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.
What exactly is the difference between giving the MTA a hundred million dollars and dumping it all in the river?
11:34 – I disagree. I believe most of the people driving into the city and using garages stay for the day. They do not have time to circle for miles to find a parking space. They have to get to work!
My proposal could be modified. How about no additional parking garage tax if you park for less than one hour, or perhaps two hours? This way you just tax the Fat Cats who are driving their BMW’s into Manhattan for their multi-six-figure jobs.
11.45;
I understand your points, but think that CP is a poor way to attack the problem. Wouldn’t an increase in the gas tax be a much more effective way to tax pollution, yet preserve our freedom and avoid this nonsensical class warfare? I don’t care if some one is rich or poor: if they want to pollute via gas consumption, the cost to society ought to be factored in via a consumption tax.
Moreover, I think the proponents of any such increase in tax, be it CP or an increase in the gas tax, would have a much easier time selling it to the public (myself included) if there was a corresponding decrease in the income or property tax. I already pay enough to the city and state governments. Remember that the sales tax was increased about 15 years ago EXPLICITLY to fund the MTA. We’ve seen these promises before….and the Second Ave. subway is STILL not built.
Benson
11.45;
I understand your points, but think that CP is a poor way to attack the problem. Wouldn’t an increase in the gas tax be a much more effective way to tax pollution, yet preserve our freedom and avoid this nonsensical class warfare? I don’t care if some one is rich or poor: if they want to pollute via gas consumption, the cost to society ought to be factored in via a consumption tax.
Moreover, I think the proponents of any such increase in tax, be it CP or an increase in the gas tax, would have a much easier time selling it to the public (myself included) if there was a corresponding decrease in the income or property tax. I already pay enough to the city and state governments. Remember that the sales tax was increased about 15 years ago EXPLICITLY to fund the MTA. We’ve seen these promises before….and the Second Ave. subway is STILL not built.
Benson
OH NOES!
The MTA is going to miss out on projected funding it would end up wasting/losing in “accounting errors”.
Everybody Panic!
ACtually, allow me to correct myself.
” There are more taxis in the city than there are cars in midtown at any given time.” I meant to say, There are more taxis than cars in midtown at peak hours. Stats to come, i have to dig them up.
“there’s no little guy in Manhattan driving a cab or a truck” — Well, obviously that’s a pile of hooey. Plenty of poor people drive cabs, and trucks. The cab’s surcharge would be paid for by the traveller who wants to come in or out of the congestion zone. And the truck driver should be billing it to Bouley or Sephora or whatever new chain of coffee stores is requiring the delivery of soy milk. It’s not gonna kill Starbucks.
10:58 —
1. What does the part “fully separated bike lane” have anything to do with my point? I don’t care about bike lanes or ensuring my personal safety; that’s my responsibility and I don’t need you or the city dictating how I’m supposed to be “protected” from traffic. I AM TRAFFIC. I care about ALL OF US not being forced to breathe the poison of a select few. Isn’t fresh air a human right and freedom too? If you don’t think so, move to China. Cause they’re all about the freedom to pollute; is that to be considered a model of an unrepressive society?
2. i’m sure the poor are real grateful for your paranoid take on the Man and his attempt to control their poor hopeless selves; thank god they have you to defend them. But the reality — dare I pop your conspiracy theory bubble — is that most people polluting the streets of new york ARE RICH. It’s called USING A CAB. Now, maybe you know plenty of people barely making ends meet who hail down cabs and get their asses hauled around town. I don’t. There are more taxis in the city than there are cars in midtown at any given time. Where are your poor people now? At work, then cramming into a congested subway during rush hour.
The biggest problem I had with the congestion pricing proposal is that it didn’t charge cabs. But I figured that it was a first step, and that at some point we would get to cabs and livery trucks, so that every single vehicle which spewed toxic waste into our air would have to pay a fee for our city’s efforts to battle their pollution on their behalf.
And please don’t give me some “the little guy’s gonna get hit hardest” bull because there’s no little guy in Manhattan driving a cab or a truck. I work in construction, and believe, any working class professional driving to work has a fat, yes FAT, bank account and owns a house in Jersey or Queens.
I have to say I am not thrilled with the idea of paying the government for the privilige of using the public streets on the “Golden Isle”. I agree that the kiss of death for the program was stating that the money would go to the MTA. To many of us that is like giving free booze to a drunk.
We need to think of real ways to improve the quality of air and the environment. May I suggest cleaner buses as a start? Some of those old buses spew out huge quanitites of black diesel smoke.
11:08 – your missing the fact that your increasing the incentive to circle to find street parking – thereby increasing congestion, traffic, energy use and reducing the number of available street spots for the people you are trying to “help”
– If the small biz man and delivery guys need to get into manhattan – just come before 6am or after 6pm – then its free.
(How many into Manhattan deliveries you think are made in the middle of the day below 60th St?)