TWU Local 100 Endorses Liu for City Comptroller

The Chief-Leader/Michel Friang THE WORKERS' ADVOCATE: Upon accepting the endorsement of TWU Local 100 in his run for City Comptroller, City Councilman John Liu said as the Council's Transportation Committee chair he often relied on the perspective of transit workers to get a deeper understanding of mass transit issues. At left is Local 100 President Roger Toussaint.

Transport Workers Union Local 100 March 24 endorsed City Councilman John Liu, who as Transportation Committee Chair has been a vocal critic of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for City Comptroller.

"John has used his chairmanship of the New York City Council Transportation Committee as an excellent bully pulpit on behalf of the riders, in order to deliver the best service in the most efficient manner for New York City," Local 100 President Roger Toussaint said on the steps of City Hall.

'Scrutinized MTA Finances'

With more than a dozen union members looking on, Mr. Toussaint went on to say that Councilman Liu "has used his qualifications to put the MTA's finances and money management under the type of professional, excellent scrutiny that only he is qualified to do."

As the committee chair, Mr. Liu has blasted what he calls a lack of transparency in the MTA's finances, and most recently accused it of designating March 25 as an arbitrary deadline for Albany to come up with a bailout package.

"I've often had to rely on the testimony of many men in suits coming from MTA headquarters, none of whom really understood what it feels like to be driving a subway, operating a bus, maintaining buses, being on the tracks and platforms, really working the system that millions of people in New York City rely upon every single day," Mr. Liu said.

Pointing to the transit workers assembled behind him, he said, "It is these men and women who have always provided the down-on-theground perspective that allowed us in the City Council to conduct our legislative business."

Focused on Track Safety

While the MTA is a state agency, Mr. Liu promised to use his authority if elected to hold it accountable. As committee chair, he has held several hearings on safety for subway track workers.

Local 100 is the first union to endorse Mr. Liu, who also gained the endorsement of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance.

"I'm on Cloud Nine right now," Mr. Liu said to Mr. Toussaint. "Roger, you don't actually say a whole lot very much, but today, to hear these words I think it just means a lot to me."

Council Members Melinda Katz, David Weprin and David Yassky are also running for Comptroller.