Politics on the Hudson

The state Assembly will vote on the Manhattan congestion-pricing plan on Monday if there is enough support to approve it, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said today.

Monday is the deadline for the Legislature to act on the plan and retain New York City’s eligibility for about $350 million in federal transportation aid. The plan calls for cars to pay $8 to travel below 60th St. between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays.
In an interview on Talk-1300 Radio in Albany, Silver said he thinks personally that something needs to be done about congestion, but wouldn’t say what he expects the other 106 Democrats in the Assembly to do.

“A number of members have serious concerns about it,’’ he said, understating the fierce opposition to the plan by some lawmakers from the outer boroughs and suburbs.

The idea also has to be approved by the Senate. Common wisdom is that the Republicans who control that chamber will do the bidding of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who supports it. But some Long Island Republicans don’t like the plan.

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