New York City Council Votes for Congestion Pricing
A congestion pricing measure before the Council just passed, 30 to 20.
Domenic Recchia, who is planning to run for Congress, took a pass on voting the first time around, but eventually voted yes. Eric Gioia, who had told the New York Times on March 8 that he was voting no, also voted for it. Comptroller candidate Melinda Katz voted no, but her likely rival David Yassky voted yes. The two candidates for Brooklyn brough president, Bill De Blasio and Charles Barron, both voted against.
The outcome wasn't unexpected -- Speaker Christine Quinn, who called the vote earlier today, supports the proposal -- but it was a necessary prerequisite to congestion pricing being taken up in the state legislature.
The fate of the proposal, the most controversial component of the mayor's PlaNYC, now hinges on the decision of Sheldon Silver and his Assembly majority. Silver has been skeptical of congestion pricing since its inception, and has said that he won't consider the measure until the state passes a budget.
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Gioia made the smart move: he probably got bloomberg's endorsement + it helps his district with better 7 train service. Yassky is going to get Bloomberg's endorsement too: first the hybrid cabs, now backing Bloomberg on this. Katz might win her own district b/c of it, but this does not make her look like a citywide leader. Bad move on her part
I'm very glad Councilman Recchia voted FOR congestion pricing. He just sealed his own fate in the Congressional Race in CD 13 and may I say any other race he is considering in the future. His trust from any Staten Island has gone out the window. He must have made a deal with the devil, namely the Mayor, who must have given him carte blanche in the development of Coney Island & his friend Joe Sitt of Thor Equities. Even Councilman Lew Fidler said the mayor was "bribing" council members with special projects for their vote. Mr. Recchia you should hang your head in shame. But then again this is your MO."Pay for Play" politics.
I'm glad Melinda Katz voted against it. This is a horrible elitist plan that will be an unfair tax on NYers in the outer boroughs. Eric Goia made a big mistake in voting in favor of this proposal and I am sorry to see him turn his back on the people of his own district who will suffer under this plan.
i am one of those "elitist" people in Gioia's district who does not have a car, depends on the MTA to get me to work and school and make up the majority of his constituents. i, for one, look forward to "suffering" better, more reliable transit in the future. you could even call me a glutton for punishment, because i really don't think this is enough and want even more of this "suffering" than i am about to get.
It is really shameful that any Queen's legislator could vote for this tax scheme. Council members Liu and Gioia will have some explaining to do to Queen's residents on how they turned their backs on their borough and agreed to a plan that puts the burdens of this tax squarely on the outer boroughs. Councilman Monserrate joins the greats like Ninfa Segerra and Herman Badillo as traitors of their own communities for purely personal gain. Councilman sanders is a joke anyway. He has no political future anyway. Hopefully the Assembly will stand tall and put this joke of a proposal to bed for good. This is NOT a congestion relief plan. This is NOT an environmentally sound plan and this is NOT a health plan. Its a regressive tax. Residents of the outer boroughs will pay the price in dollars, in increased traffic and pollution around transit hubs, and in increased asthma rates in the neighborhoods that can least afford it. Speaker Quinn, you have done it again; Kissed the Mayor's **s in hopes of getting his endorsement for your Mayoral bid which is less credible than even Tony Avellas.
This is a purchase of public policy by a lying Mayor and Council Speaker. They won the vote by offering up millions in city budget dollars to prostitute council members who are mostly term limited to spend in districts they hope to represent in different offices.
As for substance - best case scenario is a 6% reduction in traffic, which is a joke. Mass transit will not be improved because the mayor will suck the money into his BOSS TWEED Education mega buck waster. People will be squeezed beyond belief into buses and trains and people get screwed. The burden on the middle class during this difficult economic time will be onerous. But Mike couldnt care less.
Shelly Silver, I cant stand you but save our city again.
This is great news, but it doesn't go nearly far enough.
But really, we should be talking about the Kheel plan - a $16 congestion fee in exchange for free buses and subways.
You're right. This is nothing more than a purchase of public policy by the Mayor. Tolls on the E River bridges make tons of more sense.
I like the Speaker, and hope he does the right thing.
shame on you simch felder------------ for the tax for all brooklyn -----------
shame on you simch felder ---------thousands of volunteers from your jewish broders who are going day and night to all hospitals doctors appointments
starting from evry kiker chulim to chased cars or gmach hatzola who will suffer from you it will be big pay back time
Transportation improvements require long term political economic commitments that ultimately transmit productivity between human populations. This twists things around a little but it is not the end times.
