Conge$t Tax? NO!

Please, join me in voicing a strong "NO!" to Mayor Mike's conge$tion tax. I've already e-mailed my "Conge$t Tax? NO!" message to Gov. Paterson, my NYS assemblyman, and my NYC council member. Don't wait. The deadline is Mar. 31, 2008.

Contact NYS Governor David Paterson.
Link: http://www.ny.gov/governor/contact/index.html

Contact NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Link: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=064

Find your NYS Assembly representative at assembly.state.ny.us
Link: http://assembly.state.ny.us/

Find your NYC Council member at council.nyc.gov
Link: http://council.nyc.gov/

For more about Mayor Mike's conge$tion tax, visit the following:

"Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free" website
Link: http://KeepNYCFree.com/

"Stop NYC Congestion Tax" website
Link: http://www.stopnyccongestiontax.org/

"Stop NYC Congestion Pricing Tax" video on YouTube.com
Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rz9A14ox5Yg

Thank you.

Conge$t Tax in the News - Update

In no particular order whatsoever, it's easier this way for me.

April 3, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Assembly Democrats Haggle Over Congestion Pricing Plan"
by Elizabeth Benjamin, Adam Lisberg, and Celeste Katz, Daily News Staff Writers

April 3, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Under Plan, N.Y. Drivers Entering Manhattan on Bridges Would Also Pay"
by Adam Lisberg, Daily News City Hall Bureau

April 2 , 2008, NY Times:
"City Plans to Raise Hudson River Tolls Draws Corzine's Fire"
by David W. Chen and Ken Belson

PTF: "Even Gov. Corzine thinks Mayor Mike is on crack."

April 2, 2008, NY Post:
"'Congestion' War with NJ Governor"
by Patrick Gallahue and Kenneth Lovett

PTF: "Mayor Mike's conge$tion tax plan is turning out to be more trouble than it's worth. Now, we'll have a lawsuit from NJ governor Corzine to look forward to."

April 2, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Colangelo: Mayor Touts Labor's Backing; Uniforms Still Want Congestion Pricing Parked"
by Lisa Colangelo

April 2, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Plan for New, More Frequent Transit Options Before Congest Plan Starts"
by Pete Donohue

April 2, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Kids' Health and IQ Could Improve with Congestion Pricing Plan"
by Jordan Lite, Daily News Staff Writer

April 2, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Editorials: The Big Green Light"

April 2, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Politicians Who Back Congestion Pricing Wonder: Is It Gutsy - Or Career-Ending"
by Bob Kappstatter, Kerry Burke and Kirsten Danis, Daily News Staff Writers

April 2, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Pork Handouts Offered to Pressure Council Members to OK Congestion Plan"
by Juan Gonzalez

April 2, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Some Council Members Drove to City Hall to Vote Against Congestion Pricing"
by Caitlin Millat and Frank Lombardi, Daily News Writers

Dec. 11, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Traffic Congestion Plan Could Hit 3rd Rail"
b Pete Donohue and Helen Kennedy, Daily News Staff Writers

April 2, 2008, WNYC New York Public Radio:
"Congestion Opposition Cries Foul"
Complete Article: REPORTER: Councilman Lewis Fidler, who led the opposition, claims the mayor promised a campaign fundraiser as an incentive for an undecided council person who dropped by Gracie Mansion before the vote.
FIDLER: While that member was there, the mayor suggested that he would do a fundraiser for that member. I think that for a mayor who is so holier than thou, talking about pay-for-play or whatever - that's hypocritical and inappropriate.
REPORTER: Fidler says he can't reveal the identity of the council person. The mayor has been a fierce critic of so-called "pay-to-play," but has also been quick to contribute to candidates who he felt support the city.
A spokesman for Bloomberg dismissed Fidler's charge as baseless and coming from "a sore loser."
No word yet from Albany on when congestion pricing will be voted on there.

April 1, 2008, WNYC New York Public Radio:
"NY Drivers Respond to Congestion Pricing Vote"
Complete Article: Drivers are reacting with skepticism following the City Council's approval of congestion pricing.
REPORTER: John Cameron, a field engineer who drives from Manhattan to various parts around the region every day, said the $8 fee would not do much to improve traffic jams.
CAMERON: I don't believe it's going to change drivers’ habits whatsoever. It might change a small percentage of the people, but it's not going to change enough to make a difference.
REPORTER: The City Council voted 30 to 20 last night in favor of the proposal. The state legislature must vote before Monday in order for the city to qualify for a $350 million federal grant.The bill's prospects in the assembly are uncertain.

