PARAMUS, N.J. (WCBS 880) — Several New Jersey lawmakers on Monday announced a possible plan to counteract New York City’s proposed congestion pricing plan.
According to the lawmakers, including Congressman Josh Gottheimer, the legislation in New York City is unfairly targeting New Jersey commuters, who regularly drive into Manhattan for work.
The plan is expected to go into effect next year and New Jersey lawmakers feel the plan will only hinder the recovery from COVID-19.
“We simply cannot expect a robust recovery and a return to in-person work to be successful while workers in New York City are being penalized simply for going to their jobs,” says state Sen. Joe Lagana.
Plenty of New Jersey lawmakers have spoken out against congestion pricing multiple times, but now, they are floating the idea of a sales tax on out-of-state drivers when they cross into New York from New Jersey.
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“To Mayor [Bill] de Blasio and Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo, here’s our answer to your outrageous, aggressive and punitive $3,000-a-year congestion tax,” Gottheimer said. “If New York goes ahead with its congestion tax and adds a new $3,000-a-year tax to Jersey commuters, we’ll be forced to add a new sales tax to every toll and every crossing from New Jersey into New York for all non-New Jersey residents.”
It would likely be collected through EZ-Pass, as people cross using the bridges and tunnels.
Lagana, who is introducing the bill for the counter tax in the New Jersey State Legislature, says the legislation would help protect everyday New Jerseyans as that cash collected from the sales tax would go into a fund to reimburse drivers who pay for congestion pricing in Manhattan.
“Congestion pricing is simply a bridge too far and is an insult to the normally close working relationship between our states,” he said.
New York would be the first American city to implement the plan, and would use the revenue to help the financially-strapped MTA fix up the subway system.
In a statement, the MTA said New Jersey’s proposed legislation is “legally dubious” and insists that congestion pricing will benefit everyone coming to New York by helping to reduce traffic and improving air quality in the city.
However, New Jersey Assemblyman Chris Tully believes New Jersey residents are being used to pay for New York City’s needs.
“Our tax paying residents should not be used to bail out failed policies in New York City,” he said. “We should not be used to fund the MTA or New York’s environmental policies.”
Danny Pearlstein, with the Riders Alliance, however, says New Jersey will also benefit from the change in Manhattan.
"New Yorkers pay each and every time we take the Turnpike or the Parkway in Jersey. Jersey residents have everything to gain by supporting New York's effort to invest in the infrastructure at the core of our region's economic recovery," he said. "The federal government and Governor Cuomo must ensure the rapid and robust implementation of congestion pricing, with no new exemptions, so that New Yorkers -- and Jerseyites -- get the modern, reliable, accessible subway we all deserve."
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