Nicole Gelinas is absolutely correct regarding the critical need for Albany to fund the MTA capital plan; making matters worse, the agency is mired in debt from the Pataki era (“Blame Game,” Post- Opinion, March 10).

The system fell into horrible condition in the 1970s and early ’80s because of decades of disinvestment. History will repeat itself if we skimp on the system’s repair and maintenance today.

The cost to recover from another cycle of disinvestment would be staggering. In the 1970s and ’80s, businesses left New York City because of the poor quality of our infrastructure. We simply can’t afford to let that happen again.

Denise Richardson

Managing Director

General Contractors

Association of New York

Manhattan