WPIX NEWSROOM

8:29 p.m. EDT, June 29, 2010
NEW YORK (WPIX)—
Staff members at the MTA have approved a 3-year contract for 30 newspaper subscriptions for top officials, including home delivery for Chairman Jay Walder. However, the MTA says details about the deal may be top secret.

PIX 11 News Reporter Greg Mocker first reported this story when the project was put out for bid in April. He learned last week that the deal was done and he requested its terms. In an email from an MTA spokesperson, Mocker was told, "Some parts of the contract may be public and some may not be. Send us a FOIL request and we'll get you what we can."

The project was approved without a vote of the MTA board. MTA spokesperson Aaron Donovan says that's because, "The dollar value of this procurement fell below the threshold required for board approval. So the new contract has been approved at the staff level." In April, the MTA estimated the 3-year deal would be worth $30,000.

Mocker filed a records request under New York's Freedom of Information Law. The MTA has until Friday to respond.

Greg wants to hear from you. Email him at mocker@wpix.com