The Transit Crisis Deconstructed

Mayor Bloomberg continues to press for his congestion pricing tax, saying that it is in the best interests of the city to improve and expand mass transit options. I agree that improvements to mass transit must be made, but I find the whole congestion pricing scheme to be nothing more than a regressive tax that will disproportionately affect low and middle class residents who commute into New York City, it will adversely affect those driving in from New Jersey who do not have mass transit options because the NJ Transit system is already at capacity on many of its routes, and it will have the effect of harming the City's economy.

Where among the facts and figures to support congestion are the parts that show what would happen to businesses that involve commuting into the City? Would they change their business operations - move outside the City to escape the crushing burden of roughly $2,000 per passenger vehicle or more than $4,000 per truck per year?

The notion that this taxing scheme will reduce pollution is also likely to miss the target. The areas where asthma rates are highest are not included in the area where congestion pricing is meant to curb emissions and vehicle traffic, and the plan will instead likely increase traffic through those areas that already suffer from high incidences of asthma and other respiratory ailments.

It also appears that Bloomberg is coming to the realization that congestion pricing isn't going to happen this session in Albany.

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester), has come out against the congestion pricing scheme, and has gotten lambasted for his efforts. Once again, it seems that supporters of the congestion pricing tax see nothing but dollar signs and could care less where that money is coming from. They think that the federal money that might come if the tax is enacted cannot be passed up and therefore a crushing tax increase is necessary.

There are claims that other alternatives have been examined to reduce pollution and congestion and none of them are as effective as the congestion pricing tax or raise revenue the way congestion pricing would. That does make sense, to a point. There are people who have no choice but to pay the tax to do business in the City. However, many others will have no choice but to work elsewhere because they cannot afford to work in the City and get hit up with the tax. Incomes aren't increasing that much to cover the huge tax hit.