What They Are Saying: Governor Hochul Announces Pause On Congestion Pricing To Address The Rising Cost Of Living In New York
Governor Kathy Hochul today addressed New Yorkers on affordability and the cost of living and directed the MTA to indefinitely pause congestion pricing to avoid added burdens to working- and middle-class families.
State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, “Governor Hochul indefinitely stopping the implementation of congestion pricing is a significant win for our constituents. We have been voicing our concerns about this program since its inception, and I'm glad that Governor Hochul has taken the concerns I have brought to her into consideration before congestion pricing was set to go into effect later this month. The health, financial security, and overall well-being of my constituents on Staten Island and in Southern Brooklyn are my top priorities, which is why I fought against this congestion pricing plan from the moment it was first announced. From introducing legislation for exemptions to this program to joining the lawsuit to stop it in its tracks, I have been steadfast in my opposition all along. The adverse health effects and the financial burden it would have placed on my constituents should have always outweighed the potential tax revenue for New York.”