Comments on: Media (Mostly) Give PlaNYC Its Due http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:44:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Rick Stagg http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/comment-page-1/#comment-31222 Rick Stagg Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:10:40 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/#comment-31222 I disagree with the thesis of this article. The editorial boards are not the same as the reporting. The reporting has been weak. The equal-time press is bending over backwards to feature completely unsubstantiated nonsense by pricing opponents like Walter McCaffrey. Sheldon Silver is quoted in the Daily News as concerned about the impact on business. Good reporters or editors would make sure to put the quote in conext by mentioning that the biggest business group, the Partnership, is one of the biggest pricing boosters. But the News did not bother. Other elected imbeciles like Joan "that poor mechanic with his tools on the subway" Millman are quoted at length without any attempt to "balance" the imagined hardshop she conjures up with the far, far larger benefits of reduced traffic in city neighborhoods and a new funding source for a transit system in a serious crises. Joan Millman's downtown Brooklyn district is projected to have a one third reduction in traffic, and might benefit more than any other place in the city from congestion pricing. I disagree with the thesis of this article. The editorial boards are not the same as the reporting. The reporting has been weak.

The equal-time press is bending over backwards to feature completely unsubstantiated nonsense by pricing opponents like Walter McCaffrey. Sheldon Silver is quoted in the Daily News as concerned about the impact on business. Good reporters or editors would make sure to put the quote in conext by mentioning that the biggest business group, the Partnership, is one of the biggest pricing boosters. But the News did not bother.

Other elected imbeciles like Joan "that poor mechanic with his tools on the subway" Millman are quoted at length without any attempt to "balance" the imagined hardshop she conjures up with the far, far larger benefits of reduced traffic in city neighborhoods and a new funding source for a transit system in a serious crises. Joan Millman's downtown Brooklyn district is projected to have a one third reduction in traffic, and might benefit more than any other place in the city from congestion pricing.

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/comment-page-1/#comment-31213 Angus Grieve-Smith Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:30:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/#comment-31213 Rich, the federal government can do something about that - or in this case, refrain from doing something: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/magazine/22wwlnlede.t.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&ref=magazine&oref=slogin&oref=slogin Rich, the federal government can do something about that - or in this case, refrain from doing something:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/magazine/22wwlnlede.t.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&ref=magazine&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

]]> By: rich http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/comment-page-1/#comment-31202 rich Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:11:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/#comment-31202 I'm very glad at Bloomberg's political gesture toward a sustainable NYC. But there is one incredibly important aspect of a sustainable, low-carbon city: LOCALLY GROWN FOOD!!! NYC needs its farmer's markets, and CSA just as much as it needs less cars on the road. When your spinach is grown in California, and your garlic comes from china, it has to spew tons and tons of carbon in the the atmosphere before it gets to your plate. I'm very glad at Bloomberg's political gesture toward a sustainable NYC. But there is one incredibly important aspect of a sustainable, low-carbon city: LOCALLY GROWN FOOD!!! NYC needs its farmer's markets, and CSA just as much as it needs less cars on the road. When your spinach is grown in California, and your garlic comes from china, it has to spew tons and tons of carbon in the the atmosphere before it gets to your plate.

]]> By: Owen http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/comment-page-1/#comment-31168 Owen Thu, 26 Apr 2007 02:27:01 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/#comment-31168 The system of free roads and everyone's entitlement to roads is what is socialistic, no matter what the Sun says. Given that, providing roads and not mass transportation is inequitable. This fact remains, independent of one's opinion on the quality of life that comes with transportation options. The system of free roads and everyone's entitlement to roads is what is socialistic, no matter what the Sun says. Given that, providing roads and not mass transportation is inequitable. This fact remains, independent of one's opinion on the quality of life that comes with transportation options.

]]> By: nimby pimby http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/comment-page-1/#comment-31165 nimby pimby Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:45:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/#comment-31165 I think you're missing crzwdjk's larger point (she/he can correct me if I'm misinterpreting). His point could be that the cost of driving should reflect the cost of roads. That is, if roads were only paid for by fees to drivers (rather than through other tax revenue) then the true cost of driving would be seen and borne by every person who chooses to drive. The problem with that argument, though, is that it would require a change in national policy as well as changes to state and city policy even more drastic and dramatic than congestion pricing. I think you're missing crzwdjk's larger point (she/he can correct me if I'm misinterpreting). His point could be that the cost of driving should reflect the cost of roads. That is, if roads were only paid for by fees to drivers (rather than through other tax revenue) then the true cost of driving would be seen and borne by every person who chooses to drive. The problem with that argument, though, is that it would require a change in national policy as well as changes to state and city policy even more drastic and dramatic than congestion pricing.

]]> By: Nicolo Macchiavelli http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/comment-page-1/#comment-31161 Nicolo Macchiavelli Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:17:44 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/#comment-31161 crzwdjk makes his point. And it is a commonly held, prevailing wisdom, point of view. The problem is that he is wrong. The costs and benefits of the different transportation modes are not easily and accurately defined, categorized and segmented. And, there is not real reason to do so. The economies and diseconomies, opportunity costs and benefits flow all over the place and have to be analyzed in terms of a much more important quality of life calculation. The view that when something comes from "roads" it must be returned to "roads" is both naive and ahistorical. Especially in NYC but world wide as well. It is windshield thinking prevailing naivete. crzwdjk makes his point. And it is a commonly held, prevailing wisdom, point of view. The problem is that he is wrong. The costs and benefits of the different transportation modes are not easily and accurately defined, categorized and segmented. And, there is not real reason to do so. The economies and diseconomies, opportunity costs and benefits flow all over the place and have to be analyzed in terms of a much more important quality of life calculation. The view that when something comes from "roads" it must be returned to "roads" is both naive and ahistorical. Especially in NYC but world wide as well. It is windshield thinking prevailing naivete.

]]> By: Rob http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/comment-page-1/#comment-31160 Rob Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:57:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/#comment-31160 No they shouldn't, the roads system is already given way more then its due by the federal government. Meanwhile mass transportation is ignored. No they shouldn't, the roads system is already given way more then its due by the federal government. Meanwhile mass transportation is ignored.

]]> By: crzwdjk http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/comment-page-1/#comment-31159 crzwdjk Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:42:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/04/25/media-mostly-give-planyc-its-due/#comment-31159 Congestion pricing should be used to pay for roads. In the end, road construction and maintenance should come exclusively from fees paid by car owners, whether in direct taxes on cars, or indirect ones on gasoline or congestion charges. Congestion pricing should be used to pay for roads. In the end, road construction and maintenance should come exclusively from fees paid by car owners, whether in direct taxes on cars, or indirect ones on gasoline or congestion charges.

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