Friday, January 4, 2008

Do You Know The Way To NYC?

The Port Authority of NY/NJ officially approved their proposed rate hike for area bridges and tolls, as well as the PATH that connects Jersey City/Hoboken with Lower/Midtown Manhattan. The rate increases effect the Westside crossings (GWB, Lincoln and Holland) as well as Staten Island crossings.

I'm torn. On the one hand, I rarely drive and would love to see less cars in the city. On the other hand, this is a pretty big boning for anyone that commutes regularly by car. It's not meant to be a deterrent to people commuting either. On WABC's local news, a Port Authority spokesman cited post-9/11 security and operating costs as their reason for the hikes, calling it a $650M expense.

The problem is that we've been burned too many times for me to believe this. It's entirely the MTA's fault. These government agencies just shouldn't be operating at a surplus. Show me the books that prove you're operating at a loss. I can't believe that $2 is necessary.

Labels: commuting, New York City

Thursday, May 24, 2007

I'm No Republican

But neither is New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Check out this story from this morning's NPR Morning Edition. Mayor Bloomberg is putting it on the books that all of NYC's cabs will have to hybrid by 2012.

It's an aggresive deadline for a city whose government generally moves at a snail's pace and it's wait and see as to whether it will actually happen, but I applaud the measure.

Also, listen closely to the part about using feces as fuel in Minnesota. Jesse Ventura alone should be able to fuel half of St. Paul's SUVs.

Labels: feces, New York City

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Hooray for Spring!

I live 1/2 of a block from here. The background is midtown Manhattan. The foreground is Sheep's Meadow in Central Park. Today, it was 78 degrees out.

That is all.

Labels: New York City