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Though the Partnership for New York City's Kathryn Wylde told the NY Times that she finds Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver "quite the opposite" of the "dark Darth Vader figure of Albany" that many people think him to be, we're betting that Mayor Bloomberg thinks Silver is quite Vaderish. A number of lawmakers confirmed to the Post that the many people hate Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan for the city, offering comments like "It sucks, it does nothing for anybody, kill it" and "It's likely dead for good." And Streetsblog found out from new Department of Transportation Commisioner Janette Sadik-Khan that the city doesn't quite have a Plan B if congestion pricing doesn't go through. She said:
Everyone is shooting for [approval of the plan on Thursday when the legislative session officially ends] but the promise of a special legislative session later this summer is still out there. So, Plan B is the special session. We are not giving up hope at all. We are fully committed. We need to get this legislation passed. It needs to pass now. It would be ridiculous to throw away hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds. That's our plan and when the plan passes we're looking to institute a series of immediate short term improvements before the switch is flipped on congestion pricing, including increased express bus service, ferry service and a variety of other initiatives. So, our emphasis is on making sure this congestion pricing program passes. On the transportation side, we don't think there's anything more important for the future of New York than getting this plan through.Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno says congestion pricing will likely be discussed during the special session, but, really, the knives are sharpened to kill it: Assemblyman Richard Brodsky of Westchester said,"The opposition gets stronger and more issue-oriented every day." The Observer also has an article about Silver: "But while Albany as a whole has the constitutional ability to impose its will on the city, it is Mr. Silver who has emerged as a singular kingmaker there."
Speaking of driving, the Legislature did manage to agree on a new aggravated vehicular homicide charge, which goes after drunk drivers. The bill was prompted by the deaths of the a limo driver and 7-year-old girl who were killed when a drunk driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.28 (three times the limit) was driving in the wrong direction.
And even the Vatican is thinking about driver behavior: The Pope also issued some thoughts on making roads safer. Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino explained, "Church and State, each in its own field, must work to create a generalized public awareness on the question of road safety and promote, using all possible means, ... an adequate education among drivers, travelers and pedestrians." We've included the list, via the AAA, after the jump - number 1 is "You shall not kill." However, "Thou shalt not jump onto the Popemobile" was not one of the "commandments."
1) You shall not kill.
2) The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3) Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4) Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5) Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6) Charitably convince the young and not-so-young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7) Support the families of accident victims.
8)Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9) On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10) Feel responsible toward others.
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Silver's selling out the city to protect his caucus, Bloomberg's busy on his "Too Cute By Half" tour...anyone left in the City to serve us 8 million residents?
I'm so sick of these fucking baby boomers dragging their heels.
WAKE THE FUCK UP GRANDPA!
If it doesn't get passed, it's only because the people who are afraid of it didn't have the balls and courage to take a calculated chance and pass it. If it goes through and sucks, they can always kill it or stop enforcing it. But do they even have the guts to try it? We'll find out.
We can't blame this one on Bush and/or Republicans - although the crowd here will probably try.
Dont these people have to do what their constituents say? I doubt so much of the city/state are against atleast giving this a try.
Sheldon Silver sucks.
Very frustrating....pass the f'ing bill please.
Given the joke that Albany there is no way this is going to pass unless there is some sort of quid pro quo on. Sheldon Silver and the rest of the career politicos *cough*Joe Bruno*cough* are a major reason Albany is so screwed up. Perhaps it is time for NYC and maybe LI, Westchester, Orange, Rockland and Puntnam to become their own state while the rest becomes the 51st state called Upstate.
"Given the joke that Albany there is no way this is going to pass unless there is some sort of quid pro quo on. Sheldon Silver and the rest of the career politicos *cough*Joe Bruno*cough* are a major reason Albany is so screwed up. Perhaps it is time for NYC and maybe LI, Westchester, Orange, Rockland and Puntnam to become their own state while the rest becomes the 51st state called Upstate."
Thanks-but Long Island would rather join upstate or Connecticut.
Albany sucks. Silver most of all.
LI, Westchester, Orange, Rockland and Puntnam to become their own state while the rest becomes the 51st state called Upstate.
I doubt those places are much in favor of congestion pricing in Manhattan seeing as they represent a large portion of the people that would get hit with the tax. People in Binghamton and Syracuse could not care less.
What Brodsky doesn't know about New York City could fill a book.
It tells you everything about Westchester County that they elected him. Hey, 'burbs, you don't like it, don't work here. I'm sure we can find someone to do your job.
I really have to wondwer if Mr. Silver is from Manhattan. I mean really, wouldn't someone from Manhattan WANT congestion pricing? Obviously he doesn't want to step on anyone from the suburbs toes. It's all politics.
I can only hope that traffic in NYC grinds to s a standstill in the next few years.
I say we all walk in the streets until they pass it.