Pro Congestion Pricing Commercial On The Air

I turned on NY1 this morning to check the weather, and was greeted by this commercial from the Environmental Defense Fund. They also have a punch list of the "Four Ways New Yorkers Will Benefit From Congestion pricing" up here.

Nice to see some advocacy out there from environmental groups. I don't know much about EDF, but this left me with a good first impression.

In other news, the NYT reports that we are still short of votes on the City Council. However,

Ms. Quinn also expressed confidence that she and the mayor could swing enough votes to push the plan through the Council.

History is on her side. In her two years as speaker, she has used steady persuasion and the political power of her title to secure wins, often by garish margins, for bills that were unpopular with many of her members. They include the mayor’s long-stalled garbage plan, and tough new campaign finance restrictions.

In fact, Ms. Quinn has never lost a vote on a bill she has supported during her time as speaker, and has never received close to 20 votes against her.

The article also hints that David Weprin, the Queens-based Qixote who has relentlessly tilted against the plan, realizes that Bloomberg and Quinn will ultimately get their way.

At this point, I think the only question remaining is what sweeteners the holdouts demand for their votes. At least at the Council level, CP will pass.

Building America's Future

The Tri-State Transportation campaign has a post up on this new coalition that could not be more timely.

Arguing that rebuilding America’s roads, bridges and transit systems will do far more for the flailing economy than the $300-$1,200 family tax rebates included in the recently passed $168 billion stimulus package, 15 governors from a non-partisan coalition called on the federal government last month to dramatically boost infrastructure spending.

The Building America’s Future coalition, chaired by Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, was established to serve as a “repository of best practices on infrastructure funding issues” according to a press release issued at the National Governors Association (NGA) meeting on Feb. 24. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is also a member of the coalition. Speaking at the NGA meeting, Corzine told the audience, “We need a national program. We need federal help.”

This is exactly right. The tax rebate plan is an abject failure of vision and leadership. This country has a serious environmental and national security problem in our addiction to oil. We re also in the early stages of the worst economic crisis this nation has seen since the 1930s.

A major investment program in our transit and water/sewer infrastructure would help to cure many ills leftover from the failed policies of the latter half of the 20th century . . . and dig us out from the failed economic policies of the worst administration in American history.

Obama Breaks All Records With February Haul of $55MM

Wow. Just . . . wow. Recall that Hillary's campaign was ecstatic to raise (an impressive) $35MM last month. It turns out that Obama blew the doors off that by $20MM!

Sen. Barack Obama raised $55 million in February, a stunning total that his campaign hopes will breathe fresh momentum into his presidential bid following losses in three of four nominating contests earlier this week.

The Tribune has learned the Illinois Democrat raised the amount in an effort that shatters the record for money raised by a presidential campaign in a single month.

And over 1,000,000 donors, including 385,000 new donors last month.

The Clinton camp can continue their shameful, disgraceful smear campaign, but the writing is on the wall. This is the year that the Democratic party FINALLY selects a people powered candidate.

Be a part of history. Consider donating HERE.

More on Sander's State of the MTA Address

The entire speech is available at the MTA website HERE and the slideshow (must see, but pdf warning) HERE.

Ben Kabak has a great analysis of Sander's speech over at Second Avenue Sagas, including the meat of the proposals for expanding the system.

The City needs the projects Sander is selling here, and someone needs to step up and take the reins. It’s one thing to talk vaguely about subway expansion and the need for more lines. It’s another thing entirely to do what Sander is doing and putting forward plans that could revolutionize and modernize New York’s subway and public transit system.

For too long have the city and state leaders allowed the MTA to eke by on next to nothing. While Sander’s plan may be unrealistic, it takes a visionary to move things forward, and as the MTA sits on the precipice of its next 40 years, today’s speech made me think that Sander is the right man for the MTA at the right time.

As he said near the end of his speech, “As the MTA goes, so goes the region.” Now, let’s see what he can do.

I'll quibble only to say I don't think the vision is unrealistic. I think our transit policy for the past 50 years has been, and we are turning a corner now. This isn't merely about transportation: it's about sustainable development, smart land use policy, reducing pollution, weaning ourselves off the car and off of oil. In that sense, it's also about national security. The car makers and the oil companies set the agenda for development in this country for most of the 20th century. Unfortunately, it's taken decades for a majority to see the negative impacts to our society from automobile-based development patterns.

Sander frames the situation well: NYC is an international hub, that risks falling behind as Shanghai and other major cities catch up, and then outpace our infrastructure development. As Sander notes, "“Next year, we will have four tunnel-boring machines operating to expand the subway and regional rail systems. Sounds impressive?” he said. “Right now, Shanghai has 90 such machines at work on rail and other projects…Our biggest global competitor, China, spends 9 percent of its gross domestic product on infrastructure.Meanwhile, the United States spends less than 1% of its GDP. That is unacceptable.”

We are on the cusp of a new age. This is the sort of visionary leadership we need from our transit planners, and from our elected officials.

One thing I can promise you: if I am elected to the City Council next year, I will fight like hell for a major overhaul and expansion of our transit systems.

Other links, which have more information about the proposed circumferential:
Triboro RX
Streetsblog on Triboro RX

Primary Day: Down to the Wire

Today is a make or break day for the Democratic primary. We hosted an Obama party on Sunday, but you don't need a party to make some calls . . .

Go to the Obama campaign website if you have some free time today and want to make a difference in the outcome of the Texas primary. Fired up!

Record Residential Permits In Brooklyn, Queens

From HPD:

NEW YORK CITY'S RESIDENTIAL BUILDING BOOM CONTINUES THROUGH 2007

The year 2007 saw the highest number of building permits for privately-owned residential units in New York City since 1972, according to newly released data from the US Census Bureau records. With 31,918 units permitted in 2007, it was the second highest amount of permits issued since accurate records first began being kept in 1965. In two of the boroughs, the numbers were even more impressive, with Brooklyn and Queens seeing their highest ever totals.

For more information

We're going to be looking at serious overcapacity in a lot of neighborhoods next year, and I think we'll find there aren't nearly as many "Irish carpenters" looking to invest in cookie cutter condos as real estate marketers would have you believe.

Not to be a bearer of bad tidings, but we can expect to see declining real estate prices throughout 2008 and 2009.

Auto Sales Diving Off A Cliff

Recall, a few weeks ago I wrote about the packed car lots in North Carolina, and the fact that nothing was selling.

Well, today via Calculated Risk we see that sales are way off at GM, Ford, and Toyota. Sales at GM were off 12.9% in February.

It will be a while before the Bush administration will admit it, but we are in a recession.