By New York Post (Politics) | Created at 2024-11-20 23:21:11 | Updated at 2024-11-21 13:21:55
14 hours ago
The head of the umbrella group representing 300,000 New York City municipal workers is urging President-elect Donald Trump to kill congestion pricing — and says he’s “disappointed” with Gov. Kathy Hochul for reviving the controversial scheme.
“My advice to President Trump is to keep his campaign pledge. Stop It!” said Harry Nespoli, chairman of the Municipal Labor Committee, and also the leader of the sanitation workers’ union.
The MLC represents a swath of the city workforce — including cops, firefighters, medics and teachers — thousands of whom are assigned to the congestion toll zone and will have to pay the $9 fee to drive into Manhattan south of 60th Street starting Jan. 5.
“Trump’s opposition to congestion pricing helped him connect with workers during the campaign. It’s an issue workers care about,” Nespoli told The Post Wednesday.
“I want President Trump to stop congestion pricing. If he can do it, I want him to do it,” he added.
The MLC supports the still-pending federal lawsuit filed by the United Federation of Teachers union to block the congestion toll.
Nespoli said he was “disappointed” and baffled by Hochul’s turnaround — suspending congestion pricing back in June and then reviving it after the Nov. 5 election, though reducing the initial toll from $15 to $9 in a bid to curb gridlock and help finance the MTA’s capital plan.
“I’m disappointed Hochul did it so fast. I have no idea why she stopped it and started it again.”
He suggested Hochul may have moved quickly on congestion pricing to make it more difficult for Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, to kill it.
Last week, Trump, 78, blasted congestion pricing as a “massive tax.”
“I have great respect for the Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, and look forward to working with her to Make New York and America Great Again. But I strongly disagree with the decision on the congestion tax,” Trump said.
“It will put New York City at a disadvantage over competing cities and states, and businesses will flee,” he said, adding, “It will hurt workers, families, and businesses, but in particular, anything to do with jobs. It is the most regressive tax known to womankind (man!).”
Hochul and the MTA announced last week that the toll would take effect on Jan. 5, under a plan that calls for the fee to increase to $12 by 2028 and $15 by 2031.
The bottom line, Nespoli said, is that Hochul didn’t provide exemptions for frontline workers who drive to job assignments in Manhattan, some of whom, he claimed, have no choice than to drive instead of taking mass transit.
“We have workers who have to get into Manhattan to care for the people of New York City,” Nespoli said.
“How much more in costs do you want to put on city workers? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Last week, teachers’ union president Mike Mulgrew flunked the post-election revival of congestion pricing as “tone deaf.”
“It’s not what I expected to see Democrats doing a week after the election. It’s insane! Stop screwing the working class!” Mulgrew said.
Hochul, through a rep, on Wednesday touted what her office has said is a “40%” reduction in the tolls.
“Public sector workers are among the vast majority of commuters who rely on subways and buses, and Governor Hochul’s plan will improve commutes for millions of transit riders — all while lowering tolls by 40%,” said Hochul spokesman Sam Spokony.
“While others still haven’t put forth a real plan for less congestion and faster transit for New Yorkers, the Governor is making the tough calls to deliver a more affordable plan that leads our state and economy forward.”
A law approved by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Democratic-run legislature in 2019 authorized the MTA to charge a congestion toll aimed at curbing traffic to Midtown and providing a new funding stream for the transit agency.
