Why Byford Quit

This is a must read -- the backstory of how and why NYC Transit Chief Andy Byford quit after two extremely successful years on the job.

It makes for an intriguing narrative and a depressing read.

Two years ago NYC Transit was in crises, with delays and problems aplenty, the subways and buses running so slowly, with so many problems, that citizens of the city were rebelling. So Governor Cuomo made a smart move -- he hired Byford, perhaps the world's most respected transit expert with successful runs in other big cities like Toronto, to turn the system around. And he did -- brilliantly. The delays were dramatically reduce, the system running better than ever, the workers loved their boss, and things were going well.

And Cuomo couldn't stand it. He couldn't stand that his hire was getting all the credit -- and not him. Cuomo decided that had to micromanage the system, second-guess Byford, try to steal credit where he could, thereby creating a toxic relationship between the governor and the transit chief. And since Byford is someone who can get hired anywhere, he decided to tell the governor and the city to shove it -- and quit.

Thanks for Cuomo's egomania, we've now lost one of the best public servants this city has had in years. It's a real shame -- and will literally cost this town time and money.