De Blasio Appointees Join MTA Board

Five new members, including two appointed by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, have joined the board of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

De Blasio appointees Veronica Vanterpool, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, and David Jones, president of the Community Service Society, attended the June 20 and 22 MTA committee and board meetings as did James Vitiello, recommended by Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro.

Peter Ward, president of the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council and appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, will replace fellow Staten Island resident Allen Cappelli and John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union Local 100, will replace Ed Watt as a nonvoting member.

All appointees received state Senate approval.

Vanterpool replaces Jeffrey Kay and Jones fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Iris Weinshall. They join fellow de Blasio appointee and New York City transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg on the board.

Andrew Saul, a former gubernatorial appointment who served on the board from 1996 to 2015, returns after Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino appointed him. Saul will replace Jonathan Ballan.

Carl Wortendyke of Rockland County was reconfirmed. Neal Zuckerman, previously a nonvoting member representing the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee's Metro-North Riders Council, replaces Bob Bickford. Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell nominated Zuckerman.

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Transportation industry New York
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