New York City Council Votes for Congestion Pricing
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.
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
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.
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