Several MTA board members were missing from the meeting at which fare increases were presented last week.

Sources said, as a protest, the mayor’s office allegedly orchestrated a no-show of two appointees at the meeting: City Planning Director Dan Garodnick and Midori Valdivia, chief operating officer for the Coro New York Leadership Center.

What You Need To Know

  • Several MTA board members were missing from the meeting at which fare increases were presented last week

  • Sources said, as a protest, the mayor’s office allegedly orchestrated a no-show of two appointees at the meeting

  • When NY1 asked Mayor Eric Adams, he neither confirmed nor denied it
  • Additionally, NY1 has learned another appointee was asked to leave

When NY1 asked Mayor Eric Adams, he neither confirmed nor denied it.

“We didn’t know that they were coming. Everything has to be voted on, and we’re not in favor of them. You know, some people say, well, they’re only such a small amount. A small amount or not, New Yorkers are struggling right now, and we shouldn’t be looking to do fare hikes right now,” Adams said Monday.

Garodnick had to chair a planning commission meeting but was ultimately called in to make a quorum so the board could approve the first contract for the Interborough Express — a planned lightrail between Brooklyn and Queens.

Valdivia had concerns about the impact of the fare increase, as well as the public hearing timeline, according to an email — obtained from a source by NY1 — from MTA staff to the board with answers to her questions.

Additionally, NY1 has learned another appointee was asked to leave. Meera Joshi, former deputy mayor for operations, turned in her resignation letter on June 19.

Sources told NY1 the request came from City Hall so that her successor could be confirmed before the end of the state legislative session — but some state senators dismissed that idea.

At the board meeting, a 10 cent increase was discussed for subway and bus riders, with three hybrid public hearings scheduled for Aug. 19 and 20.

David Jones, also a mayoral appointee, did attend and said he hadn’t been contacted, but voiced concerns about the public process as well.

“Even though I support the notion of a fare increase, you have to give the public a right to comment,” Jones said. “We have Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North and the subways and buses. I think you literally have to segment them out, so people who are most interested in Metro-North or Long Island Railroad have a chance to comment about what this may mean.”

In the past, the MTA has held separate meetings for LIRR, Metro-North and New York City Transit in various locations. In addition to the three hearings, the public can comment online, and staff will collect feedback in September at various transit hubs.

But Jones says there’s something to be said for the public being able to speak directly to board members.