New York’s House Republicans are begging President-elect Donald Trump to kill the controversial Manhattan congestion when he takes office in January after a post-election push to resurrect the plan.
Gov. Kathy Hochul in June “paused” the plan to squeeze drivers for $15 to drive into lower Manhattan but is considering resurrecting it after the Nov. 5 election, with a slightly smaller $9 toll.
“We request your commitment to ending this absurd congestion pricing cash grab once and for all,” the letter, a letter sent to Trump Tuesday by Rep. Mike Lawler and co-signed by Reps. Nicole Malliotakis and Andrew Garbarino.
The toll would be for drivers entering Manhattan’s business district south of 60th Street — which includes Trump Tower.
Opponents long suspected that Hochul temporarily suspended the program to avoid a backlash against Democratic candidates during last week’s elections, and would resinstitute it post-election to help fund mass transit with the stated goal of curbing traffic and pollution.
The GOP lawmakers told Trump that congestion pricing is a symbol of Hochul and other Empire State politicians’ “overreach in every aspect of government” and backing “oppressive taxation.”
“Congestion pricing, the latest in a long string of tyrannical taxes, has been pressed forward through consistent opposition about the burden on New York families and workers, the timing of the effort, areas lacking adequate transit, the fiscal responsibility of the move, the negative impact that congestion pricing will have on residents of some of the lowest-income neighborhoods in New York City, and more,” the letter stated.
“Governor Hochul recently announced that she would pursue an almost immediate implementation of the congestion pricing cash grab, despite cynically `pausing’ it earlier this year in an effort to win back the House,” the letter went on.
“Now that her efforts have failed, she is planning to fast track this cash grab which will only serve to throw fuel on the fire of the driving force of this effort: the horrific mismanagement of the MTA’s massive, bloated budget by the MTA and Hochul.”
The GOP representatives said the MTA cries poverty even though it loses more than $700 million in subway and bus fare beating and has often seen massive cost overruns on its projects.
The Congress members claim the Biden Administration “conspired” — via the Federal Highway Administration — to shorten the environmental review to launch congestion pricing.
“Therefore, we request your commitment to ending this absurd congestion pricing cash grab once and for all by reversing [the Biden Administration’s decision],” the Republicans said.
Trump’s team declined to comment but in May he vowed, “TERMINATE Congestion Pricing in my FIRST WEEK back in Office!!”
Hochul for the first time admitted she was considering bringing the toll back to life and said New Yorkers should be happy about the temporary pause.
“New Yorkers who are planning for the $15 increase will be very happy that this governor stood up and says it is not $15,” the governor said.
“I will let you take that and remind the voters that there’s one person who stood up and said, ‘no, it’s too much.’”
The governor also brushed aside the idea that New Yorkers aren’t being kept in the loop about the toll.
“I said we’ll have this resolved and publicly,” she said.
She also retreated on her position that she has the authority not to implement the toll, as she’s currently battling lawsuits from pro-congestion toll and anti-toll groups.
The mass transit advocates behind the pro-toll lawsuit claim Hochul has to abide by a 2019 law approved by the state legislature and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to institute the congestion pricing plan.
“It is the law of New York State. I don’t break the law in New York State,” she said.
Earlier Tuesday, an anti-toll press conference was held on Staten Island, attended by Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
“It’s bulls–t! We’re not doing it!,” Lawler, who is eying a run for governor, said at the event.
“Enforce your fares! OK”
Malliotakis (R-SI/Brooklyn) said Hochul should listen to the “will of the people” who oppose the plan.
“I’ve personally spoken with President Trump about the congestion tax,” she said.
“He is opposed, he sees that it’s detrimental to our city’s economy, and that it will hurt hard working New Yorkers.”
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella called the congestion toll a post-election “scam.”
