IT’S THE FIGHT VS. $15
Congest war in LI race
The controversial plan to charge motorists $15 to enter Manhattan’s business district has become a hot issue in the Feb. 13 special election to replace lying, expelled GOP Rep. George Santos.
Republican nominee Mazi Pilip opposes imposition of the toll meant to fund mass transit, calling it a “tone-deaf ” imposition on the district residents of suburban, carfriendly Nassau County and eastern Queens — blasting her Democratic rival, ex-Rep. Tom Suozzi, over his longstanding support for congestion pricing.
“The MTA’s poorly conceived plan to implement congestion pricing in Manhattan’s business district is just another cash-grab scheme that will once again come at the expense of hard-working Nassau residents who are just trying to get to work,” Pilip (inset) told The Post. “It’s undeniable that congestion pricing will hurt middle-class families here on Long Island.”
Pilip also claimed the MTA’s “commuter tax” will stunt the area’s economic growth.
“The implementation of this $15 surcharge for simply entering Manhattan’s business district is extremely tone-deaf, especially at a time when inflation has been skyrocketing.
“I consider congestion pricing among the most regressive forms of taxation since it does not consider income or ‘ability to pay,’ ” the Nassau County legislator said.
Suozzi’s $upport
“The fact that my opponent has supported congestion pricing for nearly 20 years shows you all you need to know regarding his lack of concern for the financial issues Long Island families are facing. I call upon Tom Suozzi to end his long-standing support of congestion pricing,” added Pilip.
Suozzi defended his support of congestion pricing Wednesday — with some limitations.
“Tom supports the concept of congestion pricing as a means to reduce traffic and vehicle emissions in the central business district and also to generate an income stream to fund mass transit.
“However, he is clear that money should be earmarked for the LIRR to improve service and reduce delays,” campaign senior adviser Kim Devlin said.
“It will be six months before it is finalized, and Tom believes the focus should be on implementing it in a way that protects small businesses, people who need to drive into the congestion zone for work, and commuters who make less than $75,000 per year,” the rep added.