NEW YORK – Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, the presumptive Republican nominee for mayor, issued the following statement regarding the 1981 law citing the City is responsible for the system’s capital needs.

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis said, “From the start of this campaign, I have said, New York City has a responsibility to invest in subway infrastructure improvements because without the subway the City doesn’t run. Unlike Bill de Blasio, I will not shy away from that responsibility and cast blame on the Governor. Instead, I will extend my hand to Governor Cuomo and MTA Chairman Joe Lhota and look for ways we can come together to properly fund the system and make it more efficient.

“Major cities from Paris to London to San Francisco have made the investment to upgrade their subways with Communications Based Train Control. Meanwhile New York City, the greatest city in the world, has subway signals that date back to WWII and are decades beyond repair. A good manager plans ahead to avoid inconveniencing the people they are sworn to serve. This Mayor is not a manager. He doesn’t understand the concept of planning ahead and has shown an inability and unwillingness to work with Governor Cuomo to achieve a resolution. He is disconnected from the deteriorating quality of life New Yorkers experience every day and he simply doesn’t care.”