State Assembly Meeting in Manhattan to Talk Congestion Pricing

044.jpgBrooklyn Assembly Member Jim Brennan (right) tells me that he sees sentiment against Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan running at about "three- or four-to-one against" among his colleagues. Brennan suspects that the plan may not even pass the Republican-controlled Senate.

While Brennan supports congestion pricing himself, he is concerned that advocates have "over-sold the benefits to transit." The $380 million per year that would be raised by congestion pricing is "a drop in the bucket compared to the enormity of the fiscal crisis" that awaits the MTA."

Other congestion pricing updates:

  • Sewell Chan has a minute-by-minute account of the morning’s meetings in Albany (City Room) 
  • Senate Dems not on board for congestion pricing (Daily Politics) 
  • Bloomberg has nothing but good things to say about the State Senate (Politicker)

Also, Campaign for New York’s Future is rallying at the State Assembly offices, 250 Broadway at 1:00 pm.

  • anonymous

    There were about 20 people holding signs in front of 250 Broadway. Hardly enough of a demonstration to scare Shelly Silver. If anything it will convince him that there really isn’t that much support out there. And if Brennan, who is supporting it, says the Assembly is 3 or 4 to 1 against it, then it’s not fair to blame Silver for going with his members.

  • Jack

    #1, it’s the other way around. The other Assembly members are going around Silver and doing what he wants.

  • grimace

    Wow, that’s a great argument: we need so much money, it’s not even worth talking about this source of money (heck, $380M hardly even buys you an election these days)…

  • momos

    Streetsblog editors – I’m a loyal fan of Streetsblog. It’s an indespensible source and recent recognition from the NY Times was overdue and well deserved.

    However, your coverage of this critical day, Monday, July 16, has been disappointing. On arguably the most important day this year for New York City transportation policy, while congestion pricing is being hacked to pieces, Streetsblog is nowhere to be found.

    I’m regularly checking the City Room and Daily Politics blogs for updates. But those blogs don’t track the vital details as Streetsblog would.

    I hope tomorrow you’ll be back in fine form and make up for lost time.

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