April 1, 2008, NY Daily News:
"City Council OKs Traffic Congestion Plan"
by Adam Lisberg, Daily News City Hall Bureau

April 1, 2008, NY Post:
"'CONGE$T' BARELY WINS COUNCIL OK"
by Patrick Gallahue

Mar. 31, 2008, NY1 News:
"City Council Passes New Congestion Pricing Plan"

Mar. 30, 2008, WABC-TV:
"City Council to Vote on Congestion Pricing Monday"

Mar. 30, 2008, WCBS-TV:
"Anti-Congestion Pricing Rally Held In Chinatown"
by Cindy Hsu

Mar. 30, 2008, Staten Island Advance:
"Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Christine Quinn Pushing to Rally Support for the Initiative"
by Tom Wrobleski

PTF: "Right on brother! Says Mayor Mike: 'The revenue from the conge$t tax will all go to improving mass transit.' Don't be fooled. If you believe him, I've got a great bridge I want to sell you. And don't buy his line about the conge$t tax generating $500 million a year. It'll fall short. And they'll double it. $8 will be raised to $16 before you can say, 'congestion pricing' three times."

Mar. 30, 2008, WCBS-TV:
"Deadline Draws Near For NYC Congestion Pricing"
by Magee Hickey

Mar. 30, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Secretaries, Law Clerks Grab Gratis Spaces on Public Parkland, News Finds"
by Elizabeth Hays, Daily News Staff Writer

PTF: "Stop the madness! Stop the parking perks! I mean, I don't get one. I pay taxes. Where the heck is my parking perk? Where's my free parking spot? No where, that's where."

Mar. 28, 2008, WNYC New York Public Radio:
"Robocalls Blast Congestion Pricing"
Complete Article: New Yorkers around the city are getting anonymous robocalls urging them to convince their City Council people to vote against the congestion pricing plan. The call says the Metropolitan Transportation Authority can't be trusted to spend the money on mass transit.
TAPE: And as for promises that the funds will only go for improvements, the MTA admits that 67 percent will be spent on everything but new bus and subway lines. And they just canceled the improvements promised to get the March fare increase.”
REPORTER: The Mayor's office says the contention that the money won’t go to mass transit is false. A Bloomberg spokesman says the plan will garner $500 million a year for mass transit improvements. Councilmember Walter McCaffrey, who is leading the main opposition group, maintains his group didn't fund the calls.

Mar. 28, 2008, WNYC New York Public Radio:
"Traffic Fee Foes in Queens Take to the Street"
Complete Article: "Honk if you are against congestion pricing" — that was the message on signs a few Queens politicians and business leaders held aloft for motorists at the Queensboro Bridge this morning. Organizer and City Councilman Tony Avella says the location was chosen to make a point.
AVELLA: People don't drive as you see here, into Manhattan for the pleasure of it. They drive because they have to.
REPORTER: The council and state lawmakers have until April 7 to agree to a congestion pricing plan, or risk losing federal funding.

Mar. 28, 2008, NY Post:
"City Jumps the Gun on 'Congest' Jobs"
by Patrick Gallahue Transit Reporter

PTF: "What a huge waste of money. Well-paid jobs to help City Hall rip-off working class Americans."

Mar. 27, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Silver Turns a Key on Congestion Plan"
by Frank Lombardi and Joe Mahoney

PTF: "I'm starting to lose hope now. I still don't think Mayor Mike's conge$t tax scheme will happen. But I'm worried."

Conge$t Tax in the News - Update

In no real order, saves me a lot of time trying to figure which comes before the other. I'm so lazy. Lazy blogger, bad blogger.

Mar. 21, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Over Next Two Weeks, State to Decide Whether to Approve Congestion Plan"
by Juan Gonzalez

PTF: "Super column by Senor Gonzalez. Hit the working class, but give the rich a discount? Is Mayor Mike on crack, again?"

Mar. 24, 2008, NY1 News:
"City Council Remains Divided on Issue of Congestion Pricing"

PTF: "Die conge$t tax, die. Die a horrible death. No one with half a brain wants you to live. Death to taxes. Especially, idiot taxes like the conge$tion tax (a.k.a. congestion pricing)."

Mar. 25, 2008, NY Post:
"Show Us the Transit $$, Say Congest Foes"
by Patrick Gallahue and Frankie Edozien and Andy Geller

PTF: "Similar theme as the NY1 News report about conge$tion tax debate in the NYC Council. Will the revenue from the conge$t tax go to the general fund? Or will it all go to improving mass transit? History strongly suggests that will not happen. Maybe at the start. But eventually some, at least, will end up in the general fund."

