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| Thompson supports PLANYC 2030, calls for changes to congestion-pricing plan
Comptroller Thompson announced his support for City Hall’s PlaNYC 2030 effort, but recommended four key changes to make it more “equitable and workable” before congestion pricing can proceed.
“The biggest challenges facing the congestion pricing plan at its inception are: how to ensure service for those who are unserved or underserved by mass transit; and, how to handle the anticipated increase in mass transit ridership during the start-up years before investments in rebuilt subway stations, more subway trains, and the initial segments of new subway lines are placed into service,” he said. “The transit needs of many residents in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island must be adequately met before the program is implemented.”
Thompson – in a statement available at www.comptroller.nyc.gov – called for four changes to the plan:
Adopt a More Equitable Charge: $5 for City Residents, $10 for Non-City Residents: Since most non-city residents are already paying a toll to commute into the Manhattan Central Business District, PlaNYC 2030’s charge of $8 falls hardest on city residents who primarily use free crossings when driving into Manhattan. By establishing a lower city resident charge and a higher non-resident charge, while maintaining the credit for any existing toll charges, the new charge for congestion pricing would be more fairly distributed among all drivers across the region.
Accelerate Spending for Capital Projects and Service Improvements before Instituting the Charge by Investing up to $500 million: Proposed spending on bus and subway service improvements and capital projects must be accelerated. The City and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority must develop a specific, neighborhood-by-neighborhood service augmentation plan consisting of strengthened local and express bus service, additional ferry routes, bus priority lanes on existing roadways, better traffic enforcement and extended hours for frequent, rush-hour service. Also, LIRR and Metro-North service must be expanded, particularly in underserved areas in Queens and the Bronx. Up to $500 million of City capital, outside of the current Capital Plan, should be provided to implement these service improvements. When the system is implemented, the City would have a first claim on net congestion pricing revenues to repay this advance. The MTA would have to commit to paying operating costs on any MTA improvements the City financed.
Guaranteed Maintenance of Effort for MTA Capital Program Funding: The congestion pricing revenues must provide a net increase in funding for mass transit projects. State should not use revenue available from the congestion charge to replace any existing revenue stream dedicated to the MTA’s Capital Program. The State must pledge that current and future Five-Year Capital Programs are funded at no less than existing levels and adjusted for cost-of-living changes. The MTA must maintain or increase its already substantially reduced allocation of capital funds to New York City Transit.
Pricing Flexibility: Time of Day: During the three-year pilot period, the plan could be revisited to explore different pricing charges for different times of day. Among the considerations should be a lower midday charge and a “more subtle, flexible and efficient pricing system.” |
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| Thompson calls on rent guidelines board to stop increase
Comptroller Thompson, Jr. urged the Rent Guidelines Board to stop or minimize the proposed rent increase in light of the $400 homeowner tax rebate and 7% citywide property tax reduction approved in the Fiscal Year 2008 budget.
“I strongly urge that the Board enact either no increase or an increase at the low end of the proposed ranges,” Thompson said. “This decision is critical to protect City residents who require the continued availability of affordable housing…Rent stabilized housing is the only affordable housing resource left to many low-and moderate-income tenants. However, the City has not kept pace with the rapidly diminishing availability of this housing stock.”
Despite Thompson’s call, the Board voted on June 26 to allow increases of 5.75 percent on two-year leases and 3 percent on one-year leases.
Thompson noted that more must be achieved to assist renters, who comprise a majority of City households. The strong market for rentals has prompted owners to inflate rents beyond what many families can afford in virtually every neighborhood in the City.
“The lack of affordable housing affects every New Yorker’s quality of life and our City’s long-term economic viability,” Thompson said. “New York’s future depends upon our ability to ensure that middle and working class families can afford to live here.
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Thompson Audit: DOITT on track with ACCESS NYC
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An audit by Comptroller Thompson found that while the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) has effectively developed and implemented ACCESS NYC, it has not yet ensured that the online screening tool has been made fully accessible to foreign language-speaking New Yorkers.
“Last fall, the City promised online access to government services through ACCESS NYC and has successfully given New Yorkers a private, easy way to learn what is available to them,” Thompson said, noting that: “The City has not fully kept its promise to provide online services to foreign language-speaking New Yorkers. New Yorkers who speak Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Haitian-Creole, Korean, and Russian still are waiting for the City to provide better online services.”
Last year, the Mayor announced online access to government services through ACCESS NYC, which enables New Yorkers to learn online about the benefits and programs for which they may be eligible. It also was announced that ACCESS NYC would be available to New Yorkers in Spanish, Traditional Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Haitian-Creole, Korean, and Russian.
Thompson’s audit found that ACCESS NYC met its overall goals, was on schedule, was delivered within projected costs, and functions reliably. However, the audit determined that foreign language users are redirected from the web links to English-only information, making the foreign language feature of minimal benefit to certain users.
DoITT has limited control over information supplied by other agencies, but as project manager of ACCESS NYC’s development, it is responsible for ensuring that all facets of the system are completed and fully integrated. Thompson recommended that DoITT work with agencies to make sure the translations are completed.
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Thompson: Dept. of Consumer Affairs fails to collect $28.3 million in fines
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The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) failed to collect as much as $28.3 million in fines over a six-year period, Comptroller Thompson reported in a new audit. Thompson highlighted a series of flaws in DCA’s controls over the processing of violations and collection of fines, and noted that most of the unpaid fines involved unlicensed home improvement contractors and tow operators.
“DCA would increase its ability to collect fines by addressing inefficiencies and weaknesses that contribute to the limited effectiveness of the DCA collection activities,” Thompson said.
“These weaknesses contributed to fines totaling $28.3 million remaining unpaid out of the total $68.5 million in fines assessed against violators from Jan.1, 2000 to July 29, 2006.”
DCA administers and enforces the City’s Consumer Protection Law, City and State Weights and Measures Laws, City License Laws and Tobacco Laws, investigates deceptive trade practices, conducts administrative hearings, mediates consumer complaints, and pursues large-scale litigation. DCA also licenses more than 60,000 businesses in 55 industries. DCA inspectors and the New York City Police Department issue violations for infractions of DCA-administered laws, rules and regulations. DCA’s Consumer Complaint Division also may issue violations based on a consumer complaint.
All case dispositions and other information are recorded in DCA’s City Agencies Management Information System (CAMIS) database, and payments receipts and support documentation are sent to its Collections Unit for processing.
Auditors selected 156 violations that were assessed fines in Fiscal Year 2005, compared CAMIS data for these violations to corresponding source documentation, and additionally reviewed data in CAMIS from January 1, 2000 to July 29, 2006.
The audit found that DCA does not: maintain adequate controls over the processing of violations and collection of fines, which led to operational deficiencies and procedural weaknesses in the performance of Adjudication and Collections functions; and, have formal written policies and procedures to address and establish standards for all aspects involved in the adjudication of violations and collection of fines.
Thompson made 17 recommendations to remedy the problems. DCA generally agreed with 13 recommendations, partially agreed with three, and generally disagreed with one.
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