All praise the mighty and benevolent governor of New York: Her Majesty, the Honorable Kathy Hochul! If there is one elected official who knows and understands the current fiscal plight of the constituents he or she represents, it is Hochul. Back in June, New York City was set to experience its first-ever congestion pricing toll plan. Vehicles entering lower Manhattan were set to pay a brand new $15 toll. However, the Governor put the kibosh on that plan.
Two weeks ago, Hochul explained why she chose to pause the congestion prices in June. “No to a $15 congestion toll that at that particular time was just too much. Too many people were worrying about high costs. Groceries, rent, childcare. These are real challenges for our families, and launching a toll that high really would have hurt a working mom or a working dad trying to make ends meet.”
However, now the most generous and giving governor New York has ever known realizes that New Yorkers are no longer worried about the high costs of groceries, rent, and childcare. In the last six months, prices of all goods and services have fallen, and her constituents are doing much better – so much better, in fact, that the time to introduce this toll is now upon us. So, the Governor introduced her new plan to implement a congestion pricing plan of $9 beginning in January. The governor explained that “It was $15 before, and now it is $9. That is a 40% reduction.”
That is truly amazing. Our kindhearted governor has reduced the fee that New Yorkers apparently previously had to bear by 40%! The Governor continued: “This lower toll will save commuters nearly $1,500 annually.” That’s wonderful. The Governor wants you to know that it will now be $1,500 cheaper for you to drive your car into the city every day. In no way will this actually mean that the same drivers will actually be paying an extra $2,250 every year over what they paid last year. And besides, even if they were being forced to do so, it’s actually okay, because somehow, ever since Election Day has passed, the economy is doing so much better that now those who drive into the city have much more disposable income to throw at the historically fantastic-at-managing-money organization known as the MTA.
And, of course, this will in no way affect those New Yorkers who do not drive into the city regularly. There is definitely no historical precedent for rising costs being passed onto consumers. A jump in tolls will definitely not have an effect on the cost of cab fees. Uber definitely will not factor in these tolls to their algorithm so that consumers pay more. The added tolls will also not increase the cost of goods that will be delivered to businesses in Manhattan.
So, to recap, everyone can sleep soundly, knowing that in these extremely stable economic times, Governor Hochul has saved New Yorkers $1,500 annually, definitely did not increase costs by $2,250 annually, worked to reduce costs of goods and services, and did so because she cares about New Yorkers and their families. And the proof to this is that she made this announcement after the November elections had passed. This plan will be received so positively by New Yorkers that Governor Hochul felt that it would be unfair to influence the election in favor of her party by announcing this prior to when everyone cast their ballots. Obviously, saving New Yorkers so much money would just be too much for New Yorkers to ignore at the polls. So today, I, for one, am grateful to the most benevolent leader this state has ever seen. Thank you, Governor Hochul.
Izzo Zwiren works in healthcare administration, constantly concerning himself with the state of healthcare politics. The topic of healthcare has led Izzo to become passionate about a variety of political issues affecting our country today. Aside from politics, Izzo is a fan of trivia, stand-up comedy, and the New York Giants. Izzo lives on Long Island with his wife and two adorable, hilarious daughters.
