Comments on: Who is the Livable Streets Candidate? http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Kucinich Guy http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44312 Kucinich Guy Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:31:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44312 I'm the "Kucinich Guy." How is focusing on funding for transportation policy distracting? It's the no. 1 issue. Avoidable and endless war is the distraction. War robs trillions in funding from our transportation and infrastructure policy in addition to the unnecessary loss of life. Decaying infrastructure and unsustainable transportation policy are greater and more immediate threats to our national security than terror. In fact, they encourage more terror by relying on oil. I tried to drive these points home as did the "Gravel Guy." The engineering design and construction for the needed alternatives and integrated solutions are not the issue. They are very doable and the specifics need not be discussed at a presidential forum. Providing the mass transit alternatives we need can only happen when the funding and political will come back to reality. I'd be happy to talk anywhere anytime about it. Doug Biviano 917-257-3652 I'm the "Kucinich Guy." How is focusing on funding for transportation policy distracting? It's the no. 1 issue. Avoidable and endless war is the distraction. War robs trillions in funding from our transportation and infrastructure policy in addition to the unnecessary loss of life. Decaying infrastructure and unsustainable transportation policy are greater and more immediate threats to our national security than terror. In fact, they encourage more terror by relying on oil. I tried to drive these points home as did the "Gravel Guy." The engineering design and construction for the needed alternatives and integrated solutions are not the issue. They are very doable and the specifics need not be discussed at a presidential forum. Providing the mass transit alternatives we need can only happen when the funding and political will come back to reality. I'd be happy to talk anywhere anytime about it. Doug Biviano 917-257-3652

]]> By: mfs http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44175 mfs Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:52:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44175 I was at that forum and it was deadly. There wasn't really any substance from the reps and the Kucinich and Gravel guys, despite their good points, were distracting from the purpose of the forum. I was at that forum and it was deadly. There wasn't really any substance from the reps and the Kucinich and Gravel guys, despite their good points, were distracting from the purpose of the forum.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44164 Larry Littlefield Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:16:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44164 (Persaonlly, I think it's time that states raised taxes and the federal goverenment cut taxes (by the same amount), so that local taxes get spent locally.) Check out my health care series on Room Eight in January. I think it's time that the federal government provide universal health care funding, which would same state and local governments $zillions on Medicaid, employee health care, retiree health care, etc. In exchange, the federal government could eliminate funding for transportation, housing, other infrastructure, business programs, etc. States could pick those up for the savings. People, including those in need and those who don't want to pay for those in need, can move across borders, so the federal government needs to cover them. Physical features are local, and should be funded locally, planned locally, decided on locally. (Otherwise, NYC gets screwed) (Persaonlly, I think it's time that states raised taxes and the federal goverenment cut taxes (by the same amount), so that local taxes get spent locally.)

Check out my health care series on Room Eight in January. I think it's time that the federal government provide universal health care funding, which would same state and local governments $zillions on Medicaid, employee health care, retiree health care, etc.

In exchange, the federal government could eliminate funding for transportation, housing, other infrastructure, business programs, etc. States could pick those up for the savings.

People, including those in need and those who don't want to pay for those in need, can move across borders, so the federal government needs to cover them. Physical features are local, and should be funded locally, planned locally, decided on locally. (Otherwise, NYC gets screwed)

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44163 Cap'n Transit Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:58:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44163 No, Rich, <a href="http://capntransit.blogspot.com/2007/08/park-and-rides-are-not-answer.html" rel="nofollow">park-and-rides are not the answer</a>. No, Rich, park-and-rides are not the answer.

]]> By: Rich Tan http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44162 Rich Tan Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:54:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44162 the mta should be building park and ride garages on the city outskirts. i should be able to park my car at the terminus of the f or the a and jump on the subway; that would make money and keep people off city streets. the mta should be building park and ride garages on the city outskirts. i should be able to park my car at the terminus of the f or the a and jump on the subway; that would make money and keep people off city streets.

]]> By: Tom West http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44161 Tom West Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:31:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44161 Given how many local transpot projects use federal funding, it's a federal issue. Persaonlly, I think it's time that states raised taxes and the federal goverenment cut taxes (by the same amount), so that local taxes get spent locally. Given how many local transpot projects use federal funding, it's a federal issue. Persaonlly, I think it's time that states raised taxes and the federal goverenment cut taxes (by the same amount), so that local taxes get spent locally.

]]> By: Corey Bearak http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44153 Corey Bearak Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:38:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44153 This is after voting but just want to weigh in that transportation and infrastructure are national issues and deserve reasoned responses from our wannabe leaders. Both relate to the economy. Folks can check the websites on the candidates. I suspect there are very detailed positions. As to the forum, I suspect the campaigns responded to the title of the event and not the local issues per se. It was nice to learn that McCardle whose groups supports PlaNYC and presumably the Congestion Toll/Tax scheme had to back off of it, unless his group was never there. This is after voting but just want to weigh in that transportation and infrastructure are national issues and deserve reasoned responses from our wannabe leaders. Both relate to the economy. Folks can check the websites on the candidates. I suspect there are very detailed positions. As to the forum, I suspect the campaigns responded to the title of the event and not the local issues per se. It was nice to learn that McCardle whose groups supports PlaNYC and presumably the Congestion Toll/Tax scheme had to back off of it, unless his group was never there.

