Is Michael Bloomberg America's Ken Livingstone?

Sounding eerily similar to his London counterpart, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg called on the federal government to adopt a national carbon tax. Bloomberg is currently pushing congestion pricing similar to London's program implemented in 2003.

2 minute read

November 13, 2007, 5:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


"New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for a national greenhouse gas tax on Friday, Nov. 2, saying it would slow global warming and fund a $500 a year tax cut for the average taxpayer."

Bloomberg acknowledged the regressiveness of a carbon tax:

"The energy industry likely would pass on the cost of the new tax to the consumer, the mayor admitted on his weekly ABC radio show. "So yes, it gets passed on, but the people who suffer the most get the benefit in the other direction, and the whole world benefits because we pollute less," he explained."

Congress has apparently chosen to ignore the carbon tax approach and is considering a "cap and trade" pricing system approach instead.

"But Bloomberg, a former Republican whose switch to the independent party earlier this year sparked speculation of a presidential bid, slammed the cap-and-trade approach.

"The primary flaw of cap-and-trade is economic -- price uncertainty; while the primary flaw of a pollution fee is political -- the difficulty of getting it through Congress."

From NYT blog:

"Mr. Bloomberg presented his carbon tax proposal (in a Friday, Nov.2 speech) at a two-day climate protection summit in Seattle organized by the United States Conference of Mayors. In calling for a carbon tax, Mr. Bloomberg was again speaking out on national issues, as he has on gun control and public health matters like smoking and obesity."

Thanks to Rafael Aguilera

Friday, November 2, 2007 in Reuters

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

"Altadena - Not For Sale" yard sign in front of burned down house after Eaton Fire in Altadena, California in January 2025.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations

Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

July 7 - Dwell

Dense multistory residential buildings in hilly San Francisco, California.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean

Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

July 7 - The San Francisco Standard

Blue self-driving Ford Transit van shuttle in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US

A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.

July 7 - Smart Cities Dive

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA