Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bill de Blasio

Congestion Pricing Foe Bill de Blasio (Grand)Standing Up for Straphangers

bdb.jpgTonight, the MTA will host a public hearing in Brooklyn, where the agency will undoubtedly hear from scores of residents terrified by the prospect of elimination or reduction of service on several of the borough's bus and subway lines. The self-appointed leader of the charge will be candidate for public advocate and current City Council Member Bill de Blasio, who sent out this e-mail blast ahead of tonight's meeting (via Gowanus Lounge):

Make Sure Your Voice is Heard. Tell the MTA these cuts andhikes are unacceptable! Riders in this City already fund adisproportionate amount of the transit system, and the MTA’s proposedservice cuts would prove dire for millions of working New Yorkers.Despite tough economic times, straphangers should not be forced to bailout the MTA. Tell the MTA there is another solution to this problem –reinstating a commuter tax could create similar revenue without placingthe entire burden on our City’s residents. Join Bill at the MTA hearing on January 28th in standing up for straphangers.

Standing up for straphangers? Is that what de Blasio was doing when he voted against congestion pricing less than a year ago? 

And de Blasio certainly knows the MTA has no control over whether or not there's a commuter
tax, as surely as he hopes voters don't see any connection
between today's "unacceptable" situation and his own failure to get behind measures like congestion pricing. Even now, he can't bring himself to come out in support of the Ravitch Commission's recommended tolls on East River bridges.

Instead, let's attack the MTA on the commuter tax. That's some real leadership, Bill.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

‘Outrage’: Pols — And Even DOT Boss — Protest Trump’s Block on 34th St. Busway

A huge rally in Midtown to urge President Trump to get his meathooks off our transit included DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, who is poised to capitulate.

October 20, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Uncharted Territory Edition

"No Kings" means hands off our busway. Plus the news.

October 20, 2025

More Tantrums: City Halts 34th Street Busway After Threat from Trump DOT

The feds threatened to cut city and state funding if New York doesn't halt all work on the 34th Street busway so the FHWA can review the project.

October 17, 2025

READY, AIM, ‘MISFIRE’: NYPD’s Bike Speed-Limit Effort Only Adds Confusion in Central Park

Two slowly ambling pedestrians were clocked at 19 miles per hour. So what's the point of this, exactly?

October 17, 2025

Friday Video: Drool Over This London School Street

That's cricket! Check out how London transformed a roadway around a big stadium into a play street.

October 17, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Queen James Edition

State Attorney General Letitia James gave our national security desk reporters Dave Colon and David Meyer the ultimate hat tip. Plus other news.

October 17, 2025
See all posts