Democrats in the state Assembly rejected a plan Tuesday that would have spared city workers, nurses and first responders a heavy toll in traffic jams to get to work in the Big Apple.
Doctors and patients seeking medical care in Manhattan also would have been exempt from the $15 toll under the plan — which was effectively overturned by a decision by the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions.
Democrats also rejected Republican-backed proposals to address the migrant crisis and change state parole laws in response to criticism that recent reforms were allowing dangerous criminals to go free.
Congestion toll exemptions already exist for city vehicles and some private bus lines, but this new proposal would have extended those exemptions to some commuters in downtown Manhattan.
Upstate Assemblyman Anil Beephan, a Republican who sponsored the bill, had argued that the recently approved toll would be a financial burden on these groups.
“City workers, lifesavers and patients in need should not have to worry that simply crossing these bridges will cost them an unfair expense,” Beephan said in December.
Committee Chairman Kenneth Zebrowski (D-Rockland County) said Tuesday he doesn’t support congestion pricing, but he still doesn’t think a “piecemeal legislative method” is the best way to proceed to create exemptions.
“We have 150 Assembly members and we have 150 different ideas on what to do about congestion pricing,” Zebrowski said.
“If you want to come up with an alternative to congestion pricing, you’re also going to have to come up with another plan to generate additional revenue,” Zebrowski said. “The bill also talks about going to doctor’s appointments. It’s extremely open.
Supporters of the new congestion pricing plan said the toll would reduce pollution and rush-hour traffic jams while generating billions that could be spent on improving the transit system.
The congestion charge will affect cars traveling in Midtown Manhattan below 60th Street. Trucks will face even higher tolls when the new pricing takes effect on June 15.
But the new tax still faces obstacles. The toll – the first of its kind in the country – is contested by five different lawsuits.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy filed a lawsuit claiming the MTA’s plan did not adequately consider the impact on Garden State residents.
A federal judge is expected to rule on the action before congestion pricing officially launches this summer. This decision could set a precedent for other lawsuits.
The congestion charge exemption bill was one of more than a dozen Republican-sponsored bills that Democrats passed in committee Tuesday. Other legislation has challenged Democrats on hot-button issues like bail reform and the influx of migrants that is straining resources in cities like New York.
“Albany Democrats won’t even look at legislation that would make people safer, put guardrails on the migrant crisis, or support the men and women of law enforcement.” , Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said Tuesday.
Democrats also introduced a bill to expand bail-eligible offenses, which would have given judges greater discretion when determining bail for people who commit hate crimes or utter threats of terrorism or “massive harm”.
A “smash and grab” bill that was introduced would have created a new bailable crime called “coordinated petit larceny.”
Two measures affecting the slain migrants were removed: one that would have required asylum seekers living in the Empire State to register with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and a second that would have prohibits schools, daycares and other community centers from being used as migrants. shelters.
“It’s no surprise that Democrats blocked Republican bills in committee, but they offer no solutions,” Barclay said. “A public opinion poll shows that nearly 60 percent of New Yorkers believe the quality of life here has deteriorated over the past year. The work of the committee today has clearly shown us why and how one-party rule continues to fail us.”
New York Post
