Posted on 04/20/2007 7:44:21 PM PDT by jdm
NEW YORK April 20 (UPI) -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Friday he is considering a plan to reduce traffic by charging a fee to drive in the city's central business districts."Using economics to influence public behavior is something this country is built on -- it's called capitalism," Bloomberg said.
His "congestion pricing" plan, modeled after a similar plan in London, would charge motorists at much as $8 to drive in key business areas, The New York Post reported.
Taxicabs would be exempt. The plan would need state approval.
Bloomberg did not say Friday how the tariff would be enforced. He is expected to describe it more fully in an Earth Day speech Sunday.
In London, congestion pricing is monitored by cameras that record license plates of cars entering certain districts, the Post said. Summonses are sent to drivers who do not pay the congestion fee.
The money collected in New York would go into a fund for large-scale transportation investments, the mayor's office said.
An group opposing the plan has already formed.
"A congestion-pricing scheme for New York City is nothing more than a regressive tax for working people," said lobbyist Walter McCaffrey, speaking for the Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free Coalition.
The idiot is just going to drive business OUT of the city. This will bomb just like the yatch tax and hotel tax.
he is really going nuts now. this will never pass. this guy was simply elected to continue Rudy’s policies, his ego isn’t letting him understand that, he wants some legacy to reshape the lifestyle in Manhattan.
Mayor Bloomberg thinks he’s King George of England. When are NYers and those who travel to NYC going to give ole Michael the heave ho?
How ‘bout $2.50 to cross the street? $3.50 for each street below 86th....
How ‘bout $2.50 to cross the street? $3.50 for each street below 86th....
there’s a better idea for him: charge fees for breathing [and for flatulence as well, per Aristotle it is merely “lower breath”] in NYC.
These people are setting themselves up for major destruction.
Wonder when the people of New York will get fed up and mad enough to throw these tax-crazy socialists (Chuckie, Bloomberg) out in the street??? Tax, tax, tax.
The people keep voting them back in too -— how long do you have to get kicked in the teeth before you get fed up ???
he is term limited, this is the end for him.
unfortunately, the choices to succeed him aren’t good.
he has done some things very well, other things not so well, but this idea is a total mess.
Michael Bloomberg is a real control freak.
Ah, the crazy leftist politics of another Republican NYC mayor.
Really. The Mayor of New York City is unable to correctly define or identify capitalism. They are in big trouble.
NYC is severely crowded with cars so this is a good idea. I think the fee should be wavered from 9 pm to 5 am.
This is an interesting case ~ it taxes the poor to benefit the rich.
Better copyright this idea or Bloomberg will swipe it.
Capitalism would be allowing someone to build some type of toll road (I know that a toll road is impractical). This seems more like simulating a market.
They don’t have enough cash to pay me to go to NYC, I’d rather get a root canal!
I’ve got some good news, bad news, and worse news for you. The good news is Bloomberg is in his 2nd term, so he’ll be out soon anyway. The bad news is he’ll be replaced by Democrat who will instill worse policies than him(Think David Dinkins) The worse news is NYC won’t see a mayor like Giuliani who supported the cops and cleaned up th city for a VERY LONG TIME TO COME. The city will have to fall into shambles again...complete with squeegee men attacking the cars.
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