Comments on: How Bill de Blasio and John Liu Can Stand Up for Transit Riders

By: Emily Litella

Emily Litella — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:12:17 +0000

Thanks Gene for your timely and thoughtful article. Accountability is crucial in any large organization, which is why having public watchdogs is so important. We have come to expect little from our elected officials as they need to spend most of their time appearing to cater to loud and powerful interests holding minority opinions. These two gentlemen seem to have the potential to rise above the swamp of business as usual. Time will tell.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:45:12 +0000

While they won office with pluralities forcing run-offs in just the primary, they had more people vote against them than for them. They have a whole lot of new constituents that didn’t vote for them. They should be humble and listen first.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:56:35 +0000

How about not grandstanding and supporting congestion pricing???

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:41:52 +0000

please lower the toll on the interborough bridges, i.e. the VZ, Marine, Cross Bay, Henry Hudson, (has Liu ever been on the Henry Hudson Bridge?)

This is how de Blasio and Liu can stand up for transit riders? Don’t turn it into your own personal list.

By: Michael Bush

Michael Bush — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:16:05 +0000

1. Meet with the mayor weekly to discuss your issues.
2. Be prepared to compromise, an important Bloomberg management tool.
3. Be proactive, don’t support every hack idea the Mayor opposes. Also make sure that every plan is cost effective.
4. Mr. Liu & Mr. de Blasio live in boroughs that have free access to Manhattan by car, please lower the toll on the interborough bridges, i.e. the VZ, Marine, Cross Bay, Henry Hudson, (has Liu ever been on the Henry Hudson Bridge?)
5. Have weekly meetings in the outer boroughs, don’t become Manhattanites like Betsey and Billy did.
6. Come to Staten Island, Go to the Bronx, go to the neighborhoods, visit the Libraries, and supermarkets.

By: Benjamin Kabak

Benjamin Kabak — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:05:07 +0000

Expecting John Liu to do anything pro-transit in New York City is either naive or laughable (or perhaps both). As head of the transportation committee in the City Council, he was more pro-car than just about anyone else and showed an utter unwillingness to learn about the MTA and its operations. I’m sure his work as comptroller will be just as lacking.

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:55:03 +0000

The MTA is controlled by Albany. Albany is heading for bankruptcy.

New York City will be cutting police, fire, schools, libraries, parks, etc. — and gutting the Administration for Childrens’ Services, as it does every recession (followed by subsequent increases after a few widely publicized child deaths). And then, when Albany cuts aid, cutting these services again. And then, when pension costs soar, cutting them again.

In this context, more transit funding is coming from where? Best case, I don’t see any improvement until fiscal 2014. The worst case is really, really bad.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:19:54 +0000

From my observations, Bloomberg does not take well to resistance, but he wants to be seen as achieving his stated goals.

The best thing that the City Council, Public Advocate and Comptroller could do is instead of fighting Bloomberg on environmental and sustainable transportation issues would be to try to one-up him. Say that his rhetoric is not matching his actions. Hold his Commissioners to progress toward the PlaNYC goals. Criticize him for not going far enough on an issue. Call his plans small and ineffective for lack of boldness.

Start sentences with phrases like “If we really want to reduce the City’s Carbon Emissions….”

Instead of…”Group X might be inconvenienced so X project which would benefit 95% of my constituents should be stopped so I can pander to Group X’s irrational fears”