No, No Need To Explain — It Makes Perfect Sense Why Truckers Would Want To Pay A Congestion Fee

I don’t think it’s being paranoid to think that there’s something kind of — well, very — suspicious about the idea of Teamsters supporting congestion pricing:

Truckers decided to support the plan after Mayor Bloomberg announced that he will reduce the fees for truckers who drive fuel-efficient rigs. Trucks that meet federal guidelines will have their fee cut from $21 to $7. Teamster’s President for Joint Council 16, Gary LaBarbera, says they came to an agreement with the mayor because he understands they must stay on the roads.

This coming after reports that the State Assembly seems wildly uninterested in supporting the plan (after all, Silver is a weighty metal, and sometimes one that is difficult to mine):

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s handpicked Democratic steering committee concluded yesterday that Mayor Bloomberg’s current congestion-pricing plan is “unpassable.”

At a meeting of the committee, which helps guide policy for Silver, the overwhelming majority said they could not support Bloomberg’s plan in its current form.

“There is a very strong growing consensus among rank-and-file members that the city hasn’t presented us with a passable bill, even if they like the concept — and many members don’t like the concept,” said Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester), a congestion-pricing foe.

Bloomberg wants to charge motorists to drive into Manhattan below 86th Street during certain hours and use the revenue to improve mass transit.

Committee members praised Bloomberg for wanting to reduce traffic and improve the environment, but said there are too many outstanding questions to act on the bill.

Members said there are ways to deal with traffic without enacting congestion pricing.

“Certainly in [the Assembly], people feel uncomfortable about charging hard-working middle-class families extra dollars to come into the city,” said Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. (D-Bronx), who’s on the committee.

Added Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), who supports the concept of congestion pricing: “The bill as written is unpassable.”

Assemblywoman Roan Destito (D-Utica) said the bill “is not well thought out.”

It’s hard to believe that the only thing the Teamsters wanted was a reduction in the fee for more fuel-efficient trucks. I had no idea its membership was so committed to the environment! Plus, it’s not like the trucking industry doesn’t oppose congestion pricing or anything. I’m sure Bloomberg promised them absolutely nothing . . .