New York City mayor unveils ambitious sustainability plans

The Gothman Prophecies

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg used Earth Day to announce plans to make his burg bloom. The comprehensive "PlaNYC" outlines 127 green dreams, including a congestion charge for lower Manhattan that would -- like programs in London and Singapore -- see drivers cough up a fee for entering the city at peak traffic hours. Bloomie also wants to improve public transportation, plant more than 1 million trees, and clean up 7,600 acres of polluted brownfields. The plan would make the Big Apple "the first environmentally sustainable 21st-century city," he said. British Prime Minister Tony Blair concurred in a video appearance, saying the plan would "mark out New York as a global leader in halting climate change." Bloomberg's big ideas face a couple of big obstacles -- state leaders in Albany and money, money, money -- but the biz-minded mayor was optimistic: "Our economy is humming, our fiscal house is in order, and our near-term horizon looks bright," he said. "If we don't act now, when?"

straight to the source: The New York Times, Thomas J. Lueck, 23 Apr 2007

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Comments: (6 comments)

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some more details...

Here's a link to the actual plan on the mayor's site: http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/plan/plan.shtml

And refelctions from a member of the advisory board on whether it can work: http://environmentaldefenseblogs.org/climate411/

by KiraMarch at 11:31 AM on 23 Apr 2007

Traffic congestion

I worked in Manhattan for many years. Most people don't drive to work because it is too much trouble. There is still way too much traffic.
Banning private cars in Midtown during business hours is not a new idea. To hear the reports on TV, you'd think it was going to inconvenience people.
The idea is way overdue. Don't worry, the TV news staff would probably get press passes.
The rest of us would benefit.

by norascats at 2:17 PM on 23 Apr 2007

good idea...

It has been shown to work in Europe. Maybe if NYC takes the lead, other cities will follow.

by mikeyd at 7:07 AM on 24 Apr 2007

A million trees?

Where is there room to plant a million trees in New York City? Its 9 square miles and most of it concrete!
Of course, if they pull it off, I will enjoy visiting there that much more. Go New York!

by jessifromdenver at 8:39 AM on 24 Apr 2007

NYC region

New York and New Jersey are behind most of the USA on urban litter/debris removal and environmental law enforcement. Its a shame that government officials in these two jurisdictions appear to WORSHIP TRASH like a celebrated state symbol or "mascot." Having ugly litter/debris along highways, sidewalks, and public places is part of a long-term, accepted culture of living in the NYC. Litter does breeds diseases and injures/kills humans and wildlife. In 2005, at least 39 New York State and 23 New Jersey residents were killed by litter/debris related traffic accidents, according to NHTSA.

ss

by steve7138 at 1:49 PM on 25 Apr 2007

Regressive Taxation

Hello, I just read the plan, and Livery Vehicles as well as Yellow Taxi's, and Vehicle's with Handicap Placards are exempt from the Passenger Vehicle fees. I do not understand this, as if the purpose is to encourage the use of mass transit, and discourage the polution involved with low occupancy vehicles, then why are the transportation systems of the rich specifically excluded (Livery Vehicles, and long distance Taxi service vs. bus, or subway) from paying anything. This means that even someone driving a low emmision vehicle, pays, while some rich person, whom just flew into New York to do some shopping pays nothing. Also, some rich people have found that they do not need cars in New York, and while part time residents of there they exclusively use Livery vehicles. There cars are outside the city at there country homes in Coneticut, or maybe there vacation homes in Vail, or Palm Beach.

by Swan400 at 3:16 PM on 26 Apr 2007

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