Here he prioritizes traffic flow above the safety of elderly people crossing the street. And yet the pedestrian islands don’t have any negative impact on traffic flow at all! Zero. None. These are vile, unnecessary objections to a fantasy problem.

Welcome to the culture of Albany and Community Boards.

Because it isn’t nearly enough to offset the accumulated damage of past debts and favors. So I don’t want them to be able to pass it, cut off other money for the MTA, and then say “see we did the right thing so now none of it is our fault.”

Which is the only reason CP might pass.

Malignant yes. Incompetent, no. They have accomplished their objectives, benefitted those who matter, and stayed in office despite the harm they have done to others.

And once they are gone, their pensions and retiree health care will be paid even if everything else collapses, as long as they can appoint their relatives or former staff members to replace them.

New York City has pretty much succeeded in spite of everything that has come out of Albany in the past decade. Were it not so fortunate to have good leadership, such a large size, and the prestige to draw corporations and skilled workers in light of its high taxes and cost of living, it would have gone the way of Buffalo long ago.

Right. But so are the rest of them. And those who have benefitted from what they have done, ot caring about the effect on others. But try not to get too upset now. Wait until the real state budget is unveiled after the election, and you are forced to pay higher taxes and fares as services collapse.

It is now too late to stop the effects of what they have already done. Everyone can only ask themself what they did in the past to try to stop it. My conscience is clear.

I can only hope my children will be able to complete high school, albeit with no activities and few if any electives. And teach them to ride bicycles, so they can get around.

Silver, speaking on New York 1 last night, criticized the amendments, saying they failed to address concerns of many of his members.

Here’s the NY1 story they refer to:

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=79949

“I don’t think it addresses the issues that are before us, like those people that cross the Hudson, either coming from New Jersey or Rockland,” said State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. “The statement is, you don’t contribute to congestion. It’s only Brooklyn and Queens and the Bronx we’re asking to pay, not the others. That’s one of the major issues here.”

Okay, Mr. Speaker, what statement does the current situation make? “You people in Brooklyn and Queens and the Bronx don’t contribute to bridge wear and tear. It’s only New Jersey and Rockland we’re asking to pay, not the others.”