NEW YORK (WPIX)—
A media handler for MTA Chairman Jay Walder abruptly hustled his boss away from reporters after PIX 11's Greg Mocker asked for more information about the MTA's new cost-cutting czar.It happened at The Cooper Union in Manhattan where the MTA was holding public hearings on station booth closures and agent layoffs.
Mocker, who's been investigating the hiring of Diana Jones Ritter as the MTA's managing director, managed to ask Walder two questions before the interview was shut down. Here's the exchange:
Mocker:"Mr. Walder, every dollar counts. How do you justify spending more than $200,000, creating a new management position for an efficiency expert?
Walder:"This is an effort that we've undertaken to overhaul our business. We're consolidating functions that position will be in charge of saving over ten million dollars for the company."
Mocker:"Does it bother you that she's accused by a state senate task force on efficiency of running a department that is inefficient? Overtime issues. Spending problems."
Walder:"I think the fact that she has been running a huge sprawling bureaucracy... She has a track record of success in doing it. That is something that attracted us... to position... She is a solid qualified public servant. She has done a terrific job and we look forward to the work she is going to do at the MTA."
Mocker:"How many other people did you interview?"
MTA PR Guy:[Cutting off Mocker] "Any other questions on topic? Thank you."
Ritter is joining the MTA on July 19 as managing director (at a salary of $217,000) and will oversee cost-cutting, day-to-day operations at headquarters, corporate affairs, government relations, procurement, real estate, human resources policy and pensions, capital programs, planning, sustainability and environmental compliance, and information technology.
Mocker started digging for information after MTA Chairman Jay Walder announced his hiring of Jones Ritter in a press release.
"Diana Jones Ritter is exactly the type of seasoned government professional who can help the MTA attack our cost structure and operate more efficiently," Walder said in the release. "Diana has a stellar track record at all levels of government and will hit the ground running overseeing this vital effort."
Mocker quickly discovered there was plenty the MTA didn't say.
Most glaring was a June 2010 investigation by the New York Senate Task Force on Government Efficiency. Sen. Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), chairman of the Task Force on Government Efficiency, said of his findings: "Massive, unregulated overtime is plaguing our state coffers and will continue to bleed our state dry if we don't get it under control."
Klein told Mocker he holds Jones Ritter responsible for the runaway overtime - "she's the boss," he said - and he's surprised the MTA hired hire her to cut costs.
Also of concern to the Task Force on Government Efficiency was "a shockingly wasteful history at OMRDD with regard to purchasing properties for use as group homes." One example cited: When the OMRDD wanted a new group home in Westchester County, it bought a mini-mansion for $845,000. That was 63 percent over the average price of homes in the area. The house came with a pool and a hot tub - which Ritter's office filled in with concrete.
Since Mocker's first report on July 6, MTA officials have been dodging his requests for interviews. The authority's chief of staff even fired off an email to board members urging them to beware of Mocker because he's doing a "negative" story on Jones Ritter.
On Tuesday, after Mocker interviewed Walder, he delivered copies of the task force report to the board members.
GREG WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. HE RETURNS EVERY EMAIL, AND EVERYTHING IS CONFIDENTIAL: mocker@wpix.com