Mar. 25, 2008, NY Daily News:
"Mayor Bloomberg and Allies Work to Win Converts to Congestion Pricing Plan"
by Kirsten Danis and Adam Lisberg, Daily News City Hall Bureau

PTF: "More questions. Will charitable organizations be exempt? Like the meals-on-wheels nonprofit God's Love We Deliver. Will cops, firefighters, cancer patients, and others be exempt? Will low-income drivers get a tax credit? If NJ drivers are exempt, how will Mayor Mike make up the difference? Free residential parking permits for people who live outside the conge$t zone? More questions, no easy answers."

Mar. 24, 2008, WNYC New York Public Radio:
"City Council Hears Testimony on Congestion Pricing"
Complete Article: City Council Members are hearing testimony for both opponents and supporters of congestion pricing today. Mayor Bloomberg's aides again dangled the prospect of losing a $354 million federal grant as an incentive to approve the plan within the next seven days.
REPORTER: Queens Council Member Melinda Katz, who opposed congestion pricing, criticized that tactic.
KATZ: We are basically thanking the federal government for giving us the money to give us permission to tax ourselves and to me that doesn’t make sense.
REPORTER: The federal grant is supposed to pay for more buses and other upgrades to prepare the mass transit system for the additional riders who would give up driving rather than 8-dollars to get into the busiest parts of Manhattan.
The hearing continues through this afternoon. Another session will begin at 6 p.m. to accommodate people's work schedules.

Congestion Tax in the News - Update

Bad news for NYC drivers, good news for Mayor Mike and his supporters.

Mar. 21, 2008, WNYC New York Public Radio:
"Paterson Backs Congestion Pricing"
Complete Article: Gov. David Paterson has come our in support of congestion pricing. Gov. Spitzer had been in favor, but Paterson had reserved judgment. Paterson’s support is crucial for passage of the legislation which would charge drivers in Midtown in peak hours. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says a bill must pass both the Legislature and the City Council by March 31 for the city to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds for mass transit.

Mar. 21, 2008, NY1 News:
"Paterson Announces Support for Congestion Pricing"

PTF: "I had high hopes for Gov. Paterson. Now, he's my enemy. Down with Gov. Paterson. More of the same rubbish. He's turning out to be more like that old idiot, former Gov. Spitzer."

Mar. 22, 2008, NY Post:
"New Gov Unclogs Congest"
by Patrick Gallahue

PTF: "A little more background info."

Feb. 13, 2008, NY Post:
"Tight Parking Spot"
by Patrick Gallahue

PTF: "If you think you'll be able to find a parking space outside of the congestion zone, think again. Because a recent DOT survey says there ain't no parking spaces now. The neighborhoods ringing the proposed congestion zone in Manhattan have few parking spaces open now for drivers looking to avoid Mayor Mike's congestion tax."

Congestion Tax in the News - Update

In reverse chronological order:

Mar. 21, 2008, NY Post:
"But What's Mike Really Think?"
Complete Article: "That is one of the stupider things I've ever heard. Are you kidding? It's insanity." - Mayor Bloomberg, reacting to a claim by Rep. Anthony Weiner(D-Bklyn.), a 2009 mayoral candidate, that congestion pricing could lead to reduced federal transportation aid for the city.

PTF: "Mayor Mike you're the one who's insane. Rep. Weiner is the sane one. That's exactly what the Feds want to do. The Febs are sick and tired of having to hand out Fed transportation aid to each and every DOT in America. Instead, the Febs want each and every DOT to generate their own transportation funds. Congestion tax = huge savings for the Federal government."

Mar. 20, 2008, NY Post:
"Mike Pitches Congestion Pricing to New Governor"
by Patrick Gallahue and David Seifman

PTF: "New Gov. Paterson is on the fence. Which is good. Means he can be influenced. He hasn't made any decisions for or against. Please, don't delay. Write, call, e-mail Gov. Paterson today. Urge him to dump Mayor Mike's congestion tax.

Go to his "Contact The Governor" webpage at
http://www.ny.gov/governor/contact/index.html

Do all three, call, e-mail, write a letter. 'Say, 'NO!' to Mayor Mike's congestion tax.' The deadline is March 31, 2008. There's still time. So, don't waste it."

Mar. 16, 2008, NY Post:
"'Congest' Plan Hits Another Pothole"
by David Seifman

PTF: "Former Gov. Spitzer was for Mayor Mike's congestion tax. Our new Gov. Paterson is 'noncommittal' which means that the congest tax is a long shot but not dead. So, don't sit on your ass thinking you don't have to anything. The problem will just go away. Mayor Mike's got the money and the influence and the will to make it happen. He's not going to give up. He's going to give it his all. Until the Fed's deadline of March 31, 2008."

