Astorino: MTA Needs New Plan For Transportation Improvements On Staten Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino is making Staten Island transportation an issue in his campaign.
"Governor Cuomo has to get involved aggressively on the MTA's five-year capital plan and soon," the Republican said.
As WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola reported, Astorino said Staten Island is underserved by transportation.
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis agreed, saying more bus lines are needed as well as better planning.
"Let's give Staten Island something because, you know what, you make $250 million a year in profit from that Verrazano Bridge, which is mostly paid for by Staten Island residents, and we're issuing debt now to repave the upper deck," Malliotakis said.
Astorino said the MTA's five-year plan is expiring this year, and there still isn't a proposal to replace it.
Meanwhile, Astorino took a jab at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a fellow Republican who has refused to campaign as the Westchester County executive seeks higher office.
In announcing that Carly Fiorina, a prominent Republican business leader, will head Women for Astorino, the gubernatorial hopeful referenced Christie's onstage dancing during an Apollo Theater fundraiser hosted by Jamie Foxx over the weekend in the Hamptons.
"While Governor Christie's dancing away in the Hamptons, Carly Fiorina's getting involved in our campaign in a very real way," Astorino said.
"She is very well-respected nationally and along the business community," he added.
Astrorino said Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is also coming to stump for him, and "other governors are being lined up."
When asked last month if he would campaign for Astorino, Christie, who chairs the Republican Governors Association, responded: "I will spend time in places where we have a chance to win."
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