The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella have filed a federal lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to halt the implementation of congestion pricing in Manhattan, which has recently seen an increase in cost. The lawsuit claims that the plan unfairly burdens teachers, firefighters, and other city workers who commute to Manhattan and is seen as a regressive tax. Critics, including RepJoshG, argue that the MTA's congestion pricing is a desperate attempt to generate revenue and that its fare evasion policy, which reportedly costs over $700 million annually, could be addressed to avoid the need for congestion taxation. Supporters of the lawsuit believe that congestion pricing will increase pollution in areas like the Bronx, which already suffers from high asthma rates, and cite environmental injustice. Meanwhile, proponents of congestion pricing argue that it will reduce dangerous emissions and the incidence of asthma in children. The MTA has not publicly disclosed their calculations for the expected $3.4 billion revenue from the congestion tax, which is significantly higher than the $1 billion objective set by New York State Law. Concerns have also been raised about a near-5,000-page environmental study that critics say is not thorough enough.
The United Federation of Teachers is suing to stop plans for congestion pricing in Manhattan. It's ironic to see a teacher's union accusing someone else of a self-interested cash grab. https://t.co/l8VhUDOVtL
New York City's teachers union says in a lawsuit that a near-5,000-page environmental study of congestion pricing lower Manhattan isn't thorough enough. https://t.co/l8VhUDPtjj
Let's talk about the environmental aspect of congestion taxation for a second. The plan is to relocate pollution from the bottom of the arrow to the top. This is a graph of present rates of asthma. The Bronx already has a 2x rate vs that of the congestion taxation zone. Some… https://t.co/igzOS1urX8
The UFT’s lawsuit against congestion taxation is just a start. Every other union in the city/state/region should also follow suit as their workers and their families are subject to this undue taxation as is every New Yorker through higher prices. The next logical step is for…
Today, I released a new Congressional Report on NY's proposed Congestion Tax. NY's Congestion Tax scheme will likely raise $3.4B — three times the $1B objective as required by NY State Law. The @MTA still hasn't released to the public their math on Congestion Tax revenue. https://t.co/2XUun1mwxH
UPDATE: The United Federation of Teachers and Staten Island leaders are suing the MTA over congestion pricing. The lawsuit was filed Thursday morning in federal court and also names federal and state agencies as defendants. @LisaRoznerTV reports. https://t.co/jfFVv2oT09
New York City union sues to block city congestion pricing plan https://t.co/oMtzVX4atB https://t.co/jpCcrmH85U
On the day that one of the most prominent unions in New York filed a lawsuit to halt congestion taxation in order to protect its members, the universe has also shown us how unreliable the MTA is. It’s been reported that this derailment has been caused by the intentional and… https://t.co/84PAwJhLWm
We’ve been saying all along that congestion pricing is a regressive tax that will hurt the middle and working class, drive people out of Manhattan, hurt small businesses, creative fields like theatre and music, and turn NYC into a place where only the very rich can afford to… https://t.co/sxBSq43VVK
The teachers' union is suing to block congestion pricing, arguing that they shouldn't be forced to use transit. Yo, teach, no one is FORCED to use transit — but it's far cheaper for you and far better for everyone else (including your students): https://t.co/1NI5h94t3c
⚠️ NEW YORK CITY UNION SUES TO BLOCK CITY CONGESTION PRICING PLAN (Reuters) A New York City teachers union filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking to block a congestion pricing plan in the city from taking effect this year. New York's plan to impose tolls on vehicles entering… https://t.co/U2Y9LOdrvD
Teachers' Union, Staten Island borough president file lawsuit to halt congestion pricing https://t.co/ro3Bm1DiKe https://t.co/DBOCq45ev9
Congestion taxation will only increase pollution in the Bronx; already with a 2x higher concentration of asthma than the congestion taxation fiefdom. Facts matter but not to these corporate-backed lobbyists and fake advocacy/outrage groups consisting of anti-car crusaders that… https://t.co/5nD5K2oSsC https://t.co/hUTaEXGvV4
Teachers union sues to stop congestion pricing in New York because of... environmental injustice. https://t.co/S1waadsJ3l
NYC's powerful teachers union and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella are suing to block congestion pricing in Manhattan, saying teachers and other public servants would be “forced to shoulder the burden of the MTA’s latest fundraising gambit.” https://t.co/hVljn8U46D
NYC teachers’ union, Staten Island Borough president sue to stop congestion pricing plan https://t.co/OAavDoBRH3 https://t.co/Di2rlbBGUO
The lawsuit from UFT and Staten Island BP Vito Fossella seeking to halt the implementation of congestion pricing is wrong. Congestion pricing will reduce dangerous emissions from cars and trucks that are the leading cause of child asthma. https://t.co/2WxhiGAn0d
Staten Island joined the court battle over congestion pricing today, filing a federal lawsuit against the plan. https://t.co/jfFVv2oT09
NYC teachers union goes to court to preserve car traffic & pollution. https://t.co/1QNKkbvEOl
NYC teachers, Staten Island borough president suing to stop MTA’s congestion pricing plan Saying it will punish teachers, firefighters and other city workers who commute to Manhattan https://t.co/2lVCXA7QAb
Excellent news. Keep the lawsuits for congestion taxation coming! The MTA’s continued mismanagement cannot come at the expense of millions of other people. https://t.co/Y7uNIHJWDL
Today, our union, along with teachers who work at schools in Manhattan and the Bronx as well as Staten Island Borough President @SIBPVito, filed a federal lawsuit asking the court to halt the implementation of congestion pricing in Manhattan.
Take a minute to let the MTA know how you feel about congestion taxation and how it could be completely avoided if the MTA would do something about its $700M+ a year and growing fare evasion policy choice. Use the link below to comment👇 Whether you drive or not, your cost of… https://t.co/UijkXy6aCJ
Take a minute to let the MTA know how you feel about congestion taxation and how it could be completely avoided if the MTA would do something about its $700M and growing a year fare evasion policy choice. Use the link below to comment👇 Whether you drive or not, your cost of… https://t.co/UijkXy6aCJ
It’s hard to believe, but NY and the @MTA actually increased the cost of the Congestion Tax! The MTA is a hot mess and just desperate for cash. https://t.co/HFmHcN1wRz