On the afternoon of June 5th, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an “indefinite” postponement of implementing congestion pricing. The governor’s decision has sparked discussions among politicians and the public, with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy expressing support. The Manhattan Chinatown community generally agrees with the governor’s decision, but there are divided opinions among elected officials in New York.
Governor Hochul stated, “After careful consideration, I need to make a difficult choice because implementing congestion pricing at this time carries the risk of unimaginable consequences for the people of New York. Therefore, I have requested the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to indefinitely postpone the (congestion pricing) plan.”
The term “indefinite postponement” means that the highest administrative body in New York overseeing the MTA has temporarily halted the congestion pricing plan. Governor Hochul attributed this decision to two main factors: the significant economic pressure faced by New Yorkers and the ongoing economic recovery from the pandemic in New York.
Hochul pointed out that over the past 5 years, the average cost of living has increased by 23%, the price of a dozen eggs has risen from $1.20 to $2.86, housing prices have increased by 17%, and childcare costs have gone up by 20%, making life very challenging for middle-class and working-class families.
“We need to accept the realities that have changed over the past few years,” Hochul said. “Before the pandemic, there were white-collar workers commuting to the office five days a week, and crime rates hit a historical low while tourist numbers reached record highs, but the situation is different now.”
In response to this, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy publicly expressed gratitude to Hochul for halting congestion pricing, stating, “Though our philosophies on this matter may differ, Governor Hochul and I are both firmly committed to serving the people.”
Democratic District 65D Leader Yu Jinshan, in a statement to The Epoch Times, described the suspension of congestion pricing as a significant victory for the Chinese community. While there is still a long road ahead to completely overturn congestion pricing, he hopes that the state government, state legislature, and elected officials who previously supported congestion pricing will change their stance to align with the will of the citizens.
The statement from Li Cuishan, Chair of the advocacy group “New Yorkers Against Congestion Tax” (NYACT), agreed with the governor’s perspective, calling the $15 congestion tax an exploitation for operating in New York City. This regressive tax needs to be permanently eliminated rather than just indefinitely postponed, according to the statement.
During an interview, Zhu Chaoran, the newly appointed chairman of the New York Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, stated that congestion pricing has a significant impact on Lower Manhattan, including Chinatown and Little Italy. Zhu expressed his agreement with the governor’s decision but acknowledged that she must have faced a lot of pressure.
Following Governor Hochul’s announcement to halt congestion pricing, Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, who has repeatedly opposed the project, suggested in an ABC interview that congestion pricing might be postponed until the fall or implemented after election day, emphasizing that congestion pricing is a scam and should be permanently discarded.
On the same side, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, also a Republican, published a public commentary in the New York Post, stating that Hochul’s decision to halt congestion pricing is a major victory for New York residents, businesses, cultural institutions, and tourists, but the battle is not won yet.
Malliotakis added that Hochul’s decision to halt congestion pricing was influenced by “political considerations and concerns about the Democratic Party’s ability to win this year’s congressional elections.”
On the other hand, Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine expressed dissatisfaction with the suspension of congestion pricing.
Congressman Nadler stated in a public statement: “After years of delay, we now more than ever need congestion pricing to alleviate the gridlock in the Central Business District, improve air quality in New York City and the surrounding areas, and urgently fund the public transportation systems relied upon by millions.”
Borough President Mark Levine supported Nadler’s remarks in a post on the platform “X,” saying: “The traffic in Midtown and Lower Manhattan has reached crippling levels, ambulances respond more slowly, and it harms our fight for the environment.”