Rachael Fauss
@rachaelfauss.bsky.social
Senior Policy Advisor @reinventalbany.bsky.social focusing on MTA, ethics, campaign finance, transparency & accountability in NY
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
Gov Hochul should veto S6815/A8292 – giving MTA workers an automatic defense for bus-lane violations meddles in NYC and MTA management and could encourage misuse of agency vehicles.
buff.ly/P1MqL0D
buff.ly/P1MqL0D
Reinvent Albany Urges Governor to Veto Bus Lane Enforcement Carve-Out for MTA Workers - Reinvent Albany
MEMO OF OPPOSITION S6815 (Comrie) / A8292 (Cunningham) No Bus Lane Enforcement Carve-Outs! TITLE OF BILL An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to an affirmative defense for bus…
buff.ly
December 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Gov Hochul should veto S6815/A8292 – giving MTA workers an automatic defense for bus-lane violations meddles in NYC and MTA management and could encourage misuse of agency vehicles.
buff.ly/P1MqL0D
buff.ly/P1MqL0D
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
December 5, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Bus riders in the Bronx deserve faster rides. Gov Hochul should indeed veto this bill.
Gov Hochul should VETO the bill that carves out Co-op City from bus lane enforcement.
It slows buses and worsens pollution. The state Legislature should not be getting involved in local transit decisions.
buff.ly/01VdEUW
It slows buses and worsens pollution. The state Legislature should not be getting involved in local transit decisions.
buff.ly/01VdEUW
December 5, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Bus riders in the Bronx deserve faster rides. Gov Hochul should indeed veto this bill.
👏👏👏 I've been advocating for a new MTA capital dashboard since 2018 (!) so very happy to see the MTA finally build a new, better dashboard.
Reinvent Albany commends the new @mta.info Capital Dashboard powered by open data. This upgrade shows the MTA's progress on rebuilding and modernizing the subways, buses, and commuter railroads. Check out the top 4 things we like about it!
buff.ly/kVdszHb
buff.ly/kVdszHb
December 1, 2025 at 9:34 PM
👏👏👏 I've been advocating for a new MTA capital dashboard since 2018 (!) so very happy to see the MTA finally build a new, better dashboard.
Let's GOOO! Now it's up for Adams to sign, and the Mamdani admin to implement it.
Looks like I will soon have 2 transparency babies to tend. MTA Open Data + NYC FOIL reporting
Looks like I will soon have 2 transparency babies to tend. MTA Open Data + NYC FOIL reporting
🎉🎉 🎉 Transparency Groups Cheer NYC Council Passage of Landmark FOIL Reform Bill
Statement on the passage of Intro 1235-A, sponsored by @galeabrewer.bsky.social here: buff.ly/XfnWNK0
Thank you @stopspyingny.bsky.social @beta.nyc @legalaidnyc.bsky.social
@citizensunionny.bsky.social + more!
Statement on the passage of Intro 1235-A, sponsored by @galeabrewer.bsky.social here: buff.ly/XfnWNK0
Thank you @stopspyingny.bsky.social @beta.nyc @legalaidnyc.bsky.social
@citizensunionny.bsky.social + more!
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Let's GOOO! Now it's up for Adams to sign, and the Mamdani admin to implement it.
Looks like I will soon have 2 transparency babies to tend. MTA Open Data + NYC FOIL reporting
Looks like I will soon have 2 transparency babies to tend. MTA Open Data + NYC FOIL reporting
Happy to be back testifying to MTA Board about OPTO! Let's GO Hochul and VETO this bill.
Testimony to MTA Board: Gov. Hochul Must Veto Two-Person Train Operator Bill
Misguided bill will do nothing to improve subway service, and instead add costs that will ultimately be paid by transit riders.
Read it here:
Misguided bill will do nothing to improve subway service, and instead add costs that will ultimately be paid by transit riders.
Read it here:
buff.ly
November 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Happy to be back testifying to MTA Board about OPTO! Let's GO Hochul and VETO this bill.
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
Thanks to @stefanoschen.bsky.social and @nytimes.com for picking up our report on global transit operations. It’s clear that the rest of the world has moved toward more automated and leaner operations without the sky falling. Legislating ops from Albany is overreach:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
Does the Subway Still Need Train Conductors?
