News Nicole Malliotakis, GOP mayoral candidate, says NYC’s reserves could help subway system

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis said Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration has surpluses that can be used for subway maintenance on Sept. 15, 2017, at the 59th Street-Columbus Circle subway station in Manhattan. (Credit: Yeong-Ung Yang)

 

POLITICS

 

Nicole Malliotakis, GOP mayoral candidate, says NYC’s reserves could help subway system

 

By Matthew Chayes   matthew.chayes@newsday.com September 16, 2017

Republican mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis suggested Friday that New York City could help the state-run subways by diverting rainy-day money the de Blasio administration has stocked away.

 

Malliotakis, who said she would accede to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s demand for half of an $800 million interim repair plan, criticized incumbent Bill de Blasio for failing to contribute enough to the ailing subway system.

 

“The money is there,” said Malliotakis, a state assemblywoman from Staten Island who voted for Trump, at a news conference outside the 59th Street-Columbus Circle subway station. “You have surpluses.”

 

Criticizing de Blasio for increasing spending every year since taking office in 2014, Malliotakis added: “We don’t need to cut anything.”

 

Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the right-leaning Manhattan Institute, said the city has about $2 billion in reserves. De Blasio has said the city is bracing for a federal funding cut that President Donald Trump has threatened.

 

Malliotakis’ “idea is half-good, but she should put that money away and save it for later, when the MTA can demonstrate that it has a real plan for these upgrades,” Gelinas said.

 

In July, MTA head Joe Lhota unveiled a plan to address the ailing system, including at least 30 measures meant to fix the system, such as addressing fires, upgrading moribund signaling and hiring new workers.

 

Gelinas said New York City contributing to the plan would set a “bad precedent.”

 

De Blasio has refused to contribute, arguing that the city has already contributed $2.5 billion, that Gov. Andrew Cuomo effectively controls the agency, and that the state has siphoned nearly $500 million from MTA’s budget since at least 2011.

 

“Calling on the city to pay for this plan is signaling approval of the state stealing $456 million from the MTA over the last several years,” de Blasio spokesman Austin Finan said. “Anyone who believes New York City taxpayers should endlessly fund the state-run MTA, while the state steals money from that very system, has no regard for riders or our wallets.”

 

Jon Weinstein, Cuomo’s transportation spokesman, declined to comment.

 

Source: http://www.amny.com/news/politics/nicole-malliotakis-gop-mayoral-candidate-says-nyc-s-reserves-could-help-subway-system-1.14185042

 

[MHV9218]

Malliotakis is a nothing candidate with no platform who doesn't know what the hell she's talking about. The city should not be funding the state agency subway any more than it already is. Want reminder who runs the subway, who picks its leaders, and who funds it using the tax dollars paid by city residents? Check out the STATE colors Cuomo is having R160s painted and R211s designed it as we speak. It's simple as anything, and it's not a partisan issue. Malliotakis just wants to get herself in the news, but this is plain stupid. Why should New Yorkers pay tax dollars to the state, only to have the state take that tax money away from the MTA? And why on earth would the city, which has been maintaining reserves to avoid the type of 1970s-1980s crisis that led to the collapse of the subway and city infrastructure in the first place, blow that money? Clown policy.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Malliotakis is a nothing candidate with no platform who doesn't know what the hell she's talking about. The city should not be funding the state agency subway any more than it already is. Want reminder who runs the subway, who picks its leaders, and who funds it using the tax dollars paid by city residents? Check out the STATE colors Cuomo is having R160s painted and R211s designed it as we speak. It's simple as anything, and it's not a partisan issue. Malliotakis just wants to get herself in the news, but this is plain stupid. Why should New Yorkers pay tax dollars to the state, only to have the state take that tax money away from the MTA? And why on earth would the city, which has been maintaining reserves to avoid the type of 1970s-1980s crisis that led to the collapse of the subway and city infrastructure in the first place, blow that money? Clown policy.

Here's a question for you. What do you suggest to get the ball rolling aside from pointing fingers at the ? We already know the deal. Your "solution" does nothing to address the issues of people who commute with the subway and can't get around with these non-stop BS delays. No, we should not be going crazy funding the , but at the same time inaction is only worsening the situation.

