The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) proposed congestion pricing plan, aiming to implement a $15 toll for New York City, has sparked significant controversy and opposition. Key figures like Carl Weisbrod and Kathy Wylde have voiced support for the initiative, emphasizing its timeliness. However, the plan faces staunch opposition from the MTA's largest union, with its chief promising a 'massive confrontation' over the perceived inequities of the toll and declaring 'Not going to take this'. Critics, including John Samuelson, argue that the plan lacks consideration for 'rational ideas' like enhancing outer-borough express bus services, which could mitigate some of the negative impacts of congestion pricing. The opposition has grown to include a broad coalition of unions and lawsuit plaintiffs, all united in their criticism of the plan as a 'congestion pricing scam' benefiting a small group of 'wealthy urbanists, lobbyists, misanthropes, and bureaucrats'. This backlash highlights the deep divisions over how best to address NYC's traffic congestion and environmental challenges without disproportionately affecting the working class.
The MTA's controversial congestion pricing plan now has a new and important foe -- the head of the MTA's largest union, who says that broken promises about service enhancements will hurt the working class. @MKramerTV reports. https://t.co/3NddGilxdD
Everyone has had it with the congestion pricing scam. The list of unions and lawsuit plaintiffs keep growing, while the supporters still amount to the same small group of wealthy urbanists, lobbyists, misanthropes, and bureaucrats that pushed it from the beginning. If the state… https://t.co/jh9TbXliAb
The nerve of John Samuelson to demand the MTA increase outer-borough express bus service to offset congestion pricing. No place for rational ideas when we can fractionally reduce emissions in one small part of the city. https://t.co/aoze2owXDw
Chief of MTA’s biggest union promises ‘massive confrontation’ over $15 NYC congestion toll: ‘Not going to take this’ https://t.co/YiQzrKK9CY https://t.co/noALh98xHl
Carl Weisbrod & Kathy Wylde: Now's the time for congestion pricing https://t.co/bgf1CDZbbU