Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Jim Brennan

Transit Lockbox Still Alive, Under Threat From GOP Assembly Members

Though the state legislature was expected to work well into the morning last night, dealing with major priorities like rent regulation and gay marriage in addition to lower-profile but still-important bills like the transit funding lockbox, the negotiated deals fell apart and the legislature put off all its business until this morning. The path to passage for any of those bills is a little less obvious than it was a day ago, but the lockbox still has a good chance of making it through the State Assembly.

The lockbox already passed the State Senate, where it was sponsored by Brooklyn Republican Marty Golden, and the powerful Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced his support for the bill last night.

The bill should be on the Ways and Means Committee agenda this morning, said Lorrie Smith, the legislative director for lockbox sponsor James Brennan. "If Silver's supporting it, then it should be on that agenda," said Smith. The Ways and Means agenda has not been released yet, however. "We're in kind of a holding pattern since late last evening," Smith said.

There is still room on the calendar to pass the lockbox, said Smith, even as the time remaining in the session continues to tick away. If Assembly Republicans do decide to delay the bill with a fight over the payroll tax, as Silver's office was worried about last night, however, that could complicate matters. "If that were to come about, it would be a problem," admitted Smith.

"We have to hope that Senator Golden will ask them to let this go through," said Smith. Streetsblog has a call in with Golden's office to see if he's communicated the importance of the lockbox legislation to his Republican colleagues in the Assembly.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Gale’s A-Blowin’: Brewer Abandons Daylighting Bill After Push By Parking-First DOT

DOT's anti-daylighting "scare tactics" have peeled off Council Member Gale Brewer, who says the policy will gobble up too many parking spots.

September 30, 2025

DATA: Not Paying Fines? Keep Speeding, Says New York City

It's yet another case of "anything goes" for drivers in Adams's New York.

September 30, 2025

Bike Data Shows Huge Demand on Vanderbilt Ave. As Adams Administration Dithers

New stats show an immediate need for bike infrastructure on the crucial north-south connector.

September 30, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Fuel for Thought Edition

Forgive us if we're not jumping for joy that the city fleet is using less fossil fuel. Yes, it's a good trend, but cars are still cars. Plus other news.

September 30, 2025

Scofflaws Beware! Hoboken to Launch Automated Parking Enforcement

New York City should take note of what is going on in a city that has not had a traffic fatality since 2017.

September 29, 2025
See all posts