"The conference has decided that they are not prepared to do congestion pricing," Speaker Silver, April 7, 2008
A Leadership Vacuum
What happened in Albany today is, unfortunately, more of the same. "The failure on congestion pricing is just the latest example of Speaker Silver's back-room, last-minute style of governing," said Luke Henry, Democratic challenger to Speaker Silver for the 64th Assembly District seat. "No part of this city would benefit more from congestion pricing than Lower Manhattan," said Henry. "That Speaker Silver would not even bring this important and progressive piece of legislation to a vote shows that he cares more about protecting his own interests than improving the lives of downtown New Yorkers."
Congestion Pricing Benefits Lower Manhattan
Congestion pricing was proposed a year ago to deal with the pressing environmental, public transportation, and traffic problems facing our city. Traffic to and from three bridges and one tunnel congests lower Manhattan, and virtually every subway line traverses the district. The reduced congestion, cleaner air, faster transportation times, and improvements to public transportation would greatly benefit the residents of the 64th Assembly district.
"The voters, the City Council, the Mayor, and the Governor all support congestion pricing - why doesn't Speaker Silver have the same courage and vision?"
Both challengers are smart to make this an issue and do so immediately. Shelly essentially spit in his constituent's faces today. He needs to be called on it.
