Supporting Congestion Pricing: Reevaluating the Need for a Slowdown
Andrew Cuomo advocated for congestion pricing and signed it into law as governor in 2019. However, he now opposes the $15 charge for drivers entering lower Manhattan and explains his reasoning here.
In today’s political landscape, extreme activists drive the narrative, and politicians fear the repercussions.
Unfortunately, we are facing serious challenges that demand comprehensive solutions, all of which will face opposition from different political factions.
This situation can be seen in the handling of issues such as the migrant crisis, crime, homelessness, as well as international matters like the situations in Ukraine and Israel. In New York, a similar dynamic is playing out in the ongoing debate over congestion pricing.
Congestion pricing aims to encourage people to utilize mass transit, which is an important goal. While the policy was passed in 2019, its implementation has been delayed until now.
However, circumstances have changed since 2019, and while congestion pricing is the right public policy, its enactment at this moment requires careful consideration. New York City is still grappling with the aftermath of COVID, with office occupancy at only 48.9%. For many, traveling to the city is no longer essential and has become an unwelcome burden.
What impact will an additional $15 entry fee have on New York City’s recovery at a time when pressing issues like the migrant crisis, crime, homelessness, quality of life, and taxes are at the forefront?
Furthermore, the success of congestion pricing hinges on people’s confidence in the safety of mass transit, which is still operating at 29% below pre-pandemic ridership levels.
Crime underground
In recent weeks, there have been alarming incidents underground, including a subway conductor being slashed in the neck and vowing to avoid going underground again. Additionally, a man was murdered on the D train in The Bronx.
We cannot regress to the “bad old days” when subways were dangerous. It is no coincidence that crime has risen as police presence has hit a decade-low.
In 1992, Mayor David Dinkins and Governor Mario Cuomo addressed the crime problem by significantly increasing the police force, recognizing that working and poor New Yorkers bore the brunt of the crime epidemic.
While police reform is necessary, abandoning public safety is not the answer. We need more NYPD officers to keep riders safe and a criminal justice system that enforces the law.
It is crucial to address the presence of dangerous mentally ill homeless individuals in the system to ensure rider safety and the well-being of all involved.
Efforts to remove all homeless individuals from trains and stations during COVID demonstrate that it is possible with political will and effective management.
The people of New York are expressing concerns about the implementation of congestion pricing. Local leaders should be taking action, such as passing resolutions against the policy, demanding independent impact studies, or proposing phased implementation to assess its effects.
Where are the candidates challenging officials to address these issues in the upcoming campaign?
Ignoring these challenges may have dire consequences for New York City, and democracy cannot thrive in silence.
