Comments on: Goodbye B31, Hello $2.50, Higher Tolls, and New Tolls http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/ Dedicated to Gerritsen Beach Offering Current News, Links & Reviews with some Memories Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:30:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: trainman http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-18224 trainman Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:31:07 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-18224 Well, George, I’m right here so give me the lesson you’re talking about. Show me the numbers and prove to me that I’m wrong and I’ll apologize. Do me a favor and try to amass your lesson with little more than 12 words this time. Well, George, I’m right here so give me the lesson you’re talking about. Show me the numbers and prove to me that I’m wrong and I’ll apologize. Do me a favor and try to amass your lesson with little more than 12 words this time.

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]]> By: George http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-18217 George Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:05:57 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-18217 Oh man! Do you need a history and a public policy lesson!!! Oh man! Do you need a history and a public policy lesson!!!

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]]> By: trainman http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-18214 trainman Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:26:27 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-18214 Oh, I would just like to add that I await your full rebuttal. Oh, I would just like to add that I await your full rebuttal.

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]]> By: trainman http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-18209 trainman Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:37:09 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-18209 Yeah, because Ike's creation of the highway system wasn't socialism. And the continued massive subsidies to car drivers aren't socialism. trainman, you are so wrong, I'm not going to bother with a full rebuttal. “Yeah, because Ike's creation of the highway system wasn't socialism.” Mike you missed a very important aspect of Ike’s creation of the interstate highway system. To fund this massive system, the Eisenhower administration imposed a hefty tax on gasoline. At the present time we pay approximately 45 cents per gallon to build and maintain our interstate highways. (Per 20 gallon fill up that equals $9.00 in federal taxes!!!) In New York City we pay an additional 8 1/2 percent sales tax on the price of a gallon of gasoline. To drive an automobile one needs to pay a tax to have a driver’s license. Then they need to pay a registration tax to own an automobile. Once a year you need to pay a fee to have the automobile inspected. Then we need to purchase automobile insurance regulated by the State of New York. To declare that there is also “Massive subsidies to car drivers” leads me to believe that you don’t own an automobile. A statement issued by the MTA a few years back stated that the actual cost to maintain the VB is $.75 each direction. ($1.50) Actual cost for an automobile today is $10.00. The difference is used to subsidize the transit system. When I visit my grandchildren in New Jersey, approximately 60 mile round-trip, it costs me an average $24.00 for gasoline and Tolls. ($8.00 Goethals bridge) Someone using mass transit can go from Brooklyn to the Bronx and back (approximately 50 miles)…$4.00. My original point was how completely unfair it is to use automobile drivers as a scapegoat to fund an obviously unmanageable MTA. Imposing any additional taxes on automobile owners to subsidize a different form of transportation is, dare I say, Socialism. Yeah, because Ike’s creation of the highway system wasn’t socialism. And the continued massive subsidies to car drivers aren’t socialism. trainman, you are so wrong, I’m not going to bother with a full rebuttal.

“Yeah, because Ike’s creation of the highway system wasn’t socialism.”

Mike you missed a very important aspect of Ike’s creation of the interstate highway system. To fund this massive system, the Eisenhower administration imposed a hefty tax on gasoline. At the present time we pay approximately 45 cents per gallon to build and maintain our interstate highways. (Per 20 gallon fill up that equals $9.00 in federal taxes!!!) In New York City we pay an additional 8 1/2 percent sales tax on the price of a gallon of gasoline. To drive an automobile one needs to pay a tax to have a driver’s license. Then they need to pay a registration tax to own an automobile. Once a year you need to pay a fee to have the automobile inspected. Then we need to purchase automobile insurance regulated by the State of New York. To declare that there is also “Massive subsidies to car drivers” leads me to believe that you don’t own an automobile.
A statement issued by the MTA a few years back stated that the actual cost to maintain the VB is $.75 each direction. ($1.50) Actual cost for an automobile today is $10.00. The difference is used to subsidize the transit system. When I visit my grandchildren in New Jersey, approximately 60 mile round-trip, it costs me an average $24.00 for gasoline and Tolls. ($8.00 Goethals bridge) Someone using mass transit can go from Brooklyn to the Bronx and back (approximately 50 miles)…$4.00.
My original point was how completely unfair it is to use automobile drivers as a scapegoat to fund an obviously unmanageable MTA.
Imposing any additional taxes on automobile owners to subsidize a different form of transportation is, dare I say, Socialism.

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]]> By: mike http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-18202 mike Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:50:08 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-18202 Yeah, because Ike's creation of the highway system wasn't socialism. And the continued massive subsidies to car drivers aren't socialism. trainman, you are so wrong, I'm not going to bother with a full rebuttal. Yeah, because Ike’s creation of the highway system wasn’t socialism. And the continued massive subsidies to car drivers aren’t socialism. trainman, you are so wrong, I’m not going to bother with a full rebuttal.

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]]> By: Beachwalker http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-17768 Beachwalker Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:30:52 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-17768 Maybe now that layoffs ARE being threatened by MTA, the TWU will see them as an attack on their livlihoods and get involved. Maybe now that layoffs ARE being threatened by MTA, the TWU will see them as an attack on their livlihoods and get involved.

