Activity 4.2.1 - Applying My Environmental Policy Frameworks

Applying My Environmental Policy Frameworks

(NYC Congestion Pricing)

New York City is known for its busy streets, bright lights, and many of the most iconic fashion stores in the world. But New York City is not all it is set out to be, especially when it is regarding the congestion charge. Congestion charge is pricing regarding tolls for drivers and both begins and ends in New York State. It  begins in, ends in, or passes through the area of New York City in the borough of Manhattan, South of and excluding 96th Street, an area commonly known as the congestion zone. The surcharge applies to transportation in for-hire vehicles that carry people like taxis, green cabs, limousines, black cars, transportation network companies, and pool vehicles. An article by Steven Cohen, “Why Can’t New York City Get A Congestion Charge?” explains how the nature of the problem is traffic in NYC and how the majority of society that live in NYC see it to be unfair for congestion charge. According to the article Cohen states, “Opponents argued that it was an unfair tax on the middle class who live outside of Manhattan and have little choice but to drive into the city in private vehicles. Residents noted the lack of transportation alternatives in parts of the outer boroughs. They argued that the plan enabled those with more financial resources to have greater access to roads and the comfort of the private car. Ultimately, the plan, which was personally championed by the powerful and influential mayor, died in Albany without receiving state approval” (Cohen 37). I chose this article regarding this specific topic because I wanted to include my five-point environmental policy frameworks in their own perspective. The point is to allow the readers to understand how environmental issues would be perceived from five different perspectives and how informative it can be to know these frameworks. The frameworks I chose mobilize others towards informative action and greater success for the economically environmental future. 

The first framework is Identity and it involves individuals finding out who they are as a person and understanding themselves first than anyone else. According to the article Cohen states, “As a city central to the nation’s economy, New York attracts many people who commute daily for business and leisure” (Cohen 37). As an individual you may or may not know your way around NYC, which allows you to acknowledge and understand the transportation system. As an individual, you must allow yourself to understand which transportation works best for you cost wise. The most efficient and sustainable transportation for yourself may have you pay a congestion charge or it may not. This framework blends well with this topic of congestion charge in NYC because it may not work best for your financial costs. Find what works best for you, then allow yourself to find who you are as an individual. 

The second framework is Characterization and it allows people to relate to others and understand their different categories as a person. In regards to the congestion charge in NYC, not everyone is equally financially stable to pay those fees for transportation. Which then allows you to understand someone else's perspective on conflict situations. A majority of people may not mind paying the congestion charge because they can afford it, on the other hand other people have financial issues we don't know about that cannot allow them to pay the fee. Knowing another person’s beliefs and values will allow you as a n individual to think about environmental issues.

The third framework is Risk and it describes an individual being associated with environmental issues and actions. The framework also allows you to understand how an individual can take that risk whether it be agreeing to the policies regarding NYC congestion prices or objecting to the matter of actually having congestion charges.  By preventing conflict and allowing changes in one's actions, can create positivity throughout any risk.

The fourth framework is Social Control and it involves having individuals view how decisions are being made regarding social issues. The ownership of one's decisions on how they view congestion charging in NYC. There is a big difference being independent with your life choices on how you view this topic regarding congestion charge in NYC. There is also a difference when you as an individual are being dependent on someone else's decision. In a way it relates to this topic because it involves people to think for themselves and how they would respond to this environmental issue. 

 

The fifth framework is Fact-Finding Frames and it involves the use of information regarding environmental conflicts. The framework allows you to view the factual information from a professional perspective. According to the article Cohen states, “New York City’s cars and trucks are responsible for 20 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions and most of the ozone in the city (New York 2011b:151) … The emission of ozone is a direct health hazard for the residents of the city and the immediate area” (Cohen 39). A professional perspective viewed this environmental conflict as a hazard to NYC. By acknowledging the information from a professionals perspective, it then allows you as an individual to benefit from that information to have an overlook on our environment. 

Overall, the five-point frameworks allowed me to establish all the viewpoints towards the topic about congestion charging in NYC. It involved me breaking down viewpoints and relating them throughout each framework.  It also allowed me to explain to the audience in an informative way to understand how this is important for the economically environmental issues and concerns.

Work Cited:

Cohen, S., Wannemacher, J., & Weisbecker, P. (2014). Understanding environmental policy (2nd ed.). New York: Columbia University Press.