New York City Mayor Eric Adams traveled to Albany on Tuesday, where lawmakers were ready and willing to grill him on congestion pricing.
Adams told Democratic State Sen. Liz Krueger, the chamber’s finance chairwoman, that he believes the “jury is still out” on the controversial toll and that analysis of the program is ongoing.
“It’s still fresh. I think the jury is out on are we reaching what we want? I think we are obligated to raise that billion dollars each year, and so we need to do an analysis [to] see what the impact is on environmental issues in other parts of the city,” Adams said.
“I think the jury is still out,” he added. “And we need to make sure that we deal with traffic, we deal with congestion. It’s an economic issue as well as a health issue, and we’re going to continue to monitor it.”
Adams noted earlier in the hearing that “he’s not the creator of the program” and that criticism directed at him for it should be pointed at Albany.
“People stop me every day, and people don’t know all their lawmakers, but they know their mayor,” he said. “I get an earful every day. Congestion pricing is managed by the MTA and the governor. They will make the determination.”
Adams said he would support a congestion pricing waiver for firefighters, teachers, and “a whole host of people.”
His New York City mayoral opponent, City Comptroller Brad Lander, was less unsure of the program.
He said, “Congestion pricing is having good success in its first month of operation.”
“Data published by the MTA shows the program is already reducing traffic, speeding up busses, and boosting transit. Of course, there’s much more to do. The MTA must show New Yorkers that it is actually spending that money,” Lander added.
City Hall is cautioning against those who want to overblow the mayor’s statements.
“People are entitled to personal opinions,” Adams press secretary Kayla Mamelak Altus told Politico. “The mayor always says this administration is not a monolith.”
In the same hearing, mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani and Jessica Ramos questioned Adams on the city’s policies on school. Mamdani focused on asking Adams to deny ICE officers entry into schools and hospitals without a warrant, while Ramos slammed Adams on proposed cuts to early childhood education.
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Congestion pricing was enacted on Jan. 5 and instantly reduced traffic in the city, as intended.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly called Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) to express his wishes for congestion pricing to be axed, though she wants to keep the program, which she paused last year.