Bad sign? Gov. Cuomo offered no support today for Port Authority boss Chris Ward as discussions about major Hudson River crossing toll hikes continue.
Our Glenn Blain reports:
Cuomo refused to give Ward, the PA’s executive director, a vote of confidence, telling reporters he wanted more information about the agency’s finances and its plans for a massive toll hike: “We need the facts and then when we get the facts I’ll tell you whether or not I think they did a good job,” Cuomo said. “But I do want the facts first.”
The gov’s refusal to back Ward – an appointee of ex-Gov. David Paterson –
comes a day after Cuomo called the PA’s toll plan a “non-starter”
and denied reports he had signed off on the proposal before it was released.
“They’re have been discussions with Mr. Ward, but I don’t know if you noticed, I’ve been doing a few other things at the same time and this is a long and complicated story at the Port and we will get to the bottom of it,” Cuomo said when asked to elaborate on his prior knowledge of the PA’s plans.
Ward, who has been hailed by Mayor Bloomberg for his efforts at Ground Zero,
has a strained relationship with Cuomo
, who is reportedly looking for a replacement. A Port Authority spokesman did not immediately comment.
“I want a comprehensive review of how we got here and what they’re doing that requires more money,” Cuomo said.
