Times Claims Mayor’s Affair Cost City $336 Million in Transportation Funds

Being a former lobbyist in New Jersey, I've had about enough media coverage of sex scandals on the news to last a lifetime. But there was one detail from this weekend's article on Hizzoner's escapades that deserved comment.

With several of his news conferences dominated by questions about the affair, the mayor kept a relatively low profile for two months, staying out of the spotlight as the state Legislature raided $336 million in transportation funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Regalado said.

Memo to state legislators: Just because the Mayor was too embarrassed to stick up for the city's funding needs doesn't mean his residents deserve to get shafted. Why I can think of a lot of great ways to spend $336 million:

1) Roll back last summer's fare hike.

2) Fully fund all of the city's Safe Streets To School's Program

3) Bike racks at every transit stop

4) And with any money left over, how about a down payment on Phase II of the Expo Project?

If anyone has other suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments section.