City Council: Congestion Pricing Good for South Bronx

Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito, who represents East Harlem and the South Bronx, endorses Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing proposal in a Metro News editorial today, citing revenue generation for mass transit funding and improved air quailty as paramount interests for her district. I liked this quote:

"We are automatically skeptical when business interests and politicians from outside our communities claim to be watching out for us — because nine times out of 10, they’re doing just the opposite."

Comments

Anonymous said…
To say that Councilwoman Viverito "represents" East Harlem and the South Bronx is bit of a stretch. Her vote for the Columbia University expansion plan did not exactly endear her to her constituents, many of whom are longtime El Barrio residents who share the fear of their neighbors to the west--the bulldozing of their homes and businesses at the behest of a private university.
Anonymous: Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I have to admit I'm not to familiar with Councilwoman Viverito's positions. I mostly liked the pull quote, and I happen to agree with her view that the anticipated effects of congestion pricing - reducing air pollution from automobile exhaust and increasing funds for mass transit - would be good for folks living in the South Bronx.
I liked this Map produced by the Pratt Center that shows which neighborhoods have the highest concentration of low income residents with long commutes (more than 1 hour).