Comments on: Weiner’s Transit Plan: [This Space Intentionally Left Blank]

By: Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:12:00 +0000

Thankfully Mayor Bloomberg did prevail in moderating the anti-democratic term limits law. Hopefully in his next four years he will end it entirely, the next campaign will be waged on two issue, bridge tolls and term limits. It is time for people to admit what a dumb idea term limits were from the get go and get over it. There is nothing all that democratic about whatever referendum Ron Lauder decides to buy.

By: Gary Reilly

Gary Reilly — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:38:01 +0000

What about Weiner's hail mary plan for a ten cent increase in the federal gas tax, the one he suggested as an alternative to kill congestion pricing?

What you say? He hasn't lifted a finger on it while our system has teetered on the precipice? Huh.

Seriously, Weiner is setting himself up for massive failure.

By: Harlan

Harlan — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:24:14 +0000

I'm annoyed by the term limit thing, and would prefer to vote for a Democrat over Bloomberg again. But if Weiner is the Democratic candidate, I'll be volunteering for Bloomberg.

Quinn would be the best next mayor. She understands transportation.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:16:06 +0000

What brainless pandering. I'm really starting to hate this guy.

By: Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:03:33 +0000

I still fall back on the mathematics of the political equation here. Yeah, a majority of New Yorkers don't own cars, well established. Much less well established however is that a majority of voters don't own cars. Not all owners of cars are opposed to congestion pricing/tolling the bridges however and that is the swing group that really counts. Bloomberg is taking this issue head on into the stiff wind of the auto lobby. This campaign, one way or another, will be about congestion pricing, the last one should have been as well but wasn't, for that we have no one to blame but Bloomberg. It could be that Weiner is perfectly comfortable with no plan for transit, blame the suburbs for the commuter tax debacle approach, if he loses he is a young guy who can throw bricks for many campaigns to come.

By: Bernard Marx

Bernard Marx — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:03:52 +0000

"Weiner is obviously pursuing what will ultimately be a failed political strategy here. He is trying to make the case for being for being a regional executive by proving he's an exceptional parochial legislator. "

This strikes more as the beginnings of a case to make a case for greater mayoral control of NYC Transit. His rhetoric strikes as similar to the sorts of things that Bloomberg said about the Board of Ed in his first mayoral campaign. I agree that he's going about this in a vapid way, but vapidity tends to work pretty well in political campaigns.

By: BicyclesOnly

BicyclesOnly — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:02:29 +0000

Thanks for the excellent write-up debunking Weiner's blather. This guy is exactly the opposite of what is needed from government right now.

By: paulb

paulb — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:16:47 +0000

Same old same old: "It's the federal guys' job to save us." The region may decline, but running for office, this seems to work.

By: Gargamel Tralfaz

Gargamel Tralfaz — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:39:38 +0000

You know the past 2 months I have been throwing negative energy at the mayor and even wondering allowed to friends that I may not be able to vote for him the 3rd time around. I hated him for extending term limits.

But after hearing such a fiasco of a press conference from Weiner that has all but evaporated. Weiner still doesn't realize that his position is a loser all the way, the mayor is fighting for the majority of people in the city who do not own cars. He doesn't realize the people of this city think he is a comedy act. Weiner is for doing nothing. He has no answers. How could we elect anyone like that? (Unless he can pull 2 billion dollars out of the air for the MTA. I highly doubt that, if he did I am listening...)

Mayor Bloomberg - despite his flaws - is about 7000% better than Weiner. And is responsible. And is ready to take action. So is the Governor, whom until now I haven't been too impressed with...

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:53:14 +0000

He later issued a press release formally requesting a pony.

... and free ice cream for all Queens residents! Sorry, drive-through only.

By: vnm

vnm — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:46:31 +0000

Weiner is obviously pursuing what will ultimately be a failed political strategy here. He is trying to make the case for being for being a regional executive by proving he's an exceptional parochial legislator. The skill sets and worldview are completely different. As an executive, one must understand limited resources and marshall those resources for the greatest good for the greatest number. As a "squeaky wheel gets the grease"-style legislator, one is basically a glorified advocate for one's constituents, who succeeds by winning battles at the expense of others and not considering realities of limited resources. Though he has ambitions of being an executive, Weiner is making the case for why he should stay in the legislature.

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:23:40 +0000

"Strike! Strike! Forget the TWU, I think the MTA should announce that starting on the day that it runs a deficit for the operating year it will cease all operations for the NYC Transit Subways and Buses, Long Island Railroad, MetroNorth AND all the MTA operated Bridges and Tunnels."

Glad to see someone else is thinking like I am. Bankruptcy to follow. Better than the Ravitch plan or listening to Weiner.

You promised federal money if there was no congestion pricing Weiner. Your share -- $3 billion per year, indefinately, adjusted for inflation. Where is it? Deadline, October 2009, with the new federal budget.

By: Daniel Berkman

Daniel Berkman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:20:39 +0000

He later issued a press release formally requesting a pony.

By: Glenn McAnanama

Glenn McAnanama — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:17:26 +0000

Strike! Strike!

Forget the TWU, I think the MTA should announce that starting on the day that it runs a deficit for the operating year it will cease all operations for the NYC Transit Subways and Buses, Long Island Railroad, MetroNorth AND all the MTA operated Bridges and Tunnels.

I'm not sure how else they can demonstrate how essential this properly funding this institution is to our daily life in this city.

The blanket pandering to every consistency has to stop.