Sheldon Silver's failure to even schedule a vote on congestion pricing shows his contempt for both the democratic process and concerns of Lower Manhattanites. Congestion pricing is of vital concern to Lower Manhattan. Our community includes the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges and the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, with the Holland Tunnel just a few blocks away. There is no community in New York State more directly impacted by traffic congestion than ours.
While only 2.3% of Lower Manhattanites drive to work, the vast majority of Downtowners use public transportation. Silver's backroom deal on congestion pricing has not only cost the MTA hundreds of millions of dollars, but cost Lower Manhattanites urgently needed improvements at the Brooklyn Bridge, Whitehall Street, East Broadway, Bowery, Grand Street and South Ferry subway stations and increased service on the M15 bus line.
It is the best hope to combat the terrible epidemic of asthma that is gripping the children of our district and children all over congested parts of New York City. Speaker Silver's callousness to their needs is breathtaking.
Asthma is tolling a public health disaster on the children of our District. News reports indicate that roughly 1-in-5 children enrolled in the P.S. 124 after-school program are afflicted with Asthma. An air sample taken by the Daily News last June found that the air on Canal Street at rush hour had 500,000 particles per cubic centimeter, the highest of any sample taken by that survey.
Congestion Pricing is too important an issue to be swept under the rug by Sheldon Silver.
As your assemblyman I will fight for:
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Sound Congestion reduction policies, including pricing.
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Full funding for MTA capital improvements including the 2nd Avenue Subway
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Put our transportation, quality of life and public health concerns at the top of New York's agenda.
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state authorize the city to issue residential parking permits.
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Institute Bus Rapid Transit lanes on major Manhattan bus routes
