by making sure the agencies responsible for that are using taxpayers dollars properly

The best way to judge what someone will do in the future is to look at what they’ve done in the past. As a City Council Member, I have worked tirelessly to pass legislation that makes our city more mobile. I sponsored the “Bikes in Buildings Bill,” and it was in my district that the NYDOT, for the first time in history, replaced car parking spots with bike racks. I was also a major proponent of congestion pricing.

I would set the Comptroller’s Office to identify ways to improve the City’s mobility, and:
- Set up in-depth assessments of the economic impact congestion has. This will provide a solid platform from which to advocate change.

-Transform the audit staff into the Division of Accountability and Results charged with identifying the 10% of each agency’s budget that is least productive. I will request a plan from each agency as to how they are encouraging mass transit, bicycling, and walking to work.
-I will task this Division to borrow best practices from the private sector and identify wasted office space—combining offices where it makes sense to reduce overall commuting time. I will use telecommunication technology to reduce commuting, perhaps letting certain City workers work from home.

I would consider investing NYC public pension funds in municipal bonds issued by the MTA for transit capital improvement projects.

Mobility can be improved if we are able to encourage people to use mass transit and other forms of transportation other than the personal automobile. I have introduced many pieces of legislation to help improve mobility and increase pedestrian travel. I wrote and sponsored a bill that would encourage people to use mass transit by requiring all companies with 50 or more employees to offer pre-tax transit benefits. I have also introduced legislation that would create taxicab stands across the City, making it easier for people to hail taxis, preventing them from cruising, adding to congestion and pollution. I also introduced a bill that would encourage car sharing programs such as Zip Car. By requiring the City to set aside spots in municipal parking lots for car sharing programs. Another important component is to fully implement a Bus Rapid Transit system like the MTA’s Select Bus Service where routes are well defined, with fewer stops and transfers are minimized. With advanced communications & technologies, Select Bus Service would provide real time bus arrival information at stations to make bus use more attractive to riders. By maximizing the current mass transit system & upgrading our express buses, we will provide real choices for residents and get more cars off the roads.