The Trump administration has vowed to kill congestion pricing in New York Metropolis. Now officers have taken the weird step of creating a man-on-the-street video to show what they are saying is public opposition to this system.
Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, posted the 26-second video on X on Friday. It begins with a query onscreen: “What do NYC employees take into consideration congestion pricing?”
The video then options 5 males towards a backdrop of New York avenue life who say that the tolling plan is “destroying town,” “very dangerous for enterprise” and “undoubtedly borderline stealing.”
The video concludes with a refrain of the boys saying, “Finish it.”
Mr. Duffy’s video had racked up greater than 237,000 views as of Monday afternoon.
However supporters of the tolling program, which expenses most drivers $9 a day to enter Manhattan south of sixtieth Avenue throughout peak visitors hours, criticized the clip.
“Actuality tv isn’t actual life, and the secretary’s video is out of contact with how New Yorkers transfer,” stated Danny Pearlstein, a spokesman for Riders Alliance, an advocacy group of transit riders that helps congestion pricing.
The video was a brand new skirmish within the debate over this system, which began on Jan. 5 and goals to scale back visitors, enhance air high quality and assist elevate income for essential transit repairs and upgrades.
Congestion pricing has been deeply unpopular within the boroughs and suburbs exterior Manhattan, with many opponents, together with Republican leaders, saying that it punishes drivers who’ve restricted and unreliable transit choices and that it merely shifts visitors and air pollution to different areas.
However the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has identified that of the 1.5 million individuals who work within the tolling zone, about 85 p.c take mass transit. Solely 11 p.c drive — about 143,000 drivers earlier than congestion pricing was put in place.
This system was accepted in 2019 by state lawmakers and was licensed by the Biden administration shortly earlier than President Trump took workplace.
Final month, Mr. Duffy wrote in a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, that federal transportation officers had been shifting to finish the tolling program. Mr. Duffy cited the fee to working-class motorists and using income from the tolls for transit upgrades moderately than roads.
These officers have ordered New York to cease charging the tolls by March 21.
The M.T.A., which manages the tolls, has filed a lawsuit difficult the federal motion within the U.S. District Courtroom in Manhattan. The authority has vowed to maintain accumulating the tolls until a federal choose instructs it in any other case.
Ms. Hochul, M.T.A. leaders and supporters of congestion pricing have repeatedly highlighted its early successes. It has already helped cut back visitors and commute occasions on crowded roads, and it’s on monitor to hit its objective of elevating $15 billion in transit funding.
In response to the video, Sam Spokony, a spokesman for Ms. Hochul, referred to Mr. Duffy’s background as a star in his 20s on the fact TV present “Road Rules: All Stars.”
“Sean Duffy’s skilled expertise in transportation got here from driving a Winnebago on a actuality TV present within the late 90s,” Mr. Spokony stated. “He ought to know that lowering visitors is sweet for enterprise! The underside line on congestion pricing is that visitors is down, enterprise is up and this system is delivering outcomes for New Yorkers.”
Ms. Hochul just lately met with Mr. Trump to share different advantages that she attributed to the tolling plan, together with rising attendance at Broadway shows, extra foot visitors for companies and a rise in business workplace leasing.
Federal transportation officers didn’t reply to a request for touch upon Monday.
In posting the video, Mr. Duffy wrote on X that hard-working New Yorkers had been indignant “about being charged $9 to make use of their very own streets.”
“Don’t take it from me, hearken to what the folks must say about New York’s congestion pricing money seize,” he continued. “Finish the disconnect. Finish congestion pricing. Now.”
