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Rockland County Legislators Urge Governor To Shut Down Congestion Pricing Plan Completely

Statement From Rockland County Legislators Paul Cleary, Beth J. Davidson, Thomas F. Diviny, Toney L. Earl,  Joel Friedman, Lon M. Hofstein, Jay Hood Jr., Douglas J. Jobson,  Will J. Kennelly, Jesse M. Malowitz, Aney Paul, Raymond W. Sheridan, Philip Soskin, Dana G. Stilley, Aron B. Wieder, Alden H. Wolfe and Itamar J. Yeger

– Rockland County Legislators urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to not only pause, but outright kill the congestion pricing plan that would charge commuters $15 per day to travel below 60^th Street in Manhattan.

Congestion pricing adds up to yet another tax on Rockland commuters and is too burdensome on hardworking families. We commend Gov. Hochul for indefinitely suspending the plan but urge her to shut down the effort completely.

Rockland businesses – which includes not-for-profits, as well as a for-profit businesses – already pay the MTA payroll tax. Rockland experiences a $40 million annual value gap between how much is paid into the MTA via taxes and other revenue versus the services provided.

Rockland still has no one-seat train ride into Manhattan, and still has no significant MTA system improvements in Rockland. The overwhelming majority of revenue to be collected by the new congestion pricing plan would only cover the costs of operating the NYC Transit bus and subway system.

Nor would the plan only impact commuters, including the 4,000 daily Rockland commuters, who travel below 60^th Street. Anyone headed to a Broadway show, Madison Square Garden or other destination below 60^th Street before 9 p.m. at night or on weekends would also have to pay.

By suspending this policy, commuters can get to work without the burden of the added toll. Going forward, the transit options of all commuters need to be considered, not just the taxes they can be charged without any significant service options in return.

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