The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy association, released the following statement by Ashley Ranslow, NFIB’s New York State Director, responding to the MTA Board’s approval of the Congestion Pricing Plan, which imposes a $15 fee on vehicles and $24-36 fee on trucks, depending on size, for entering Manhattan below 60th Street:
“Today’s decision by the MTA Board to approve the Congestion Pricing Plan is yet another unaffordable tax on small businesses. Every small business below 60th Street along with small businesses located outside of the congestion pricing zone simply trying to conduct business in Manhattan will see the cost of their goods and services rise dramatically, cutting into their already razor-thin margins and driving prices higher for consumers.
“The MTA has a notable and well-documented history of mismanaging its funds, but instead of getting a handle on how the agency spends its money, the Board approves a plan to implement a new astronomically high tax. Eighty-three percent of voters say the cost of living in New York is a major problem, and small businesses are already struggling with mounting cost increases due to inflation, rising utility bills, increased gas prices, countless new mandates and regulations, and labor shortages. This plan is the exact opposite of making New York more affordable for residents and small businesses.”