 

Anyone who depends on the subway can see this is a reasonable "short-term" solution to get the ball rolling. That doesn't mean you roll over and keep doing this, but we can't afford to have our subways running like this. It is and WILL have DIRE economic consequences.

 

It's nice that de Blasio wants to look "tough" and pretend he's fighting for the every day little guy, but it's a smokescreen. When you're spending hours trying to get to work and feeling the heat from your boss, de Blasio's rhetoric is just that.... Hot air. A mayor works to get things done instead of pouting like a five year old and nitpicking. This man is out of touch with reality because he doesn't need to take the subway to get around. He gets chauffeured around in his gas guzzling SUV.

[MHV9218]

Here's a question for you. What do you suggest to get the ball rolling aside from pointing fingers at the ? We already know the deal. Your "solution" does nothing to address the issues of people who commute with the subway and can't get around with these non-stop BS delays. No, we should not be going crazy funding the , but at the same time inaction is only worsening the situation.

 

Anyone who depends on the subway can see this is a reasonable "short-term" solution to get the ball rolling. That doesn't mean you roll over and keep doing this, but we can't afford to have our subways running like this. It is and WILL have DIRE economic consequences.

 

It's nice that de Blasio wants to look "tough" and pretend he's fighting for the every day little guy, but it's a smokescreen. When you're spending hours trying to get to work and feeling the heat from your boss, de Blasio's rhetoric is just that.... Hot air. A mayor works to get things done instead of pouting like a five year old and nitpicking. This man is out of touch with reality because he doesn't need to take the subway to get around. He gets chauffeured around in his gas guzzling SUV.

 

The MTA is severely underfunded. We need to directly address that problem, both in the immediate operating budget and in the long-term capital plan for improvements to infrastructure and the system as a whole. That's how I answer the first part.

 

I don't know what your point is on the latter part. I get that you're complaining about the mayor, but what are you actually talking about? No mayor in the history of New York has taken the subway to get around the city. It's a massive security risk to stuff a major official in a packed car of strangers, which would require a massive number of cops just to maintain security, and which would end up costing more than the cost of a driver for an NYPD SUV a few hours a day. Not to mention, it leaves the mayor at the whims of the system, meaning he could be stuck anywhere at any given time, when frequently the mayor's detail responds with sirens to reach a major emergency. And if you think this mayor is "out of touch," I'd love to hear what you thought of the billionaire Bloomberg...

[Around the Horn]

Control costs before giving the MTA another cent...

 

Reserves won't do jack shit while three stations cost $4 billion.

 

Oh and get Cuomo to stop raiding the MTA's coffers too...

[quadcorder]

So, if political campaigning is allowed on this forum now, can I start posting donation links to candidates I support?

[bobtehpanda]

Isn't the point of reserves to, you know, preserve our services when the economy eventually blows up again? Using them to try and fix the subway would be fiscally irresponsible, especially because I doubt the end of the current boom is far away.

[Around the Horn]

So, if political campaigning is allowed on this forum now, can I start posting donation links to candidates I support?

I wouldn't consider an article about mayoral policy related to the subway as "political campaigning".

 

Now if it was from a candidate's campaign website, that would be a different story...

[Interested Rider]

Some observations from last Tuesday's primary and some Monday morning quarterbacking based on speaking with voters potential voters since last Tuesday..

The primary turnout was abysmal in every sense of the word so despite what the mayor says, his 75% of the Democratic voters supporting him means absolutely nothing especially when about 14% of the registered party members came out to vote and 86% did not bother to come out despite the great weather. Speaking with people after the vote, it becomes clear that he is not well liked at all and that his political support is to say the least "tepid".What the voters are watching for is for one of the candidates to start taking the lead against the mayor which has not happened yet and to take firm stands on the issues that are important to them. They all know about the mayor but they are looking for the strongest possible candidate that can mobilize the vast majority of voters who are not happy with him and coalesce around that one individual. At the present time this has not happened and it is up to the three other candidates  to come up with some solutions that will help this city instead of marching in lock step with the  clowns in Washington and Albany who don't give a damn about this great country or us as New York City residents who have to pay the bills, If I listed  these issues, I would be writing from now until doomsday  If this does not happen,the mayor with his hubris and his arrogance towards all of us who pay his salary, will be re-elected. Yes as the previous writer pointed out, the economy is on the verge of a precipice so where is the money going to come from if there is a major downturn in the economy or another action by Mother Nature that requires another trillion dollars? In my opinion, the rainy day fund is vastly underfunded as pension obligations and other things that have not received adequate funding over the years will eventually have to be addressed and paid for by the city.