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Thanks to @stefanoschen.bsky.social and @nytimes.com for picking up our report on global transit operations. It’s clear that the rest of the world has moved toward more automated and leaner operations without the sky falling. Legislating ops from Albany is overreach:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
But if the bill is passed, the M.T.A. would be prohibited from shifting to one-person operation on those and other trains, said Rachael Fauss, senior policy adviser at Reinvent Albany, a good governance group.
“It’s kind of flushing the benefits of C.B.T.C. down the toilet,” she said.
“It’s kind of flushing the benefits of C.B.T.C. down the toilet,” she said.
Does the subway still need conductors? Much of the world say no, but union leaders say it's a safety issue. Gov. Hochul has to decide by year end whether to sign a bill that would mandate two-person train crews, even on lines that already moved to one operator www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
Does the Subway Still Need Train Conductors?
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM
But if the bill is passed, the M.T.A. would be prohibited from shifting to one-person operation on those and other trains, said Rachael Fauss, senior policy adviser at Reinvent Albany, a good governance group.
“It’s kind of flushing the benefits of C.B.T.C. down the toilet,” she said.
“It’s kind of flushing the benefits of C.B.T.C. down the toilet,” she said.
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
Does the subway still need conductors? Much of the world say no, but union leaders say it's a safety issue. Gov. Hochul has to decide by year end whether to sign a bill that would mandate two-person train crews, even on lines that already moved to one operator www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
Does the Subway Still Need Train Conductors?
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Does the subway still need conductors? Much of the world say no, but union leaders say it's a safety issue. Gov. Hochul has to decide by year end whether to sign a bill that would mandate two-person train crews, even on lines that already moved to one operator www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
We dropped a new report re: train operations, everyone’s favorite topic. There’s some backstory that we will get too. But, the basic takeaway is modern train systems have moved away from two-person train ops. New York should, too! transitcosts.com/Train_Operat...
transitcosts.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
We dropped a new report re: train operations, everyone’s favorite topic. There’s some backstory that we will get too. But, the basic takeaway is modern train systems have moved away from two-person train ops. New York should, too! transitcosts.com/Train_Operat...
Super interesting for us election reform enthusiasts...have been waiting to see the local breakdown!
November 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Super interesting for us election reform enthusiasts...have been waiting to see the local breakdown!
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
Our friends at @citizensunionny.bsky.social are hosting a public Q&A on NYC ballot question 6 (even-year elections) this Thurs, 10/30, from 6-7pm. Register for their webinar!
Early voting is on! 🗳️
What is NYC Ballot Question 6 & how could it change local elections?
Join our webinar: Understanding Ballot Q6
Thu, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM ET
🔗 Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
#NYC #NYCVotes #BallotQuestion6 #CivicEngagement
What is NYC Ballot Question 6 & how could it change local elections?
Join our webinar: Understanding Ballot Q6
Thu, Oct 30 · 6:00 PM ET
🔗 Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
#NYC #NYCVotes #BallotQuestion6 #CivicEngagement
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Citizens Union Webinar: Understanding NYC Ballot Question 6 - Moving Local Elections to Presidential Election Years. After registering, you will receive a c...
This November, New York City voters will vote on whether to move City elections to coincide with a presidential election year. What does that mean, and how would the change look? What impact would it ...
us02web.zoom.us
October 27, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Our friends at @citizensunionny.bsky.social are hosting a public Q&A on NYC ballot question 6 (even-year elections) this Thurs, 10/30, from 6-7pm. Register for their webinar!
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
NEW report with scrutinize, "Backdoor to the Bench", finds NY’s constitutional cap on the number of Supreme Court judges spawns double dysfunction
Clogged courts resort to secretive, highly subjective selection of acting judges as workaround
Clogged courts resort to secretive, highly subjective selection of acting judges as workaround
Backdoor to the Bench — Scrutinize
Scrutinize Launches Judicial Profiles to Enhance Transparency in New York Courts
buff.ly
October 16, 2025 at 1:19 PM
NEW report with scrutinize, "Backdoor to the Bench", finds NY’s constitutional cap on the number of Supreme Court judges spawns double dysfunction
Clogged courts resort to secretive, highly subjective selection of acting judges as workaround
Clogged courts resort to secretive, highly subjective selection of acting judges as workaround
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
🚨Transparency Boosting Bill on Hochul's Desk🚨
S2520-B/A3425-A by @jamesskoufis.bsky.social and Steven Raga is the most significant improvement to the Freedom of Information Law in years & would shorten the time the public waits for records. Governor Hochul should sign it.