Mar. 14, 2008, NY Post:
"'Conge$t' Bid Takes Us for Ride: Poll"
by Patrick Gallahue

PTF: "You'd have to be an idiot to believe that most or all of the money generated by Mayor Mike's congest tax would actually go towards improving bus and train service. I'm sure some of the revenue would. But politicians love to put revenue into the general fund. Which means they're free to spend the general fund as they see fit. They don't want to be forced to spend it on specific items. They can't be trusted."

Mar. 4, 2008, NY Post:
"Congestion Move vs. NJ"
by Patrick Gallahue

PTF: "So, I'm not the only New York resident who doesn't like those strange NJ people. Stick it to NJ. Coming into our city. Breathing our NYC air for free. Stealing our NYC parking spaces. Stealing jobs from NYC residents. Get a job in your own state! Damn it! Of course, I'm just joking. Actually, not really."

Feb. 28, 2008, NY Post:
"Assembly Cool to Conge$tion"
by Kenneth Lovett

PTF: "The New York State Assembly is not hot for Mayor Mike's congestion tax. Which is good. But don't declare, 'War Won' yet."

Feb. 26, 2008, NY Post:
"'Congest' Plan Gets 500G Ads"
by by Patrick Gallahue

PTF: "These pro-congest ads claim the congest revenue will be spent on mass transit. However, I would argue that the revenues will end up in the general fund. Maybe not right away, but eventually it will. Do you think all the revenue from our water bills go to maintain all those old pipes?"

Parking Tix in the News - Update

In reverse chronological order:

Mar. 24, 2008, NY Daily News:
"City to Curb Abuse of Parking Placards"
by Josh Max

PTF: "Right now just a lot of talk, talk, talk. When the heck are they actually going to reduce the fakes and the unnecessary?"

Feb. 3, 2008, NY Post:
"NYPD Daily Blotter"
by Erika Martinez & Tatiana Deligiannakis

Excerpt: Manhattan
Two NYPD traffic-enforcement agents were arrested for writing bogus tickets, cops said yesterday.
Mohammad Islam and Mohammad Saleh were charged with forgery, official misconduct, falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing."

PTF: "Just the tip of the trash pile. Ultimately, Mayor Mike's to blame. He's created a work environment where the cops, traffic agents, and the hearing judges feel free to commit fraud. In order to scam drivers in NYC for more than $500 million every year."

Nov. 7, 2006, Streetsblog.org:
"Two Doubleparked Traffic Agents, Sunnyside Up"
by Glenn McAnanama

PTF: "This is one of the many reasons why New Yorkers hate traffic agents. They only enforce parking rules (when not issuing fake tickets). They, apparently, do not have to obey parking rules themselves. Makes me want to scream, 'Bloody murder!'"

Parking Tix in the News - Update

Mar. 15 , 2008, NY Times:
"Study Quantifies the Frustrations of Parking"
by William Neuman

PTF: "This study only proves what most New Yorkers who drive into Manhattan already know. Vehicles with legit and fake parking permits are clogging the streets. Mayor Mike has to reduce real and fake placards by a lot more than 20%. 20% is a start, not the solution. I don't get a placard. Where's my placard? Stop the abuse. Stop the madness."

Congestion Tax in the News - Update

Not really an update, more like background info. For those who have not been following the news about Mayor Mike's congestion tax plan. Again, in reverse chronological order:

May 29, 2007, Streetsblog:
"How Many New Yorkers Actually Commute to the CBD?"
by Aaron Naparstek

PTF: "Aaron N. makes a very good point. The majority of NYC residents do not commute by car into the CBD (Central Business District, Manhattan south of 60th St.). However, it is the majority of NYC residents who will have to suffer the side effects of Mayor Mike's congestion tax plan. Which are businesses forced to close or to move outside the CBD. More pollution and congestion in the outer boroughs. More crowded buses and trains. And criminals stealing car plates and cloning (i.e., making fake plates) plate numbers."

June 7, 2007, Streetsblog:
"Spitzer Backs Congestion Pricing"
by Aaron Naparstek

PTF: "Yes, I know Spitzer isn't the governor any more. Wanted to provide more background info for those who are just learning about Mayor Mike's congestion tax plan."

June 21, 2007, NY Sun:
"Spitzer Presses Silver on Congestion Study"
by Annie Karni, Staff Reporter of the Sun

PTF: "More background info about Mayor Mike's past efforts to get his congestion tax plan through Albany."

