MTA’s Lhota Not Allowed To Address Mayoral Rumors

MTA Chairman Joe Lhota (photo by Daniel S. Burnstein)

At the Association for a Better New York’s panel discussion yesterday morning at the Sheraton in midtown Manhattan entitled “Election Day 2012: What Does It Mean For New York?”, the event’s host, ABNY Chairman Bill Rudin, recognized MTA Chairman Joe Lhota, who was seated in the audience, noting that he “probably hasn’t slept in 10 days.”

Lhota, who had just returned from trying to get the G train back on track—which happened successfully a few hours after the breakfast—received an enthusiastic round of the applause from the crowd for his work restoring public transit service around the city, and Rudin joked that “we have extra coffee for him.”

Asked by City & State prior to the start of the discussion about the rumors that he is being courted to run for Mayor on the Republican line, Lhota pointed out that he was barred from addressing the subject because of the Public Officers Law.

“I don’t even think my wife is allowed to talk about it,” added Lhota.