Comments on: District 1 Council Candidates: Safer Streets? Less Traffic? No Thanks.

By: Jean Grillo

Jean Grillo — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:20:46 +0000

Paul Newell is working for Pete as I am because we want to bring the Lower East Side and the Lower West Side together, at last, in terms of goods and services. That’s why Freddy Ferrer endorsed Pete Gleason and not Gerson (as he has in the past) Not everyone in Lower Manhattan have had their needs for housing and schools represented. Talk to Norma Ramirez and David Diaz who are also backing Pete.

By: Glenn McAnanama

Glenn McAnanama — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:24:16 +0000

I don’t understand why Paul Newell (and others from his campaign) is working for Gleason. No money or support from me…

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:07:15 +0000

Sorry, here's the link I meant to put in the last post.

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:06:45 +0000

Congestion pricing is accommodation for small businesses,

according to Eric Gioia:

“My dad owns a flower shop in Queens,” said Gioia. “He used to deliver in a truck to Manhattan, but it’s no longer profitable, thanks to the ‘time tax.’ It takes too long, the gas is too expensive. There are business owners in the [city’s] outer ring who are making the decision every day about getting into Manhattan, and the congestion fee is just putting a number on that.”

By: Dan Berkman

Dan Berkman — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:02:34 +0000

There is nothing wrong with getting small businesses to pay their share. Trucks and vans cause pollution and take up valuable road space. Under the previous proposal($8 per day) a van that enters the CBD to make four deliveries adds just $2 to an order. Hopefully this small charge will encourage small businesses to make more efficient deliveries and schedule those deliveries during off-peak hours when the charge is not in effect. I am not willing to throw congestion pricing under the bus in an attempt to pander to the mythical small business owner.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:57:02 +0000

Small businesses SHOULD be accommodated. Deliveries and stuff like that who need to use the streets shouldn’t have to deal with it. It’s private personal cars and luxury cabs (black cars) that should.

By: Kaja

Kaja — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:32:28 +0000

So long as the connected and moneyed are the ones in power, this is going to be the case. Should an unmoneyed, proletarian councilmen somehow win, they will develop their own connections, get money, and become similar to whom they replaced. Philosopher-kings don’t exist in nature. There is no way out.

I am awaiting the reality of the oil peak and the death of the boomers.

By: DowntownMaven

DowntownMaven — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:30:39 +0000

I was there and want to clarify that PJ Kim does support congestion pricing but wants to make sure that low income residents and small businesses are accommodated.

By: J. Mork

J. Mork — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:20:58 +0000

Re: car-poolers exempt.

The discount for car-poolers is built in. The more people in the car, the less any charge is per person.