Kathy Hochul forces New Yorkers to pay $9 to drive through midtown Manhattan—claims it's a cost savings because she wanted to charge $15

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) announced this week that New Yorkers will soon face a $9 congestion charge for driving into Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone, CBC News reported. Hochul originally canned the program as the presidential election loomed. Her first proposal was for people to pay a $15 and is now claiming that $9 “will save daily commuters” money.

“State law requires that congestion pricing simultaneously raise money for the MTA [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] and drive down traffic congestion. These are important priorities. But I believe that no New Yorker should have to pay a penny more than absolutely necessary to achieve these goals, and $15 was too much,” Hochul said. “I am proud to announce we have found a path to fund the MTA, reduce congestion and keep millions of dollars in the pockets of our commuters.”

“This lower toll will save daily commuters nearly $1,500 annually," she said, though that "savings" is actually just a lesser increase. "And that kind of money makes a big difference for our families,” Hochul continued, adding that the really good news is that people who own vehicles, belong to the Low-Income Discount Plan and make less than $50,000 a year will be eligible for a 50 percent discount – but only after paying 10 tolls first. Hochul said the rate will be lower during the night when fewer people are driving into the city.

The governor said “the most critical” part of the massive tax is that it will guarantee $15 billion in MTA funding, which she said was the whole purpose of the tax to begin with. “We're still getting the $15 billion to fund the MTA, and drivers are paying $6 less,” she said. She said that $15 billion will pay for an improved subway signal system, expansion of the Second Ave. subway line and buy electric buses.

President-elect Donald Trump told The New York Post on Thursday that he is against Hochul’s congestion pricing plan calling it the “most regressive tax known to womankind.”

“I have great respect for the governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, and look forward to working with her to Make New York and America Great Again. But I strongly disagree with the decision on the congestion tax,” said Trump. Hochul has said she is open to working with Trump even though she has described Trump’s voters as “anti-woman” and “anti-American.”

Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) also condemned the congestion pricing. “I am firmly opposed to any attempt to force through a congestion pricing proposal in the final months of the Biden administration. All of us need to listen to the message that voters across America sent last Tuesday, which is that the vast majority of Americans are experiencing severe economic strains and still feeling the effects of inflation. There could not be a worse time to impose a new $9 toll on individuals,” he said in a statement, according to CBS. His constituents would be among those paying the tax.