Comments on: With Spitzer in trouble, congestion pricing hangs in the balance http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/ A New York City Subway Blog Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:45:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » Maybe the Spitzer scandal saved congestion pricing http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29857 Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » Maybe the Spitzer scandal saved congestion pricing Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:08:18 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29857 [...] my previous predictions that Gov. Spitzer’s resignation may signal the end of congestion pricing, a [...] [...] my previous predictions that Gov. Spitzer’s resignation may signal the end of congestion pricing, a [...]

]]> By: Korla Pundit http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29800 Korla Pundit Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:54:23 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29800 >Korla, the regular joes in Brooklyn and Queens take the subway to Manhattan. The people who drive are the suburbanites. Typical pompous jerk. >Korla, the regular joes in Brooklyn and Queens take the subway to Manhattan. The people who drive are the suburbanites.

Typical pompous jerk.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29777 Alon Levy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:14:22 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29777 Korla, the regular joes in Brooklyn and Queens take the subway to Manhattan. The people who drive are the suburbanites. Korla, the regular joes in Brooklyn and Queens take the subway to Manhattan. The people who drive are the suburbanites.

]]> By: Todd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29774 Todd Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:22:04 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29774 Korla Pundit: I agree with your point about the double-parked trucks making a mess of things. I wholeheartedly support hiring extra traffic officers who's purpose would be ticketing illegally parked vehicles. One illegally parked car/truck, even on my semi-busy street in Brooklyn, can make a huge mess. I'm especially irriated by people who park on a corner to "just run into the deli for a second". They could raise quite a bit of money nailing those people with a hefty fine. Korla Pundit: I agree with your point about the double-parked trucks making a mess of things. I wholeheartedly support hiring extra traffic officers who’s purpose would be ticketing illegally parked vehicles. One illegally parked car/truck, even on my semi-busy street in Brooklyn, can make a huge mess. I’m especially irriated by people who park on a corner to “just run into the deli for a second”. They could raise quite a bit of money nailing those people with a hefty fine.

]]> By: Korla Pundit http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29768 Korla Pundit Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:47:29 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29768 The three main causes of congestion in Manhattan are: 1. Cars from New Jersey, which would have their tolls deducted from the congestion pricing fee, so no disincentive for them to continue clogging our avenues; 2. Buses, mostly from New Jersey, which are not going to stop coming in; and 3. Mostly trucks, which double-park to unload, block intersections constantly, and which have permanent reserved parking on every street in the city, which means Joe Sixpack has to pay through the nose already just to park in Manhattan at the Mafia-controlled parking lots. Trucks are not going to change their habits just because of an extra $8 a day. They will simply pass this extra cost of doing business on to the consumer, which means more inflation. 4. The real victim in congestion pricing schemes are regular joes from Brooklyn and Queens who sometimes have to drive into the city. If Bloomberg weren't a hypocrite, and his true goal was reducing pollution and gridlock, he would eliminate alternate side of the street parking and the enormous tickets you get through that scheme. If I didn't have to move my car, which I can't do if I have to take the train to work, then I might never drive into the city to begin with. But there's a quick buck to be made for the "trust-me" crowd of Bloomie and his billionaire buddies. Those who believe this scam, after all the others that were supposed to improve mass transit proved to be lies, are simply gullible. Good riddance, Congestion Pricing. Hopefully, Ratner will be connected to this scandal as well, and he can also go down in flames. I can dream, can't I? The three main causes of congestion in Manhattan are:

1. Cars from New Jersey, which would have their tolls deducted from the congestion pricing fee, so no disincentive for them to continue clogging our avenues;

2. Buses, mostly from New Jersey, which are not going to stop coming in; and

3. Mostly trucks, which double-park to unload, block intersections constantly, and which have permanent reserved parking on every street in the city, which means Joe Sixpack has to pay through the nose already just to park in Manhattan at the Mafia-controlled parking lots. Trucks are not going to change their habits just because of an extra $8 a day. They will simply pass this extra cost of doing business on to the consumer, which means more inflation.

4. The real victim in congestion pricing schemes are regular joes from Brooklyn and Queens who sometimes have to drive into the city. If Bloomberg weren’t a hypocrite, and his true goal was reducing pollution and gridlock, he would eliminate alternate side of the street parking and the enormous tickets you get through that scheme. If I didn’t have to move my car, which I can’t do if I have to take the train to work, then I might never drive into the city to begin with. But there’s a quick buck to be made for the “trust-me” crowd of Bloomie and his billionaire buddies.

Those who believe this scam, after all the others that were supposed to improve mass transit proved to be lies, are simply gullible.

Good riddance, Congestion Pricing.

