Who is NY’s new Lt. Governor Richard Ravitch?
Believe it or not, New York Governor David Patterson appears to have selected someone for appointment not because of their race, religion, or how many votes they will help them garner in the next election.
Richard Ravitch appears to be the pick for lieutenant governor. Ravitch has thrice been in charge of New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and has been credited with saving the organization all three times. Just this past spring he helped avert a major crisis–and basically just turned it into a little one–which is nonetheless commendable.
But of course, no move in politics is ever so innocent:The real fights are forthcoming.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has contended that Patterson does not have the power to appoint a lieutenant governor. Andrew’s father, Mario, who was New York’s governor in the early 1990s, refrained from doing so. Patterson was the state’s lieutenant governor until Elliot Spitzer resigned amid a sex scandal last year.
Meanwhile, the State Senate is still squabbling in a 31-31 tie, and Patterson will push for Ravitch to be the tie-breaking vote that will finally end the stalemate.
Seems like a reasonable idea to get things going again, and Ravitch seems to just be a good administrator. What actually happens remains to be seen. However, the fireworks in Albany will make this past weekend’s festivities look like child’s play, and that’s ALWAYS fun to watch.
User Comments
Peter Stephens
July, 2009
In 1980, during the NYC Transit strike, Richard Ravitch negotiated unfairly with the Transit Workers Unions in the same way Ronald Reagan negotiated unfairly with the Air Traffic Controllers.
Since 1980, I would like to know how much Ravitch and his real estate cronies have benefited on MTA real estate transactions.
Mass transit is all about real estate along transportation routes. Many of these commercial properties can be traced to legislators in Albany.
Did you know that when transit fairs were only $ .15 (15 cents), the Transit Authority owned the Electric Power Plants it needed. Who owns those plants today?
Vicky Woodhull
July, 2009
Did you know that the 15¢ fare helped create NYC’s budget deficit of the 1970s that almost forced the City to go bankrupt? For several decades NYC voters were told that there would be no fare increase. Meanwhile the 722 miles of track that helped make NYC what it was deteriorated. The TA owned Power Plants were coal and steam turbine driven and could never operate after the Clean Air Act. It’s great to bash people, but the facts are always more complicated. At least Ravitch has proven to be a capable negotiator. The jokers in Albany need some adult supervision. I say bring him in.