Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Air Quality

Make That 21 Council Members in Favor of Pricing

12:06 PM EDT on August 13, 2007

Gerson.gif


Council Member Alan Gerson bikes in support of safer cross-town cycling route for Lower Manhattan, Sept. 2006. Villager photo by Jefferson Siegel

Following the Gotham Gazette's surprising report that he was the only Manhattan City Council Member firmly against Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan, Lower Manhattan City Council member Alan Gerson has issued a statement clarifying his position. Gerson says that, in fact, he "supports appropriate variations of congestion pricing as part of a broader traffic management plan."

Gerson's District 1 encompasses the southernmost tip of Manhattan. Census data indicates that 79% of the households in Gerson's district do not own a car. Gerson's complete statement can be found after the jump. They're talking about it on Gotham Gazette.

STATEMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER
GERSON ON CONGESTION PRICING

Council Member Gerson supports appropriate variations of congestion pricing as part of a broader traffic management plan. Gerson looks forward to working with the 17-member New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission. There are many creative ways in which the State and City can implement such a plan and it is essential that New York City residents get the most thoroughly researched and workable one.


Improving air quality, reducing traffic and improving non-polluting bus service remain high priorities among others for Gerson.
Beginning this summer, the Council Member will hold a series of traffic town hall meetings throughout Lower Manhattan to gather information on congestion pricing proposals and other ideas for these goals. The Council Member will incorporate community input and present a detailed traffic management proposal later in the fall.

Gerson praised Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his leadership in raising the congestion pricing idea, and Council Speaker Quinn for her support. Gerson also praised Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for putting in place a process that will assure that New Yorkers have the appropriate, in depth conversation over this issue. The Council Member has confidence that the process will lead to a plan that will meet short-term and long-term goals for New Yorkers throughout all five boroughs.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Council Votes to Repeal Decade-Old Law, Expedite Bike Lane Installation

The City Council repealed a notorious. out-dated law that imposed lengthy delays on the city before it could break ground on new bike lanes.

December 7, 2023

Dynamic! MTA Could Hike Congestion Pricing Toll 25% on Gridlock Alert Days

The MTA said it had that power, and modeled it in its environmental assessment (see footnote 2 below), but no one ever reported it, until Wednesday.

December 6, 2023

Judge Orders Trial for Hit-and-Run Driver Who Turned Down ‘Reasonable’ Sentencing Offer

Judge Brendan Lantry turns down driver's request for mere probation for killing a delivery worker in 2022. The trial will start in January.

December 6, 2023

Wednesday’s Headlines: Another Big Day at City Hall Edition

Today is going to be another busy day for the livable streets crowd. So get ready with today's headlines.

December 6, 2023

Reporter’s Notebook: Will Eric Adams Ever Publicly Embrace Congestion Pricing?

The governor, the head of the MTA and the city's leading transit thinkers all celebrated congestion pricing on Tuesday as an historic moment while Mayor Adams spent Tuesday failing to live up to it.

December 6, 2023
See all posts