Bruno: “The people who travel around are taxed enough.”

Up to now, State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has been a supporter of Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal for a congestion pricing pilot project. There is no reason to believe that has changed. Yet, he strikes a slightly ominous note in today’s Daily News article on the proposed MTA fare hike.

"The people who travel around are taxed enough. We have got to prioritize the use of our state resources to minimize
the expense and the impact on the people who come into the city and
work in the city," said Bruno.

  • Boogiedown

    These guys always neglect the fact that there are many more ways than one to enter the city, and even with congestion pricing one can make one’s own decision how to do so. Let’s face it: if you are coming into the city for economic reasons, whether you are a kitchen cabinet installation company or a tycoon, it is in your best interest do to so expeditiously. Time is money.

  • smallfry

    Um, Bruno does say “travel around” not “drive around”. his comments are clearly directed more at the fare, not the toll.

  • Clem

    “The people who travel around are taxed enough.” Clear?

    This is clear: “Transit riders pay enough.”

  • Niccolo Machiavelli

    What is clear is this. It is in the Governor’s political interest that the citizens experience fare increases, to the extent they are going to be done, early in his administration so that as he runs for relection he will not then have to do so.

    Quite the opposite for Senator Bruno. He wants the fare increase postponed early in the Governors cycle and to take credit it for it in next years election. And to pin the blame on Spitzer when he has to run in the face of fare increases.

  • glennQ

    Bravo! Senator Bruno gets it!

  • george

    bruno gets that you can always win by saying that people are taxed enough but that they need more services in the same breath? wow, he gets it.

  • I like traveling, and mostly buy winter vacation packages on Expedia and Travelocity stores at CouponAlbum..

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Spitzer Backs Congestion Pricing

By Aaron Naparstek |
Is Mayor Bloomberg actually going to pull this off? Governor Eliot Spitzer came out in favor of congestion pricing this morning. Elizabeth Benjamin at the Daily News reports: Standing with Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Gov. Eliot Spitzer this morning said he is "in favor of embracing a congestion pricing model" at a press conference where U.S. […]

Inom Tullarna: The Ancient Roots of Congestion Pricing

By Aaron Naparstek |
If you’re a New York City transportation policy geek but you’ve had enough of congestion pricing realpolitik and can’t bear to sit through another Kathy Wylde vs. Walter McCaffrey slugfest, Monday evening’s New School panel may be just the ticket. Equal Tolls, Unequal Access? Congestion Pricing and Its Historical Antecedents brings together an unusual group […]

It’s (Apparently) Official: Congestion Pricing Is Dead

By Brad Aaron |
Following an evening closed-door meeting in which state leaders discussed congestion pricing one last time today, they emerged announcing no deal had been reached. Here is a statement from Mayor Bloomberg: "Today is a sad day for New Yorkers and a sad day for New York City.  Not only won’t we see the realization of […]