Post by Prosay on Jan 16, 2018 15:16:27 GMT -5
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is vowing to fight back against Washington Republicans with a state budget proposal that lays out spending on schools and mass transit while also confronting greater uncertainty in federal funding.
Cuomo unveiled his $168 billion spending proposal on Tuesday. Lawmakers hope to approve a final budget by the April 1 deadline.
The governor’s 2019 budget proposal holds most spending flat in order to eliminate a $4.4 billion deficit. It increases education spending by $769 million and sets aside $254 million for emergency work on New York City’s transit system.
The proposal also includes congestion pricing (which has NOT even been discussed by the Legislature yet, and may not pass....Money he doesn't have!!!). For over a decade, the four bridges over the East River connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens have been the target of mass transit advocates who have yearned to put tolls on them.
Governor Cuomo Outlines the FY2019 New York State Budget t.co/1zOLVKMvjv
— Andrew Cuomo (@nygovcuomo) January 16, 2018
But Cuomo told CBS2’s Marcia Kramer that the “Fix NYC” panel is “going to be talking about a zone rather than bridges.”
Hanging his hat on his panel of experts, Cuomo’s congestion pricing plan will raise money for mass transit by charging drivers to enter Manhattan’s central business district. Boundaries, fees and exact hours the fees will be charged would be worked out later.
“The bridges were a crude instrument,” Cuomo said. “Really what you want to do is keep people out of the highly congested areas at the time of the highest congestion and we now have the capacity to put up tolling machines on any corner, any block.”
Kramer asked the governor if the hours could be adjusted so, for example, shift workers or hospital workers could get to work with out paying a fee.
“That’s just what this commission has worked on because the variables are infinite,” he said. “You can pick times, you can do discounts, you can do whatever you want with the technology that we now have.”
Sources say the plan is also expected to add a hefty surcharge for app-based car services like Uber and Lyft.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who prefers to tax millionaires to fix the subways, refused to comment, Kramer reported.
Reaction from New Yorkers was mixed.
“That’s horrible because, you know, we’re not making money to begin with and now it’s going to cost more money to come into the city,” said driver Fahim Hannan.
“I think it’s a really good idea,” said Upper West Side resident Lesley Weinsberg. “Traffic’s gotten worse and worse and it’s difficult to get around.”
More congestion pricing details are expected later this week from the “Fix NYC” panel.
Cuomo says he’s also hoping to restructure the state’s tax code to soften the blow of the new federal tax overhaul enacted by Washington Republicans. The overhaul will sharply increase taxes for many New Yorkers.
Cuomo unveiled his $168 billion spending proposal on Tuesday. Lawmakers hope to approve a final budget by the April 1 deadline.
The governor’s 2019 budget proposal holds most spending flat in order to eliminate a $4.4 billion deficit. It increases education spending by $769 million and sets aside $254 million for emergency work on New York City’s transit system.
The proposal also includes congestion pricing (which has NOT even been discussed by the Legislature yet, and may not pass....Money he doesn't have!!!). For over a decade, the four bridges over the East River connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens have been the target of mass transit advocates who have yearned to put tolls on them.
Governor Cuomo Outlines the FY2019 New York State Budget t.co/1zOLVKMvjv
— Andrew Cuomo (@nygovcuomo) January 16, 2018
But Cuomo told CBS2’s Marcia Kramer that the “Fix NYC” panel is “going to be talking about a zone rather than bridges.”
Hanging his hat on his panel of experts, Cuomo’s congestion pricing plan will raise money for mass transit by charging drivers to enter Manhattan’s central business district. Boundaries, fees and exact hours the fees will be charged would be worked out later.
“The bridges were a crude instrument,” Cuomo said. “Really what you want to do is keep people out of the highly congested areas at the time of the highest congestion and we now have the capacity to put up tolling machines on any corner, any block.”
Kramer asked the governor if the hours could be adjusted so, for example, shift workers or hospital workers could get to work with out paying a fee.
“That’s just what this commission has worked on because the variables are infinite,” he said. “You can pick times, you can do discounts, you can do whatever you want with the technology that we now have.”
Sources say the plan is also expected to add a hefty surcharge for app-based car services like Uber and Lyft.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who prefers to tax millionaires to fix the subways, refused to comment, Kramer reported.
Reaction from New Yorkers was mixed.
“That’s horrible because, you know, we’re not making money to begin with and now it’s going to cost more money to come into the city,” said driver Fahim Hannan.
“I think it’s a really good idea,” said Upper West Side resident Lesley Weinsberg. “Traffic’s gotten worse and worse and it’s difficult to get around.”
More congestion pricing details are expected later this week from the “Fix NYC” panel.
Cuomo says he’s also hoping to restructure the state’s tax code to soften the blow of the new federal tax overhaul enacted by Washington Republicans. The overhaul will sharply increase taxes for many New Yorkers.