If this is so bad as the oppositionists say then some business will move to the outer boroughs to take advantage of the free road space. Some of that will probably occur. On the other hand, getting on the train and/or the bus won't kill some of you people either. Pick up a book and do some reading.
Would someone please post a complete breakdown of who voted for and against? Or at least a link to this information?
thanks...
If the Mayor is right & most NY want congestion pricing why don't the big shot electeds put this on the ballot as a referendum come this Nov. They won't, they don't have the b..ls to. This will raise the cost of goods & services on the back of the middle class. Wait & see.
If the Mayor is right & most NY want congestion pricing why don't the big shot electeds put this on the ballot as a referendum come this Nov. They won't, they don't have the b..ls to. This will raise the cost of goods & services on the back of the middle class. Wait & see.
Simply more taxes from liberals.
Does anyone know where one can easily find the individual votes of individual City Council members on different pieces of legislation? I have seen the secondhand accounts that report the votes of some of the members of the Council but nowhere, even on the City Council website itself, have I been able to find a thorough list of the member by member vote.
Thank you,
Tom from Queens
As a Queens resident, I think it can be argued that both Gioia and John Liu ARE voting in their constituents' best interests by voting for congestion pricing. I think the overwhelming percentage of their constituents who work in Manhattan take mass transit there, so their constituencies should benefit more from the improved public transportation funding than they would suffer from the congestion pricing they would have to pay for driving to work in Manhattan. Anyone driving into Manhattan to work from these districts would have to be pretty affluent. The mass transit is very good from these areas.
Tom from Queens
Agreed. Most people who live in Queens use mass transit to get to Manhattan. Screw those who don't. If you can afford to have a car and home in Queens, you can afford the toll each day.
When the Queens people have to pay more for goods by truckers adding that "tax" onto their billing, I don't think it will be in the best interests of their voters. When small trucking firms can't compete & go out of business, & when the voters of Queens will need toilet paper & other goods and it won't be on the shelves , let's see if it is beneficial then.
My son, "Peter V. jr.", is an idiot. I apologize for his uninformed commentary and subhuman reasoning skills.
Most people who live in Queens DO NOT take mass transit alone. Over 80% of mass transit commuters in Queens commute to mass transit via automobile and then take the subway or railroad.
This means even MORE congestion and problems at the end of the rail lines, i.e. Flushing 7 Train. It also means that by the time someone gets on the train closer to Manhattan, i.e. Sunnyside/Long Island City, there will be even LESS room. Not a great idea by either Liu or Gioia to vote in the affirmative.
Stop posting son, you are an embarrassment to the family and I. Funding first, improvements second, congestion pricing fee LAST.
I believe the Congestion Pricing Plan is totally unfair, unreasonable, and will not cut down environmentally pollution, etc. I rarely visit Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, etc., but when I do, and what I do notice regularly, is that there is no street, within the five boroughs, without cars parked in front of residential, apartment,and commercial buildings, and "these cars all have out of New York State license plates???" Mayor Bloomberg, New York State Insurance Department, Department of Transportation, Police, Civic Volunteers, and the Department of Motor Vehicles, should immediately investigate, and warn those drivers to register, insure and license their vehicles in the proper New York jurisdiction! Also, if they do comply, offer them incentives, such as a free MTA card! Afterall, persons who live near the subways, LIRR, Buses should be utilizing those modes of transportation. Next time you are out walking , driving, take note of every car's license plate, and you'll see the
problem. In Long Island our municipalities offer free parking, and parking meters are found in towns, with courts, government agencies, but this is very rare. Yet, if you park on a street, in NYC and the five boroughs, which cities are without free parking facilities for the public, or a simple lot, you can be imposed a traffic parking ticket for $130.00 or more, yet we would never impose this outrageous fee upon drivers in Long Island!!!
Also, the MTA is negligent in how they disperse their monies, they should provide hybid safe mini buses to transport college students from main bus terminals, and LIRR, or subway stations, and include a minor transfer fee
like 50 cents.
You enquired what I thought about congestion charging (I prefer to use the British term, charging, rather than our term, pricing).
I am against it for one major reason and two minor reasons.
