The Congestion Tax is dead!  Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver just came out a short while ago and stated that the Congestion Tax legislation does not have the support to pass, and therefore will not be scheduled for a vote.

The State Senate is apparently in “chaos” over the matter, as reported by the Daily Politics.  All other leaders have thus far confirmed that it is dead.

That means the primary incentive used by Mayor Bloomberg and other pro-taxers as the impetus for passing this tax, the $354 million in Federal grants, has been forfeited. But, it’s worth reminding you that the grant amounts to less than 1% of the annual budget for the City of New York, so it really wasn’t much of an incentive anyway.

We should all take today and celebrate for the hard work that the public put into fighting the tax from becoming a reality! We all deserve to enjoy this most welcome development.

In the meantime, we need to show special appreciation and support for the following elected officials who did right by all New Yorkers in opposing the Congestion Tax:

• Assembly Member Richard Brodsky
• Council Member Joseph Addabbo
• Council Member Tony Avella
• Council Member Charles Barron
• Council Member Leroy Comrie
• Council Member Bill de Blasio
• Council Member Erik Martin Dilan
• Council Member Mathieu Eugene
• Council Member Lewis Fidler
• Council Member Dennis Gallagher
• Council Member James Gennaro
• Council Member Vincent Gentile
• Council Member Vincent Ignizio
• Council Member Melinda Katz
• Council Member Darlene Mealy
• Council Member Michael Nelson
• Council Member James S. Oddo
• Council Member Diana Reyna
• Council Member Helen Sears
• Council Member Peter F. Vallone, Jr.
• Council Member David Weprin

(If I left anyone out, let me know)

CONTACT: JASON KOPPEL (718) 743-8610

DEATH OF CONGESTION PRICING PLAN A VICTORY FOR NEW YORKERS,
SEN. KRUGER SAYS

The death of congestion pricing in New York City marks a victory
for New Yorkers both philosophically and economically, Sen. Carl Kruger
(D-Brooklyn) said today.

An opponent of the plan from the outset, Sen. Kruger praised the
Assembly for “realizing that the devil was in the details” and putting
the idea of congestion pricing in New York City “where it belongs — in
its grave.”

Sen. Kruger, the Chair of the Social Services, Children and Families
Committee, said the plan to charge cars $8 to travel in Manhattan below
60th Street “penalized outer-borough residents, especially senior
citizens, families with young children and those with limited access to
buses and subways.”

“This is neither a senior-friendly, family-friendly nor
business-friendly proposal,” said Sen. Kruger.

He also called the controversial plan “a disaster waiting to happen”
because of its reliance on the MTA’s fragile infrastructure.

“The city is persisting with its usual modus operandi of planning in
a vacuum – this time with the dangerous assumption that congestion
pricing will encourage people to abandon cars in favor of subways and
buses,” he said.

“With the mass transit system ill-equipped to handle thousands of
extra riders, the result will be like packing 10 pounds of chopped meat
into a five-pound bag,” Sen. Kruger said.

Ultimately, however, what signaled the death knell for congestion
pricing was that the idea was “philosophically repugnant” to many New
Yorkers, Sen. Kruger said.

“Charging an entry fee to go into Manhattan is both unwelcoming
and undemocratic,” said Sen. Kruger.

“It is anti-New York,” he said.

You can e-mail all of your elected officials here at StopNYCCongestionTax.org by clicking this link to our Take Action page.  If you visit the State Assembly and State Senate websites, you can obtain the phone numbers to the Albany offices of your elected officials.

Please contact them as soon as possible to show them what a disservice they would be doing to those whom they represent if they pass this tax on us!

The fate of Congestion Pricing is now in the hands of the state legislature and has until April 7, 2008 to act or lose $354 million in federal funding.

WHAT:  CONGESTION PRICING RALLY AGAINST UNFAIR TAX

WHEN:  Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 12:00PM

WHERE: City Hall Steps

NOTE: THIS RALLY WILL BE CANCELED SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE ACT BEFORE APRIL 7

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.

