WHAT’S NEW & WHO’S NEWS
Senate Confirms Sean Duffy as U.S. Transportation Secretary
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate voted 77-22 Tuesday to confirm Sean Duffy to head the Department of Transportation. Democrats who previously expressed support for Mr. Duffy voted against him Tuesday in protest of President Donald Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) told CNN.
Mr. Duffy had previously advanced on a procedural vote of 97-0. “I am just so aghast and appalled by this funding freeze,” Sen. Blumenthal said. “I can’t support a nominee for the Transportation Department when he has power over road-building, bridge reconstruction that now is frozen in Connecticut. I’m hearing from officials there who are deeply worried. They can’t pay contractors. They can’t meet payrolls. The president has thrown into chaos and confusion many of the programs under the responsibility of the secretary of transportation, and I need to hear from him a loud and clear protest before I can support him.”
Mr. Duffy served as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2019. After resigning from Congress, he became a lobbyist. He first gained fame as a cast member on The Real World: Boston, 1998’s Road Rules: All Stars and 2002’s Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons, before going on to serve as district attorney of Ashland County, WI. He has also been a television commentator and has had stints on ESPN and Fox Business.
Two New Yorkers Take Lead Roles at EPA
WASHINGTON—A former New York Congressman from Long Island and a former State Senator from the Hudson Valley are taking lead roles at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration.
Former Long Island Congressman and New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin was sworn in as Administrator of the EPA on Jan. 29. In addition, multiple published reports indicate that former New York State Senator Mike Martucci was recently appointed as Administrator for the EPA’s Region 2, which covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight Indian Nations.
Administrator Zeldin, born and raised in Suffolk County, NY, is currently in his 22nd year in the United States military, having deployed to Iraq in 2006 with the Army’s Elite 82nd Airborne Division and continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve. He served in the New York State Senate from 2011-2014 and later represented New York’s 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 2015-2023. He ran an unsuccessful campaign to unseat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul last year.
During his eight years in Congress, Zeldin worked across party lines to preserve the Long Island Sound and Plum Island. He supported key legislation that became historic, bipartisan success stories like the Great American Outdoors Act and Save our Seas Act to clean up plastics from our oceans. He also led the fight for Sea Grant, combated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, voted for the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act, and supported clean energy projects on Long Island.
While no official announcement was made on Mr. Martucci’s appointment, the U.S. EPA website lists Mr. Martucci as Administrator. He replaced Alyssa Arcaya, who had served as Region 2 Acting Administrator. The website now lists Ms. Arcaya as Deputy Regional Administrator: Mr. Martucci served as a member from 2021-2022 of the New York State Senate representing the 42nd District, which covers portions of Orange, Ulster, and Delaware counties as well as all of Sullivan County. During this two-year tenure in state government, he was a supporter of New York’s Environmental Bond Act and passed legislation related to open space protection and inland waterway designation throughout his district.
A resident of Orange County, after graduating college, he founded a school transportation company, Quality Bus Service, which grew to a firm that employed more than 500 workers. A family farmer, he is also the owner of the parent company of Mid Hudson News
Molinaro Eyed to Head Federal Transit Administration
WASHINGTON—Multiple published reports indicate that former Congressman and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro is to be nominated by the Trump Administration to head the Federal Transit Administration. Mr. Molinaro has been a vocal opponent of New York City’s congestion pricing program, The Gothamist noted and reported that several people briefed on Mr. Molinaro’s pending appointment said they expected his nomination to be announced after the U.S. Senate confirmed Sean Duffy, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation.
MTA Appoints Justin Vonashek President of MTA Metro-North
NEW YORK—Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chair and CEO Janno Lieber announced on Feb. 6 the appointment of Justin Vonashek to serve as President of MTA Metro-North Railroad. Mr. Vonashek will succeed Catherine Rinaldi, the first woman to lead the railroad, who is retiring after nearly seven years in the role.
Mr. Vonashek, who takes over leadership of the railroad April 1, joined Metro-North as Vice President of System Safety in January 2016, part of the railroad’s push to improve safety following a series of incidents in 2013. He was elevated to Senior Vice President of Operations, overseeing critical operational functions in December 2020 and finally to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in September 2023, where he has managed all aspects of the railroad’s operations, including ensuring safety and operational excellence throughout the agency.
“Justin Vonashek has been a key player at Metro-North for years, helping the agency deliver sky high on-time performance and record customer satisfaction. We are fortunate to have such a seasoned executive ready to lead and make this transition a smooth one,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Cathy Rinaldi leaves big shoes to fill. There aren’t many people talented enough to run two of the busiest commuter railroads in the country – let alone at the same time — but she is one of them. We are grateful for her many years of exemplary service and wish her all the best in retirement.”
“I am honored that Janno has placed his confidence in me to lead one of the busiest commuter railroads in the country,” said incoming Metro-North Railroad President Vonashek. “I’m grateful to Cathy for her 20 years of service to the MTA and for her guidance over the years as we have worked together at Metro-North. I am excited for the challenges ahead and look forward to continuing to deliver the best service possible.”
Metro-North is the second busiest railroad measured by ridership in the nation.
Ms. Rinaldi leaves an impressive legacy at both Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road, where she served as interim president from February 2022 until October 2023. She is the first woman to serve as president of Metro-North.
As Metro-North president, she has overseen the best on-time performance in the railroad’s history, which stands at 98%, the fifth straight year it has exceed 97%. She led efforts to prioritize customer service and improve system reliability while continuing the intensive infrastructure work essential to maintaining system safety, including the opening of a brand-new maintenance and operations hub at Croton-on-Hudson and the installation of Positive Train Control.
During her tenure as interim president of the Long Island Rail Road, she oversaw the largest service increase in the Long Island Rail Road’s almost 200-year history that began with the opening of Grand Central Madison and the Main Line Third Track Project.
In addition to Ms. Rinaldi’s roles at both the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, she has served as MTA Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel, and Chief of Staff and Counsel at MTA Headquarters. Rinaldi’s last day will be March 31.
State Gaming Facility Location Board Names Phillips, Reimers as Members
ALBANY—As a number of prospective casino projects in the downstate region wind their way through the municipal approval process as they prepare to file formal applications with the state later this year, the New York State Gaming Commission reported it had unanimously appointed Marion Phillips, III, and Greg Reimers as members of the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, which is overseeing the commercial casino siting process in the New York Metro region.
Mr. Phillips serves as the senior vice president for Community Development and DEI at U.S. News & World Report. Prior to joining U.S. News, he served as the senior vice president of Community
Relations at New York State’s Empire State Development, managing development projects that included serving as the Chair of Queens West Development Corporation, president of the Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation and chief administrative officer of the New York Empowerment Zone Corporation.
Mr. Reimers is a retired real estate finance executive who recently completed a long real estate banking career as a managing director and market manager at JPMorgan Chase. He previously served as an executive vice president at The Bank of New York.
Messrs. Phillips and Reimers join Chair Vicki Been, Stuart Rabinowitz and Carlos Naudon on the Gaming Facility Location Board.
Published: February 13, 2025.