Congestion Pricing Good For Middle Class
It is astounding that there is actually a debate going on in the city about whether congestion pricing is good for the middle and lower classes. Yes the fee is harder for them to absorb, but the overwhelming benefits are all to the middle and lower classes. Since this is hard for people to grasp what with the usual pol pin heads scrambling to score petty points rather than help inspire and lead their constituents, Drum Major Institute has put together a fine report (pdf) explaining why congestion pricing is so good for the middle class.
Here are the main points from the report. Please forward to Anthony Weiner so he will stop whining.
Here are the main points from the report. Please forward to Anthony Weiner so he will stop whining.
- The overwhelming majority of middle-class New Yorkers rely on public transportation or drive to work in locations outside the Manhattan central business districts, so they will not pay the congestion charge, but will benefit from the resources it generates for public transit and reduced traffic throughout the region.
- Getting cars off the streets will improve the health of middle-class New Yorkers;
- Congestion pricing will funnel hundreds of millions of dollars per year to transit improvements in the neighborhoods of New York’s current and aspiring middle class;
- Middle-class New Yorkers are invested in the long-term health of the city – and the planet – and so recognize that we must take action to reduce global warming;
- Reducing congestion will boost New York’s economy, a prerequisite for middle-class prosperity;
- Congestion pricing will improve the quality of life for New York’s middle class by reducing thru traffic and street noise in middle-class neighborhoods;
- Because their time is money, small business owners are the least able to afford sitting in traffic, and will see productivity benefits from the reduced congestion;
- By reducing delays, congestion pricing will enable middle-class New Yorkers to spend less time sitting in traffic, and more time with their families; and
- Like all New Yorkers, the city’s middle class relies on the high quality emergency services they pay taxes for. Congestion pricing will help to ensure assistance arrives quickly.
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here's the report in html form
Nix Illegal Placard Parking First - no congestion pricing now!
"I think the parking abuse going on now is the worst I've ever seen," said Sam Schwartz, former New York City traffic commissioner. "Government workers think they have an inalienable right in this city to park. The mayor's credibility with congestion pricing is at risk unless the city gets its own act in order." A.M. New York, May 2007.
The Mayor is blatantly neglecting the abolishment of illegal parking and placard/permit abuse and is instead making it even more enticing for government employees to abuse parking placard/permit laws. With congestion pricing, these public sector workers will not only drive into Manhattan for free, they will park in Manhattan for free, too!!! This is a slap in the face to residents and businesses who, with congestion pricing, would have to pay to use their cars and trucks in Manhattan, especially in Lower Manhattan where there are twice as many government workers driving in and parking illegally than in the rest of Manhattan. The Mayor has his priorities switched around, and the public and press cannot let him get away with this driving tax (congestion pricing)! The Mayor needs to stop illegal placard abuse (as he has publicly stated he would do) before considering congestion pricing. Elimination of illegal placard/permit use by strict and aggressive restriction, and enforcement of already existing No Permit Zone laws and posted sign laws, would obviate the need for congestion pricing, and also regain many millions of dollars lost yearly from parking meters due to illegal placard abuse; not to mention - restore much needed quality of life and support for businesses, and - with less air pollution to boot.
As an example: This is but one (1) NYC block where I live, downtown Manhattan:
The numbers do not lie.
17 Parking meters on my block (downtown Manhattan).
$8 a day for each parking meter spot (25cents/15-min - 9:a.m. to 5:p.m.)
17 meter parking spots x $8 = $136 - daily lost revenue.
20-days (Mon-Fri) per month - $136 x 20 = $ 2720.00 monthly lost revenue.
$2720 X 12-months = $ 32,640.00 yearly lost NYC revenue since 9/11.
In the 5-years since 9/11/2001 -
$32,640 X 5-years = $163,200 in lost NYC revenue from a single block due to illegal placard parking. These figures are conservative - I have not included this year, 2007. NYC loses 46-million dollars a year from public sector cars and illegal placard parking Schaller report.
Every New Yorker should be astonished and disgusted at this figure. I know I am, I've witnessed it firsthand.
The Mayor needs to abolish illegal placard parking first, thereby reducing NYC traffic by some 20,000-plus public sector employees who get "free" all-day parking at taxpayers' expense, and then we all would conclude that a driving tax (congestion pricing) is not needed.
Lifelong Manhattan Downtown Resident