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Our billionaire mayor assumed a populist tone during a radio address this morning when discussing his proposed congestion tax that would charge drivers $8 for the privelege of using Manhattan's most crowded streets. Bloomberg asserted that people who drive to the city tend to be the people who can afford the additional charges and that the money would be well spent on mass transit infrastructure in long-neglected areas, like the outer boroughs. The New York Times has excerpts of his remarks:
We have programs for people who aren’t as lucky as you and I to help them afford to be able to buy food and clothing. And in this day and age it sounds like a lot of money, but you go to a movie and it’s 12 bucks. So let’s put some of this stuff in perspective here. The cost of parking here in the city, people who drive into the city generally — you have to be careful not
to say everybody — but if you look at the statistics, it tends to be people who can afford it because otherwise they’ll take mass transit.And we have to do a much better job of providing mass transit in parts of the city where the city never invested in the past, and now we’re paying for that. Places way out in Queens, places Staten Island, Brooklyn, there are lots of places in the city that aren’t served by subways. The city lost the courage to keep investing in subways back in World War II…
If you were to charge — and I’ll let you know on Sunday at 12:30 — but if you were to charge, you’d take the money and invest in mass transit.
The Mayor also defined capitalism as the government's use of taxes and subsidies to influence citizens' behavior. We're not sure how many of Bloomberg's fellow Republicans would agree with that characterization, something he may want to consider if he plans on running for President on that party's ticket. One can listen to the Mayor's remarks online or download them as an MP3 file.
(NYPD Traffic Bureau 3 Wheel vehicle, by Triborough at flickr)
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He should jack up the tax further...leave the fucking cars at home people.
Way to go Bloomberg. A successful city has a powerful public transportation network.
Ban Cars Forever.
Other proposals he should consider:
$1000 fine for anyone who blocks the box.
$1000 fine for illegal double parking or standing.
$5000 fine if that's on a one-lane street.
$500 fine for unnecessary horn use.
It's about time we had something like this.
Finally.
I think this will go down in history as one of the greatest things the City has ever done. Though we'll hear lots of whining from a small minority of car drivers, after all is said and done, we'll wonder why we didn't do it sooner.
Yeah!
Its past time! We should have done something like this long ago! Like in London! Enough pretending and posturing, everyone knows NYC, Manhatten specifically, is a playground for the world's elite, lets make it official! Since the subway system is so amazing and covers the ENTIRE city so well it wont be a problem at all! All those people in Brooklyn and Queens can simply take the bus to a train, or DRIVE to the bus to take the train. Sheesh, why don't they just live in Manhattan? Its probably because they are too lazy to work hard enough. Anyway, I'm completely with you Bloomberg! Because I know that you will definitely be in office long enough to fulfil your vague promises to use these proposed tolls to set up better services to the outer boroughs.
J - wow, seems like you've really done your homework on this issue. No, really, uh, I'm not kidding.
And if you think my sarcasm is bad, well....
"Finally.
I think this will go down in history as one of the greatest things the City has ever done. Though we'll hear lots of whining from a small minority of car drivers, after all is said and done, we'll wonder why we didn't do it sooner."
Yeah, you too! You should write a book on the subject.
Absolutely agree, Brightliner. I hope this issue progresses further so we not only reduce the number of unnecessary cars in the city but also the congestion-inducing behavior like blocking the box and double parking.
J, if only you knew.
Thank god! Hopefully now there will be whole less poor people in the city streets. There will be a lot less rapists in manhattan. Rapists don't have cars and won't pay no 8 bucks to get here. Bloomberg is making the city less congested for rich people. He's my kind of guy.
anything to reduce the number of cars (and effectively pollution) is a good thing in my book - I really don't care that it places an extra burden on car owners, the fact that you have a car shows that you can pay the extra tax or you'd be taking the bus/subway or biking like the rest of us. Just park outside of manhattan and take the subway in, why in god would someone want to deal with downtown traffic is foreign to me
So even if I wanted to drive my car every day back and forth to the garage, it would cost around $320.
2x $8 for 20 week days/month
This is only going to hurt poor and middle class people. For others it will be a nuisance but will not change their behavior.
I think all car drivers should be raped. Seriously. RAPED. I bike to work daily, and they almost kill me every day. This way I can give them a small percentage of the pain they have given me.
Right, Stewart, I know lots of poor people who keep their cars in Manhattan garages.
this is great. I've wanted this to happen for so long now.
In fact, can we charge an extra 2 bucks to give to mta to give me a RELIABLE SUBWAY SYSTEM?!
Doesn't this have to get approved by Albany to become law? My understanding is the proposal is going to be a tough sell up there. Commenters seem to be assuming it's a done deal just because he proposed it. I don't think that's so.
Did anyone catch that last part? "The Mayor also defined capitalism as the government's use of taxes and subsidies to influence citizens' behavior." Looks like Bloomberg just decided to crack open "Governing for Dummies"
this is the best thing i've heard of in a long time. i can cruise the city in my new benz suv without the rest of you lowlifes tying me up in traffic. one word, awesome.
I didn't say I was poor or middle class. My point was that the $320 wouldn't matter to me if I wanted to drive my car. I happen to walk to work. But it may matter to other people and it seems pretty regressive.
What this proposal really doesn't cover is those commuters who are receiving employer subsidies for tolls and parking. I personally know a manager at [insert name of large corporation two blocks from Penn Station] whose tolls and parking (parking!) from NJ are completely paid-for. He won't take a train or bus because that's what common people do--plus it would add 20-30 minutes to his trip.
Mayor Bloomberg would like to cut congestion by implementing a charge that he believes everyone can afford to pay? Interesting
Re: capitalism. I think he was referring to the use of price signals to better ration limited resources. You know, like we do for electricity, airplane & hotel tickets, cars and a dozen eggs?