NY Governor Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing plan in New York — a policy that is essentially a tax on working-class commuters intended to fund state spending — has faced significant opposition, including from individuals on the left side of the political spectrum.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., a potential candidate for governor, issued a statement expressing her opposition to New York’s decision to move forward with the congestion pricing tax. “I remain opposed to New York’s decision to implement their congestion pricing tax — which will fund the MTA on the backs of New Jersey commuters without any real investments in NJ TRANSIT or study of how the policy will impact New Jersey families,” she said. “This new tax will raise costs for New Jerseyans, while also worsening traffic and increasing pollution in New Jersey as commuters go out of their way to seek more affordable routes into New York.”
She added, “I refuse to sit back as New York uses New Jersey’s workforce as a meal ticket for the MTA — and I will continue to fight to move businesses to the Garden State, to expand office sharing sites, and to make it easier for New Jerseyans to work remotely.”
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who is considering running against Hochul for governor, also voiced strong criticism of the tax on working families. “@”GovKathyHochul’s congestion pricing scheme is nothing more than a massive new tax on working families,” he posted on X, sharing a 2-minute video on the topic. “She thinks YOU should bail out the MTA for their crappy budgeting.”
In the video, Lawler further opposed the tax. “I don’t care what anybody says: Charging folks a commuter tax on top of high tolls and gasoline prices is absolutely idiotic,” he stated. “I’ve been fighting to kill congestion pricing for years, because it’s nothing more than a scam. It’s a cash grab.”
He added, “The MTA has been severely mismanaged for decades. It’s outrageous that the MTA wants to charge suburban commuters just to come into New York City on top of the tolls to pay for their bloated operations; yet, they refuse to collect $700 million a year from those who jump the turnstile and refuse to pay to ride the subway.”
Lawler expressed his commitment to collaborating with Democrats in Congress to block the congestion pricing initiative, which became effective in New York City on Sunday.
Kathryn Freed, a former state Supreme Court justice and current New York City Councilmember, who is part of a class-action lawsuit filed by Manhattan residents, also criticized the policy. “There’s a general agreement it’s a terrible plan,” she told Politico. “It’s not going to reduce congestion. It’s not going to reduce pollution.”
Hochul, who is preparing for a challenging reelection bid in 2026, had initially paused the program in June, concerned it might negatively impact Democratic votes in the November elections, according to Politico. Now that the election is over, she is pushing the plan forward.
David Weprin, a Democratic Assemblymember from Queens, expressed concerns that the policy could hurt political candidates in the future. “It could definitely hurt the governor and some congressional candidates and state legislative candidates,” Weprin, who is suing the state along with the New York City teachers’ union, told Politico. “It’s going to have a negative impact in two years if it’s still in effect and not stopped.”
Despite multiple legal challenges, including a last-ditch effort by New Jersey to prevent the program, congestion pricing has continued to advance. A spokesperson for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Natalie Hamilton, confirmed the state’s ongoing opposition to the policy. “We will continue fighting against this unfair and unpopular scheme,” Hamilton said in an email yesterday.
{Matzav.com}