Nassau Standard

Today, the implementation of Governor Hochul's congestion pricing policy has sparked criticism from some New York lawmakers. Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick expressed concern over the new tax, which she claims disproportionately affects residents of Nassau County.

"Today marks the beginning of the Governor’s congestion pricing commuter tax, a policy that disproportionately burdens hardworking Nassau County residents," said Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. She argued that delaying the tax until after the election was politically motivated and suggested it was more about optics than addressing constituents' needs.

Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick emphasized that families dependent on their vehicles for daily activities will face increased financial strain due to this policy. She highlighted potential knock-on effects such as higher costs for goods and services, contributing further to New York's affordability crisis.

The senator criticized the plan as a "suburban bailout of the MTA" that overlooks issues like mismanagement within the agency. According to her, penalizing drivers does not address wasteful spending or toll evasion problems but rather risks driving more families and businesses out of New York.

She concluded by stating, "New Yorkers deserve transportation policies that solve problems, not schemes crafted for political gain. We’re committed to fighting for Nassau County residents and others who are being unfairly taxed to make up for Albany’s chronic failures."