Congestion Pricing BS
The Congestion Pricing plan is being hugely hyped today and there is a possibility it will be passed. This means $8 toll to cross over bridges south of 86th Street between 6am and 6pm. While this all sounds great for the environment and traffic, it is a major issue for those living in Brooklyn and Queens, deeming those lesser citizens and not allowing them the same luxuries as those who live in Manhattan. Anyone in Manhattan can take a cab during those hours without any fee, but those who are in the outer boroughs must pay $8? What kind of fairness is that? The MTA is not prepared to take on extra traffic—it can barely hold the riders they currently have. And what about when it rains a little bit and subway lines are deemed out of service? Those of us forced to cab it have to pay an extra $8? This will also affect the number of cabs available in Brooklyn. Yellow cabs will no longer want to travel in the outer boroughs because of this fee. This greatly affects quality of life. The city says, "only 5% of commuters in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx commute to the Manhattan CBD by private car." This means it mostly affects the taxis.
They say "the revenues collected through the charge will be used solely to fund expansions and improvements to our regional transit system and acheive (sic) a state of good repair on city streets and on the transit system." (Idiots.) But what about the money they do have? Where is the money from the raises in the cost of taking public transportation? Weren't they supposed to fix the system with that money? Plus, wasn't there was a surplus last year? Where is that money going?
I find it humorous that they mention they will make biking and walking safer. That's great...but why the hell would I ride my bike to work? I don't work at a sports facility where biking clothing is acceptable at the office...and I am not peddling in to go to college, so that's out of the question.
The main issue with this is that it deems anyone who doesn’t live in Manhattan second class citizens who are not allowed the same privileges. That’s some major BS.
They say "the revenues collected through the charge will be used solely to fund expansions and improvements to our regional transit system and acheive (sic) a state of good repair on city streets and on the transit system." (Idiots.) But what about the money they do have? Where is the money from the raises in the cost of taking public transportation? Weren't they supposed to fix the system with that money? Plus, wasn't there was a surplus last year? Where is that money going?
I find it humorous that they mention they will make biking and walking safer. That's great...but why the hell would I ride my bike to work? I don't work at a sports facility where biking clothing is acceptable at the office...and I am not peddling in to go to college, so that's out of the question.
The main issue with this is that it deems anyone who doesn’t live in Manhattan second class citizens who are not allowed the same privileges. That’s some major BS.
Labels: congestion pricing
posted by Michele at 8:10 AM
2 Comments:
Sure you could make cabs exempt but there is no simple solution. I doubt the mother of a family of 4 from the east Brooklyn who commutes to work everyday in the city is going to be too keen on this bill no matter what the provisions. Even if they make a "low income" exemption, who is to determine the $ amount?
I personally ride my bike in to work as weather permits and I still find this bill another vast travesty like most other NYC taxes. We all already pay City taxes. CITY TAXES. That is stupid enough.
The best part about this little bill is that they are wrapping it "GREEN". Mr. Bloomberg, keeping the poor people out of Manhattan is not going to make the environment cleaner.
Call congestion pricing what it is... you guys hate to wait in traffic in your limo while it takes you from your apartment to the subway so you can posture like you are common folk like me who take the train to work.
There are some other really great ideas to clean up the NYC environment other than Congestion pricing. Spitzer has some great ones in his Green NYC plan, too bad he had a hooker problem. Funny that people are ready to impeach Spitzer for sleeping with whores while so many other real impeachable offenses are being incurred by the federal government.
I take offense to the fact that they keep claiming this will help the environment. Yet raise millions of dollars for the city.
If people curb their driving during peak hours, ostensibly saving the environment, then how is the city able to make money. Inversely, if the cars in normal traffic are paying extra money raises millions, how is that good for the environment?
Typical bull for a mayor who talks out of both sides of his mouth. This is about as brilliant as his idea to curb noise pollution and ban smoking in bars at the same time.
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