If there was one issue that was not on the ballot last Tuesday but will be on the ballot on Election Day that will determine turnout, it is the State constitutional convention which will bring out a lot of voters.I was asked a couple of times about this issue being on the ballot and it is my feeling that this is the issue that will bring out a lot of people as they are afraid of what will happen if it is approved especially anyone working in state and local government who are worried that pensions will be cut if there is a constitutional convention.

So let's see what happens from now until election day!

[Porter]

I know I'll receive a lot of hate for this, but $5 swipes could go a long way towards fixing the funding problems of the . It's not the only thing, but it would be a help. And no, I'm by no means rich.

[danielhg121]

I know I'll receive a lot of hate for this, but $5 swipes could go a long way towards fixing the funding problems of the . It's not the only thing, but it would be a help. And no, I'm by no means rich.

You have to put the scope of our situation into perspective, current fare $2.75->$5, that’s crazy. Lower income neighborhoods would yell crime. And for that much money, the system should already be running perfect service, not maybe improve within the coming decade. MTA has a spending problem too, so who knows what dumb sh*t they buy with the extra revenue.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using NYC Transit Forums mobile app

[Around the Horn]

$5 a swipe is absolutely absurd...

[Via Garibaldi 8]

The MTA is severely underfunded. We need to directly address that problem, both in the immediate operating budget and in the long-term capital plan for improvements to infrastructure and the system as a whole. That's how I answer the first part.

 

I don't know what your point is on the latter part. I get that you're complaining about the mayor, but what are you actually talking about? No mayor in the history of New York has taken the subway to get around the city. It's a massive security risk to stuff a major official in a packed car of strangers, which would require a massive number of cops just to maintain security, and which would end up costing more than the cost of a driver for an NYPD SUV a few hours a day. Not to mention, it leaves the mayor at the whims of the system, meaning he could be stuck anywhere at any given time, when frequently the mayor's detail responds with sirens to reach a major emergency. And if you think this mayor is "out of touch," I'd love to hear what you thought of the billionaire Bloomberg...

Don't give me that crap. He wasn't taking the subway before he was mayor and he admitted as much. My point is he hasn't been commuting via the subway for many years and he's out of touch with reality. Does he really need to take an SUV to Park Slope when he has a gazillion gyms to work out at nearby? You defend this guy at all costs.

 

Your answer to the question is still vague. How specifically would you address the problem now? The people suffering from these ongoing outages (which likely don't affect you) need relief now. Immediate funding would do just that.

Control costs before giving the MTA another cent...

 

Reserves won't do jack shit while three stations cost $4 billion.

 

Oh and get Cuomo to stop raiding the MTA's coffers too...

Oh please. This mayor has been spending like a drunken sailor. If we really "controlling costs" the reserves would be much more than what they are.

$5 a swipe is absolutely absurd...

Well what's your solution then? Controlling costs is fine, but that doesn't the problem we have now.

Isn't the point of reserves to, you know, preserve our services when the economy eventually blows up again? Using them to try and fix the subway would be fiscally irresponsible, especially because I doubt the end of the current boom is far away.

You talk out of both sides of your mouth. On the one hand, oh the is SO underfunded, and when they try to do something to address the ongoing crisis we're in, you talk about "keeping reserves". We'll which is it? We can talk about "fundamentals", but that does nothing for the here and now, and if you don't think the system can't be helped in the short-term, then clearly you don't have much faith in the system at all overall. Seems like you just like to cry about how the isn't funded instead of finding actual solutions.

[Lance]

It appears pandering season has begun in earnest. Even if all $2B of that emergency money became available for immediate subway funding, it would not solve the most pressing issues that affect the subway, namely the aging infrastructure. With the exception of the Canarsie and Flushing lines, the entire system needs to be re-signaled in order to allow for faster service using the existing system, especially on the lettered lines. That will not come cheaply, despite claims to the contrary. Then there are the stations and cars to take into consideration. While the new car orders are not an important aspect at present, the age of the existing fleet should not be ignored when it comes to service delays and disruptions. With that said, the main issue here is the stations. While the MTA can obviously get the renovation costs down to more manageable levels, the high number of stations that need serious work done will deplete that emergency fund right away, even with the more frugal of money-management processes.

