NY Observer > Sheldon Silver

Congestion Drip: Is Sheldon Silver the Man to Blame?

Azi Paybarah — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:07:26 -0400

The Assembly rules. Or, more specifically, the Democratic majority in the Assembly does.

As expected, the signature component of Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC program, congestion pricing, was killed this week by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and his Democratic caucus. read more »

Bloomberg Says Congestion Pricing Would Have Passed Assembly

Azi Paybarah — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:14:37 -0400

After he delivered a speech this morning in Washington, a reporter asked Michael Bloomberg if he agreed with top political aide Kevin Sheekey that Sheldon Silver lacked "courage" on congestion pricing.

‘Well, I didn’t hear what Kevin said last night,” Bloomberg said, according to audio provided by his office. “I suggest you talk to Kevin.” read more »

Bloomberg: Congestion Pricing Only Part of PlaNYC

Katharine Jose — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:43:34 -0400

Delivering the keynote to Newsweek’s Second Annual Global Environmental Leadership, the day after the pillar of his sustainability plan failed, Michael Bloomberg briefly chastised the New York State Assembly before reminding the conference that there are more components to PlaNYC than congestion pricing.

Here’s an excerpt:

“But unfortunately, as most of you know, yesterday the majority caucus in the Assembly chose not to bring the governor’s congestion pricing bill to a vote – effectively killing it.

[skip]

“That’s not leadership.

[skip]

Congestion pricing was important; it was new; and it was controversial, because we would have been the first city in the nation to implement it.

“But let me make something crystal clear this morning. It was one of only 127 items in the PlaNYC agenda. The other 126 initiatives are important too. Many of which can be achieved administratively. They require no approval by any other level or branch of government.
Full speech after the jump. read more »

The Dysfunctional Death of Congestion Pricing

Steve Cohen, Executive Director, Columbia University’s Earth Institute — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:48:35 -0400

"Shelly just came out of our conference and said our conference does not have the support to bring this to the floor,” Democratic Assemblyman Mark Weprin yesterday told reporters after a meeting with Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly democrats about Mayor Bloomberg's congestion-pricing bill. “I want to be clear that the conference was overwhelmingly against it,” he further said.

To say that congestion pricing died because the Assembly members were against it is of course true, but not the point. When items are important to Speaker Silver he has this habit of “leading” his conference. He will maintain that his style is to engage his members and compromise, and his ability to bully the legislature is overstated. That is, of course, ridiculous—the Speaker usually gets what he wants. The bottom line is that Shelly Silver killed congestion pricing. read more »

Bing Defends Albany-Style Democracy

Azi Paybarah — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:15:19 -0400

Michael Bloomberg and his aides have presented the demise of their congestion pricing plan, which occurred without a floor vote in the Assembly, as an example of Albany’s well-noted dysfunction.

Not surprisingly, the view from within the Democratic-held Assembly is different. read more »

Kevin Sheekey Doesn't See Any Courage in Albany

Azi Paybarah — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:29:08 -0400

Speaking on New York 1 News just now, Michael Bloomberg political aide, and architect of his non-campaign for president, Kevin Sheekey said, “I don’t see any courage in Albany.”

When asked if the mayor wants Sheldon Silver to remain as Speaker, Sheekey talked around the issue. When challenged that he wasn't answering the question, Sheekey said, "No I didn't, did I?" He went on to say, "It's not a question I've asked the mayor so it's not a question that I'm going to answer tonight." read more »

Quinn: There Was No Guarantee Albany Would Vote on Congestion Pricing

Azi Paybarah — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:03:51 -0400

“I don’t see how anyone can use support of congestion pricing against somebody politically,” Christine Quinn just told reporters at a brief availability inside City Hall, where she reacted to the Assembly’s decision not to vote on the plan the City Council urged them to adopt. read more »

Weiner Takes the High Road, Markowitz Offers His 'Input' on Congestion Pricing

Azi Paybarah — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:02:31 -0400

Anthony Weiner, who opposed congestion pricing before Michael Bloomberg officially unveiled it, is (again!) taking the high road today.

Weiner, a likely mayoral candidate, released a statement saying, "Today may close a chapter on congestion pricing, but hopefully not the book on improving New York City's environment, reducing congestion, and raising additional revenue for mass transit. While the sides were clearly drawn, it's now time to come together to find solutions to these important challenges.”

Marty Markowitz, who might also run for mayor, was a less emphatic opponent. In the wake of its near-certain failure, the characteristically outspoken Brooklyn borough president links himself to Bloomberg and notes that he had several proposals that, he says, would have made the plan better: read more »

Silver Aide Defends No-Vote on Congestion Pricing

Azi Paybarah — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:51:21 -0400

I just got off the phone with Sheldon Silver spokesman Dan Weiller, who tried to explain his boss's decision not to bring congestion pricing legislation to a vote in the Assembly today.

“There was not enough support for this legislation in the Assembly majority -- not nearly enough support to bring this to the floor,” Weiller said.

Unlike Michael Bloomberg, Weiller doesn't think there needed to be a vote to find out where Assembly members stand on the legislation. read more »

Quinn 'Disappointed' About Congestion Pricing

Azi Paybarah — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:32:31 -0400

Here is Christine Quinn’s statement on the death of congestion pricing, which says she is “disappointed that we missed an opportunity” and describes today as a “setback.”

Neither Quinn's statement nor the statement from Michael Bloomberg aide John Gallagher mention Sheldon Silver by name.

Here’s the full statement: read more »