Congestion Pricing Death Watch: Almost Dead
WNBC is reporting that Bloomberg has said he believed Congestion Pricing 'will not pass' according to an interview conducted by Mike Tiabbi. A press conference is likely some time after Noon. While I'd like to get excited, it's far too early. Remember last time the deadline past, somehow they managed to buy a few more days. Again, I am not against the concept of Congestion Pricing, just the way it treats city citizens, the poor, and the awful idea that the border would be set in the middle of Manhattan. Should Congestion Pricing fail, I promise to help put together a better plan.
Dead End For Congestion Pricing (DeDapper's Blog/WNBC)
Dead End For Congestion Pricing (DeDapper's Blog/WNBC)
this was your opportunity to put in place a plan and system that could be incrementally improved over time. there isn't going to be another chance under the next mayor. folks who "supported" pricing but rejected it because this particular plan wasn't exactly to their liking are the worst of all. you've made an error of historic proportions.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I believe that would be incremental would be the increasing size of the tax imposed on us.
ReplyDeleteIf the plan was so great, it would stand on it's merits.
Unfortunately, the plan was regressive and hurt low income New Yorkers the hardest.
It was extremely unfortunate that Bloomberg was so unbending and stubborn throughout the process- otherwise it would be law by now and likely a more sensible one.
As I say, if it is such a great idea, it is not a one-time opportunity and I hope a better plan is eventually passed.
The day is not over, and Bloomberg does not give in easy, so I'd say there is still a chance it is approved today.
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteYou're living in a fantasy land.
Stubborness? The plan went through many changes based on lots of input from lots of different individuals and interests and went through a rigorous 6-month long public process far more open than any public policymaking excercise we've seen in Albany in years. What's on the table today is substantially different than the plan that was originally put forth.
The $354M federal grant was a one time opportunity that has come and gone.
Construction will now stop on the 2nd Avenue subway and other big MTA projects. We won't be getting anything near the bus rapid transit service we could have gotten.
The day is over. Anthony Weiner or some similar political hack will be your next mayor. This opportunity is gone. NYC's transit system is now looking at a $17 billion deficit. Albany has no other real answers for it or our city's traffic congestion crisis.
This is the political reality and the city will be living with the results for decades to come. There's absolutely no basis to hope that we're going to have a second chance at this any time soon. It's done.
Anonymous #3 Said:
ReplyDelete"Construction will now stop on the 2nd Avenue subway and other big MTA projects. We won't be getting anything near the bus rapid transit service we could have gotten."
You said it yourself, a $17 Billion deficit. If you think $354 Mil. would make a real difference, with all due respect, I think you are deluding yourself. If you plan on giving politicians the out on major projects already planned and partially funded you are doing us all a disservice. The fact is that the MTA will lose $354 Mil. in a NY minute. Just like $30 Mil. in promises of service improvements disappeared in 3 weeks after the fare hike.
The ultimate incentive to not drive is to make the subway system remotely bearable. Despite record ridership, the MTA is the posterboy for absolute failure, waste and mismanagement. Reform of the MTA wold amount to much more than congestion pricing ever would.