 

Besides, the problem is not the immediate need of cash inflows, but rather a lack of involvement and investment on the local and state levels. By that, I'm not simply talking about money, though that is part of the problem. The subway has been part of the MTA, a state-run agency, since 1968. While that does not absolve the city from responsibility completely, the bulk of it does lie with the state government and not the city's. That means Cuomo and the rest of the state legislature need to lead the cause to ensure the subway does not fall apart. He needs to get more involved and no, the various photo ops do not count. Nobody cares that he was there to open 96 Street on Jan. 1 or that he was there picking up trash from the tracks when a signal malfunction creates a 45 minute delay on trains between DeKalb and Canal.

 

The subway doesn't need short-term solutions. We're up to the ying-yang with short-term solutions. What the system needs is long-term investment to get the entire subway in a state of good repair. That in part means a dedicated set of funds for the MTA, but also leadership from the state government and the MTA itself. By that last part, I mean the MTA needs to keep a chairman for more than a couple of years because it seems like every time the position changes hands, the entire process restarts and we, the riders, continue to deal with the ever-growing issues. The MTA also has to rein in costs of literally everything the MTA buys as it is way too much in comparison to other transit agencies. These aren't issues that can be solved with an emergency influx of cash, despite claims otherwise. And besides, haven't we heard these empty promises before?

[Brooklyn]

I know I'll receive a lot of hate for this, but $5 swipes could go a long way towards fixing the funding problems of the . It's not the only thing, but it would be a help. And no, I'm by no means rich.

 

I am sure it would go a long way....

 

But so would increased state and federal funding.

 

So would better management.

 

So would not blowing billions of dollars on a couple stations.

[Brooklyn]

It appears pandering season has begun in earnest. Even if all $2B of that emergency money became available for immediate subway funding, it would not solve the most pressing issues that affect the subway, namely the aging infrastructure. With the exception of the Canarsie and Flushing lines, the entire system needs to be re-signaled in order to allow for faster service using the existing system, especially on the lettered lines. That will not come cheaply, despite claims to the contrary. Then there are the stations and cars to take into consideration. While the new car orders are not an important aspect at present, the age of the existing fleet should not be ignored when it comes to service delays and disruptions. With that said, the main issue here is the stations. While the MTA can obviously get the renovation costs down to more manageable levels, the high number of stations that need serious work done will deplete that emergency fund right away, even with the more frugal of money-management processes.

 

Besides, the problem is not the immediate need of cash inflows, but rather a lack of involvement and investment on the local and state levels. By that, I'm not simply talking about money, though that is part of the problem. The subway has been part of the MTA, a state-run agency, since 1968. While that does not absolve the city from responsibility completely, the bulk of it does lie with the state government and not the city's. That means Cuomo and the rest of the state legislature need to lead the cause to ensure the subway does not fall apart. He needs to get more involved and no, the various photo ops do not count. Nobody cares that he was there to open 96 Street on Jan. 1 or that he was there picking up trash from the tracks when a signal malfunction creates a 45 minute delay on trains between DeKalb and Canal.

 

The subway doesn't need short-term solutions. We're up to the ying-yang with short-term solutions. What the system needs is long-term investment to get the entire subway in a state of good repair. That in part means a dedicated set of funds for the MTA, but also leadership from the state government and the MTA itself. By that last part, I mean the MTA needs to keep a chairman for more than a couple of years because it seems like every time the position changes hands, the entire process restarts and we, the riders, continue to deal with the ever-growing issues. The MTA also has to rein in costs of literally everything the MTA buys as it is way too much in comparison to other transit agencies. These aren't issues that can be solved with an emergency influx of cash, despite claims otherwise. And besides, haven't we heard these empty promises before?

 

Right?

 

It is about the money, but at the same time it isn't.

 

Two billion dollars IS NOTHING.....that'll be eaten through like a woodpecker. The State doesn't care. Why give it to them like a fool?

 

And that money is for reserves in case the economy goes bad, which it will.

