Pols trade barbs over subway repairs

While two Queens legislators are happy repairs and maintenance work at three No. 7 train stations is taking place, the debate over who gets credit for these improvements has sparked some harsh words between the two.
On Friday, February 8, State Senator John Sabini sent out a press release announcing that the MTA was going to start repairs and improvements to the 90th Street station.
Less than two weeks later, Assemblymember Jose Peralta countered with his own release that said he and Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry had secured $1.5 million for the improvements in 2004, and “it is truly is despicable for certain individuals to take credit for this work simply because they are trying to capitalize in an election year.”
Sabini said he decided to issue the release after he had a meeting with the new No. 7 Train Manager Lou Brusati, who informed him that the improvements at 90th Street were about to commence.
“No one is trying to steal any credit,” Sabini said.
However, Peralta did not see it the same way.
Peralta said that after he secured the $1.5 million in 2004 to make improvements to the stations at 90th, 103rd and 111th streets, he constantly asked for status updates about when the work would occur.
Already, the MTA painted the 103rd Street station as well as the replacement of the mirrors, Q-Panels, platform landing threading, stairs and the installation of the much-awaited Bird-B-Gone system to eliminate the bird and pigeon problem. However, Peralta said he did not find out about the work at the 90th Street station until he read it in the newspapers with Sabini’s name in the article.
“It’s one thing that you make a friendly call,” Peralta said. “It’s another thing to take advantage of a situation during a political year.”
Peralta said that his release, which did not identify Sabini by name, was designed to send a message.
“I understand it’s an election year and you need to prop up what you’re doing to sell yourself, but don’t do it on the back of someone else’s issue,” he said.
Sabini will likely face a tough primary this year from City Councilmember Hiram Monserrate, who most people believe will run for Sabini’s seat again like he did in 2006.
During the 2006 primary, which Sabini won by a small margin, Peralta backed Sabini, but the Assemblymember said he had not decided if he would back the incumbent Sabini again in 2008.
“I have to weigh my options and speak to my base supporters,” Peralta said.
Meanwhile, both Peralta and Sabini praised Brusati for his work in his new position.
“One of the things that the new decentralized management is supposed to address is small problems that take months to address,” said Sabini, who expects to host public forums with Brusati in the next few months.