Governor Hochul Indefinitely Delays Congestion Pricing

By Idy Perl

This morning, Governor Hochul made a controversial announcement when she delayed the start of congestion pricing in New York, which would force drivers to pay in order to get into certain parts of NYC.

The congestion pricing, originally scheduled to take effect on June 30th, has now been postponed to an unknown date.

The governor explained in her announcement that the new congestion pricing risked too many unintended consequences for New Yorkers at this time, raising concerns about its potential impact on NYC's economy, which is still grappling with inflation and hasn't fully bounced back since Covid-19.

“Almost five months to the day before Election Day, Governor Hochul has suddenly realized how bad congestion pricing is polling in the suburbs and in New York City,” said Congressman Lawler. “This cynical decision to ‘pause’ or ‘delay’ rather than cancel congestion pricing is nothing more than an election-year stunt. As I have said from the start — congestion pricing needs to be ended, not simply delayed.”

“Coming on the heels of Governor Hochul praising President Biden for scrambling to reinstate executive actions to secure the border that he foolishly rolled back almost 41 months ago, this vapid announcement by the Governor is yet another political ploy,” concluded Congressman Lawler. “For the Governor to pump the brakes on congestion pricing now, while examining a new tax on businesses, shows that this was never about congestion, but rather it was always a money grab to shovel more taxpayer dollars into the endless pit that is the MTA’s constant waste, and corruption.”

Senator Bill Weber shared: "I was proud to be a vocal opponent of congestion pricing and cosponsor the Senate legislation to stop it and audit the failed MTA. Today's decision by the governor to indefinitely delay congestion pricing is a victory, even though she did it for the wrong reasons."

"Instead of making a political decision to protect vulnerable incumbents from this deeply unpopular policy, she should have canceled it because it was a horrible idea pitched as a way to protect our environment and reduce congestion while all it really would be is just another bailout for the MTA. We have come to expect dishonesty in proposing and canceling policy here in this state. Despite today's victory, New Yorkers deserve better,” said Senator Bill Weber.