Gothamist: Bloomberg to City Drivers: Pay Up, You Can Afford It

Phil B

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 22:44:54 -0500

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?

Sean

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:13:51 -0500

Mayor Bloomberg would like to cut congestion by implementing a charge that he believes everyone can afford to pay? Interesting

PaulR

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 23:38:16 -0500

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.

stewart

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 23:14:54 -0500

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.

luk sun

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 23:03:37 -0500

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.

political guy

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 21:56:35 -0500

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"

Davej

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 21:55:55 -0500

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.

Anonymous

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 21:47:57 -0500

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?!

anonymass

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 20:07:05 -0500

Right, Stewart, I know lots of poor people who keep their cars in Manhattan garages.

Rico Starr

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 19:31:49 -0500

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.

stewart

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 19:29:25 -0500

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.

b

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 17:02:12 -0500

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

Rich Guy

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:27:32 -0500

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.

mike

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:17:06 -0500

J, if only you knew.

green

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:28:09 -0500

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

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:23:12 -0500

"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.

mike

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:16:25 -0500

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....

J

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:11:34 -0500

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.

mike

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:08:44 -0500

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.

rduffy

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:56:49 -0500

It's about time we had something like this.

Brightliner

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:45:47 -0500

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.

Matthew

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:16:54 -0500

Ban Cars Forever.

Rico Starr

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:09:00 -0500

Way to go Bloomberg. A successful city has a powerful public transportation network.

GONZO

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:06:28 -0500

He should jack up the tax further...leave the fucking cars at home people.