Mayor Mike is trying to hit commuters in wallet

New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has been the best mayor the city has had in a long time. I am in Manhattan a great deal and the work he is doing and has done is evident. Mayor Mike knows the city, its people and its business. The only down side is that I am pretty sure he hates New Jerseyans, based on the congestion pricing plan he is pushing through.

The measure, which will create a new fee to enter the city (on top of the various tunnel and bridge charges and those of the NJ Parkway and Turnpike, respectively), has passed the NY City Council.

This model has been shown to work in London, and from an economics point of view it has been done well before. But in New Jersey, between our own state punishing residents for living here with excessive taxation, chasing out businesses daring to put out their shingle here, and gas prices that are the highest in history, this is not the time for this measure.

The idea is to bolster the use of buses, ferrys, etc. But in my experience, mass transit isn't always the way to go for every city destination. With absolutely no attempt to improve mass transit lines from Jersey to more stops in the city, or providing more reliable cab hubs in the city, the first thing being done is to hit the commuters in the wallet.

I like Mayor Mike. I would probably vote for him in a 'New York minute' for president, but he's looking to kill my already injured wallet. Only New Jersey's governor is doing more to harm my wallet at this moment, but I'd have to think long and hard about voting for him again at this point for anything.

Click on the headline to read about congestion pricing in the APP.

Caption: A re-enactor at Yorktown representing a U.S. Army doctor during the Revolution. Medical help may be needed to revive New Jersey commuters after congestion pricing gives them an acute wallet attack.

Bloomberg's congestion plan: A detached reality

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg's Congestion Pricing Plan needs to die on the table. For those of us who drive into Manhattan, it is positively absurd. While public transportation is being touted left and right, my experience is that NYC public transportation is good, on the fair said of that grade, but not anything that employers or academic institutions could count on as being reliable enough for commuters to universally depend on.

Infrastructure is a big deal, granted. The Federal and state governments are responsible for large-scale infrastructure repair and improvement. Right now, there are many other priorities from this national government and from these various state governments. My suggestion: Change the priorities and the politicians can stop passing the buck (it's our buck they're passing and spending anyway).

Mayor Mike Bloomberg is generally a good mayor, a smart person, and a great businessman. With that said, his plan in this case is moronic and represents only the single instance of detachment from reality he has exhibited thus far in his tenure.

Bloomberg won't be running for Prez this year

The best guy in a presidential election isn't running. That's the news from the AP. Click on the headline and go there.

Mike Bloomberg becomes an Independent

So, New York CityMayor Mike Bloomberg is an Independent. I guess this was important enough for him. Note: I initially noted he was becoming a Democrat. I didn't read it through well. Thanks for the save, Art. Click on the headline and go there.