Stop NYC Congestion Tax

Tonight, the New York City Council voted 30-20 in favor of congestion pricing. We tried, but we unfortunately did not have the purchasing power that our Mayor has. Luckily, this must pass both the State Senate and the State Assembly before it can be enacted into law. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says that the Assembly will not even consider congestion pricing until the budget in Albany is passed. Knowing the usual dysfunction in Albany, this may be the best thing that has happened yet for the congestion tax opposition, so long as it stays that way.

Though the Mayor may believe this is a victory for him, he and his newfound supporters will inevitably be reminded for the rest of their lives that they did not win this battle in the Council by making the stronger arguments and convincing others by the merits of their principles. Rather, they got this victory the only way a billionaire businessman knows how: pay the representatives of the people to sell out their constituents and their principles in exchange for cash.

Here’s an analysis. Though the Mayor once was a registered Republican, albeit in name only, none of the Council’s three Republicans voted in favor of the congestion tax. Considering the Republican Party line has been historically “no new taxes”, they appear to be consistent in following that philosophy here and were not swayed by promises of pork and donations. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the Senate Majority.

Brooklyn and Queens Council Members stood the strongest on principle and voted against it more than from any of the five boroughs, also demonstrating their honorable fortitude in the face of mounting pressure from large campaign cash incentives, and pork barrel projects. We must thank Council Member Lew Fidler, David Weprin, and Tony Avella in particular for really leading the fight in the Council. All the more credit goes to one of the newest members of the Council, Mathieu Eugene, for standing up against another tax on his constituents.

Not surprisingly, every Manhattan Council Member voted in favor, but several outer borough Council Members did as well. I know the Bloomberg administration dwarfed the stats to make it seem that so few people drive into or within Manhattan, but for their sake, they better hope drivers don’t vote more than mass transit riders.

What will prove the most interesting is whether members of the Council who voted in favor of the plan and who are looking to run this fall or next fall for higher office will face a landslide of opposition from outer boroughs.