Unlike the green tshirt-clad folks in this NYTimes photo, NEWSgrist does not support the Mayor's NYC congestion plan, mainly because he seems not to care about those of us who live in the city who AREN'T BILLIONAIRES. There are both supporters and critics of the plan in the comments section of the NYTimes City Room piece; here are a few of the objections I thought worth re-posting (favorite bits in bold):
- 23.
This is the worst plan that I have ever seen in my life! The mayor and all who support this should be ashamed. While the reduction of greenhouse gasses it is laudable goal this methodology falls yet once more on the back of the working class. Not surprising in a City whose government has been loosing touch with the common man as it embraces the high heeled and well off.
This charge would hit those who deliver goods into the city, thus inflating prices. It also affects people who use their cars for as part of their jobs, such as sales persons.
If the Major desires to lessen traffic congestion and its evil progeny in the City he should do the following:
First stop giving out permits to build yet more luxury apartments downtown that reach to the sky, this city has been getting more and more crowded and it is pushing the existing infrastructure to the breaking point; Second, lower the cost of public transport, for most it would make more economic sense to take the subway if it was only a $1 or better yet free; Third place a $5-$10 dollar surcharge on all cabs, those who refuse to use mass transit do not do so because of cost but rather do so because of convenience and would pay any price not to take the subway (this money could be used to make all of the City’s vehicles “green”); fourth, build more bike racks.— Posted by Craig
I have a small business and use a minivan for pick ups and deliveries in and out of manhattan. I already avoid using the car as parking is difficult and expensive, so if the pick up is small enough, I use public transportation. Still, it is necessary to drive if the load is big enough. This fee would simply hurt my business. If they want to pay for this tunnel, which would be a real solution to midtown congestion, they should finance it the way anyone else would, you know, with a loan, a sponsor…a financier. This fee is anti-small business, the backbone of our local economy.
— Posted by jm
When he proposes taxing every cab and limo fare which make up the bulk of the traffic congestion and pollution in mid-town I will support it.
Without trying to reduce cab and limo riding in congestion area where there is plenty of mass transit options instead of taxing NYC residents who live in neighborhoods where commute could be 1 and 1/2 each way if used mass transit, the plan smacks of elitism and unfairness.
Of course we all want less pollution and less congestion and better mass transit. But the plan, although with worthy objective, will only further strain rush-hour mass transit and divert truck traffic to the residential neighborhoods where asthma rates are highest.
— Posted by Pete
Mayor’s plan is anything but practical. In a city where it is a rare luxury if public transportation is ever on time - either for arrival or departure - his first focuse should be to implement a system that compels people to commute willingly. Using the formula that MTA has for raising the fare, coupled with the fact that New Yorkers pay one of the highest taxes in the country, his plan will make people suffer both financially and medically. First fix the MTA - make more trains available that run on timely fashion and are power efficient. Then increase safety in public transportation hubs all over New York City, not just Grand Central. Second, lets make the MTA and all other city employees understand that they are not doing New Yorkers favors, they work for us; lets motivate to work correctly and efficiently. Then, provide transportation vouchers to New Yorks with income at or below $50K - this is more practical than following IRS formulas; we need to think NET and not GROSS for NYC Residents in this case. For example, a family of four with one income of $36K does not see any more than $28K after taxes; now apply ‘generous’ NYC rent of $1200 - more like the rent for a nice toilet nowadays - and you are down to $13.6K. Yeah, what about healthcare, food, and other basic needs?
Now, if we only want the rich to be here, lets just say so. There is no shame in kicking out the less affluent people openly; it is better to let people know you hate them because they are poor than to stab them on their back with seemingly “earth friendly” plans that do no good to earth or its inhabitants.
If you combine everything that the Mayor has done in the name of being “green”, they sum up to less than one percent of one percent of the work that needs to happen to make NYC greener for generations ahead of us.
— Posted by Al F
People who live in Manhattan and own cars should not be charged. Many already pay taxes at their parking garages and this additional “congestion pricing tax” would be unfair. In my view, the only drivers who should pay are those who live outside Manhattan. Let them leave there cars home and take public transportation. Manhattanites should have the right to drive in their own town untaxed. Our billionaire Mayor is out of touch with the financial pressures on the ordinary manhattan resident.
— Posted by Loraine
Agree with Pete above. But also according to survey - the cars that enter Manhattan daily are from other boroughs - so, they have to tax them. Every large city in Europe does it, and it makes people think twice about driving into London, Paris, Milan.
— Posted by A