SENATE TO REJECT “SPITZER CAR TAX”
PROPOSED 300 PERCENT HIKE WOULD UNFAIRLY BURDEN NY DRIVERS

The New York State Senate Majority today announced it will reject the “Spitzer Car Tax” when it advances its budget next week, since the proposed three hundred percent tax hike would unfairly burden Upstate and Long Island drivers and their families.

In the 2008-09 Executive Budget, Governor Spitzer has proposed raising the Motor Vehicle Insurance fee on every vehicle that is registered in New York from $5 to $20 this year.

“The ‘Spitzer Car Tax’ is being advanced in an environment where New Yorkers are paying higher gasoline costs, higher Thruway tolls, and higher prices on milk and other basic grocery staples.  We understand that we need to do more to help taxpayers make ends meet, and that’s why this conference adamantly opposes this onerous tax hike.  New Yorkers can rest assured that it won’t be part of the Budget we ultimately adopt,” Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said.

“Upstate New York’s drivers represent 32 percent of New York’s population and 44 percent of New York’s drivers.  This is clearly a misguided tax on Upstate that hardworking New Yorkers can’t afford.  And the Governor’s tax hike doesn’t do anything to stop Albany from raiding the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund to pay for administrative costs like salaries at DMV.  The Senate’s BRIDGE Reform Act would fix the Dedicated Fund in five years without unfairly burdening Upstate taxpayers,” said Senator Thomas Libous (R,C,I-Binghamton), the Chairman of the Senate’s Transportation Committee.

“I oppose the Governor’s plan to use insurance policies as revenue raisers because it simply hits the family budget and pressures the cost of driving to work, school, shopping or church. Upstate motorists need their vehicles, and with gas costs rising, a huge jump in the insurance fee — per car — is the wrong thing to do, and one more reason for people to leave New York,” said Senator James L. Seward (R,C,I-Milford), Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee.

“The Governor’s hidden tax and fee increases on the working men and women of New York are no way to raise revenue for the state budget.  This additional fee increase, as proposed by the Governor, will add yet another harmful financial burden on the taxpayers in my community.  That is why I will strongly oppose this 300 percent increase in the Motor Vehicle Insurance fee,” said Senator Joseph E. Robach (R,C,I,WF-Rochester).

“While Governor Spitzer has pledged to lower taxes, his budget clearly goes in a very different direction.  The ‘Spitzer Car Tax’ would have a real impact on all the drivers across our state and, at a time when our hardworking families are facing increased costs from every other area, the state budget should avoid adding to that burden.  And, in the end, we will make sure that our residents are protected from this type of hidden tax,” said Senator John Flanagan (R,C,I-East Northport)

Despite his public pledge not to raise taxes, the “Spitzer Car Tax” is among $1.7 billion in tax and fee increases advanced by the Governor in his 2008-09 Executive Budget.  The Senate Majority has opposed the Governor’s efforts to raise taxes on hard-working New Yorkers.

The Motor Vehicle Insurance fee is collected annually from insurance policy holders for each insured motor vehicle.  The fee was increased from $1 to $5 in 2003, however, it has been scheduled under current law to be reduced to $1 annually on July 1, 2008.

The legislation was subsequently sponsored in the State Senate by Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and just yesterday, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver did the same, apparently with echoing boos from his fellow conference members.

The Senate bill is S.7243, and the Assembly version does not have a number yet.

This bill is clearly a rush job since many Council Members could not get straight answers out of DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and Longterm Planning Director Rohit T. Aggarwala about the specific legislation that was introduced.  In several instances, such as the cost of the Residential Parking Permit program, neither could say exactly how the entire process would cost taxpayers to administer the program and whether the “no fee” promise would stay that way.  They also could not answer the most important question of all, asked by Council Member Lew Fidler: why was congestion pricing the only way to accomplish funding for mass transit.  Commissioner Sadik-Khan said everything she could to avoid saying what only any other reasonable person would have to say: there are better ways.

