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 should definitely pull all the city parking permits. The people objecting to the $8 fee and complaining that this is an elitist plan aren’t paying the $400 and up parking fees in manhattan. They are driving in for free, parking for free, and if they are cops, they are parking all over the freakin’ sidewalk when they get here.
Once again, those yahoo bumpkins in Albany have screwed the City.
Secede NOW!!!!
Comments like those from 9.28 (“makes me embarassed to be an American”) and Biff Champion’s (“I would rather have congestion pricing implemented even if it meant dumping all the money raised in the East River “) demonstrate why this plan went down to defeat. It seems that the proponents wanted to “make a statement” to prove their green credentials, at the expense of a class of fellow citizens they deemed villianous.
If Mayor Bloomberg was interested in reducing congestion and air pollution, why didn’t he start with some obvious steps?
a) enforce the laws against double-parking, which is within his control – no trips to the legislature necessary;
b) end the archaic practice of yellow cabs cruising the streets in search of fares. This would be accomplished by the use of taxi stands.
Folks saw this for what it was: a stealth tax increase, at a time when NY’s economy is reeling. Moreover, stating that it would be given directly to the MTA was the final kiss of death. Contrary to what some folks on these posts might think, people aren’t stupid. They can see with their own eyes how this agency manages the money already provided to them.
Benson.
I agree that if one wants to live in a world city one has to accept traffic as part of the bargain. Have you ever driven in Paris? in Tokyo? in Hong Kong? it makes NY traffic look mild by comparison.
I dont understand why people are so thick headed:
Of course it is an elitist plan – if you filthy rich you will likely still drive into Manhattan or take limos etc……THAT THE POINT.
I thought everyone loves to tax the rich??? Right now the rich, and/or frivolous drive into Manhattan and pollute the air, congest the streets, and annoy our ears and mass transit riders get little to nothing out of it – even if the plan reduced congestion by ZERO, at least then the mass transit riding public would have a steady source of $ in which to fund mass transit improvements. If it reduces pollution and congestion (which it undoubtably will do) thats only a bonus.
As for parking permits – talk to anyone associated with city government and nypd – Bloomberg has SEVERELY restricted their issuances this year – personally I hope he pays back all these morons by handing them out like cotton candy now.
9:46 #2, if you were rational, you would appreciate my argument was one of extremes. Of course I would rather put the money towards improving the MTA, fighting AIDS, giving shelter to stray puppies, etc. My point is that I think it is punitive to fellow citizens and bad karma to suggest the initiative is a bad one because the MTA will use the money raised ineffectively. Sorry I had to spell it out for you.
According to the last official statement issued by the MTA for its 2008A & B Transportation Revenue Bonds, the fares collected from the Transit System in 2007 were $2,778 billion and expenses were $4,788 billion. So I’d be careful of asking who should pay to improve mass transit, because its clear that the State is subsidizing this system tremendously.
Fortunately, the auto lobby never truly got behind this issue because otherwise we’d all be paying $10 to ride the subways.
expensive tolls on the Verazzano Bridge,the George Washington Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge, not to mention the tunnels, have not done anything to free up traffic on those arteries. What makes anyone think that tolls on the free east river bridges will ease congestion? People seem almost irrational on this issue, Biff is the perfect example. throw the money into the river? So the point is just to be punitive to fellow citizens? That’s bad karma Biff.
9:28. As a “guest” for all we know you are just stopping in on your way from Pyongyang. I hardly think a desire to make owning and driving a car in NYC more expensive warrants banishment to Buffalo! Obviously the Mayor could have played his hand better – but then the dysfuncution of the NYS legislature is legendary.