New Yorkers against congestion pricing worried about environmental impacts
NEW YORK — Congestion pricing advocates are looking forward to the benefits for the transit system, but people against the plan say it'll take a toll on the environment in some New York City neighborhoods.
The plan will go into effect in a little over 18 days.
"One community is not supposed to be a winner while another community loses"
The impending congestion fee below 60th Street is expected to cut down on the number of cars packing the streets.
"This is a cash grab. If this was about congestion, we would be seeing limitations on how many for-hire vehicles could be in the congestion zone," said Valerie Mason, co-founder of New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing.
Once congestion pricing kicks in, Tommy Loeb says vehicles avoiding the $9 toll will detour to the FDR Drive, passing his Lower East Side neighborhood, leading to even worse air quality.
"One community is not supposed to be a winner while another community loses," he said.
The South Bronx is another neighborhood of great concern. Advocates of congestion pricing say they not only want the families in those areas at the top of mind, but also prioritized as they are already disproportionately affected.
"The Bronx is a very transit-heavy district, you know, and we have seen time and time again how the Bronx really hasn't gotten their fair share. They haven't been prioritized. I would say that systemic racism and really redlining has harmed the Bronx around transportation, housing, infrastructure. Notoriously, we've seen it," said Danna Dennis, senior organizer of the Writers Alliance.
MTA plan includes asthma centers, electric buses and more
According to the MTA's plan, a dedicated revenue source will go towards asthma centers in the Bronx, upgraded transit infrastructure of the 100-year-old system, and electric or zero-emissions buses, which will transform bus depots.
"I believe about 75 percent of them are located in environmental justice communities, so they're breathing in the air as these buses are coming to and from the depots, or running and idling in their neighborhoods," said Kevin Garcia, with the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance.
Some advocates agree, it may not be the perfect plan, but it's a start.
"If we stay in this status quo just stuck traffic and breathing in terrible air, that's not a future that I'm looking forward to. It's not something that I'm looking forward to my kids having to, you know, grow up in," said Renae Reynolds, with the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
Mason has been following the congestion pricing conversation since before the law passed in 2019. She doesn't believe the impending tax will reduce pollution. With over $100,000 in small donations, she helped file one of the current lawsuits against the city.
"We're hoping that New Jersey gets a decision shortly that will stop congestion pricing, and then we're hoping that, I'm sure the litigation will continue," she said.
New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing's next court date is Friday. They're hoping for an injunction.
