How seriously does New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) take her commitment to green policies, to improve the quality of New York City's air quality, reduce the Empire State's carbon emissions, and reduce the state's role in climate change? She seems to be serious about it, as witnessed by her congestion-pricing plan for New York, wherein vehicles entering the island of Manhattan were to be charged a toll above and beyond the normal. The goal? A "greener, more sustainable future."
Well, we can't read minds, but there's a nugget of wisdom, a very old one, that says:
- By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
Governor Hochul appears to be trying to gather grapes with her congestion-pricing plan for the island of Manhattan, but she seems to be getting stuck by the thorns of a possible electoral backlash — so she's stomping on the brakes.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that she would stop the planned June 30 roll out of a congestion pricing plan, reportedly due to concerns about backlash at the voting booth.
The stated goal of congestion pricing in the Big Apple is to get greener by improving air quality and reducing traffic, but Hochul is reportedly more concerned that what's billed as an environmental policy could hurt Democrats in this year's tight races.
"My commitment to a greener, more sustainable future is unwavering," Hochul said at a press conference Wednesday, criticizing those "questioning my motives."
I will address the governor directly: Madam Governor, I am questioning your motives.
A source familiar with the matter earlier told Politico that Hochul is responding to concerns brought by House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who is vying to flip the House back blue come November.
The GOP managed to reclaim a thin majority in the House two years ago largely due to several key Republican congressional victories in New York.
The first-in-the-nation congestion pricing plan came when New York City transit ridership has taken a nosedive due to public safety concerns. It had received serious blowback from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, former President Donald Trump and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
This isn't about being clean and sustainable, after all, is it? It's not about making New York cleaner or safer — certainly not safer. It's not about the climate; this policy was developed in large part to appease climate scolds who think we humans are about to set the planet on fire. And she's dropping it because Hakeem Jeffries is worried about his odds of taking the Speaker's gavel in January.
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Driving, the Younger Generation, and the Glorious Freedom of Mobility
This is all part and parcel of the general Democrat/leftist (but I repeat myself) hypocrisy on this issue, from Al Gore's magnificent Tennessee mansion to Barack Obama's oceanfront villas inches above the tide line to John Kerry's yacht and private jet.
Oh, some oppose congestion pricing for other reasons and indeed, there are many other reasons to do so. The Trucking Association of New York is complaining (rightly, I should think) that the congestion pricing would unfairly target truckers, which I would point out would also raise the prices of all goods so delivered into the city. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo complains that the city has not yet recovered from the COVID flapdoodle and the fees would slow the return rate of office workers into the city. Both are good points — but Governor Hochul and Hakeem Jeffries seem to be most concerned about elections.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) chief, Janno Lieber, warns that the MTA has no "plan B" to raise funds to fix up the subway stations and city transit without this plan. Here's a thought: Maybe clean up the city's transit systems, get the bums out of the cars, lock up violent criminals, and make the city's trains, buses, and subways clean and safe. Build it, and they will come — make the transit options safe and clean, and passengers will return.
Governor Hochul, however, has a plan B.
To fill the gap from a potentially nixed congestion program, Hochul is considering a new tax on businesses in New York City, where taxpayers are already burdened by some of the highest in the country, the Times reported. The new business tax would need approval from the state legislature.
It's unclear what form this tax on businesses will take, but I'll offer a prediction: It will chill many who are thinking of moving back into the city and, on the margins, will cause some businesses to look for greener pastures.
At any rate, it's clear now how cheaply Kathy Hochul holds her concern over climate change and green policies. It's all virtue-signalling, nothing more; and it's all fun and games until it starts costing them elections.