S2520-B/A3425-A by @jamesskoufis.bsky.social and Steven Raga is the most significant improvement to the Freedom of Information Law in years & would shorten the time the public waits for records. Governor Hochul should sign it.
October 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
🚨Transparency Boosting Bill on Hochul's Desk🚨
S2520-B/A3425-A by @jamesskoufis.bsky.social and Steven Raga is the most significant improvement to the Freedom of Information Law in years & would shorten the time the public waits for records. Governor Hochul should sign it.
S2520-B/A3425-A by @jamesskoufis.bsky.social and Steven Raga is the most significant improvement to the Freedom of Information Law in years & would shorten the time the public waits for records. Governor Hochul should sign it.
This might have been my favorite part to write in this report. 🦮
Our report, Investing in the MTA is Investing in America: October 2025 Update, looked at MTA spending across 47 states.
Did you know that the MTA has purchased K-9s from companies in 12 states, from Alabama to Illinois to Wisconsin for the MTA Police Department? 🐕🦺 👮♀️
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Did you know that the MTA has purchased K-9s from companies in 12 states, from Alabama to Illinois to Wisconsin for the MTA Police Department? 🐕🦺 👮♀️
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
New Report: Investing in the MTA Is Investing in America - Reinvent Albany
New York’s MTA Paid Companies in Other States $19B Over 14 Years, Supporting up to 247,000 Jobs in Blue, Red, and Purple States Alike
reinventalbany.org
October 7, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This might have been my favorite part to write in this report. 🦮
It is truly cutting off one's nose to spite one's face to defund infrastructure projects in NY.
ICYMI: Our new report shows that Investing in the MTA is Investing in America
Federal cuts to New York's transit system, which carries 40% of national ridership, not only hurts NY, but all the companies that supply the MTA from a total of 47 states.
reinventalbany.org/2025/10/watc...
Federal cuts to New York's transit system, which carries 40% of national ridership, not only hurts NY, but all the companies that supply the MTA from a total of 47 states.
reinventalbany.org/2025/10/watc...
Watchdog Report: States that Voted for Trump Get Billions from MTA Spending - Reinvent Albany
New York’s MTA Paid Companies in Other States $19B Over 14 Years, Supporting up to 247,000 Jobs in Blue, Red, and Purple States Alike Introduction: Analysis of MTA Spending on Vendors 2011-2024 The ...
reinventalbany.org
October 2, 2025 at 5:13 PM
It is truly cutting off one's nose to spite one's face to defund infrastructure projects in NY.
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
You see this particularly in the crime discussion nationally, but folks outside of New York City (and often times in New York City) do not grasp the scale and scope of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
October 2, 2025 at 12:26 PM
You see this particularly in the crime discussion nationally, but folks outside of New York City (and often times in New York City) do not grasp the scale and scope of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
October 2, 2025 at 12:01 PM
NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.
buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6
Who says that government rules are confusing?🙃
September 19, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Who says that government rules are confusing?🙃
Let's go! This bill would finally let the public really monitor NYC agency FOIL response times.
Our groups @citizensunionny.bsky.social @commoncauseny.bsky.social @freedom.press @legalaidnyc.bsky.social @lwvnyc.bsky.social @nyclu.org @nypirg.bsky.social @stopspyingny.bsky.social urge City Council to pass @galeabrewer.bsky.social landmark NYC FOIL bill
buff.ly/ocwTgBk
buff.ly/ocwTgBk
September 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Let's go! This bill would finally let the public really monitor NYC agency FOIL response times.
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
Gov. is backing away from clean energy targets and slashing programs to help NYers save on electric bills. Cheap power aplenty for data centers and chip plants!
And:
🎬 Film Subsidies 2025: First One to the Bottom Wins!
