New York State Senate Votes on Adams and Hochul MTA Appointees

The New York State Senate Transportation Committee will meet Thursday to hear and vote on the endorsements of six new members of the MTA board.

Mayor Eric Adams has nominated Isabel Midori, Valdivia Espino, Frankie Miranda and Sherif Soliman for three of his four board positions, according to Sen. Tim Kennedy (D-Buffalo).

For her part, Governor Kathy Hochul has selected Lisa Sorin as one of her board representatives and Samuel Chu and Blanca Lopez as representatives from Suffolk County and Westchester County, respectively.

Hochul effectively controls the board through her appointments, which make up the majority of the board. The city only has four representatives, despite making up the vast majority of drivers.

Valdivia Espino previously served as Chief of Staff to MTA Chairmen Joe Lhota and Pat Foye, and held positions with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Since January she has been the Chief Operating Officer of the Coro New York Leadership Center.

Frankie Miranda, meanwhile, serves as president of the Hispanic Federation, and Sherif Soliman is a longtime city official who served in leadership positions under both Adams and his predecessor, Bill de Blasio.

Beginning Thursday noon, state senators will hear virtual testimony from the nominees who cannot take their executive seats without Senate approval.