MTA Chief Joseph Lhota Does Not Support Bill Perkins' Subway Food Ban Bill (POLL)

MTA chief Joseph Lhota does not support State Senator Bill Perkin's bill in Albany to ban eating on the subway--and may not be a fan of the Senator himself.

The bill, which would punish hungry straphangers with a $250 fine, is designed to curb the city's rat problem (see evidence here, here, and here) by reducing the amount of scraps for the pesky rodents.

Lhota, despite once being hailed by Mayor Giuliani as the "rat czar" during his tenure as deputy mayor, sees a problem with Perkins' plan. From The New York Times:

Mr. Lhota said in an interview that he watched too many children eating breakfast items, like bagels and muffins, on the subways every morning to ban food.

"I do not support the bill," Mr. Lhota said. "It severely hurts and impacts minority communities. I don't want to deny the kid the only time that day he’s going to get food."

Fair enough. Whatever allows us to keep eating bagels and churros on the train.

And as for Perkins himself? Take it away rat czar!

Mr. Lhota was not nearly as effusive in his assessment of Mr. Perkins. "The idea that we worked together in the past goes far beyond the reality," Mr. Lhota said. "As a legislator, he does nothing but talk and talk and talk, and he does nothing."

Lhota quickly backed off the not-so-Valentine's remarks, issuing an apology Tuesday afternoon. "Bill is an excellent legislator with great constituent services, and I share his commitment to addressing the problem of rat proliferation in New York City," Lhota said in a statement, according to The Wall Street Journal. "Though we agree on many rat related issues, we disagree on banning food on the subways. I have a great deal of respect for Senator Perkins."

At any rate, NYC-Albany politics aside, do you think eating on the subway should be banned? Vote below.