Members of the press and elected officials had harsh words for state legislators after Albany failed to vote on congestion pricing. A sampling of responses:
“Mr. Silver has now ensured the uncertain future of an already strained mass transit system and the continued growing problems of gridlock and tailpipe emissions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.” – New York Times editorial
“Silver’s Democrats suffocated the bill in private. They didn’t vote publicly. They didn’t vote privately. They let the midnight Monday deadline pass without taking any action at all. What a bunch of wimps.” –New York Daily News columnist Bill Hammond
“Silver’s Assembly Democrats put New Yorkers in severe jeopardy of riding deteriorating mass transportation – and paying increasing fares for the privilege. Because those are the consequences looming over millions of people in the city and across the region with the rejection of congestion pricing.” – New York Daily News editorial
“The cynicism and dysfunction of Albany have reached new depths, with the apparent murder of the congestion pricing plan sought by environmentalists, businesses and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.” –Newsday editorial
“Sadly, even Washington, which most Americans agree is completely dysfunctional, is more willing to try new approaches to longstanding problems than our elected officials in the State Assembly. It takes true leadership and courage to embrace new concepts and ideas and to be willing to try something.” – Mayor Michael Bloomberg
“There’s no question now that there are going to be less resources available for everyone in the MTA region. It would’ve been easier to accomplish more for the transit needs of the people of Staten Island if this plan had been adopted.” – City Councilmember Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island)
“When people complain there are not enough trains and buses, you can point to all the state Assembly members. It was right at their doorstep and they did not stand up for New York City.” -City Councilmember Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan)
“I am disappointed and dismayed that New Yorkers will be deprived of the many environmental and public transportation benefits that would have been provided by congestion pricing. It is abundantly clear that New York City needs to address the overload of cars entering Manhattan everyday.” -State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan)
“One thing about smog and pollution, they could not care less about how small-minded and shortsighted our politicians are. … Really, they just care about sickening and killing New Yorkers, the rest of the nonsense be damned. Their dark work received a big boost yesterday from a familiar source – the Legislature.” – Journal News editorial
“As for those who are celebrating the defeat of congestion-pricing, we wonder what they plan to do next. After all, the horrendous traffic will still be there in Manhattan, choking streets and the lungs of everyone who breathes.” – Staten Island Advance editorial
Assemblyperson Silver, otherwise known as Dr No, again did a disservice to his constituency in Lower Manhattan and the City of New York.
The mayor should contribute more money to more intelligent and mindful representatives.
Mr Silver forgets that there are two types of politicians, those that are appointed and those that are disappointed!
The circus in Albany can’t continue. It is not representative government.
Not true, not true, and not true, Sushi. Few things in this world are completely inelastic – economics 101 dictates that higher costs will have at least some effect. Even the Port Authority creating peak hour tolls that are $1 more expensive than off-peak caused a shift in travel patterns.
What a dismal and embarrassing day for all New Yorkers.
Out here in Nassau County million’s if not hundred’s of millions in so called “Transportation Funding” is being wasted.Currently,
19.5 million to hire a consultant to oversee a consultant doing the EIS for the Nassau Hub.
32 million for an “Iconic” Ferry Terminal, not a ferry mind you, a terminal where one stands as testament to already failed ferry service in Glen Cove.
Which in the 1.2 million dollar feasibility study(glencoveferry.org) projects need on the reduction in service if not the total shut down of the Oyster Bay LIRR branch.And yes we the taxpayers flipped the bill for that.
Perhaps the consultants were confused, it is currently ferry operators in the and around the metro area that are reducing and or eliminating service. In anycase the point here is that the DOT/MTA and powers that be treat federal, state and local tax dollars like a bottomless slush fund.
The time has been long over due for US DOT & FHWA to take a good hard look at the state of New York and the wasteful PORK that is being doled out.
This Albany fiasco, may be just what was needed to make that happen.
Pamela Tamaddon
Prospect/Albin Traffic Calming
Higher tolls never reduced car volume on bridges or tunnels.
Higher fares never reduced subway ridership.
Higher taxes never reduced the population of nyc.
How did smart people get duped into thinking this new tax would reduce congestion. Look around people, that not the answer. Simply shut down sections of the city to traffic all together for certain hours, tada!
[…] increase went into effect in March, the MTA withdrew planned service increases, congestion pricing failed to make it through the State Legislature, and many capital projects including the LIRR Third Track were […]