Friday, 06 Dec On this day ...
Even the Corleones had to pay to drive in NYC. Image: Paramount Pictures
Q1. New York City's proposed congestion pricing plan was put on hold by Governor Kathy Hochul (D, NY) earlier this month, just weeks before it was to go into effect.
Hochul said the plan "risks too many unintended consequences." Others said Hochul was trying to avoid election-year political backlash.
The plan, which would have been the first of its kind in the US, required drivers to pay $15 to enter Manhattan south of 60th st. between 5am and 9pm on weekdays, and 9am to 9pm weekends. It was estimated that the plan would cut traffic by 17%, and raise about $1bb annually for the MTA (subway and commuter train operator), which has a budget of $20bb.
Generally speaking, do you approve of congestion pricing plans in high density areas?
Hochul said the plan "risks too many unintended consequences." Others said Hochul was trying to avoid election-year political backlash.
The plan, which would have been the first of its kind in the US, required drivers to pay $15 to enter Manhattan south of 60th st. between 5am and 9pm on weekdays, and 9am to 9pm weekends. It was estimated that the plan would cut traffic by 17%, and raise about $1bb annually for the MTA (subway and commuter train operator), which has a budget of $20bb.
Generally speaking, do you approve of congestion pricing plans in high density areas?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes, but not the NYC plan
3%
2%
3%
1%
4%
3%
6%
3%
2%
2%
Yes, including NYC plan
22%
23%
19%
7%
23%
33%
21%
35%
15%
18%
Yes, not sure about NYC plan
13%
9%
17%
6%
13%
18%
14%
7%
14%
17%
No
52%
55%
48%
74%
49%
34%
53%
50%
52%
52%
Don't know
8%
7%
10%
6%
8%
10%
6%
4%
12%
8%
Don't care
3%
3%
3%
5%
3%
2%
1%
1%
5%
3%
Q2. A project known as California Forever aims to build a new "walkable, sustainable" city of 400,000 people from scratch in Solano County, a rural area east of San Francisco.
The plan's investors are mainly prominent tech billionaires, including LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and Laurene Powel jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
California Forever had quietly bought 50,000 acres of farmland for about $900m, but zoning laws say the land can only be developed if local voters pass a ballot initiative. On Wednesday, California Forever had received enough signatures for the issue to be on November's ballot.
Backers say the plan is to address California's chronic housing shortage, and that the new city will be affordable and sustainable. Opponents say it will be another way for the rich and powerful to live apart from everyone else, and it will be exclusive rather than inclusive.
Would you like to see the new city built, and do you think it will be built?
The plan's investors are mainly prominent tech billionaires, including LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and Laurene Powel jobs, widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
California Forever had quietly bought 50,000 acres of farmland for about $900m, but zoning laws say the land can only be developed if local voters pass a ballot initiative. On Wednesday, California Forever had received enough signatures for the issue to be on November's ballot.
Backers say the plan is to address California's chronic housing shortage, and that the new city will be affordable and sustainable. Opponents say it will be another way for the rich and powerful to live apart from everyone else, and it will be exclusive rather than inclusive.
Would you like to see the new city built, and do you think it will be built?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Would like it to be built, think it will be
24%
24%
24%
11%
23%
34%
28%
22%
21%
27%
Would like, but won't be
14%
15%
12%
8%
16%
17%
17%
20%
10%
11%
Wouldn't like, but will be
20%
17%
23%
27%
22%
14%
17%
16%
23%
20%
Wouldn't like, and won't be
19%
21%
18%
31%
14%
10%
10%
20%
20%
21%
Don't know
12%
10%
14%
6%
10%
18%
11%
14%
12%
13%
Don't care
11%
14%
9%
17%
14%
7%
16%
8%
14%
8%
Q3. In 2020, Colorado passed a ballot initiative to reintroduce the gray wolf, a protected species, to the state. Most of the "yes" votes came from urban counties, including Denver, while rural counties voted "no."
Those in favor want to help sustain the recovery of wolf populations in the lower 48, now at 7k, up from 300 in 1974. (There were 400k in 1875.) Opponents fear the wolves would eventually come into contact with humans and livestock, posing the problems that led them to be considered a pest and a threat by individuals and the US govt alike through most of the 20th century.
In December 2023, ten wolves were released in CO west of the Continental Divide, roughly 80 miles west of Denver. A month later, some had crossed the Divide, and one had been spotted 50 miles from Denver (metropolitan area pop 3m).
Do you think Denver residents did the right thing in voting "yes"?
Those in favor want to help sustain the recovery of wolf populations in the lower 48, now at 7k, up from 300 in 1974. (There were 400k in 1875.) Opponents fear the wolves would eventually come into contact with humans and livestock, posing the problems that led them to be considered a pest and a threat by individuals and the US govt alike through most of the 20th century.
In December 2023, ten wolves were released in CO west of the Continental Divide, roughly 80 miles west of Denver. A month later, some had crossed the Divide, and one had been spotted 50 miles from Denver (metropolitan area pop 3m).
Do you think Denver residents did the right thing in voting "yes"?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes
49%
43%
56%
20%
43%
74%
41%
61%
46%
46%
Yes, but they will come to regret it
14%
14%
14%
19%
17%
9%
17%
6%
14%
20%
No
27%
36%
19%
49%
27%
10%
28%
32%
26%
24%
Don't know
8%
6%
9%
9%
9%
7%
11%
1%
12%
8%
Don't care
2%
1%
2%
3%
3%
0%
1%
0%
3%
1%
In 2019, 24% approved of congestion pricing plans, 53% opposed.
London has had a congestion plan in place for 20 years, and it's generally acclaimed to have cleaned th air, aided traffic, and provided needed money to public transit. Singapore, Stockholm, Rome, and Milan also have congestion plans.
The gray wolf population in the lower 48 states shrank from about 400,000 in 1850, to 300 by 1970, thanks in part to a US govt policy of wolf control. Wolfs were seen as pests that posed a threat to safety and prosperity.
In 1974, the wolf became protected under the endangered species act, and by 2020 the population had rebounded to 7,500.
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