New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Speaker (D-Manhattan) was one of Bloomberg's biggest critics of the controversial plan to introduce congestion pricing to the city. Now he is willing to reconsider. The deadline for federal funding is this coming Monday and the Mayor needs his support to pass the plan up in Albany. Late last night we heard that there is hope for clearing up the gridlock in Manhattan.
From The Daily News:
A deal is far from certain. But the talks show Silver is at least willing to entertain bringing the Assembly back in time for the city to meet a Monday deadline to qualify for $530 million in federal transportation funds.
"The fact that people who for several weeks haven't had a conversation that we're aware of are sitting down to talk can only be seen as positive," a City Hall source said.
Bloomberg wants to charge cars $8 and trucks $21 to enter Manhattan during peak weekday hours. He says the plan will reduce traffic and help clean the air.
Spitzer has been supportive of the measure, and the state Senate will meet on Monday about the matter.
Monday should be quite a day up in Albany for the fate of congestion pricing. Critics on Long Island are unlikely to budge, but if Silver comes on board and brings a number of Democrats along with him, it might just pass.
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