July 19, 2007, NY Daily News:
"Congest Fight U-Turn"
by Michael Saul & Joe Mahoney

PTF: "Now that Ex-Gov. Spitzer has finally resigned. Our law-makers can get back to work. But don't think that just because Spitzer is no more. That Mayor Mike's congestion tax plan is dead. Because you'd be dead wrong. While the congestion tax plan is likely to die from lack of votes, it's not dead yet. Mayor Mike has the money and influence to squeeze it through somehow. I will give him his due. He's a fighter. He doesn't quit. You don't become a billionaire by being a quitter."

July 26, 2007, NY State Government:
"Statement of Governor Spitzer on Congestion Pricing"
by [Ex-] Governor Spitzer

PTF: "A millionaire like Spitzer who regularly pays for $1,000 per hour prostitutes. Of course, can't understand how much of a burden an additional $2,000 per year in congestion taxes would be for a working-class family. Or a billionaire like Mayor Mike. Of course, I'm not implying that Mayor Mike pays for high-class prostitutes like Ex-Gov. Spitzer. Just that both are obviously on crack if they think that trying to squeeze an extra $2,000 per working-class family makes sense."

Parking Tix in the News - Update

Feb. 10, 2008, NY Post:
"Placard Sharks Hit Bravest"
by Ginger Adams Otis & Joshua Rhett Miller

PTF: "I feel a little bad about feeling so happy after I read this article. A little bit bad but can't help smiling. Last year I was telling my co-workers that, with the congestion tax, criminals will be making fake plates (i.e., cloning). It'll become a lucrative and non-violent crime. No one believed me. They thought I was crazy. Which I am. Now, breaking into a firefighter's car to steal his parking permit is a much more serious crime. At least to me. So, a criminal who will not hesitate to break into a firefighter's vehicle will also not hesitate to make fake plates for customers who don't want to pay a congestion tax."

Queens: Bagel Bus Stop Tix Trap

This parking ticket trap must be the most diabolical trap I have ever heard or seen. Reminds me of the infamous tix trap where the NYC DOT had planted a parking meter inside 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

This trap is five parking meters on one half of a short commercial street. But it's also an Express QM1A bus stop (7am to 9am, Mon. to Fri.). My church member Dave P. tipped me off to it ("Thank you, Dave.").

This past Sun. afternoon I went there and took photos of the trap.
Photos of the "Bagel Bus Stop Tix Trap" online at Flickr.com
Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24615876@N08/sets/72157604088752019/

It's in Queens. The street is on 73rd Ave. between Bell Blvd. and 215th Street. Half of the street, starting from Bell Blvd., is a regular bus stop (Q75, Q88, & QM1A) without any parking meters. The other half of the street has five parking meters, ending at 215th Street.

In the morning, an unsuspecting driver parks at one of the meters, pays the meter, then goes into the Bagel Shoppe to get a bagel and coffee. But, when he comes back to his vehicle, he finds a $115 summons for illegally parking in a "No Standing" zone. Because this half of the street is also an Express QM1A bus stop from 7am to 9am, Mon. to Fri. All NYC bus stops are "No Standing" zones.

The City of NY loves "No Standing" tickets. They are a huge money-maker. Combined with the fact that the NYC DOF has a "No Mercy" policy for "No Standing" tickets. Even if a driver decides to fight his "No Standing" tix, the Dept. of Fraud will eventually get its due.

In regards to the other side of the story, that is the logic of the NYC Dept. of Transportation behind the parking meters/express bus stop combo. I will make an attempt to get their side of the story. I don't expect to get a response. I will keep you up to date.

Parking Tix in the News - Update

In reverse chronological order:

Mar. 5, 2008, NY1 News:
"Your S.I. News Now: New Fine for Unattended Cars Combats S.I. Auto Theft"
by Bree Driscoll

PTF: "WTF is this BS? Instead of catching the car thieves, the NYPD has decided to go after the drivers. A bogus $35 ticket for an unattended vehicle with the key in the ignition. Blame the victim? Has the world gone upside-down? I'm I crazy? Here's my message the Mayor Mike and his mob enforcers: 'Fight car theft, go after the car thieves. DO NOT go after the drivers!'"

Mar. 8, 2008, NY Times:
"Traffic Plan Needs Votes on Council, Survey Finds"
by Ray Rivera

PTF: "Recession + Congestion Tax = Insanity. You can't squeeze water out of a rock."

Parking Tix in the News - Update

Mar. 6, 2008, NY Times:
"No Parking Spots? Here Are About 142,000 Reasons"
by William Neuman and Al Baker

PTF: "A City of NY parking permit (a.k.a. a parking placard) should never be a 'perk.' There should be a real reason for a city employee to use one. I mean, there was and is too many city employees abusing their 'perk.' And let us not forget to mention all those fake parking permits copied for the friends and family of city employees."