Comments on: Hakeem Jeffries Stands With Westchester on Congestion Pricing

By: Jeffrey Hyman

Jeffrey Hyman — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:50:55 +0000

I know this is probably a "dead" thread two days after the original post, but I saw Jeffries at a civic event this morning and, apropos of nothing, he called congestion pricing a 'tax on working people.' And the working people that he was speaking to, nodded their heads. Okay, here's what it was apropos of: he was pandering. But what a policy nightmare...a politician who panders to people who don't realize that what they "want" probably isn't what they want at all. As I looked around the room, I asked myself, 'how many times a year do any of these people actually drive into Manhattan?' Why would they ever oppose congestion pricing? But evidently they do, and Jeffries knows it.

By: JF

JF — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:56:17 +0000

No.
None.

By: brooklyn and i

brooklyn and i — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:51:00 +0000

will the Brooklyn section from all the Bridges ( Brooklyn Bridge- williamsburg Bridge ) neighborhood's bee the" park and ride " for all long island cars
it is very hard to find a normal parking space in Brooklyn. what dangress effect it will be to the the local residential environmental and business?

By: Paco

Paco — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Josh... check out crashstat.org it'll show you all the reported pedestrian and cycling accidents and fatalities on the full nyc map.

By: Adam K

Adam K — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:19:08 +0000

Boy, in the time it took me to write that comment you already got a response AND thanked the guy. Oh well

By: Adam K

Adam K — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:18:23 +0000

Josh - did you try Transportation Alternatives' CrashStat website? Google it

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:55:40 +0000

That's great, Will. Thanks!

By: Will

Will — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:30:23 +0000

Josh, try http://www.crashstat.org/

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:47:52 +0000

I didn't finish my letter to Jeffries over the weekend but I'm working on it now. Does anyone know whether there's anyplace I can find information on pedestrian fatalities grouped geographically?

By: we can do better

we can do better — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:08:35 +0000

If you live in Jeffries district, let him know how you feel. jefferiesh@assembly.state.ny.us

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:43:52 +0000

I'm still racking my brains about how Jeffries came to champion the richest 2% of his constituents at the expense of the poorer majority. Here's all I could come up with:

http://capntransit.blogspot.com/2008/02/hakeem-jeffries-man-of-people.html

By: cochon

cochon — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:12:37 +0000

http://thecityfix.com/congestion-pricing-in-london-improves-public-health-study-finds/

opposing politicans definitely don't have an eye on their futures. this is great ammo for future opposing candidates. i can see the ad now - some dude with an annoying voice saying "so and so voted against congestion pricing, which would have made you healthier", with pictures of toddlers eating ice cream and grandma chilling on her rascal.

By: Brooklynite

Brooklynite — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:57:48 +0000

You're not naive. You're just zeroing in on the fact that Richard Brodsky has little to no interest in reducing traffic congestion and automobile dependence in New York City. He recognizes that he can't just kill congestion pricing outright. He needs to put forward some alternative ideas. He put forward the taxi idea because he thinks it highlights the class disparity issue. He's saying: Let's make rich people pay the congestion money. NYC taxi are just filled with rich people, right? In Richard's world, the single-passenger motor vehicles that clog our streets and make life increasingly hellish in our neighborhoods are all filled with hardworking middle class family men and women.

By: Somewhat Naive

Somewhat Naive — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:00:16 +0000

Could someone explain how a huge taxi tax reduces traffic? Charging will reduce demand. This reduced demand will take money away from drivers and owners. Since the price of the taxi medallion is a fixed cost, and the drivers still need to make a living, isn't this just more pressure to keep more medallions on the road? Seerately, on the politics front, can anyone with a straight face say medallion owners (people used to spreading cash around City Council)would stand for this?

By: bb

bb — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:39:12 +0000

I live in Jeffries district and I'd like to know on whose behalf he's fighting. I don't recall hearing of his efforts to reach out to constituents to find out what they think or how they'd be affected. He must be pretty tight with that 2.2% that drive to work in the zone.

By: frank

frank — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:34:04 +0000

Wow, I never thought I'd be missing Roger Green. I guess Jeffries is pandering to white ethnics in Southern Brooklyn in case he ever runs for a borough-wide position. Being an outsider, he probably doesn't realize these people are no more stupid or selfish than his own constituents, even if they sometimes have foolish loudmouths speaking on their behalf.

This reminds me of a time years ago when Bill Deblasio was afraid to support a car-free Prospect Park until he polled Windsor Terrace and found out that to his surprise, even the working classes enjoy their park without cars.

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:51:57 +0000

Of course you are right Carrie. We use car service the same way. Those who don't have cars are people who don't matter, to our pols. I mean just look at them.

By: carrie

carrie — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:27:36 +0000

I don't get why pols think sticking it to taxis is a good thing. Those of us who don't own cars often rely on taxis when we're sick, have heavy items to transport, or other special needs. The fact that taxis are there and reasonably priced makes it easier to not own a car. The fact that I have to pay to take a cab makes me think seriously about whether that trip is necessary. Once you have a car, you might as well drive it as much as possible. In fact, without congestion pricing, it's in your financial interest to do so.

By: Angus Grieve-Smith

Angus Grieve-Smith — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:24:27 +0000

Lew, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and believe that you're sincere. But do you really expect us to believe that Brodsky's alternate-day rationing plan was sincere? It was obviously a reductio ad absurdum ploy. How gullible do you think we are? Plus, a politician should expect to have his or her sincerity tested on everything. To do otherwise would be political naïveté.

By: jmc

jmc — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:09:29 +0000

Lew, you support 6.50 taxis? Please go on the record supporting a taxi fare hike.