NYC Gazette

Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny (R,C-Coney Island) recently criticized the MTA’s decision to implement congestion pricing in Manhattan below 61st Street. The plan includes charging drivers up to $15 and truck drivers even higher rates, which will come into effect this summer after a public information campaign and testing period.

Brook-Krasny expressed his concerns about the impact of these tolls on working-class families, particularly those commuting from Brooklyn to Manhattan. He stated, "Congestion pricing is another slap in the face to hard-working New Yorkers who are just trying to provide for their families." He further added, "There’s no reason why a single mother in Southern Brooklyn who is struggling to provide for her kids should be forced to pay upward of $15 a day just to drive to work."

The Assemblyman highlighted the financial burden this policy would place on residents, emphasizing that New York City is already expensive to live in due to existing policies. Brook-Krasny suggested exploring alternative methods to fund public transportation improvements and road maintenance, stating, "Certainly, we can find a different way to cover the cost of updating our public transportation and fixing the roads." He concluded by advocating for the support and reward of working families instead of penalizing them for government shortcomings, asserting, "We should be rewarding working families, not punishing them for their government’s failures."