If you don’t know who your Assembly member is, you can find out here: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

Please make those phone calls! Especially if your Assembly member is opposed or on the fence, but even if he/she supports CP.

I called Adriano Espaillat’s office which I mentioned in an earlier thread’s comments. Not much to report on. He’s already a supporter and his staff took note of my call.

Wow. I’d be very pleased if Millman were to support congestion pricing. I live in her district, and all I’ve heard from her is the typical populist anti-pricing rhetoric. It’s “anti-Brooklyn,” bad for the handicapped, sprung on her with no warning, going to make the neighborhood a parking lot (Have you seen the neighborhood? It’s already a parking lot).

If she votes for it, I’ll have to eat my words and help fund her upcoming campaign…

If you don’t know your State Reps, T.A. has a handy-dandy State Legislator lookup tool here:

http://transalt.org/takeaction/actioncenter/2221

Thanks to NYPIRG for use of their CMAP program.

In response to a letter I wrote, I got a strong letter in support of pricing from Sen. Jose M. Serrano. However, it is the Assembly we should be worried about. Called Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene and voiced my support to an aide.

Anyone here live in Silver’s district? CALL.

A staffer for Assemblyman Farrell is not sure how he leans.

Funny – Bing’s position has flip-flopped so many times it’s getting funny to hear what his position is today. Back in July of last year BP Stringer publicly applauded his “unwavering” support for congestion pricing at a press conference I attended. Then a few months later he completely side-stepped the issue going into a 10 minutes lecture on everything wrong with the Mayor and his plan and how it was unfair to manhattanites and Upper East Siders.

The person in the Albany staff at O’Donnel’s office said he’s against the Mayor’s plan but may support a better plan.

Correction to 2nd paragraph:

“He said that his boss was on the fence, not against the current congestion pricing proposal, so he didn’t go as far as the Albany staffer did (comment #12).

Gimme a break – Millman ostensibly helps write the laws, and she wants to know how the lock-box is going to work? Look at every other dedicated tax that goes to the MTA that she has voted for during her career. Don’t let these people act like damn fools on the phone with you. It’s one thing for the City Council to hide behind: “Blame Albany – they always screw us” but it’s a bit much for an Assemblywoman to take that stance.

i finally got an email back from Jeffries after a hand written letter, an email, a phone call, and a promise from state senator adams that he’d talk to jeffries about it (over the span of a month). in his email he said he was still “keeping an open mind” but that his colleagues in the assembly still had concerns that had to be addressed.

i politely responded that the new amendments and the residential parking permit plan seem to alleviate all of his previous concerns, but that i’d love to hear about any others he has. we’ll see about that…

Lew, unless one those 69 speakers was Shelly Silver then it don’t count.

Silver should allow a vote. If it goes down, it goes down.

And the we can start demanding that Brodsky, Weiner and Lew come up with the $billions they promised.

Without taking it out of the hides of those who are already paying more than they would elsewhere or accepting less in other public services.

Can/will the Assembly Republicans play a role in this if the Dems are divided?

I live in Inwood and called Assemblymember Farrell and Senator Schneiderman. Schneiderman appears to support congestion pricing. The aide at Farrell’s office did not state his position (and I foolishly didn’t ask), but from various news reports he appears to be against it.

“If you’re a member, call AAA and tell them they should stop or that you’ll cancel your membership.”

Just cancel it and tell them why. Here’s consumer reports on roadside assistance coverage:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/car-maintenance/roadside-assistance-7-06/overview/0607_roadside-assistance_ov.htm

There are options that won’t channel your money into an anti-environmental lobby.

Larry,

As you know I have my own plan which woukld in fact raise triple the revenue for transportation. It would share the burden among all partners in the NY region equitably as this is in fact a regional issue. In fact, I would love to invite Gov. Corzine to take a seat at the table to find a way for the NJ burbs to participate in proper regional planning and financing.

IF and I know this is a BIG IF, CP goes down, you have my word that i will continue to fight for a fair alternative solution. Are all of you in? [and note that I said IF.]

Lew from Brooklyn

From Upper West Side assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, in respond to an email asking him to reconsider his anti-CP stance:

Thank you for contacting me to express your position on congestion pricing for New York City.

