Comments on: Transport Debate Still Stalled As Oberstar Decries “Lack of Political Will” http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/16/transport-debate-still-stalled-as-oberstar-decries-lack-of-political-will/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Shemp http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/16/transport-debate-still-stalled-as-oberstar-decries-lack-of-political-will/comment-page-1/#comment-136361 Shemp Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:00:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=71961#comment-136361 The 18 month delay is calibrated to avoid the pain of raising new revenue before the 2010 election. There is some political wisdom to that but they had better have it teed up for action right after that, or else they start thinking of it as a liability for 2012. The 18 month delay is calibrated to avoid the pain of raising new revenue before the 2010 election. There is some political wisdom to that but they had better have it teed up for action right after that, or else they start thinking of it as a liability for 2012.

]]> By: paco http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/16/transport-debate-still-stalled-as-oberstar-decries-lack-of-political-will/comment-page-1/#comment-136111 paco Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:57:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=71961#comment-136111 Mark, great comments. It motivated me to send him an email too. I don't live in his district and have no faith I'll get any response (if I do it'll be months from now), but still.... every phone call and email counts. Congressman Rangel, I'm very interested in transportation and very strongly believe it effects all of our daily lives, especially your constituents in NYC. I know you are chair of the Ways and Means Committee which has yet to support Jim Oberstar's Transportation bill and I ask you to take action. The bill would begin to address a basic funding problem that mass transit has nationwide. I read a quote of yours stating the following; "Everyone is excited about a robust transportation bill. The enthusiasm is out there. We have not concluded that everyone is willing to pay for it and call it an emergency." I agree with you. Many people would not call it an emergency and not support it. However, I think they are largely the ones who are only looking at the short term. If you consider the thousands of jobs, and transportation to jobs, that depend on a strong funding stream for transit, I think you would admit that the current situation is indeed a crisis. And if perhaps you disagree on that, you'll at least concur that it will become a crisis down the road. So, how about Congress takes the initiative to act on it before it becomes too big a problem down the road? I look forward to your response and diligence on this urgent matter. Sincerely, Dave 'Paco' Abraham Mark, great comments. It motivated me to send him an email too. I don’t live in his district and have no faith I’ll get any response (if I do it’ll be months from now), but still…. every phone call and email counts.

Congressman Rangel,
I’m very interested in transportation and very strongly believe it effects all of our daily lives, especially your constituents in NYC. I know you are chair of the Ways and Means Committee which has yet to support Jim Oberstar’s Transportation bill and I ask you to take action. The bill would begin to address a basic funding problem that mass transit has nationwide.

I read a quote of yours stating the following; “Everyone is excited about a robust transportation bill. The enthusiasm is out there. We have not concluded that everyone is willing to pay for it and call it an emergency.”

I agree with you. Many people would not call it an emergency and not support it. However, I think they are largely the ones who are only looking at the short term. If you consider the thousands of jobs, and transportation to jobs, that depend on a strong funding stream for transit, I think you would admit that the current situation is indeed a crisis. And if perhaps you disagree on that, you’ll at least concur that it will become a crisis down the road. So, how about Congress takes the initiative to act on it before it becomes too big a problem down the road?

I look forward to your response and diligence on this urgent matter.

Sincerely,
Dave ‘Paco’ Abraham

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/16/transport-debate-still-stalled-as-oberstar-decries-lack-of-political-will/comment-page-1/#comment-136081 Mark Walker Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:53:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=71961#comment-136081 Rep. Rangel: "We have not concluded that everyone is willing to pay for it and call it an emergency." Hey Charlie. I live in your district and voted for you. <i>I</i> consider it an emergency. How pathetic is it when a guy from Minnesota is more interested in transportation reform than <i>a congressman from Manhattan</i>? What the hell is the point of having you chair the Ways and Means Committee if you don't use it to help your own constituents? If your committee doesn't seem inclined the right way, it's up to you to change their minds. That's called leadership. A more carefully worded of the above will be emailed to Rangel's office immediately. Rep. Rangel: “We have not concluded that everyone is willing to pay for it and call it an emergency.”

Hey Charlie. I live in your district and voted for you. I consider it an emergency. How pathetic is it when a guy from Minnesota is more interested in transportation reform than a congressman from Manhattan?

What the hell is the point of having you chair the Ways and Means Committee if you don’t use it to help your own constituents? If your committee doesn’t seem inclined the right way, it’s up to you to change their minds. That’s called leadership.

A more carefully worded of the above will be emailed to Rangel’s office immediately.

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