NYC congestion pricing DOA.

Articles — By forcechange on April 8, 2008 2:30 am

 

Having tracked the issue closely, we were disappointed to learn that the New York State Legislature declared Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing proposal dead and refused to even put it before a vote in the Assembly.

Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver stated, “The congestion pricing bill did not have anywhere near a majority of the Democratic conference, and will not be on the floor of the Assembly.”

Responding to this decision, Mayor Bloomberg stated, “It takes true leadership and courage to embrace new concepts and ideas and to be willing to try something. Unfortunately, both are lacking in the Assembly today. If that wasn’t shameful enough, it takes a special type of cowardice for elected officials to refuse to stand up and vote their conscience.”

Although New York City had the necessary leadership in Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council, apparently there were just too many levels of government required to pass this law. Unfortunately the New York State Assembly was unwilling to make fundamental changes in the way society is managed, in order to benefit the environment and increase peoples’ quality of life.

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