Comments on: Today’s Headlines

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:49:17 +0000

Support a two-party system, get a two-party system. Lack of choice leads to lack of innovation, and comfort leads to apathy. It shouldn’t be a surprise at all that the NYC and New York State Democratic party is a rusted machine, completely devoid of any ideas or courage and lacking any incentive to perform. Politics in this city and state needs a serious kick in the ass.

By: NIccolo' Machiavelli

NIccolo' Machiavelli — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:37:42 +0000

Dont feel bad about your party affiliation here momos. When the price of gas spiked last year who was out front asking to cut the tax, well the Democrats thats who. High oil prices are constantly attacked by those who otherwise call themselves “environmentalists”.

And, you should distinguish between Mayor Bloomberg and the national Republicans he gave so much aid and comfort to during their convention with the plastic tie wraps and the illegal detention of cyclists and others.

The national Republicans find this appealing because it dovetails with their vision of a privatized road system. Selling the Brooklyn Bridge would be fine with them and accomplish a lot of what CP attempts to do.

That clashes directly with the “freeway” mentality. Road pricing is only half the issue to the national Republicans, who sets the price, who profits, who pays, thats the other half. And, in the east who has been the most out front with privatizing the highways. Well Governor Corzine IMHO. Governor 91 MPH.

What the privatizers want to privatize is the will to raise tolls.

By: momos

momos — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:38:33 +0000

I had an interesting phone conversation with an aide to Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR, 4th District), chairman of the House subcommittee on highways and transit. DeFazio wrote a letter to Spitzer saying he has “serious doubts” about whether NYC’s congestion pricing plan is eligible for hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid.

Even though most Streetsblog readers don’t live in Oregon, I’d urge you all to give his office a call to register a complaint and let them know somebody’s watching.

DEFAZIO – WASHINGTON DC OFFICE
(202) 225-6416

DeFazio of course is simply wrong. But his irresponsible letter once again represents how the Democratic party is backsliding on progressive transportation policy.

As a Democrat, it kills me that it’s a Republican Mayor, with the relative backing of state Republicans, who is championing the most progressive transportation policy in the country with the offer of hundreds of millions of dollars from a Republican presidential administration, while Democrats do everything conceivable to stand in the way.

The local and national Democratic party, with the notable exception of Spitzer and Christine Quinn, are caving to the fossilized car lobby on one issue after another: fuel economy standards, congestion pricing, California’s right to enforce its own clean air standards.

By: drose

drose — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:07:58 +0000

Severely amended congestion pricing bill now up on Senate site. Among the other tidbits that have already been reported, interest at this site should be raised by the fact that hybrids will get a 50% discount on the congestion pricing fee and “green” vehicles will be exempt from sales tax when bought new.

By: galvo

galvo — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:19:31 +0000

how do you lose control of a car and run it onto a sidewalk. The make and model number of these vehicles should be noted.
on some gmc 1995 era anti lock brakes they would fail at slow speeds if the sensor got dirty.
i had this happen to me two times getting off a highway and entering a parking lot, i put maximum pressure on the brake and i have a strong right leg. if a ped had been in the crosswalk i would have run over them. i wonder if this defect is still around and they are just hushing it up. it was hushed up then, but i found it was common after certain mileage due to dirt accumulation on sensor, two sensor low and high speed, it would fail on the under 15 mph. ok for cars sucks for peds
i was able to fix the defect by disconnecting the anti lock brake feature .