June 19, 2008
Forget it, Bloomberg, It's Albany
What's a Mayor to do? When he's not trying to quiet rumors that he has a bad relationship with Albany, Mayor Bloomberg is still getting shafted by Albany. The NY Times describes the latest indignity: How a city proposal for bus-only traffic lane enforcement was shot down.
The bill, which would have put cameras on the new rapid transit buses (the whole bus rapid transit system will be complete by 2011) to catch cars the use bus-only lanes, was co-sponsored by six Democratic Assembly members who later, per the Times, "voted not to move it out of the Assembly’s Transportation Committee because the panel’s chairman, Assemblyman David F. Gantt, also a Democrat, opposed the measure."
Mr. Gantt, who is from Rochester, has long opposed the use of cameras for law enforcement, but recently he reversed course by introducing a bill that would allow for red light cameras in Buffalo. The bill was drafted to favor a type of traffic-monitoring technology made by a company run by his former counsel.Guh. In other Albany news, the union-backed bills with financials from the "voodoo" actuary who was actually on union payrolls won't go through this session and Senate Republicans are going to support Governor Paterson's tax cap proposal for schools.He brushed off a question about whether he had sought to influence the votes of other committee members on the bus bill.
“What do you think, I go around breaking people’s arms?” he said.
Photograph of Bloomberg talking to Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, Theodore McCarrick, at Tim Russert's funeral by J. Scott Applewhite/AP
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This is such a simple and sensible bill, yet the corruption obstructing it is so blatant and appalling. I hope Bloomberg drops some cash to fund a term limits campaign for state office holders.
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Maybe the Mayor should break some arms! And people wonder why they doubt their political leaders?
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That really sucks, I was in favor for it for sure. I think they need to start enforcing the shit out of all things car related in the city to deter more people to use public transit. I was also looking forward to riding in the bus lane on my bike and only worry about the buses (like tickets would stop all cars away...). lol.
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That guy Gantt is corrupt as hell. He dropped objections to similar camera systems proposed upstate because they provided that the systems must be manufactured by a company that employs a former aide of his as a lobbyist; the proposal for the cameras here in NY don't do so.
He's also supported a proposal to move all driver safety courses to the Internet, despite the fact that this might increase the cost of the classes, because the same company does the software development.
Ithaca Journal article about Gantt
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it seems pretty simply to me - we have a billion dollar mayor - why not get the bribes moving and get things done (then run for office in a year)
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And once again, ladies and gentlemen -- presenting the worst state government in the union. Actually, instead of just checking the bus lanes, the cameras should cover everything and check for everything. Red light runners. Wrong way cyclists. Drunk drivers. People parking in bike lanes. People who don't yield to emergency vehicles. It might be a little big brother-ish, but when people act like children, sometimes they need a big brother.
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stuff the cameras.
how much of a box of "law enforcement" do we need in our lives. my god people lets just mandate gps in all cars so when you break the speed limit there is an automatic withdrawal from your bank account. as technology grows ever intrusive we should be pushing back on the all seeing, all knowing state.
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I know cameras is just one part of the bill but if you follow the money, it will tell a lot. hello PVB scandal, manes calling.
what's wrong with enforcement? have those bus dispatchers give out tickets, they're on the front lines.
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Secession. It may be the only way to cut this shit out permanently.
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is the title a chinatown (the movie) reference?
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Jonathan L. Bing's comment is so ignorant, he should be banned from politics IMO.
The article never actually mentions what caused everyone to jump ship. We are lead to believe it is the camera enforcement, but the article is so focused on bashing Albany, Danny never clarifies the state's reasoning.
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The cameras come from a company in Scottsdale Arizona called Redflex. Most of the money goes to them, and if you get a "ticket" you will invariably contest it before an appointed kangaroo court that never rules in favor of the driver. Their powerpoint presentation goes on and on about the revenue this will generate and spends very little time on public safety. So go ahead and believe you're doing the right thing.