[chimeracoder]

> The MTA is a government org

Surprised none of the other comments have pointed out that this is not true. The MTA is a public benefit corporation, which is a concept particular to New York State.

The simplest way to describe a NY public benefit corporation is that it's a private corporation, but the board of directors for the corporation is appointed by the governor.

Court rulings have confirmed that employees of PBCs in NY are not state employees; they are employees of the corporation.

[CamperBob2]

A distinction without a difference.

[JackFr]

Talk to the municipal bond markets.

A bond issued by the MTA is considered a revenue bond. The only source of income to pay the bond holders have is the revenues of the MTA. A bond issued by New York State is considered a general obligation of the state, with the expectation that New York State will use its tax power to pay the bond holders.

[anon73044]

They're not state employees, so they won't receive that same benefits or retirement as a state employee.

If minimum wage for NY state employees is different than the Federal minimum, the MTA would use the Federal minimum.

[CamperBob2]

Can I patronize another MTA -- or start one - if I don't like the policies of this one?

No?

Then they're either state employees, or private actors wearing the colors of state authority. Which one of those is true is not interesting or relevant.

[vonmoltke]

So, an electric utility in a state where such are regulated is a state agency then?

[CamperBob2]

If it behaves the way the MTA is behaving, what difference does it make? That's the point that people taking your side of this question keep ignoring.

As we've seen with PG&E's behavior on the other side of the country, these entities are treated like official state agencies whenever they find it convenient to be treated that way, and like private businesses when that's more convenient.

It is not in the riders' interest -- or the taxpayer's -- for anyone to be allowed to dictate who can publish maps of a publicly-funded transit system. Whether the MTA is called a "public-private partnership," a "utility," a "transit authority," a "public benefit corporation," or simply a "government agency" is, again, not the least bit relevant.