At a press conference this morning to open the Tribeca Film Festival, Al Gore offered a hearty endorsement of Mike Bloomberg’s locally controversial plan to introduce congestion pricing to New York.

In response to a reporter’s question, Gore said he agreed with it, and called it one of the more “gutsy” proposals that mayor had offered in his time in office.

In a separate press conference minutes later, the mayor returned the favor, saying that while talk of his own presidential chances were not serious, Gore’s were considerably more real.

“This guy could be a presidential candidate,” he said.

The mayor went on to say that the more candidates voters have to choose from, the better it is for the country.

Bloomberg added, “I hope Al Gore enters the race. I think it would be good for the country.”

Delivered April 22, 2007 at the Museum of Natural History in New York City.  read more »

>>Read the full text of the Mayor's speech here.  read more »

Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to enact a three-year pilot program for congestion pricing where the city will charge $8 for drivers who enter Manhattan from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, he announced today.

Reminiscent of a plan successfully enacted in London, New York would use a combination of cameras and Easy-Pass technology to charge drivers who enter into Manhattan below 86th Street. The cost of East River tolls would be automatically deducted from the $8 charge for drivers entering the borough. And Manhattan residents who move their cars for alternate side of the street parking would not be charged.

Congestion pricing would be coupled with transportation upgrades throughout the city and surrounding areas paid for by a new financing authority called the Sustainable Mobility and Regional Transportation Authority (SMART).  read more »

You know the drill: The Prospect Park Audubon Center offers the kids some  “interactive exhibits” (let’s hope that doesn’t include that baboon family) with music, crafts and general whoop-de-do.  read more »

The ramp-up to Mike Bloomberg's big Earth Day roll-out continues.

In radio address this morning, the mayor managed a trifecta of proposals that many energy experts will love but which, it's probably fair to say, most vote-seeking, non-billionaire politicians would hesitate to touch with a ten-foot pole.

He pushed for "raising the gasoline tax," and compelling car manufacturers to make more energy-efficient cars.

As for new sources of energy, "the only rational answer," Bloomberg said, is to look towards nuclear power.

Bloomberg also dismissed the idea of relying to heavily on ethanol. (Hello, Iowa!)

More details later.

The big northeaster was a little preview; say goodbye to marshes, beaches and Battery Park City.  read more »