Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Congestion Pricing

Where They Stand, Or Don’t: The MTA Doomsday Scorecard

1989178284_7f703f8137.jpgRhetorically speaking, it's often easier to be against something than to stand in support of it. This could be why, with one or two possible exceptions, the political players in the MTA "doomsday" drama have so far gained the most media attention by, say, shouting down bridge tolls (Yay!) or getting a shoe shine (Boo!). Some prominent electeds, despite the grave importance of the issue at hand, have to this point largely stayed out of it -- even those who, when they had congestion pricing to kick around, could scarcely be found without a microphone or camera in spittling distance.

So here's a snapshot of where officials who have taken a stand are currently standing, with notable silences noted. Feel free to add to the list.

    • City Comptroller William Thompson, 2009 mayoral candidate, has urged the Ravitch Commission to recommend a new vehicle registration fee to benefit the MTA, along with a reinstatement of the commuter tax.
    • Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer supports reviving the commuter tax. In a recent newsletter Stringer described a fare hike as a "regressive tax increase."
    • Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz opposes East River bridge tolls. Poke.
    • City Council Member John Liu, who chairs that body's transportationcommittee, supports an unspecified broad-based tax and a federalbailout for the MTA. He opposes East River bridge tolls.
    • City Council Members Eric Goia and David Yassky believe the MTA should be subject to an examination of finances and assets before instituting a fare hike.
    • Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the commuter tax and bridge tolls (take that, Crain's), but says the city will not increase its contribution to the MTA.
    • Congressman Anthony Weiner, 2009 mayoral candidate, is against East River bridge tolls. Weiner also opposed congestion pricing in lieu ofyet-to-be-delivered federal funds.
    • Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who allowed congestion pricing todie without a vote, reportedly favors reinstating the commuter tax healso helped kill in 1999.
    • Assembly Member Richard Brodskyacknowledges the MTA needs money, but has kept quiet on where it shouldcome from. Even when asked.

Meanwhile, anti-congestion pricing activists Jeffrey Dinowitz, Hakeem Jeffries, Denny Farrell, Rory Lancman and Jeff Klein, and fence-sitters Deborah Glick, Joan Millman, Dick Gottfried and Micah Kellner are, to our knowledge, MIA on the MTA meltdown.

Photo: mikek/Flickr

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Monday’s Headlines: ‘We Speak English in America’ Edition

Read that talk bubble. That's really what the cop said to a man under arrest. Plus other news from a busy weekend.

May 12, 2025

Cyclist Launches Class Action Suit For Bogus NYPD Red Light Tickets

The NYPD keeps ignoring a law that allows cyclists to pass through a red light on the "Walk" sign. Now, someone is making a federal case about it.

May 12, 2025

Car Harms Monday: ‘Car Brain’ is the Demon Spawn of Car Dependency

Our policies, our budgets and our cultural narratives assume everyone can and does drive. That's car brain.

May 12, 2025

Zohran Mamdani Wants to Take a Free Bus … Straight to Gracie Mansion

So let's talk about the candidate's fare-free bus policy.

May 12, 2025

NYPD’s Push To Criminalize Cycling Spells Trouble For Immigrant Workers

Safety for the community? Great. But aren't delivery workers part of the community, too?

May 9, 2025
See all posts