Times Poll Finds 20 Council Members Against Pricing

Last week the New York Times conducted an informal survey of City Council member positions on congestion pricing. The poll found that 12 members are currently in favor, 20 are opposed, and 11 are undecided. Eight members did not respond.

The "opposed" list is comprised completely of council members from boroughs other than Manhattan, with the exception of Alan Gerson. Last August Gerson was counted as a pricing opponent in a Gotham Gazette poll, but a subsequent statement said the Lower Manhattan council member "supports appropriate variations of congestion pricing as part of a broader traffic management plan." How does that translate to a "no" vote today? Streetsblog has a message in with Gerson’s office in hopes of finding out.

That Gotham Gazette poll, by the way, found 20 members in support or "leaning for" congestion pricing. Whatever happened to those eight votes, it looks like Mayor Bloomberg has his work cut out for him if the plan is to clear the council, at least in its most recent form. As it stands, Jersey toll credits and free parking for hybrid car owners are just two potential snags.

The Times’ complete roll call follows the jump.

  • Dave H.

    Look, we all thought this was dead last summer but it came back at the last second. Michael! Get on these people. This is your legacy at stake!

  • Spud Spudly

    I think the Council will come around to supporting CP. The State Assembly however….

  • Larry Littlefield

    I’m sure the same 20 would also be against any alternative to CP as well.

    I don’t think you’ll see them coming out in favor of a higher tax on wages, as Mr. Fidler has, though that is more likely that having them come out in favor of any tax on investment income or retirees.

  • Mark

    My council member (in the undecided camp) didn’t have an email address on her website so I popped a letter in the mail. If she doesn’t fly right on this, I will never vote for her again, and I will go out of my way to vote for anyone who opposes her in any primary or election.

  • momos

    The Spitzer prostitution scandal throws Albany into turmoil. Among other things, it means congestion pricing is probably dead.

    Congestion pricing needs the full throated support of Spitzer and Silver. Spitzer is now no longer in a position to “steamroll” Silver and the Assembly. Meanwhile, the uproar in Albany gives the Assembly cover to table congestion pricing until after the federal grant deadline of March 31st. And Silver doesn’t have to get exercised pushing his membership.

    This is so tragic. Congestion pricing dies not in a debate over its merits but in the ashes of a Governorship imploding from a sex scandal.

  • Larry Littlefield

    The damage extends beyond congestion pricing.

    We are facing a disasterous fiscal situation, a crisis, which was hardly even addressed by the proposed budget.

    I’m talking short term, right now, as well as the long term debt and pension issues that could, and probably will doom us in the long run.

  • Niccolo Machiavelli

    All candidates are reformers, if not, why run?

    Makes Bloomberg look strong for a run in four years against a blind black man. Patterson should not be underestimated though, the worse the better for him.

    Transportation history is written by disasters way more often than by sincere policy advocacy. You never know how this will end in the long run, the fiscal crises are what they are and the needs of the people are as well.

    In the short run though, forget the moralizing reformers.

  • Norm

    It’s been a long crises free period for NYC transportation since 9/11 and the SI Ferry. That’s abnormal. This dysfunctional crap is normal. The budget talks will be extra fun this year. Makes Governator Arnold look real good.

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