New York Daily News

Congestion pricing a no-go: Blaz

- BY ERIN DURKIN

CHARGING drivers to enter the most traffic-clogged parts of Manhattan is “inconceiva­ble” even with Gov. Cuomo’s support, Mayor de Blasio said Monday.

De Blasio (inset) made his strongest comments yet against congestion pricing a week after Cuomo publicly backed the idea and said he planned to push it.

“I’ve never seen an example of it that I thought was fair,” de Blasio told reporters at an unrelated news conference in Brooklyn. “I’m always going to keep an open mind, but . . . I happen to be someone who does not believe in it.”

Congestion pricing was proposed by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2007, but it died after a tough battle in Albany.

“As long as this current Republican state Senate leadership is in place, I think it’s inconceiva­ble,” de Blasio said, noting that Majority Leader John Flanagan represents Long Island, where many drivers would be hit by the fee.

Cuomo’s top deputy was not impressed with the mayor’s analysis. “Yes, when one looks for a solid understand­ing and read of Albany’s political landscape, they should definitely call Bill de Blasio,” Melissa DeRosa tweeted.

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