 

It's befuddling how we treat transportation here.....it really is. It's not like this in other places.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

It appears pandering season has begun in earnest. Even if all $2B of that emergency money became available for immediate subway funding, it would not solve the most pressing issues that affect the subway, namely the aging infrastructure. With the exception of the Canarsie and Flushing lines, the entire system needs to be re-signaled in order to allow for faster service using the existing system, especially on the lettered lines. That will not come cheaply, despite claims to the contrary. Then there are the stations and cars to take into consideration. While the new car orders are not an important aspect at present, the age of the existing fleet should not be ignored when it comes to service delays and disruptions. With that said, the main issue here is the stations. While the MTA can obviously get the renovation costs down to more manageable levels, the high number of stations that need serious work done will deplete that emergency fund right away, even with the more frugal of money-management processes.

 

Besides, the problem is not the immediate need of cash inflows, but rather a lack of involvement and investment on the local and state levels. By that, I'm not simply talking about money, though that is part of the problem. The subway has been part of the MTA, a state-run agency, since 1968. While that does not absolve the city from responsibility completely, the bulk of it does lie with the state government and not the city's. That means Cuomo and the rest of the state legislature need to lead the cause to ensure the subway does not fall apart. He needs to get more involved and no, the various photo ops do not count. Nobody cares that he was there to open 96 Street on Jan. 1 or that he was there picking up trash from the tracks when a signal malfunction creates a 45 minute delay on trains between DeKalb and Canal.

 

The subway doesn't need short-term solutions. We're up to the ying-yang with short-term solutions. What the system needs is long-term investment to get the entire subway in a state of good repair. That in part means a dedicated set of funds for the MTA, but also leadership from the state government and the MTA itself. By that last part, I mean the MTA needs to keep a chairman for more than a couple of years because it seems like every time the position changes hands, the entire process restarts and we, the riders, continue to deal with the ever-growing issues. The MTA also has to rein in costs of literally everything the MTA buys as it is way too much in comparison to other transit agencies. These aren't issues that can be solved with an emergency influx of cash, despite claims otherwise. And besides, haven't we heard these empty promises before?

I don't think anyone is saying that they can be but there has to be a starting point.  Finger pointing gets nothing done, and right now that's all we're getting from the de Blasio administration.  The State AND City should be working together to fix these issues, both in the short-term AND long-term, and think that's the big point everyone here is missing.  It's funny that you and others here and now talking about how much waste the has but before it was oh they need more funding.  

[Via Garibaldi 8]

I know I'll receive a lot of hate for this, but $5 swipes could go a long way towards fixing the funding problems of the . It's not the only thing, but it would be a help. And no, I'm by no means rich.

I don't support more fare hikes because that just goes on the backs of the few that actually pay the fare.  Enforce the current fare.  If people are crying "hardship" at $2.75 it'll be even worse at $5.00.  What we need is strict enforcement.  People who can't afford the fare can walk or bike or cut down on their expensive cell phones.  If you can afford an iPhone, you can afford $2.75.

[Brooklyn]

If you can afford food, I guess you can afford a metrocard, eh?

[Via Garibaldi 8]

If you can afford food, I guess you can afford a metrocard, eh?

Food is a necessity. An iPhone and expensive Jordans are not.  See how that works?  It's called prioritizing, which many people in this city don't do.  If the fare was cheaper, you'd still have people saying I can't afford that, but they'd still walk around with their iPhones and other expensive things.  When I was a poor broke college student, I found a way to pay for my transportation, even if that meant working more jobs.  You either feel sorry for yourself and make excuses or find a way.

 

I was "poor" by income standards I suppose when I was in college, but I generally had money when I was college because I always worked and didn't expect my parents to support me.  If more people were responsible for themselves we'd have a lot better of a system instead of everyone looking for someone else to pay their way.

[Brooklyn]

There are non Jordan wearing, non-iphone people who exist--plenty of them.

 

If you can afford ________________, then you can afford $2.75.

 

Look at the reasoning.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

There are non Jordan wearing, non-iphone people who exist--plenty of them.

 

If you can afford ________________, then you can afford $2.75.

 

Look at the reasoning.

Yeah I'm looking at it. You need the subway or the bus to get to work right?  So then you find a way to get the money.  It's that simple.  You need food to eat and other necessities.  Getting around is a necessity and if $2.75 is the cheapest option for you then that's what it is. I get so tired of people in our society making all of these excuses.  If NY is too expensive, there are cheaper places to live.  Millions of other people here are going through the same crap and somehow they manage.  No one has it easy here.  Just about everyone that I know has more than one job and they do what they have to but they don't make excuses for themselves.

