NEW YORK—Jay Walder resigned as head of the MTA in July to take a post as head of Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC). An English-language Hong Kong newspaper, The Standard, called Walder out on his record of laying off employees in an article published Wednesday.
“After becoming head of the MTA in 2009, he laid off 3,500 staff and reformed the company,” states the article, noting his achievement in saving the agency $520 million. Walder told The Standard he will not cut labor costs the same way in his current position. He explained the tough spot he was in in New York.
“The assets were not renewed and the infrastructures were in terrible condition,” said Walder.
Walder is making 1.6 times his MTA salary and told The Standard, “I am here to stay.”
