Comments on: Finding the money to pay for campaign promises http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/ A New York City Subway Blog Sat, 26 May 2012 04:42:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: J. Mork http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66647 J. Mork Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:37:41 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66647 We is New York City, which sends about $11 Billion more a year to Albany than it gets back. What does Albany do for us again? We is New York City, which sends about $11 Billion more a year to Albany than it gets back. What does Albany do for us again?

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66464 Alon Levy Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:56:52 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66464 Who's "We"? If it's Manhattan, Long Island, or Westchester, then the answer is billions, as it should be, since those are rich areas. If it's the Bronx, then it gets more money than it sends, as it should, since it's a poor area. Who’s “We”? If it’s Manhattan, Long Island, or Westchester, then the answer is billions, as it should be, since those are rich areas. If it’s the Bronx, then it gets more money than it sends, as it should, since it’s a poor area.

]]> By: J. Mork http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66421 J. Mork Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:22:17 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66421 How much are we sending to Albany? Secession is the clear answer. How much are we sending to Albany? Secession is the clear answer.

]]> By: Streetsblog New York City » Today’s Headlines http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66419 Streetsblog New York City » Today’s Headlines Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:59:58 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66419 [...] How Will Bloomberg Pay for His Transit Promises? (2nd Ave Sagas) [...] [...] How Will Bloomberg Pay for His Transit Promises? (2nd Ave Sagas) [...]

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66412 Alon Levy Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:09:10 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66412 Yes, privatization of roads would help. In Hong Kong and Singapore roads aren't privatized, but the government levies full externality-balancing taxes on cars, gas, and highway use. But more importantly, the greatest successes of rail privatization - JR in Japan, and Conrail in the US - took decades. Conrail was under government control for 28 years, until it was profitable enough to be sold off to CSX and NS. The mainland JR companies took about 14 years to be fully privatized, as the government gradually sold shares to the public, and the outlying island companies are still not fully private. Yes, privatization of roads would help. In Hong Kong and Singapore roads aren’t privatized, but the government levies full externality-balancing taxes on cars, gas, and highway use.

But more importantly, the greatest successes of rail privatization – JR in Japan, and Conrail in the US – took decades. Conrail was under government control for 28 years, until it was profitable enough to be sold off to CSX and NS. The mainland JR companies took about 14 years to be fully privatized, as the government gradually sold shares to the public, and the outlying island companies are still not fully private.

]]> By: rhywun http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66409 rhywun Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:33:20 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66409 Good point. I remember hearing about some of that. Mostly related to British Rail, though, and not TfL. Personally, I believe privatization is possible only if all forms of transportation could be privatized... i.e. autos too. It's not fair to demand competition (such as it is) among transit operators while continuing to pour billions of public dollars into roadworks. Good point. I remember hearing about some of that. Mostly related to British Rail, though, and not TfL. Personally, I believe privatization is possible only if all forms of transportation could be privatized… i.e. autos too. It’s not fair to demand competition (such as it is) among transit operators while continuing to pour billions of public dollars into roadworks.

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66408 Alon Levy Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:51:01 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66408 The attempted privatization of TfL fell through, and the government ended up having to assume billions of private debt. The progress you see now is after de-privatization. The attempted privatization of TfL fell through, and the government ended up having to assume billions of private debt. The progress you see now is after de-privatization.

]]> By: rhywun http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66406 rhywun Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:52:55 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66406 Can you elaborate on that? I look at London and see much more progress than here in NYC. (FWIW, I'm open to the idea of privatization of transit when it makes sense.) Can you elaborate on that? I look at London and see much more progress than here in NYC. (FWIW, I’m open to the idea of privatization of transit when it makes sense.)

]]> By: E. Aron http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66403 E. Aron Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:34:38 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66403 Absolutely must have drivers that pollute the air everywhere they go and generally take up space fork over their fair share. I also firmly believe in charging for parking spots, a topic touched upon in previous posts. Let's see just how pro-transit Bloomberg and the City Council are in this upcoming term. Absolutely must have drivers that pollute the air everywhere they go and generally take up space fork over their fair share. I also firmly believe in charging for parking spots, a topic touched upon in previous posts. Let’s see just how pro-transit Bloomberg and the City Council are in this upcoming term.

]]> By: SEAN http://secondavenuesagas.com/2009/11/04/finding-the-money-to-pay-for-campaign-promises/#comment-66395 SEAN Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:25:33 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4189#comment-66395 I agree. Just making sure we are on the same track. I agree. Just making sure we are on the same track.

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