🎭 Broadway’s $400M tax credit fund is tapped out
Read it: buff.ly/qxJ9Zkt
And:
🎬 Film Subsidies 2025: First One to the Bottom Wins!
🎭 Broadway’s $400M tax credit fund is tapped out
Read it: buff.ly/qxJ9Zkt
July 25, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Gov. is backing away from clean energy targets and slashing programs to help NYers save on electric bills. Cheap power aplenty for data centers and chip plants!
And:
🎬 Film Subsidies 2025: First One to the Bottom Wins!
🎭 Broadway’s $400M tax credit fund is tapped out
Read it: buff.ly/qxJ9Zkt
And:
🎬 Film Subsidies 2025: First One to the Bottom Wins!
🎭 Broadway’s $400M tax credit fund is tapped out
Read it: buff.ly/qxJ9Zkt
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
We submitted testimony to the Conflicts of Interest Board on their proposed regs for clean contracting disclosures.
We support the intent, and offer recommendations to further strengthen reporting given past scandals and irregular procurements.
Check it out: reinventalbany.org/2025/07/test...
We support the intent, and offer recommendations to further strengthen reporting given past scandals and irregular procurements.
Check it out: reinventalbany.org/2025/07/test...
Testimony to NYC COIB on Clean Contracting Disclosures - Reinvent Albany
Testimony to the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) on Proposed Rules Regarding Contract FilersRe: Strengthening clean contracting disclosures July 22, 2025 Thank you for the opportu...
reinventalbany.org
July 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
We submitted testimony to the Conflicts of Interest Board on their proposed regs for clean contracting disclosures.
We support the intent, and offer recommendations to further strengthen reporting given past scandals and irregular procurements.
Check it out: reinventalbany.org/2025/07/test...
We support the intent, and offer recommendations to further strengthen reporting given past scandals and irregular procurements.
Check it out: reinventalbany.org/2025/07/test...
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
Oh by the way, amid all the mayoral campaign transit proposals, two more congestion pricing lawsuits against the @mta.info were dismissed. #traffic #transit #congestionpricing
July 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Oh by the way, amid all the mayoral campaign transit proposals, two more congestion pricing lawsuits against the @mta.info were dismissed. #traffic #transit #congestionpricing
Check out my latest analysis, complete with colorful charts 📊📉📈
New analysis: Shrinking NYC Anti-Corruption Agencies Need Independent Budgeting
FY26 Budget Again Provides No Inflation Increase, Risking Future Staffing Cuts
Council Charter Commission must ask voters to approve independent budgeting for DOI, COIB.
buff.ly/NWWwlwi
FY26 Budget Again Provides No Inflation Increase, Risking Future Staffing Cuts
Council Charter Commission must ask voters to approve independent budgeting for DOI, COIB.
buff.ly/NWWwlwi
July 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Check out my latest analysis, complete with colorful charts 📊📉📈
Reposted by Rachael Fauss
NEW: 13 groups support @galeabrewer.bsky.social bill to improve NYC FOIL responses, better hold agencies accountable
Thanks to partners @legalaidnyc.bsky.social @stopspyingny.bsky.social @beta.nyc @earthjustice.org @nyclu.org @citizensunionny.bsky.social + more!
Thanks to partners @legalaidnyc.bsky.social @stopspyingny.bsky.social @beta.nyc @earthjustice.org @nyclu.org @citizensunionny.bsky.social + more!
13 Groups Support Bill to Improve NYC FOIL Responses - Reinvent Albany
MEMO OF SUPPORT Intro 1235 of 2025 (Brewer) Requires NYC agencies to publicly report FOIL logs TITLE OF BILL A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to the creation of a…
buff.ly
June 25, 2025 at 4:09 PM
NEW: 13 groups support @galeabrewer.bsky.social bill to improve NYC FOIL responses, better hold agencies accountable
Thanks to partners @legalaidnyc.bsky.social @stopspyingny.bsky.social @beta.nyc @earthjustice.org @nyclu.org @citizensunionny.bsky.social + more!
Thanks to partners @legalaidnyc.bsky.social @stopspyingny.bsky.social @beta.nyc @earthjustice.org @nyclu.org @citizensunionny.bsky.social + more!