Gov. Kathy Hochul‘s (D-NY) decision to backtrack on New York City’s congestion pricing plan reveals not just her dishonest character but also the conservative nature of many New York City residents.
The plan, which would have charged drivers for entering Manhattan’s core business district, was designed to decrease traffic and pollution while simultaneously raising funds to improve the city’s subway and bus systems.
Considering how close we are to the original start date of June 30, it’s clear this decision has little to do with caring about New Yorkers and much to do with behind-closed-doors pressure from stakeholders. Given the large number of people and organizations present on either side of the matter, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, climate activists, unions, politicians, and citizens, it’s fair to say Hochul was in a tough spot.
But to backtrack at the eleventh hour like this, with the MTA having already purchased $500 million of equipment for tolling, is clearly representative of her ineffectual governance. If there was ever a possibility that the plan had problems or would need to be disposed of, why spend the money and drag New Yorkers through this controversy in the first place? The sunk costs here are immense. The congestion pricing plan has distressed many residents of the city, and the MTA has already set aside $15 billion for projects that would have been funded by revenue from the program.
What might be worse is how deceitful she has been leading up to Wednesday’s controversial reversal.
Two weeks ago, at the Global Economic Summit in Ireland, Hochul asserted that the program was vital to “making cities more livable.” On Wednesday, she claimed the city’s post-pandemic economic recovery played a factor.
The reversal comes as positive news to many and is indeed the correct choice, but the evident mishandling of the situation proves Hochul isn’t fit for office.
Inherent to Hochul’s indecision is the disconnect she has with her constituents. A Siena College survey from April found that 64% of people living in New York opposed the plan.
That includes 54% of Democrats — maybe some of these liberal New Yorkers prefer a limited government more than they thought they did.
To charge someone for the grand crime of driving into certain neighborhoods is to impose on their liberty. New York City desperately needs improved subway and metro stations — there’s no doubt about that — but this disincentivizing fee is offensive to hardworking people.
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The same political party telling you that illegal immigrants have a right to cross our nation’s borders and access our institutions is the same one telling you that you can’t cross 60th Street without being charged $15.
I’m just glad the plan didn’t incorporate an exemption for electric vehicles.