May 8, 2009 3:01 am US/Eastern
MTA Head Sander Resigns, Says He Was Forced Out
Resignation Goes Into Effect May 22; Accepted By Governor After Agreement Reached On Bailout
Reporting
Lou Young
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Elliot Sander addresses the budget crisis that could cut service and jobs and raise fares for New Yorkers in 2009.
CBS
There was a major shake-up at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday, just one day after a bailout was approved.
The agency's executive director and CEO resigned.
You may not know his face or name, but Elliot Sander has led the nation's largest mass transit agency since 2007.
"I think it's fair to say I'm leaving because the governor wants me to," Sander told CBS 2 HD in Douglaston, Queens on Thursday night. "It's his prerogative choose who he wants to be chair and CEO of the MTA and I've made it clear that it's his choice.
"I would prefer to stay. For me, it was a dream job. I am very proud of the progress we had made in the two and a half years."
Sander was appointed by Eliot Spitzer to the post and Gov. David Paterson apparently wants his own man to run the restructured agency. Hours before lowering the ax he was talking tough about the MTA.
"Were 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.
Sander was not responsible for the MTA's borrowing binge and has gotten high marks from transit watchdogs who call his departure yet another setback for the embattled agency.
"I don't know if Lee Sander was forced out or that if it was voluntary. The bottom line is he was very good and if we ruled the world we would have begged him to stay." said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers' Campaign.
The public may see it differently. The MTA's stick is low on the street -- with fare hike threats and service cuts.
Some see a head roll and cheer.
When asked if losing his job hurts, Sander said, "A little bit. Yeah, I mean when I met with my staff I got kind of choked up. It's not surprising. I'm very proud of our team. We have an extraordinary group of presidents and senior staff. So, yeah, it hurts a little bit."
The fate of MTA board chairman Dale Hemmerdinger is unclear. The two top jobs will be merged in the reorganization and Gov. Paterson has not indicated who will get that job.
In a wcbstv.com poll, we asked: Do you think Sander's resignation as MTA CEO will make a difference for the transit agency?
* 14 percent said yes.
* 86 percent said no.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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