wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

C'mon, WNYC. This segment gave far more air time to opponents of congestion pricing and repeated basic misinformation.

The first caller from Staten Island complains that congestion pricing is principally a "green" thing, and the city should push hybrid taxis & buses instead.

In fact, the Partnership for NYC -- the city's most important business group -- has been one of the biggest backers of congestion pricing. They conducted a study showing congestion pricing would prevent the loss of $13 billion in annual economic activity and 50,000 jobs each year.

Secondly, Bloomberg HAS changed the regulations at the T&LC to make the next generation of taxis hybrids. And the MTA ALREADY operates the largest electric hybrid bus fleet in North America.

Now that DOT is giving us a big juicy carrot, it's time to seriously consider expanding mass transit, by extending the subway system, improving roads, promoting the merits of mass transit vs. driving your own car. The government rarely comes out to push mass transit, and the government rarely make any efforts to beef up mass transit, to make it more attractive. Look at (almost) the pathetic AMTRAK. Scrap AMTRAK, and build more far-reaching train tracks to more locations, etc. Give a big thumbs-up to Mr. Bloomberg.

As a small business owner that delivers to Manhattan customers, I am worried that congestion pricing is going to increase my overall costs which will wind up on the customer--I'd like to avoid the customer from having to pay more. Have there been any proposals for Time-Zoned Pricing throughout the day, such as if Industry and Business charged less if they are available to deliver earlier in the day or morning?