DiNapoli: Tax on rich is poor fix

ALBANY — State Controller Thomas DiNapoli on Wednesday threw cold water on Mayor de Blasio’s plan to aid the MTA by taxing the rich.

DiNapoli said the mayor’s plan will not provide the immediate funding needed to implement the $836 million emergency repair plan proposed by Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joe Lhota.

“Clearly, for it to be enacted you need legislative action,” DiNapoli said. “The (state) Legislature, as I understand it, is not coming back anytime soon.”

DiNapoli (inset) said the mayor’s tax plan could be considered as part of a longer-term strategy to fund the MTA, but the mayor and Gov. Cuomo need to decide how best to fund the immediate needs.

“I think Chairman Lhota came up with a short-term strategy that deals with some of the big issues the MTA is facing right now,” DiNapoli said. “The issue of how to finance it, ultimately that’s going to have to be worked out between the governor and the mayor. At this point, we’re not taking sides in that.”

A City Hall spokesman defended de Blasio’s stance and said Cuomo should provide the MTA’s short-term funding.

“Subway and bus riders need better service,” said spokesman Austin Finan. “The mayor believes the wealthiest 1% should pay for these critical system improvements. The governor should return the half-billion dollars the state diverted from the MTA and he should support New Yorkers’ effort to have the wealthiest 1% chip in a few dollars to help riders.”

The controller is one of several state officials to express reservations or outright opposition to de Blasio’s plan.

Cuomo again on Wednesday called for the mayor to pay half of the $836 million cost of Lhota’s rescue plan.

“Obviously, the city is not eager to fund the emergency plan, to put it mildly, and is only talking about long term funding,” Cuomo said. “I’m not gonna leave New York City riders stranded for a year until we talk to the legislature in the next legislative session. They deserve relief today.”