]]> By: Fendergal http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44150 Fendergal Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:32:48 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44150 I like the vintage <a href="http://www.wfmu.org" rel="nofollow">WFMU</a> sticker on the bumper, set apart from all the political stickers. I like the vintage WFMU sticker on the bumper, set apart from all the political stickers.

]]> By: anon http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44143 anon Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:02:46 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44143 David Narefsky can't say anything too provocative because his comments are monitored closely by his clients and network in the Chicago region. And his words are about as specific and bold as it gets in that part of the country. Streetsblog needs to keep in mind that the conversation about livable streets isn't happening beyond the "encouraging more choices" level in 99.9% of the country outside of NYC. So people from outside NYC have never had to get particularly explicit about the brass tacks. And in fact it's been in their best interest as advocates or insiders not to get to specific so that no one freaks out. David Narefsky can't say anything too provocative because his comments are monitored closely by his clients and network in the Chicago region. And his words are about as specific and bold as it gets in that part of the country.

Streetsblog needs to keep in mind that the conversation about livable streets isn't happening beyond the "encouraging more choices" level in 99.9% of the country outside of NYC. So people from outside NYC have never had to get particularly explicit about the brass tacks. And in fact it's been in their best interest as advocates or insiders not to get to specific so that no one freaks out.

]]> By: Aaron Naparstek http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44141 Aaron Naparstek Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:13:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44141 Whatever the campaign literature says, neither of the campaigns saw fit to send someone to the NYC forum who could speak about smart growth and mass transit in a serious and substantial way. McArdle came close. But how hard would it be to find good, articulate advisors on this stuff? Also, I do remember Michael Dukakis talking about walking to work and riding the train twenty years ago. Then again, maybe that's why we haven't heard anything similar since. Whatever the campaign literature says, neither of the campaigns saw fit to send someone to the NYC forum who could speak about smart growth and mass transit in a serious and substantial way. McArdle came close. But how hard would it be to find good, articulate advisors on this stuff?

Also, I do remember Michael Dukakis talking about walking to work and riding the train twenty years ago. Then again, maybe that's why we haven't heard anything similar since.

]]> By: Don http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44138 Don Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:51:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44138 The smart growth and transit funding stuff in the Clinton and Obama materials is totally new for any presidential candidate/race, even if Streetsblog isn't old enough to remember. The smart growth and transit funding stuff in the Clinton and Obama materials is totally new for any presidential candidate/race, even if Streetsblog isn't old enough to remember.

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44136 Angus Grieve-Smith Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:41:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44136 I disagree, Larry. Gas taxes or VMT taxes, funding for Amtrak, highway funding, the <a href="http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_8123739?nclick_check=1" rel="nofollow">CEI</a>, and the <a href="http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno-users.htm" rel="nofollow">MUTCD</a>, are all among the issues that the President can affect. The past seven years could have been much better for liveable streets if we'd had someone who cared about those issues in office. I'm not saying that Al Gore would have necessarily been better; if Bush had simply appointed Tommy Thompson (a Republican, but a member of the Amtrak board of directors) as Secretary of Transportation and Norm Mineta (a Democrat) as Secretary of HHS. I disagree, Larry. Gas taxes or VMT taxes, funding for Amtrak, highway funding, the CEI, and the MUTCD, are all among the issues that the President can affect. The past seven years could have been much better for liveable streets if we'd had someone who cared about those issues in office. I'm not saying that Al Gore would have necessarily been better; if Bush had simply appointed Tommy Thompson (a Republican, but a member of the Amtrak board of directors) as Secretary of Transportation and Norm Mineta (a Democrat) as Secretary of HHS.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/comment-page-1/#comment-44134 Larry Littlefield Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:18:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/05/who-is-the-livable-streets-candidate/#comment-44134 Local streets and transit are not federal issues; health care, Social Security, and foreign policy are. This is a critical issue for next year's Mayoral election, not this one. A President, however, is a leader of a country as well as the overseer of a government. The best form of leadership is by personal example, in order to avoid the "do as I say not as I do" charges routinely leveled against Mayor Bloomberg. So a valid question is, have any of the candidates provided a model in where and how they have chosen to live? My guess is no, not even to the extent of metrocard Mayor Bloomberg and his bike riding deputy. And I think we can include all the candidates who have dropped out in that as well. Local streets and transit are not federal issues; health care, Social Security, and foreign policy are. This is a critical issue for next year's Mayoral election, not this one.

A President, however, is a leader of a country as well as the overseer of a government. The best form of leadership is by personal example, in order to avoid the "do as I say not as I do" charges routinely leveled against Mayor Bloomberg.

So a valid question is, have any of the candidates provided a model in where and how they have chosen to live? My guess is no, not even to the extent of metrocard Mayor Bloomberg and his bike riding deputy. And I think we can include all the candidates who have dropped out in that as well.

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