Bruno: “The people who travel around are taxed enough.”

Up to now, State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has been a supporter of Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal for a congestion pricing pilot project. There is no reason to believe that has changed. Yet, he strikes a slightly ominous note in today’s Daily News article on the proposed MTA fare hike.

"The people who travel around are taxed enough. We have got to prioritize the use of our state resources to minimize
the expense and the impact on the people who come into the city and
work in the city," said Bruno.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Queens Pricing Opponents Push a Fantasy Commuter Tax

By Brad Aaron |
Last week the Queens Civic Congress held an "MTA Capital Plan Forum," where members peddled their commuter tax revival plan to transit chief Elliot "Lee" Sander as an alternative to congestion pricing, which Sander says is vital to the future of his agency.  To be fair, the QCC has promoted this idea for several years, […]

Congestion Pricing: Here’s the Deal

By Aaron Naparstek |
Below is a summary of the congestion pricing deal struck this afternoon by Governor Spitzer, Mayor Bloomberg, Assembly Speaker Silver and Senate Leader Bruno. The 17 member congestion pricing commission is made up as follows: 3 appointees — Mayor 3 appointees — Governor 3 appointees — City Council 3 appointees — State Senate majority leader […]

Senate Moves Toward Pricing Vote

By Ben Fried |
Liz Benjamin at the Daily Politics is reporting that Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno will call a floor vote on congestion pricing today: Senators on both sides of aisle have received the heads up that the majority is preparing to call a vote on congestion pricing, despite the fact that both Senate Majority Leader Joseph […]

Skelos Ascension Clouds Prospect of Pricing Revival

By Brad Aaron |
Yesterday, retiring New York State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno handed the reins to Deputy Leader Dean Skelos, Republican from Nassau County. Though some see this unforeseen development as an opportunity to move on much-needed reforms in Albany, it’s not great news for advocates of congestion pricing. If Governor Paterson looks to revive pricing via […]

Congestion Pricing Can Help Save Working NYC Families $2,300 Per Year

By Noah Kazis |
Without congestion pricing, fare hikes will hit New York’s many transit-using families hard. Image: Ed Yourdon via Flickr. Without bold action from legislators to fund transit, middle-class New York families will have to spend $2,300 more per year to get around the city even as the quality of the service they’re paying for declines, according […]

Spitzer Backs Congestion Pricing

By Aaron Naparstek |
Is Mayor Bloomberg actually going to pull this off? Governor Eliot Spitzer came out in favor of congestion pricing this morning. Elizabeth Benjamin at the Daily News reports: Standing with Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Gov. Eliot Spitzer this morning said he is "in favor of embracing a congestion pricing model" at a press conference where U.S. […]