Getting NY $$ For Infrastructure Depends On Us

The budget deficit is out of control, certain Senate Dems extorted the caucus for sweetheart deals and New York politics is just as screwed up as usual. Yet, not all is lost in the Empire State, as long as a few key pols (like Governor Paterson) shape up and get Obama to give us some dough from his proposed economic stimulus package. A little hard work can go a long way in getting us many different infrastructure improvements and the jobs and increased commercial activity that can come from it.

From The NY Daily News:

Billions of dollars are being dangled in front of big cities in the form of President-elect Barack Obama's proposed public works stimulus. A queue has already started forming - as Philadelphia, Phoenix, Atlanta, Connecticut and North Carolina have dusted off plans with ready-to-go projects.

Gov. Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg must act now to ensure that New York doesn't miss the boat - or the train, or the bus.

The cornerstone of Obama's infrastructure plans: the creation of a bipartisan supported National Infrastructure Bank funded by the federal government to the tune of $60 billion over 10 years. The bank is likely to require any project seeking more than $75 million in federal support to submit a proposal to the bank - a proposal that would include the contribution to be made by state and local governments, user fees and a plan for maintenance.

To position New York at the head of the line - and get the money and jobs we need and deserve - the mayor and governor should anticipate the structure to be followed by the bank. That means getting already-designed projects in the queue. In addition, start designing much-needed transportation facilities so that we are poised for early submission - a formula successfully followed by Robert Moses.

I'm no fan of what Robert Moses did, but the way he got it done was impressive to say the least. If Paterson could do for mass transit what Moses did for the suburbanization of downstate New York, oh what a happy day that would be. Obama is making it easy for urban centers to get in on the opportunity. Though if we don't push our city and state leaders to go up to the door and knock, then we'll end up watching California and other places in envy as they build such things as high speed and inter-city rail projects.