked havoc in the city with commuters trapped in flooded subway tunnels, roofs leaking, power outrages and major bridges closures. Footage from a train on the 1 line shows water rapidly pouring into the station and into the carriages, forcing commuters to stand on top of the seats. 'Attention passengers: I'm going to call this one in, I can't open the doors, it's not safe,' the conductor can be heard saying. Twenty stations were closed while 16 others had delays and partial closures. Meanwhile, JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports were struck by significant delays, with 2,000 flights cancelled nationwide. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) chief executive Janno Lieber told local media the city's sewer system became overwhelmed by rain, which backed up into the subway tunnels and stations. 'What happened last night is something that is, you know, a reality in our system,' Mr Lieber said. 'We've been working with the city of New York to try to get them to increase the capacity of the system at these key locations.' During a morning press briefing, Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala told media that the city's sewers were designed to deal with a rainstorm of up to 1.75 inches (44.45mm) per hour. 'What happened last night is really quite simple. The pipes were designed for a certain amount of water. A lot more water fell from the sky and was trying to get into them,' he said. Mayor Eric Adams praised the 'early communication shared with New Yorkers and the quick response of teams'. 'Everyone's morning commute went smoothly earlier today, and we saw no deaths and had no major injuries reported,' Mr Adams said. In New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency after two women were tragically killed when their car was swept into a nearby brook in Plainfield. Authorities said their vehicle was swept into the small lake during the height of the storm and first responders were unable to save them. Just 10 minutes away, a home caught fire and exploded, moments after a family evacuated due to flood warnings. With rain still expected for the majority of the week, New Yorkers are now being told to brace for a heatwave, with temperatures sitting between 30-32 degrees celsius. The insane weather event comes just over a week after devastating floods tore through Texas, killing at least 134 people. About 100 people still remain unaccounted for as authorities issue a new flash flood watch.
