Seven Staten Island politicians are pressuring Governor Hoffle to fire the MTA board member who recommended removing promised new rail cars from the forgotten borough.
In their letter to the governor, the representatives blasted non-voting MTA board member Norman Brown for displaying “clearly hostile bias and callousness” during a June committee meeting about the now-suspended $15 congestion toll program.
Brown asked whether 75 state-of-the-art R211S cars ordered for the Staten Island Railroad could be used in the city’s subway system because “Staten Island representatives are not in support of the capital plan.”
“Today, we call for Mr. Brown to be removed from his position on the MTA Board.” read The July 29 letter was signed by Republican Reps. Sam Pirozzolo, Michael Tanoussis and Michael Reilly, Borough President Vito Fossella, State Sen. Andrew Lanza, City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli and City Councilman David Carr.
“The utter disrespect Mr. Brown has shown towards Staten Islanders is the epitome of bureaucratic ignorance.”
Brown, who represents the board of directors for the Metro-North labor union, said he welcomed the campaign by politicians to remove him from office.
“They’ll do me a favor,” Brown joked.
Staten Island representatives “have their hands full … if they’re worried about me serving on the board, but I don’t care if they remove me from the board,” he said.
Hoekl’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