I feel, and mass transit advocates agree, that congestion charging must not go into effect unless and until subway service is increased instantly by 50% and surface bus service is instantly increased by 100% at least one month before any congestion charge goes into effect. Otherwise, there will not be enough bus and subway service to accommodate those who do abandon their automobiles as it is strained and crowded right now. It is to be noted that in 1961 there was approximately 100% more subway service ("runs") and approximately 200% more bus service ("runs") than there is now!
In addition, I do not believe that the plan is adequately thought through and also that it will create a lovely immense bureaucracy. London's plan works inasmuch as it was done well although some kinks had to be worked out after initiation. And of course London has a vast transportation system which is better albeit under-funded.
The point was, daddy dearest, that if you can afford a home and a car in Queens county, than you can afford a measly toll.
Anyway, New Yorkers deserve the government they get: you vote overwhelmingly for Democrats, you can expect to get taxed. What the hell did you expect?? Idiots.
Now get back to the nursing home, and quit pissing yourself, old balls.
WHICH COUNCILMAN WAS BRIBED OR PAID OFF TO VOTE THE BLOOMBERG CHRISTINE QUINN WAY---BRIBED WITH A TAX PAYER SLUSH FUND----ANYONE BRIBING OR HE OR SHE WHO TAKES A BRIBE WITH TAXPAYER MONEY IS A THIEF AND SHOULD BE PUT IN A ORGAGE JUMP SUIT IN HANDCUFFS
CHRISTINE C. QUINN COUNCIL SPEAKER MAINTAINED A 5 TO 6 MILLION DOLLAR SLUSH FUND TO BRIBE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE HER WAY MIRRORING MAYOR BLOOMBERG
ESPECIALLY "CONGESTIVE TAXING" OF THE OUTER BOROUGH TAX PAYERS---MAIN HEADLINE NEW YORK POST TODAY APRIL 3, QUINN INVESTIGATED BY FEDS---THE QUESTION ARISES WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS TOOK THE BRIBE????? I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES SANDERS WHO VOTED YES FROM FAR ROCKAWAY---WHEN A TAX ON ME TO TRAVEL TO MANHATTAN??? WAS NOT IN MY INTEREST======QUESTION YOUR COUNCILMAN
AT THIS TIME I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO COMMENT ON THE POLITICAL ASPECT OF THIS BS BUT I CAN DEFINITELY COMMENT ON THE ECONOMICAL ASPECT.
PAYING A $16 FEE (roundtrip) EVERYDAY ON TOP OF RISING GAS FEES ($40 TO FILL UP/AWK), WITH HIGH ASS RENTS (WHICH ARE ALSO RISING!) & GROCERIES (MILK, FRUITS & VEGGIES ARE ALSO CLIMBING) PLUS ALL THE OTHER TAXES I'M PAYING DAILY & YEARLY IS NOT MATCHING WITH THE PAY RATES IN NYC!
WHO AM I WORKING FOR HERE - ME & MY FAMILY OR THE POLITICIANS!?!
& THE MTA HAS RAISED THE TRAIN FARE!!!
WHAT THE H--L IS GOING ON HERE??? WE PAY THESE PEOPLES SALARIES & THEY MAKE A WHOLE HELLUVA LOT MORE THAN MOST & THESE TYPES OF ISSUES DO NOT AFFECT THEM!
THEY HAVE CITY/GOV VEHICLES FOR THEIR USE!!
SOMEONE/EVERYONE BUT US DEFINITELY GOT GREASED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT OF FAVORS BEING PASSED AROUND FOR THIS ONE, SOME HUGE DEALS BEING MADE BEHIND THE SCENES & WHILE THEY'RE SITTING HIGH ON THE HOG WE'RE DOWN HERE SUFFERING!!!!
THIS WILL ONLY ENTICE MORE NEW YORKERS TO MIGRATE AWAY FROM THE "BIG APPLE"
& THEN WHAT?? ANOTHER "PRICING PLAN" GOES INTO EFFECT TO MAKE UP FOR THAT LOST REVENUE
& EXACTLY WHERE & WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO INTRODUCE THE BOOTHS OR METHOD IN WHICH WE PAY THESE FEES.........IS THAT THE SOUND OF MORE HORNS HONKING BECAUSE THERE IS CONGESTION DUE TO CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC & LONG TOLL LINES
YEAH THEY REALLY OUTDID THEMSELVES WITH THIS ONE!
TO MR PETER V JR:
YOU WATCH HOW YOU SPEAK TO YOUR FATHER, HE MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE THAN YOU!
& I SWEAR YOU BETTER NOT BE PLAYING BOTH PARTS (JR & SR)!