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]]> By: Lew from Brooklyn http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-17767 Lew from Brooklyn Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:37:41 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-17767 You are welcome Trainman and Beachwalker. Actually, while I would love to lay the blame for TLC on the Mayor due to policy, I think it iis really due to resources. TLC did in fact assist us in many ways. Nonetheless they have a limited enforcemnt division and have an entire City to address. Bad as iti si at Kings Plaza, it is not the only place that enforcemtn is needed and there are issues other than the vans as well. NYPD has in fact confiscated numerous vehicles. But as I said before, they are really just trying to drive the vans off the side streets to Flatbush with some limited success. Note I said limited. About once a month or so, my office calls the local precinct to ask that pressure be stepped up in either the east 50's or Hendrickson or some other street where we have gotten complaints. The answe really has to be more comprehensive. I DO believe that part of it includes the MTA responidng to this as if it were a business competitor and that the MTA actually cared about the lost business. And TWU members need to look at it as if it were an attack on their livilihood. People at City Hall often say that i am obsessive compulsive about things, and be sure that this is one of them. When the moment is right, and the opportunity beckons, I will try once again. And again. Maybe it will take a different Mayor who sees things as we do. We'll see, Lew from Brooklyn You are welcome Trainman and Beachwalker.
Actually, while I would love to lay the blame for TLC on the Mayor due to policy, I think it iis really due to resources. TLC did in fact assist us in many ways. Nonetheless they have a limited enforcemnt division and have an entire City to address. Bad as iti si at Kings Plaza, it is not the only place that enforcemtn is needed and there are issues other than the vans as well.
NYPD has in fact confiscated numerous vehicles. But as I said before, they are really just trying to drive the vans off the side streets to Flatbush with some limited success. Note I said limited. About once a month or so, my office calls the local precinct to ask that pressure be stepped up in either the east 50′s or Hendrickson or some other street where we have gotten complaints.

The answe really has to be more comprehensive. I DO believe that part of it includes the MTA responidng to this as if it were a business competitor and that the MTA actually cared about the lost business. And TWU members need to look at it as if it were an attack on their livilihood.

People at City Hall often say that i am obsessive compulsive about things, and be sure that this is one of them. When the moment is right, and the opportunity beckons, I will try once again. And again. Maybe it will take a different Mayor who sees things as we do. We’ll see,

Lew from Brooklyn

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]]> By: trainman http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-17761 trainman Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:17:58 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-17761 Welcome to this issue, Beachwalker. To me, anyway, it seems quite obvious why the taxi and limousine commission distances itself from this issue. Commissioner Matthew Daus was appointed and is employed by the city of New York, run by our mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Following the back room policies regarding this matter, would be prudent behavior on Mr. Daus part. Unfortunately politics as usual and its citizens be damn. Welcome to this issue, Beachwalker.
To me, anyway, it seems quite obvious why the taxi and limousine commission distances itself from this issue. Commissioner Matthew Daus was appointed and is employed by the city of New York, run by our mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Following the back room policies regarding this matter, would be prudent behavior on Mr. Daus part. Unfortunately politics as usual and its citizens be damn.

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]]> By: Beachwalker http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-17760 Beachwalker Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:56:56 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-17760 I agree with you completly, trainman and also thank you Lew for banging your head against the wall over the dollar vans. I can understand why the polititans stay away from the issue, but can either of you explain WHY the taxi and limo commision doesn't do something about this, dollar vans have got to make a big cut into the legal cab/car service business as well as the MTA. I never understood why they don't demand action. They pay so much in fees and insurance etc. I agree with you completly, trainman and also thank you Lew for banging your head against the wall over the dollar vans. I can understand why the polititans stay away from the issue, but can either of you explain WHY the taxi and limo commision doesn’t do something about this, dollar vans have got to make a big cut into the legal cab/car service business as well as the MTA. I never understood why they don’t demand action. They pay so much in fees and insurance etc.

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]]> By: trainman http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/2009/03/25/goodbye-b31-hello-250-higher-tolls-and-new-tolls/#comment-17759 trainman Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:32:18 +0000 http://www.gerritsenbeach.net/?p=3484#comment-17759 I would like to commend you, Lew, on your effort in trying to right this blatant disregard of the laws of this city. I have witnessed the residence of the side streets around Kings Plaza putting up barricades to discourage these dollar vans from accessing their streets because of their frequent attempts to pull over and relieve them selves at the curb. I have also witnessed the police from time to time issuing summonses to said operators. I think if the city was serious about this situation they would be not only issue summonses, they would also confiscate the van because it was used in the process of committing a crime. Instead they spanked them on the wrists and send them on there way in hopes they would find another source of income. In actuality, this is an attempt by our politicians to avoid, at any cost, a confrontation with any entity that may cause them harm when they run for reelection, and we law abiding citizens pay for it financially. There’s an old expression that states a fish starts stinking from the head down. I think that the answer our mayor gave you is a good indication of that adage. Bob from GB I would like to commend you, Lew, on your effort in trying to right this blatant disregard of the laws of this city. I have witnessed the residence of the side streets around Kings Plaza putting up barricades to discourage these dollar vans from accessing their streets because of their frequent attempts to pull over and relieve them selves at the curb. I have also witnessed the police from time to time issuing summonses to said operators. I think if the city was serious about this situation they would be not only issue summonses, they would also confiscate the van because it was used in the process of committing a crime. Instead they spanked them on the wrists and send them on there way in hopes they would find another source of income. In actuality, this is an attempt by our politicians to avoid, at any cost, a confrontation with any entity that may cause them harm when they run for reelection, and we law abiding citizens pay for it financially. There’s an old expression that states a fish starts stinking from the head down. I think that the answer our mayor gave you is a good indication of that adage.
Bob from GB

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