Joe Lhota Earns $150K On Madison Square Garden Board, Report Says

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The man tasked with fixing New York City's ailing subway system is currently juggling three different jobs, one of which may present a conflict of interest — or at least the appearance of one.

MTA Chairman Joe Lhota earns at least $150,000 as a board member for Madison Square Garden, the sports and entertainment venue that sits directly above Penn Sation, Politico first reported. Lhota previously served as an executive at the Madison Square Garden Company.

Lhota's position on the board presents a dicey situation for the MTA. The presence of Madison Square Garden is often pegged as a roadblock in improving service at Penn Station and the subway stations located below the hulking arena. An MTA spokesman told Politico that Lhota will avoid any possible conflicts of interest in his capacity as a board member.

"If there is anything that involves MSG and Penn Station, Lhota will appropriately recuse himself from any matter where there could be even the appearance of a conflict," MTA spokesman Jon Weinstein told Politico.

Penn Station is owned by Amtrak — not the MTA — but it serves as the main New York City station for Long Island Rail Road operations. It's also the site of subway stops along the A/C/E and 1/2/3 lines.

Advocates for open and accountable government told Politico that while Lhota may recuse himself from MTA-related matters, his spot on the board presents the appearance of a conflict of interest.

"I find it stunning that this was not discussed publicly by the board of directors of the MTA and publicly vetted for its appropriateness," John Kaehny of Reinvent Albany told Politico.

In addition to his positions with the MTA and Madison Square Garden, Lhota serves as an executive at NYU Langone Health, Politico reported. His job with the hospital earns him about $1.6 million per year, according to the report.

Read the full Politico report here.

Photo by Associated Press/Richard Drew