Bloomberg's congestion fee plan dies behind closed doors in Albany

[sereia 0]

yes i understand...but my point was my boss made probably $30,000,000 a year... not $300,000!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't live in NYC for the same reason I didn't live in London - better overall standard of living.

[mawilson 2,133]

Why should you pay less taxes because you choose a more expensive lifestyle?

Did I say that? No.

The roads in NYC are already paid for, with my NYS/NYC taxes. If NJans want to use them, they should pay for them.

yes i understand...but my point was my boss made probably $30,000,000 a year... not $300,000!

Yeah, but so what? There's only so much you can spend on food, even if you make $30m or $30bn a year.

I bet Michael Bloomberg doesn't spend a lot more on "food" than I do.

[Alex+R 0]

Why should you pay less taxes because you choose a more expensive lifestyle?

Bingo. That's the point.

It's not about judging people who choose to live in the city. It's about them paying their fair share, which the congestion tax as proposed would not have done.

I agree in part, but you're assuming that all Manhattanites = rich and all NJers and Brooklyn/Queens/etc. folk = poor. If they would have used congestion pricing to improve public transport (also used by B/Q/etc. folk -- maybe primarily), then that division doesn't really work. In fact it's taxing those who can afford cars to favor those who can't. That sounds pretty good to me.

I can turn that "lifestyle" accusation around to say that those who choose to live outside the city in order to have a McMansion and an SUV are choosing a certain lifestyle that may cost them more to come to work. That's their choice, and I shouldn't be punished for that just because I choose to live in a smaller apartment where I can be closer to things I like to do. I don't use those roads that my NYS taxes pay for, but they do. In fact, I'd like to benefit from all the traffic they cause by using their money to pay for the subways and buses.

Edited April 8, 2008 by Alex+R

[mawilson 2,133]

I can turn that "lifestyle" accusation around to say that those who choose to live outside the city in order to have a McMansion and an SUV are choosing a certain lifestyle that may cost them more to come to work. That's their choice, and I shouldn't be punished for that just because I choose to live in a smaller apartment where I can be closer to things I like to do. In fact, I'd like to benefit from all the traffic they cause by using their money to pay for the subways and buses.

Excellent point, Alex!

[mawilson 2,133]

I don't live in NYC for the same reason I didn't live in London - better overall standard of living.

It's possible to maintain the same standard of living in NYC - it just costs a lot more.

[Alex+R 0]

I don't live in NYC for the same reason I didn't live in London - better overall standard of living.

It's possible to maintain the same standard of living in NYC - it just costs a lot more.

True. I'd add that to me my happiness doesn't depend on the size of my apartment or a backyard. It depends on how many people are around me (a lot, please) how much I feel part of a community, and how easy it is for me to walk out the door and -- without using a car -- purchase the things I need, go out to dinner, see live music or visit a friend. The way I live my life now, my primary mode of transportation is walking. My secondary one is the subway, and my third, for lazy times or carrying-heavy-things times, is a taxi. We can afford to live comfortably enough when it comes to apartment size, food and leisure. So that, to me, is the highest standard of living available.

[mawilson 2,133]

I don't live in NYC for the same reason I didn't live in London - better overall standard of living.

It's possible to maintain the same standard of living in NYC - it just costs a lot more.

True. I'd add that to me my happiness doesn't depend on the size of my apartment or a backyard. It depends on how many people are around me (a lot, please) how much I feel part of a community, and how easy it is for me to walk out the door and -- without using a car -- purchase the things I need, go out to dinner, see live music or visit a friend. The way I live my life now, my primary mode of transportation is walking. My secondary one is the subway, and my third, for lazy times or carrying-heavy-things times, is a taxi. We can afford to live comfortably enough when it comes to apartment size, food and leisure. So that, to me, is the highest standard of living available.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Isn't the primary purpose of the NYC congestion charge to reduce traffic congestion which allows for better flow of public transport?

This is what is was for in London, and it worked.

[mawilson 2,133]

Isn't the primary purpose of the NYC congestion charge to reduce traffic congestion which allows for better flow of public transport?

This is what is was for in London, and it worked.

I don't know how it's going to help. Buses already have their own dedicated lanes - I don't think traffic congestion is a big problem for them.

And who uses buses in Manhattan anyway, especially in midtown?

Edited April 8, 2008 by mawilson

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

People in taxis? The last time I was in NYC it took something like 20 minutes to travel 2 miles.

Buses in New York are pretty crappy though.

[Alex+R 0]

People in taxis? The last time I was in NYC it took something like 20 minutes to travel 2 miles.

Buses in New York are pretty crappy though.

Yeah... it's subway in the day, taxi at night, if you want to minimize travel time.

[mawilson 2,133]

People in taxis? The last time I was in NYC it took something like 20 minutes to travel 2 miles.

Yes, congestion is definitely a problem for taxis.

Buses in New York are pretty crappy though.

They are not bad, but they are really really slow. And not because of congestion - just because

it takes forever for people to get on and off, and if there's a disabled person in a wheelchair.....

you can forget about it. They start lowering the stairs, folding back the seats to allow room

for the wheelchair to be secured, adjusting the safety restraint bars.......all of which can take

a good 5-10 minutes. Honestly, I can walk faster than those buses.

Edited April 8, 2008 by mawilson

[Ban Hammer 13,360]

$5000 for food? What is that, a diet of Kobe beef and beluga caviar?

Food and Entertainment. Aka "going out", if you're familiar with the concept.

$5k is actually quite modest, even if you go out only twice a week (and weekends.)

maybe mawilson is known as client #10

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't live in NYC for the same reason I didn't live in London - better overall standard of living.

It's possible to maintain the same standard of living in NYC - it just costs a lot more.

Certainly - and I could enjoy the same kind of standard of living in London. In my industry though I simply don't make the six figure salary necessary to achieve it.