Congestion Pricing Defeat a Win for the Boroughs?
The Times is describing the death of congestion pricing behind closed doors in Albany yesterday as something of a victory for Brooklyn and Queens, since the plan “was strongly opposed by a broad array of politicians from Queens, Brooklyn and New York’s suburbs, who viewed the proposed congestion fee as a regressive measure that overwhelmingly…
The Times is describing the death of congestion pricing behind closed doors in Albany yesterday as something of a victory for Brooklyn and Queens, since the plan “was strongly opposed by a broad array of politicians from Queens, Brooklyn and New York’s suburbs, who viewed the proposed congestion fee as a regressive measure that overwhelmingly benefited affluent Manhattanites.” Brooklyn City Councilmembers were clearly divided on the issue: Last week nine voted against the measure and seven voted for it. It remains to be seen now whether the residential parking permits initiative, which was contingent upon congestion pricing legislation passing, is also dead for the foreseeable future. Whether or not the defeat was a win for Brooklyn and the other boroughs, it was obviously a bruising loss for Mayor Mike. The mayor issued a statement that says, in part: “Today is a sad day for New Yorkers and a sad day for New York City. Not only won’t we see the realization of a plan that would have cut traffic, spurred our economy, reduced pollution and improved public health, we will also lose out on nearly $500 million annually for mass transit improvements and $354 million in immediate federal funds…It takes true leadership and courage to embrace new concepts and ideas and to be willing to try something. Unfortunately, both are lacking in the Assembly today. If that wasn’t shameful enough, it takes a special type of cowardice for elected officials to refuse to stand up and vote their conscience on an issue that has been debated, and amended significantly to resolve many outstanding issues, for more than a year.” Most of the dailies have stories about how Bloomberg played a hand in the bill’s defeat by using hardball tactics with legislators. The Times notes that “many opponents said they resented the pressure and threats that they said emanated from Mr. Bloomberg’s side, including hints that the mayor would back primary candidates to run against politicians who opposed congestion pricing.”
$8 Traffic Fee for Manhattan Gets Nowhere [NY Times]
It’s (Apparently) Official: Congestion Pricing Is Dead [Streetsblog]
Bloomberg Unleashes Fury as Silver Halts Congestion Pricing [NY Daily News]
Mayor’s Duck Is Looking A Bit Lame [NY Sun]
Nine Bklyn Councilmembers Vote Against Congest Fee [Brownstoner]
Mayor Rolls Out Resident Parking Permit Proposal [Brownstoner]
Photo by neysapranger.
Bloomberg can still eliminate 90% of NYC employees parking permits without Albany – and all the stats I read showed that they were the most likely to drive to work.
I also hope that the move to make yellow cabs hybrid vehicles doesn’t stop. BUT – should ALSO include all those damned SUV and Lincoln limos that clog midtown.
I would have been for the plan if it tried to discourage cab and limo usage – but since it didn’t the whole idea same too elitist.
(and I think that residenital parking permit plan probably turned more people off than they expected).
9:28, “If you don’t like traffic you don’t belong in a bustling city.” I don’t see why one cannot enjoy living in a city and support initiatives that benefit the environment. I put up with traffic because I love the city. I would just rather have it bustle more with walkers, bikers, rollerbladers, joggers, etc.
And I don’t buy the argument that just because the MTA will undoubtedly not make the most efficient and effective use of the money that the initiative should be trashed. Frankly, I would rather have congestion pricing implemented even if it meant dumping all the money raised in the East River if it meant people would be encouraged to walk, cycle and take public transportation more often. Further, I don’t care if the real money “comes from the penalties imposed on commuters who forget to pay on line or are tardy paying”. Next time remember to pay.
It was a simple question – who should pay more to improve mass transit – and given congestion, global warming, demographics and air quality – it should have been an easy answer – auto drivers between 6-6 M-F.
BUT slimy, corrupt, sleazy, back-room kingpins, like Shelly Silver and the lemmings that follow him caved like the cheap suits they are.
Of course its about money 9:28 – EVERYTHING is about $. So if you are against this, then the follow-up question is simple –
Who should pay more to support mass transit in NYC – please be specific.
It was a simple question – who should pay more to improve mass transit – and given congestion, global warming, demographics and air quality – it should have been an easy answer – auto drivers between 6-6 M-F.
BUT slimy, corrupt, sleazy, back-room kingpins, like Shelly Silver and the lemmings that follow him caved like the cheap suits they are.
I think that congestion pricing was just a brilliant new name for East River tolls. It has nothing to do with the environment and evrything to do with money. The money was supposedly going to the MTA, which is an agency that is supremely inefficient with money. In fact, I have the suspicion that the more money they get, the less they actually accomplish.
My other issue is that traffic is the lifeblood of the city. if you don’t like traffic you don’t belong in a bustling city. You want wide open downtown streets? Move to Bufallo, or Detroit, or Camden.
Another thing is that the system proposed for photographing license plates and the bureaucracy it will necessitate will be very expensive. In fact, in London the money from the tolls by and large go to supporting the toll system, the real money comes from the penalties imposed on commuters who forget to pay on line or are tardy paying.
I don’t think I could live with that, even though I rarely if ever drive into Manhattan.
To me, driving into Manhattan is like having a tooth pulled. You do it when you have no choice like when you are taking a child or an elderly person to see a specialist or you drive them home from a procedure or chemo etc. People do not go into Manhattan for the joy of driving. The environementalists I think would be far happier living in a woodsier, poorer city. Havana comes to mind, and pyongyang is probably heaven on earth in terms of no traffic congestion.
Go mayor, this makes me so embarrassed to be an American. So many world cities support something like this but we can never seem to embrace a larger perspective. This small event does not bode well for the presidential elections.
Congestion pricing wasn’t perfect, but it was a lot better than the status quo. In addition to the proponents’ arrogance and bullying, describing it as a cash cow for the MTA was a mistake.
Unfortunately, people are justified in having no faith in the MTA’s ability to spend the money wisely. Anyone who has followed the mess at Fulton Street in lower Manhattan would be reluctant to trust these guys with anything.
They would have been better off saying that for your $8 you get faster, less congested traffic, and that the time you save not being stuck in traffic is probably worth at least that much.
Go mayor, this makes me so embarrassed to be an American. So many world cities support something like this but we can never seem to embrace a larger perspective. This small event does not bode well for the presidential elections.