New York’s state legislature decided not to hold a vote on congestion pricing last night, killing the plan and hopes for capital improvements in mass transit. The New York Times and Daily News excoriated the Assembly Democrats, especially Speaker Sheldon Silver, for not even having the courage to take a vote and stand up for or against the proposal.

This plan failed for many reasons, but prime among them was the cowardice of elected officials to lead on an unfamiliar policy. They’re very good at introducing resolutions in favor of choice or health care for seniors—tried and true issues with which they and their constituents are well familiarized—but this required more imagination.

Polls showed most citizens opposed at first, but strongly in favor if revenues would improve transit, which was guaranteed under the plan. London and Stockholm residents, too, were initially skeptical and how have become ardent supporters of their cities’ congestion pricing systems.

Yet despite pages of facts supporting the plan, representatives voted no from districts where only 2.4 and 3.7 percent of people actually commute by car. Still, those who do commute are often wealthier and more influential, and many reps heard from them loud and clear.

To stop global warming, get out of the energy crisis, and make housing more affordable, we will need elected officials to take these stands. To convince them, we will need to show them that it’s good policy and good politics.

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Tagged: congestion pricing, new york, politics, roads, traffic

David Alpert created Greater Greater Washington in 2008 and was its executive director until 2020. He formerly worked in tech and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco Bay, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He lives with his wife and two children in Dupont Circle.