Hearings Proposed in Albany for Congestion Pricing

New York, NY —

State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says he wants to hold public hearings on Mayor Bloomberg's plan to charge drivers who enter Manhattan. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

REPORTER: Silver didn't say when he would schedule the hearings, only that he wants to meet with the Assembly's committee leaders first. But with just 3 weeks to go until the legislature breaks for the summer, Mayor Bloomberg is urging lawmakers to act quickly. He appealed to Silver - who represents the Lower East Side - by saying revenues from congestion pricing could be used to fund a full 2nd Avenue Subway that goes all the way downtown.

BLOOMBERG: We do not have the money to finish the 2nd Avenue Subway line, building it from the 90s to the 60s doesn't accomplish anything.

REPORTER: Albany leaders have been cautious about Bloomberg's controversial proposal. Silver, the governor and the Republican state senate leader all say it's worth a closer look. But in the world of Albany, observers say it's hard to tell if the 3 are stalling or planning to cut a political deal. For WNYC, I'm Beth Fertig.