New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s traffic-reduction plan failed to win approval today from the state Legislature, the last day possible to obtain state permission and still access $354 million in immediate federal funds (which now will go to another state). The plan, which faced fierce opposition, particularly from the Assembly, would have charged cars entering Manhattan below 60th Street $8 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.   In a statement released this evening, Bloomberg slammed the Assembly. These are excerpts from his remarks:  

   “Today is a sad day for New Yorkers and a sad day for New York City.  Not only won’t we see the realization of a plan that would have cut traffic, spurred our economy, reduced pollution and improved public health, we will also lose out on nearly $500 million annually for mass transit improvements and $354 million in immediate federal funds.”

   “It takes true leadership and courage to embrace new concepts and ideas and to be willing to try something.  Unfortunately, both are lacking in the Assembly today.”

   “If that wasn’t shameful enough, it takes a special type of cowardice for elected officials to refuse to stand up and vote their conscience—on an issue that has been debated, and amended significantly to resolve many outstanding issues, for more than a year,” he said, referring to Democratic senators’ protesting the Senate session, in what they said was a condemnation of the budget process.  “Every New Yorker has a right to know if the person they send to Albany was for or against better transit and cleaner air.  People know where I stood, and where members of the City Council stood.  They deserved at least that from Albany.”

   “We will continue to push forward on the other 126 proposals in PlaNYC that will reduce our carbon footprint and green our city.  We will move forward on proposals to plant 1 million trees, introduce hybrid taxis and install green roofs on city buildings. Congestion pricing is just one part of our ambitious agenda.”