Congressman Nadler Meets GVBA

On November 20, 2002 GVBA reps met with Congressman Jerrold Nadler to discuss community concerns. Bedford Downing Pres. Livvie Mann opened with a query about lower Manhattan’s traffic woes — too many trucks driving through Manhattan to avoid tolls as a result of former Cong. Guy Molinari’s legislation curbing Staten Island traffic at Manhattan’s expense. Trucks enter New York via the Verranzano bridge, paying no toll and exit through the Holland Tunnel paying no toll.

Mr. Nadler doubts that the Molinari legislation will be repealed. Without this “toll free” option trucks would probably drive a direct route, eliminating a lot of the truck traffic in lower Manhattan and its accompanying snarl-ups and air pollution. Mr. Nadler will propose creating new tolls with the proceeds from these tolls earmarked to subsidizing mass transit.

Mr. Nadler believes that a long term solution lies in construction of a rail freight tunnel from Bayone, NJ to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Currently, New York is the only major US city which had all its goods entering the city via truck. Whether or not the next Federal Omnibus Transportation Bill will contain funding for this project is the present concern. A rail freight tunnel will remove 1,000,000 trucks from NYC streets per year; this goal can be achieved by 2010. New York must accomodate 50 foot ships by 2010 lose half of its 230,000 maritime jobs as shipping companies are prepared to scale back their investment in the city.

While opposing any proposal to bring Metro North or LI Rail into the World Trade Center until proper studies are done, Cong. Nadler believes that many projects are given the green light without financial scrutiny. It appears that the Port Authority’s Christopher Street expansion plans are stalled for the moment. Mr. Nadler agrees with many Villagers that the “safety rationalization” is not credible. If an investigation supports PATH’s safety contentions, then these safety issues must be resolved.

GVBA representatives expressed concern for the plight of area merchants and asked for an update on Federal financial assistance to businesses. Cong. Nadler advised us that Gov. Pataki has not sprent all of the funds appropriated by the Federal government as part of the recovery effort for the World Trade Center attack. In order to consider what he might do to further ensure economic recovery, Cong. Nadler asked that small business owners contact Darryl Cochrane in his office with information - anecdotal, statistics etc, that might assist in his efforts. The number to call is (212)