Get it going, gov
Thursday, June 7th 2007
Editorial

On the agenda in Albany is a bill - passed by the Senate and under study by the Assembly - to designate sweet corn as the state vegetable. Not exactly one for the highlight tape, is it?

If legislators want to knock one out of the park - to go down in history, even - they'll endorse Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan. It's the boldest idea in the Capitol in years, and becomes even more pressing after a dire warning about subway fares.

Lawmakers seem to be warming to collecting a fee for driving below 86th St. in Manhattan, which would stem paralyzing traffic while raising billions for mass transit. But the pols aren't acting aggressively enough to make it happen before adjourning June 21.

Other matters are moving ahead in Albany's secretive fashion. Gov. Spitzer's worthy proposal to grant paid leave to care for newborns and sick family members is likely to pass. There could be progress on building more power plants and taking DNA from all criminals. But campaign finance reform, Spitzer's declared top priority, is on life support - unless, perhaps, lawmakers can wangle raises for themselves.

However, nothing in Albany would affect more people in bigger ways than congestion pricing would. And - lo and behold - it is being advanced not by a lobbyist, but by the mayor of the largest city, after exhaustive planning, with broad support of civic leaders.

Spitzer has inched toward an endorsement, but he really needs to pick up the pace. Word is that Bloomberg's plan is on a list for a major federal grant - contingent on Albany's okay. Assembly Democrats have set a Friday hearing.

The entire bunch should read the Independent Budget Office's new report on the finances of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. They're so lousy that fares could zoom as high as $3 for a single ride by 2010 without a major infusion of funds - from, say, congestion pricing.

Stop shucking corn. Get this done.

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