Write to Speaker Silver at a Congestion Pricing Letter-Writing Station

Governor Spitzer supports it. The federal government wants it. And State Senate Leader Joe Bruno has introduced legislation to enable it. But Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has yet to take a position on Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan, and time is running out.

We need you to write your Assembly member and cc Speaker Silver. They need to hear that their constituents support congestion pricing, and want them to take action before the sessions ends on June 21st.

The timing of your letter could not be better. Last week a sea of green-shirted Transportation Alternatives members and other supporters turned out for an important Assembly hearing to demonstrate widespread backing for the plan, as a means to fund $30 billion in vital transportation improvements and give New Yorkers much-needed traffic relief.

In your letter you can counter the erroneous assertion made by Assemblymember Richard Brodsky (Westchester), who represents the wealthiest auto commuters in the entire metropolitan area, that congestion pricing is a "regressive tax on the middle class." In fact, the pricing plan is progressive because it will bring traffic relief and transit benefits to the large low and middle income majority who are more reliant on mass transit.

Take Action:

Send a paper letter to your Assembly representative and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver!

Transportation Alternatives and the Campaign for New York’s Future will be hosting letter writing stations throughout the city. We’ll have pen, paper and all the info you need to send a smart letter to you elected officilas. So stop in and pen some prose.

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Assembly Dems Kill Pricing

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Speaker Sheldon Silver, as quoted in the Daily Politics: "The conference has decided that they are not prepared to do congestion pricing," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver after emerging from behind closed doors where he was closeted with members of his Democratic majority. "I think you can speak to the members of the conference who […]

Silver: Fate of Pricing Decided by Monday

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Liz Benjamin at the Daily Politics is reporting that Sheldon Silver will direct Assembly Democrats to take action on congestion pricing by Monday, when the window to receive $354 million in federal funds expires. However, Silver would not guarantee that pricing will reach the floor for a full vote, only that a decision will be […]