Big idea needs big push
Editorial
May 15, 2007
Those who would succeed Michael Bloomberg as mayor would do well to ponder a poll published Sunday in the Daily News with a mind toward answering two questions: Why do New Yorkers believe that Bloomberg has been a better mayor than Rudy Giuliani? And why do they believe Bloomberg would make a better President than Giuliani?
One reason is big ideas. The mayor took over the schools, rezoned large swaths of the city and engineered a huge affordable-housing program, to cite a few. On the boards is a proposal to introduce congestion pricing.
Almost a month has passed since Bloomberg broached the idea of a fee for driving in Manhattan below 86th St. on weekdays, the aims being to reduce congestion, cut air pollution and raise funding needed to expand and maintain the transportation system. And virtually no one in the political class has had the courage to discuss even the possibility that it might be good for New York's long-term livability.
The mayor made his case in Albany yesterday in a round of meetings with everyone, it seemed, but the Capitol's elevator operators. He came away with friendly words from Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and got diligent hearings from Assembly Democrats and the governor's people. It's a start, but, plainly, no one is rushing into the breach.
Among those often bruited about as mayoral prospects, city Controller William Thompson and Council Speaker Christine Quinn have faded into the wallpaper, while Rep. Anthony Weiner attacks the plan.
They don't seem to realize Bloomberg is doing them and the city a huge favor by forcing this very big idea onto the public agenda. With the population projected to grow by 1 million in the coming decades, with the roads sure to become even more clogged, with mass transit needing billions of dollars for construction, now is the time for government to act. There may be ways to improve the plan. There may be different ways to achieve the goals. Where are they? And where are the leaders with the vision and courage to advance them?
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/05/15/2007-05-15_big_idea_needs_big_push.html
<<back
|
