Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Ex-MTA Boardmember Caught Using Police Tags Illegally

While Governor Paterson talks high and mightily about the future of New York State, here in New York City things are business as usual. Paterson briefly mentioned the MTA and building the projects that were proposed eighty years ago, such as the Second Avenue subway line. That certainly sounds exciting, unlike the story of ex-boardmember Alan Friedberg.

From The NY Daily News:

Alan Friedberg left the MTA board six years ago, but he's still tooling around town in his snazzy red Jaguar with a police-issued parking permit.

Friedberg defied an order from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to return an MTA police-issued permit that lets him park just about anywhere.

On Sunday, Friedberg took full advantage of the perk - stowing the $76,000 luxury vehicle in a restricted zone on 43rd St. near Broadway theaters. His traveling party Sunday included his wife, wrapped in a full-length fur coat, and another couple.

"This vehicle is on official police business," states the MTA Police Department placard displayed prominently inside the 2008 Jag.

How is it that an ex-boardmember still has a tag that expires in February of this year is ridiculous. While the MTA asked for the placard back last year, it should have been forcibly taken from him after he initially refused. And when illegally used, police should have towed his car and impounded it for him his fraudlent use of the perk.