Throw This Bum Out

"Rarely does one man have a chance to do so much harm to so many." -- NYT Editorial Board

This is Sheldon Silver.

He just cost New York $354 million in federal grants for mass transportation projects by singlehandedly killing (in a most undemocratic behind closed doors fashion, I might add) Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan.

As the NYT points out, Silver hasn't only cost us the federal grant, he's also cost us the $500 million the tax would have raised -- money that could have been used to improve subway, bus, and ferry services. Have I mentioned that most people use mass transit to get around this particular burg?

Silver has a long history of screwing his constituents out of badly needed funds. In 1999, Silver killed the City's commuter tax. That's cost us $5.5 billion (and counting) in much needed revenue to date. Not sure why he seems to identify so much with suburban commuters, seeing as he represents one of the most commuted-to districts in the entire country.

Some of Silver's obstructionism stems to stem from personal animus. He doesn't like Mayor Bloomberg. Well guess what? I don't like Mr. Silver. I think needs a primary challenger. And lo and behold: he has one! And now I have a place to throw all that extra cash I have lying around.

Asshole.