New York politics sour over traffic poll

• Tweet

ALBANY, N.Y., April 8 (UPI) -- New York state politics got ugly following the death of a plan to impose a traffic toll in Manhattan, with officials exchanging barbs, legislators observed.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's poll proposal was part of a "green" New York initiative to improve public transportation in Manhattan and decrease congestion.

The proposal died Monday when State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said the bill lacked support to pass without amendments.

Bloomberg, apparently too upset to appear on camera, issued a statement saying: "It takes true leadership and courage to embrace new concepts and ideas … Unfortunately, both are lacking in the Assembly today," The New York Daily News reported.

Opponents of the measure called it an unfair tax on middle-class people entering Manhattan, but Manhattan Councilman Miguel Martinez said he wants to push the measure forward without the involvement of state legislators, Newsday said.