As with any issue, I am very appreciative that you took the time to articulate your position. I would like to take this opportunity to explain my position, which has evolved as I had the chance to look carefully at Assembly Bill A.10406 and think about possible outcomes if it were passed. The bill was first introduced in the Senate on March 24th, and only a limited amount of time in which legislators could provide meaningful input has passed.

I care deeply about the environment, as is evidenced by my 102% rating from Environmental Advocates, and the effects of traffic congestion on the health of my constituents. When any piece of legislation is introduced in the Assembly, it is my responsibility to carefully review all aspects of a bill before I vote for it. After carefully reading the congestion pricing bill currently before the Legislature, I concluded that I could not support the legislation as written.

I am in Albany today, working out the final details of the 2008-2009 budget; I will be back in the district late next week and would be more than happy to speak directly with you about this important issue. Please forward your telephone number, or call my office at 212-866-3970, if you would like to discuss this further.

As stated by Environmental Advocates: “Short circuiting SEQRA has serious pitfalls.”

As stated by Comptroller Bill Thompson: “I would like to offer for consideration three further amendments to enhance issues of equity in the plan. . . . Every driver with EZ-Pass should be allowed three free entries after 10:00 AM per month. This benefit will allow individuals to continue to drive in at no cost for a very limited number of trips each month when using a car may be unavoidable – [for example] a doctor’s appointment.”

Dick Dadey, Executive Director of Citizens Union states: “We are pleased to see that the plan has been made fairer over the past few days, but still feel additional changes are needed. Chief among them is the creation of an oversight panel of independent experts charged with ongoing review of the program and its implementation. Citizens Union knows that much of what is being proposed is an experiment that holds the promise of success. We ask that the program be subject to independent and periodic review to ensure that the promises made are in fact achieved.”

I fully support increases in funding for mass transit; I also fully support efforts to improve the environment and create a more sustainable New York City. I have always been very open to the ideas put forth in the Mayor’s PlaNYC 2030. My reservations stem from careful consideration of the components of the plan, some of which I strongly believe have probable negative impacts that deserve attention.

As currently proposed, the fees charged to drivers that use Port Authority tunnels and bridges will go almost entirely to the Port Authority, not to New York City’s mass transit. The “solution” is to either charge New Jersey drivers on top of the current bridge and tunnel fees to enter the central zone, or to require Port Authority to compensate Metropolitan Transit Authority $1 billion. Governor Jon Corzine has threatened to sue if either requirement, which he views as ultimatums and violations of historical Port Authority interstate cooperation, becomes law. We clearly need New Jersey’s cooperation for this plan to work, and do not have that as the plan is configured.

New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) demands a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for most proposed governmental projects. As written, the legislation does not require a full EIS, and truncates the statutory process that was designed to protect the environment and New York’s citizens. We know that there is potential environmental impact from congestion pricing, but without full SEQRA review, we do not – and will not – know what the impact is.

Another issue with which I am concerned regards the treatment of not-for-profits that depend upon vehicular transportation to fulfill their mission. An organization that provides meals to homebound seniors, for example, could face financial distress with such a significant daily expense added to an already stretched budget. We can do better.

Finally, I believe the plan is more viable if the State has the opportunity to review it after implementation and determine if its continuance is beneficial. There is not currently a sunset provision in the legislation, which means that no date is built in for review and renewal. If congestion pricing causes unforeseen problems, the State Legislature is not assured the opportunity to adjust and amend; a sunset provision should be part of legislation with such broad impact.

As stated above, I have always been very open to the ideas put forth in the Mayor’s PlaNYC 2030. A.10406 attempts to address a very serious problem, but is ultimately fundamentally flawed.

Again, please feel free to forward your telephone number, or call my office at 212-866-3970, if you would like to discuss this further. As stated above, I’m currently in Albany negotiating the budget but will be in the district late next week and would like to speak with you directly about your questions or concerns. Thank you again for your advocacy on this very important matter.

Very truly yours,

Daniel O’Donnell
Assembly Member

The enviro rating groups like LCV and Environmental Advocates better flunk some of these lame asses when it comes to grading time. This is not another one of those billboard and bottle deposit bills. O’Donnell and his “102% rating” should get an “F.”

I called my Assemblymember Micah Kellner’s office today, and the staff told me that he supports congestion pricing. I asked her to pass on the message that I think that’s a super position to have.

This is different from what he told me when he was standing on a street corner while running for office not too long ago, so — assuming it holds up — good news!