[MHV9218]

Raising the fare is the single worst solution possible. It's a completely regressive tax, in which the poorest people are hit proportionally hardest. $2.75 means everything to somebody making $20k a year, and nothing to somebody making $200k. When you double that, it's still pretty much the same for the $200k person, and now unaffordable for the $20k person. Wealth is unbelievably, grotesque skewed towards the rich in this country. That should be taxed. A far better idea is the tax on the uber-rich that the mayor proposed, which Cuomo won't let go anywhere because he's in the pocket of the rich.

 

 

Don't give me that crap. He wasn't taking the subway before he was mayor and he admitted as much. My point is he hasn't been commuting via the subway for many years and he's out of touch with reality. Does he really need to take an SUV to Park Slope when he has a gazillion gyms to work out at nearby? You defend this guy at all costs.

 

The gym thing is stupid. I agree. But the rest of your point is also stupid. He lived in an outer borough and owned a car, big whoop. No mayor has ever traveled without a detail, and it would cost more to put the detail on the subway and cause more inconvenience to everybody else. So I don't know why you're harping on this.

 

I don't think anyone is saying that they can be but there has to be a starting point.  Finger pointing gets nothing done, and right now that's all we're getting from the de Blasio administration.  The State AND City should be working together to fix these issues, both in the short-term AND long-term, and think that's the big point everyone here is missing.  It's funny that you and others here and now talking about how much waste the has but before it was oh they need more funding.  

 

Finger-pointing, which happens to be deserved when the governor refuses to fund his own agency, and the largest contribution to the MTA in the history of New York City. Are you reading the news or just Malliotakis's tweets? Terribly informed.

[Brooklyn]

If you can afford an iPhone, you can afford $2.75.

 

If you cannot afford $2.75, then you cannot afford an iphone.

 

There are people who can't afford the $2.75 and cannot afford an iphone.

[Interested Rider]

What good is a $ 5 swipe especially if a considerable portion of the funds goes to paying off the MTA bonds which is what will happen if the fare goes to five dollars?

Yes! I am angry and rightfully so as no one is standing up to these generators of hot air and saying to these lovers of the microphone that it is your fault that  every time  there was a locked box revenue source  for the MTA, you and your predecessors found an excuse to raid it  for your pet projects. We are now out of options like  the baseball players who cannot be sent back to the minor leagues, as the bond market has been tapped out and both the mayor and the governor have other projects that enrich their friends that they consider more important than transit riders. Anything else that had any semblance of a "locked box " is now part of the general fund and therefore has to be fought over every single year. . So where will the money come from except from a yearly appropriation which is subject to change every year or to parody the old Robert Hall commercial of the late 1950's, the fare will go up, up,up and the service will go down, down,down,,the mayor and the governor will show you the reason why they have no money to spend on transit, no money to spend on transit..

The problem remains if the city and state are so "committed" (yeah, right!) to having a working subway and bus system (which I believe despite all the hot air being produced by these geniuses, they are not), how about putting up their money where their mouth is and getting rid of their "pet projects"   which they will never do as it benefits them not the riders. Let's start with the mayor and his legal bills and while $2.6 million is a pittance, his arrogance should pay for it , not the taxpayers. That can pay for a couple of new signals right now. Another place to cut is with all of the mayor's highly paid assistants who he does not need and start removing the useless fat from all agencies. Heaven forbid that will happen as agencies would have to become responsible to the taxpayers, not the political elite who look down upon those riding the subways and buses.  How about helping New York City residents who are American citizens and stop programs that benefit people who did not follow our laws in coming here which will save more money. How about the jobs that Americans are being trained for as part of the the STEM program that the pompous ones in Washington make sure that American corporations will never give to qualified (yes!) Americans and terminate the H 1-B visa program right now. When the economy will start tanking (as it will), I can say this for sure the amount of money available for subway repairs  will completely disappear as the "pet projects" for their friends will be their top priority. 

So as I wrote in my previous post on this thread, I will be watching like the rest of the voters as to who will start to lead the pack as an alternative to the incumbent mayor come election day.