Nepotism is “rampant” at the MTA — but only lesbians get in trouble for it, an under-fire Metro-North executive claims in a new lawsuit.
Sherry Herrington, who makes $170,000 a year as assistant vice president of operations, is under investigation at the MTA after helping her domestic partner, gal pal Stuart Moore, get a job inspecting train cars.
Following a gushing e-mail from Herrington that made no mention of their relationship, Moore was hired over several other qualified candidates.
Her starting pay was nearly $85,000, even though the job was posted with a salary at about $57,000, according to a report from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
Moore also got an office, while others in her division — called the On-Board Services Unit and overseen by Herrington — did not, DiNapoli found.
In her Manhattan Supreme Court suit, Herrington admits she pushed for Moore to get the gig but insisted she was the most qualified. She also said people at the MTA knew Moore was her girlfriend.
“This is in contrast to the rampant nepotism that is regularly practiced at the MTA at the highest levels,” Herrington alleges in the suit.
The probe into her recommendation of her long-time domestic partner “is based upon sexual-orientation bias and nothing more,” she alleged.
The suit also claims that Herrington is paid $15,000 a year less than her male counterpart. Herrington did not respond to calls for comment. The MTA also declined comment.