Recently Released DOT Placard Parking Survey Backs Lower Manhattan Residents’ Claims that Bloomberg’s Congestion Pricing Plan Will Not Work

The Civic Center Residents Coalition, an alliance of Lower Manhattan residential complexes and small business owners formed after 9/11, has long been calling attention to the impact of illegal placard parking on the safety and well being of Downtown residents and businesses for years.

The long awaited N.Y.D.O.T. study, entitled “Placard Parking Usage in Lower Manhattan, issue 3″ provides the best documentation of the magnitude of the problem. This 400+ page document released just two weeks before the Congestion Pricing vote is still not posted on the DOT’s website. The study also provides strong evidence that Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed Congestion Pricing Plan will not provide significant reduction of vehicular traffic in Lower Manhattan.
Some important findings from the study, which is absent from the DOT’s website but referenced in various periodicals and websites, include:

*  142,000 government issued placards (as opposed to the 70,000 placards the Administration admitted to just two months ago)
*  Law enforcement and agency parking take nearly ½ of the peak curbside parking capacity of Lower Manhattan.
*  Nearly 1 out of 8 placarded vehicles are parked illegally (e.g. at fire hydrants, bus stops, crosswalks, etc).
*  Nearly 1/10th of all vehicles found with law enforcement and agency placards had illegal placards.
*  The 570K parking study found that the financial district had 25% more fake placard parkers than the rest of the downtown area  (12% fake placards in financial district, as opposed to 9% in the rest of the downtown area below Canal Street).

Outside of the scope of the study was any estimation of how much of placard use was actually on city business.  But the study did find that law enforcement and agency parking exceeded their allocation by almost 50%.

Also outside of the scope of the study was any estimation of how many placards are being used for the purposes of facilitating commuting into Lower Manhattan.  But the idea that there are at least 160,000 placarded cars driving in and around Lower Manhattan on any given day says that the Mayor’s congestion pricing scheme will not work Downtown.

Why have our three community boards’ requests for “No Permit Parking” signs, a viable alternative to congestion pricing in Lower Manhattan, been ignored?   More importantly, we need stringent enforcement of existing parking permit regulations instead of taxes.   If we must have a tax, make that a restoration of the commuter one.  This plus the elimination of government permit parking abuse would truly be a significant legacy from Mayor Bloomberg. Residents of Lower Manhattan find the claim that government workers and NYPD will not be exempt from congestion pricing BOGUS, since the City’s history of laissez faire towards placard abuse by its own workforce has, for two decades, gone largely unenforced.

We find that the Mayor’s “one size fits all” plan will further damage Lower Manhattan while providing none of the air quality and safety relief that he is hoping will convince legislators to adopt this new form of tax.

Contact: Jeanie Chin  (917) 495-4115 or Jan Lee ( 917) 710-7503
Civic Center Residents Coalition, New York, NY 10038

Since this is the last week before the deadline to pass the Congestion Tax, we would really need your help in paying for this extra advertising.

Using ChipIn technology, I have placed an online fundraising tool on our site that allows anyone to contribute securely via PayPal to StopNYCCongestionTax.org.

Our fundraising goal would be about $1,000 by the end of this week. If you think about it, that’s 100 people paying $10 each, or 50 people paying $20 each. Either way, it’s a small investment now to save ourselves and the people who make New York City the greatest city in the world an extra $2,000 a year at least.Please consider making a small donation today at StopNYCCongestionTax.org to keep the fight alive at this crucial hour! And please forward this to all your friends! Thank you very much!

There will be two sessions, one at 10 AM and another at 6 PM.

The hearings will start off with a panel of speakers, and then the public will be able to sign up to speak.  It’s first-come, first-served–so if you want to tell the members of the City Council what an awful idea this is, be sure to be there and sign up!