Sheldon Silver said earlier this week that he would examine approving congestion pricing on Monday, the day of the deadline for federal funding assistance. Now he is saying that he will only hold an informal conference downstate instead of officially looking at the proposal up in Albany. Spitzer was working behind the scenes to get the Assembly to convene a special session, but he won't go as far as using his gubernatorial powers to force a session. This might be the end of the Mayor's heavily touted plan to reduce congestion in the city.
From The Daily News:
The GOP-led state Senate expects to pass congestion-pricing legislation Monday - the same day the federal Department of Transportation says is the deadline for the city to tap some $500 million in federal startup funds for the plan.
"There is no flexibility with that," DOT spokesman Brian Turmail told the Daily News from Washington. If Albany drags its feet past Monday, the city won't qualify for the funding, he warned.
The Senate support for congestion pricing means little without a companion measure adopted by the Assembly. Instead of meeting at the Capitol, though, Silver (D-Manhattan) directed city and suburban Democratic Assembly members to gather Monday afternoon in Manhattan for an unofficial conference on congestion pricing.
"If you believe the mayor that this has to happen by Monday, then it's dead, because we are not going to do it on Monday because we won't even be in Albany," said an outerborough assemblyman who asked not to be named.
Bruno's support means nothing without Silver's cooperation. Since he represents a large swath of Lower Manhattan, I'm guessing his rationale is that business will be restricted due to the increased fees. Though I suspect with a Good Old Boy like Sheldon, there are other factors involved. As for the rational thought, reducing congestion actually improves business because people will get to downtown to do business instead of idling on the LIE on approach to the tunnels and bridges.
Of course he probably knows that, so I'm guessing his actions have to do with 'other factors.'
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