Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. It’s cool so far this morning, but it’s expected to get a whole lot warmer this afternoon with summer-like temperatures (and potential for t-storms and showers too).

The other big news in the NYC metro area is that Anthony Weiner will be running for mayor this November. He has no business in the race considering his poor character, and even worse judgment, but he’s got $5 million reasons to do so (and think he can win too) - all that money could help him get ahead of his lackluster opponents.

The Mayor’s race is a mess with a bunch of awful candidates who can’t even articulate or even consider the real needs of the city to address infrastructure problems, school issues, and improving housing opportunities. The City has a budget that rivals at least half the states in the country (well, it’s population is greater than many states). But it’s hamstrung by the fact that the MTA is a state agency and can’t get it properly funded, and we’ve got an aging infrastructure that needs to be addressed - particularly in light of Hurricane Sandy. There are neighborhoods that are still hard hit by Sandy, and will take years before they’re fully recovered.

And it really does start with the MTA. If the subways go down, the City can and will roll to a screeching halt - buses and cars simply can’t pick up that slack. The MTA has already announced that they’re seeing all kinds of problems from Sandy-related damage. Signal and track problems have increased exponentially since Sandy damaged tracks, signals, electronic gear, and tunnels. Pumps have failed to meet the regular inflows, meaning that repairs have to shut down subway service. It’s going to get worse, unless the fixes are implemented in a timely fashion, or else the subways will limp along from one crisis to the next. The City should set up a dedicated fund for transit capital projects, and separate fund for long term maintenance to supplement the MTA budget. It can’t and shouldn’t wait for Albany to fix the budget mess at the MTA.