Stop NYC Congestion Tax

Assembly Members Richard Brodsky (Chair, Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions) and Denny Farrell (Chair, Ways and Means) will be holding a public hearing tomorrow, March 6th, at 10:30 AM in New York City on how the MTA plans to spend the revenues from the congestion tax, should it be adopted.

The main concern is over the MTA’s Five Year Capital Plan 2008-2013, which wants to use congestion tax funds to borrow $4.5 billion, even though the Capital Plan itself will be $9 billion in the red after the fact anyway!

Make no mistake: the MTA’s Capital Plan, which has only identified $20 billion of revenue, but plans $29 billion in expenditures, is nothing more than a typical wasteful and reckless tax-and-spend government plan.

Their thinking is to tax only drivers, who bear no responsibility for the state of the City’s transit system, borrow billions more than any tax revenue could even pay for, and spend more on massive government programs that will only add to the cost of running the MTA in the future (read: fare hikes will keep coming again and again anyway).

All this instead of reprioritizing current revenues to make the most important improvements first. Government should not place a burden like this on one group of people who make our economy thrive, like commuters, and somehow make them responsible for government’s failures.

At the very least, if there is absolutely no other source of revenue to make essential improvements, a general tax increase, which hurts no one demographic specifically, is the most just and wise thing to do. But before that happens, we have to make quite sure we’re not wasting taxpayer funds in any other place first.

The Assembly Members want to know how the MTA plans to use any revenue from the tax, and whether those goals are important enough for congestion pricing to be enacted. The NY Sun reports that this is yet another way in which some of our elected officials are trying to stop the tax from coming into fruition. Good for them and good for us!

More info below on the hearing:

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

SUBJECT:	Proposed Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Five-Year Capital Plan
PURPOSE:	To review, analyze, and discuss the details of the proposed MTA Five-Year Capital Plan for State Fiscal Years 2008-2013.

NEW YORK CITYThursday, March 6, 2008 10:30 am Association of the Bar of the City of New York Meeting Hall, 2nd Floor 42 West 44th Street New York, NY ORAL TESTIMONY WILL BE BY INVITATION ONLY
In 2007, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a congestion pricing plan for the City of New York. In addition to combating congestion, the Mayor’s plan claimed that it would provide a significant amount of funding for capital improvements to the MTA system to absorb the increase in ridership expected from the adoption of such a plan. In response, the Legislature enacted Chapter 384 of the Laws of 2007 establishing the New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission which would review and study plans to reduce congestion.Furthermore, in order to fully understand the potential use of revenues from a congestion pricing plan, the statute required that the MTA submit, no later than March 31, 2008, a Five-Year Capital Plan. Pursuant to Section 1269-b of the Public Authorities Law, the plan must detail systemwide goals and objectives for capital spending, and describe each capital project to be initiated and the current status of previously approved projects, the amount of funding required, and the sources of such funding. In addition, Chapter 384 required that the plan include the additional capital needs created by a congestion mitigation plan if adopted and the proposed use of any revenues derived from such plan for the capital needs that have been identified. On February 27th, 2008, pursuant to law, the MTA submitted for public review a proposal for its Five-Year Capital Plan for 2008-2013. The Committees will also seek information on the specific details associated with the proposed projects contained in the plan as well as the funding of the plan. This hearing will also provide an opportunity for the Committees to examine the other components of the plan, such as how a congestion mitigation plan and its consequences are addressed. Persons invited to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation. Twenty copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees’ interest in considering testimony from all sources. In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.
Herman D. Farrell, Jr. Member of Assembly Chair Committee on Ways and Means	Richard L. Brodsky Member of Assembly Chair Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM Persons invited to present testimony at the public hearing on the Proposed MTA Five-Year Capital Plan on March 6, 2008 are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail or fax it to: Simonia Brown Legislative Analyst Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Room 542 - Capitol Albany, New York 12248 E-mail: browns@assembly.state.ny.us Phone: (518) 455-4881 Fax: (518) 455-4128
	I plan to attend the public hearing on the Proposed MTA Five-Year Capital Plan on Thursday, March 6, 2008 to be held by the Assembly Standing Committees on Ways and Means and Corporations, Authorities and Commissions.
	I have been invited to make a public statement at the hearing. I will answer any questions that may arise. I will provide 20 copies of my prepared statement.
	I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports.
	I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.
	I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:

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