The introduction of congestion pricing in Manhattan is being hailed as a plan to reduce traffic, but in reality, it is yet another blow to the city. While thousands of families have already left for safer and cleaner areas, charging people more to enter the city will discourage even more from coming. Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey rightly sees this as a tax on commuters from his state and a money grab by New York. He believes it will negatively impact both New Jersey Transit and the Port Authority. Despite Murphy’s attempts to reason with Governor Kathy Hochul, she remains impervious to common sense, just like her plan to ban gas stoves.
Not only does congestion pricing undermine the efforts to bring workers back to the office from their homes, it also worsens the decline of foot traffic in Midtown and downtown, leading to devastating consequences for restaurants and retail outlets. The half-empty office buildings and closed storefronts raise concerns about commercial-mortgage defaults, especially with rising interest rates. This destructive and misguided approach to generate more money for the government is deeply flawed.
Other reasons to oppose congestion pricing include the fact that nearly 50,000 migrants who crossed the Mexican border illegally are living in New York City facilities free of charge, while taxpayers and commuters are penalized with additional fees. This creates an unfair situation where New York becomes a sanctuary city only for those who can’t pay while everyone else is burdened until they eventually leave. This is particularly concerning when there is already a consensus that New York is becoming unaffordable for many.
The introduction of congestion pricing will inevitably lead to an increase in costs for living and working in the city. Delivery costs for everyday goods will rise, causing an overall increase in prices. Additionally, the price of driving will continue to rise as the scheme successfully reduces traffic. There is no limit to how high these costs can reach. Furthermore, the estimated annual revenue from congestion pricing is expected to go to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), an agency that has repeatedly failed to address fare evasion issues. Instead of tackling fare cheating, the MTA aims to make honest people subsidize those who evade fares. This regressive approach raises concerns about the loss of revenue, which has led to an increase in crime and homelessness on the subways.
The MTA is also known for its exorbitant construction costs, which further highlights the issues within the agency. Rather than streamlining management and controlling costs, the burden falls on drivers who have no other choice but to pay. The congestion money collected will also fund a new bureaucracy to administer the program, which opens the door to potential boondoggles and waste.
Lastly, congestion pricing rewards the bureaucrats responsible for the city’s traffic issues in the first place. The various traffic-reducing measures implemented, such as bike lanes and pedestrian plazas, have all contributed to slowing traffic. Additionally, the rise in crime and homelessness on the subways has driven many commuters to use services like Uber, further congesting the streets. It is clear that the anti-car agenda of city officials is being advanced through congestion pricing, while working people bear the financial burden.
In conclusion, congestion pricing in Manhattan is not a beneficial plan to reduce traffic but rather an ill-conceived scheme that will have detrimental effects on the city. It unfairly targets taxpayers and commuters while failing to address the underlying issues. The financial burden imposed by congestion pricing will only exacerbate the affordability crisis in New York City and hinder its recovery.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
