A Column from the Desk of Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C-Deerpark)
Ever since the conclusion of the 2024 election cycle, Gov. Kathy Hochul has resumed her relentless push to implement congestion pricing—a toll targeting travelers entering lower Manhattan. Once sold to the public as an environmental policy designed to reduce vehicle pollution, it has now been unveiled as nothing more than a cash grab to fill the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) budget shortfalls. The governor and the MTA have admitted the toll is intended to drive revenue for capital improvement projects, not to address pollution. This blatant bait-and-switch is deeply troubling. While I find the concept of nickel-and-diming hardworking commuters to be offensive on principle, the toll amounts being floated—initially $15, now $9—remain outrageous. For many New Yorkers, especially those from Rockland and Orange Counties, this is yet another financial burden they cannot afford. These commuters, who already face limited and unreliable mass transit options, are being unfairly penalized for simply trying to get to work. The congestion pricing toll is not the first time Albany has used creative accounting to justify yet another tax. Remember the “temporary” state sales tax increase enacted in 2009? It was pitched as a short-term measure to help close a budget gap, yet it quietly became permanent, funneling funds into general spending. What was initially marketed as a targeted solution turned into a slush fund for unrelated projects. Why should we believe this time will be any different? Adding insult to injury, congestion pricing comes on the heels of the MTA Payroll Tax, a deeply unpopular levy that places the responsibility for the MTA’s mismanagement squarely on the backs of small businesses and municipalities. These taxes and tolls are presented as solutions, but they’re really just Band-Aids on a deeper problem: the MTA’s inability to control its spending and deliver results. If Gov. Hochul and the MTA were serious about improving public transit, they would focus on internal reforms. Where is the accountability for fare evasion, which costs the MTA millions annually? What about cutting wasteful spending or implementing meaningful oversight within an organization notorious for inefficiency? New Yorkers don’t need more accounting gimmicks and new taxes—they need real leadership that addresses root causes rather than perpetuating cycles of fiscal irresponsibility. This isn’t just about opposing a bad policy; it’s about standing up for the hardworking people of Rockland and Orange Counties, who are being asked to shoulder yet another burden while getting little in return. Congestion pricing, like so many of Albany’s schemes, is a solution in search of a problem—a money-grab masquerading as public policy. It’s time for Gov. Hochul and the MTA to step up and make meaningful changes that benefit all New Yorkers, not just their bottom line. Assemblyman Brabenec represents the 98th District, which includes the city of Port Jervis, the towns of Deerpark, Greenville, Mount Hope, Wawayanda, Minisink, Warwick, Tuxedo and portions of the towns of Goshen, Monroe and Ramapo. For more information, please visit his Official Website at www.yourfavoriteassemblyman.com
