Comments on: Today’s Headlines

By: Moser

Moser — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:39:00 +0000

PA also runs a few pretty busy airports too.

By: Charles Siegel

Charles Siegel — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:42:55 +0000

The Port Authority is planning to be carbon-neutral by 2010 with one little, tiny exception. They obviously are not counting the emissions of the cars that use their bridges and tunnels.

By: Red

Red — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:21:08 +0000

My guess is that one could apply for a permit for a family car in order to be driven by a spouse etc. Correct?

By: Red

Red — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:18:13 +0000

MS, I don’t think Ben was implying that disabled people can’t drive – I think it was a response to the confusing statement that:

“Council Members Simcha Felder and Oliver Koppell will introduce legislation allowing applicants of NYC disability parking permits to use MTA Access-A-Ride ID cards or reduced-fare MetroCards as proof of identity. … Since many applicants do not drive, it is a burden to get DMV issued identification.”

It is very possible that there is a reason why people who do not drive would need parking permits, but I – and I presume, Ben – have no idea what it is.

By: Michael Steiner

Michael Steiner — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:16:41 +0000

MS (#5),

Maybe if you had read the Room Eight article or followed the discussion here in the last days you could have easily answered your own question: MTA Access-A-Ride …

By: MS

MS — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:22:11 +0000

Can I suggest that your title for the Room Eight article about disabled parking permits is very disrepectful?

In any case, do you have other suggestions on how these people get around? The subway — with no elevators? Bikes? Taxis — that don’t accomodate wheelchairs?

By: Call them

Call them — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:45:11 +0000

Today is the day to call your councilmember if they do not support Congestion Pricing or if they are on the fence.

Find their info here:

http://council.nyc.gov/html/members/members.shtml

By: Riverdalian

Riverdalian — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:38:11 +0000

Koppell may justify needing his placard to make calls in his northwest Bronx district — but certainly not to come into Manhattan, where he has his law office and excellent transit options to reach City Hall and park in City Hall Park. And his bill to make parking placards even easier for disabled and seniors to obtain will flood the city with even more of these placards. They are like a black market currency — used more often by people and for purposes that have nothing to do with those for which they were issued.

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:19:30 +0000

Look beyond the “issues” to the philosophical meaning of the issues. And you’ll see the same things — unearned privileges at public expense, generational inequities, etc. — popping up over and over again.

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:17:40 +0000

Once again, Congestion Pricing is ABOUT THE PLACARDS, and is opposed primarily by those who hold them. They are the only people who can drive to Manhattan for “free,” because of the high cost of parking otherwise.

And yes, that is our political oligarchy.

The business oligarchy is in favor.

The rest of us don’t matter.

What is worse is, once the school system re-collapses as a result of all the money going to the retirees, they will go back to allocating the limited amount of actual education available in NYC by handing out “education placards.” They didn’t call them that, but that’s what they were.

After they cut the libraries again, there will be “libary placards.” “Park placards.” Etc.

With among the highest state and local taxes in the country, basically you either pay for public services your self (through “donations” to your public park and school or private or parchocial school), benefit from “placards,” or do without. Think about it.