Hopefully, Ratner will be connected to this scandal as well, and he can also go down in flames. I can dream, can’t I?

]]> By: Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » The congestion pricing edition of ‘Now It’s Probably Gone’ http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29767 Second Ave. Sagas | Blogging the NYC Subways » Blog Archive » The congestion pricing edition of ‘Now It’s Probably Gone’ Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:46:44 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29767 [...] I speculated that Gov. Spitzer’s scandalous problems may signal the end of our congestion pricing hopes. Today, with Spitzer out, pricing foe Assemblyman Richard Brodsky gleefully predicts the downfall [...] [...] I speculated that Gov. Spitzer’s scandalous problems may signal the end of our congestion pricing hopes. Today, with Spitzer out, pricing foe Assemblyman Richard Brodsky gleefully predicts the downfall [...]

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29719 Alon Levy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:27:31 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29719 The congestion fee is not on top of other tolls, as long as they're directly into the CBD. As far as I've understood it, the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels will have a Port Authority toll but not a congestion charge, while the GWB, which carries more traffic than both combined, will have a toll as well as a charge if the driver crosses south into the CBD. Tolling all the free bridges into Manhattan won't save much. There are plenty of bridges between Manhattan and the Bronx, none of which is tolled; it turns out the number of crossings if the congestion zone is Manhattan is only one more than if it's Manhattan south of 60th. The congestion fee is not on top of other tolls, as long as they’re directly into the CBD. As far as I’ve understood it, the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels will have a Port Authority toll but not a congestion charge, while the GWB, which carries more traffic than both combined, will have a toll as well as a charge if the driver crosses south into the CBD.

Tolling all the free bridges into Manhattan won’t save much. There are plenty of bridges between Manhattan and the Bronx, none of which is tolled; it turns out the number of crossings if the congestion zone is Manhattan is only one more than if it’s Manhattan south of 60th.

]]> By: Kid Twist http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29677 Kid Twist Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:30:33 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29677 Gary, if this were some right-wing conspiracy, do you really think the plotters would have handed it to the <i>Times</i>? ScottE, I'm pretty certain the congestion fee is on top of other tolls. Gary, if this were some right-wing conspiracy, do you really think the plotters would have handed it to the Times?

ScottE, I’m pretty certain the congestion fee is on top of other tolls.

]]> By: Gary http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29668 Gary Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:00:52 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29668 Don't rule Spitzer out just yet . . . the Sun says he may stick it out. I can see him doing it. http://www.nysun.com/article/72713 He's got deep pockets and lots of friends, in addition to his many enemies. He has hired major white collar law firm Paul, Weiss. I also think that while he is clearly guilty of hiring a prostitute, the way the investigation came about looks extremely fishy. I expect to see a bare-knuckle fight against the prosecution. If you think that's a bit over the top in conspiracy land, take a look at what happened to Don Siegelman in AL. See the 60 Minutes piece that aired two weeks ago and Scott Horton's many articles in Harper's. Don’t rule Spitzer out just yet . . . the Sun says he may stick it out. I can see him doing it.
http://www.nysun.com/article/72713
He’s got deep pockets and lots of friends, in addition to his many enemies. He has hired major white collar law firm Paul, Weiss.

I also think that while he is clearly guilty of hiring a prostitute, the way the investigation came about looks extremely fishy. I expect to see a bare-knuckle fight against the prosecution.

If you think that’s a bit over the top in conspiracy land, take a look at what happened to Don Siegelman in AL. See the 60 Minutes piece that aired two weeks ago and Scott Horton’s many articles in Harper’s.

]]> By: The Secret Conductor http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29658 The Secret Conductor Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:33:11 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/03/11/with-spitzer-in-trouble-congestion-pricing-hangs-in-the-balance/#comment-29658 With spitzer out (or will be soon out) there are allot of things that NYC was supposed to get (from the court ordered monies for education) to improvements to transit. no congestion pricing, no improvments on transit and allot of other no's. At least with spitzer we had a chance. What does this mean for MTA employees? Allot. forget about the 20/50 deal that most other agencies enjoy. I think albany was and will still be corrupt with payola being the norm. spitzer was supposed to change this. No more second ave subway??? With spitzer out (or will be soon out) there are allot of things that NYC was supposed to get (from the court ordered monies for education) to improvements to transit.

no congestion pricing, no improvments on transit and allot of other no’s.

At least with spitzer we had a chance.

What does this mean for MTA employees? Allot. forget about the 20/50 deal that most other agencies enjoy.

I think albany was and will still be corrupt with payola being the norm. spitzer was supposed to change this.

No more second ave subway???

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