At the end of 2023, Democrats in New York City introduced congestion pricing, an insane cash grab that would have required cars to pay $15 to enter Manhattan’s Central Business District. [some emphasis, links added]
In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul said at the time, “Congestion pricing means cleaner air, better transit and less gridlock on New York City’s streets, and today’s vote by the MTA Board is a critical step forward. The proposal approved today heeds my call to lower the toll rate by nearly 35 percent from the maximum rate originally considered.”
The tax went into effect in 2024, and in February 2026, Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy tried to shut down the program, calling it a “slap in the face to working-class Americans and small business owners.”
New York fought back, of course, because resisting President Trump was more important than protecting working-class New Yorkers.
Now it turns out congestion pricing in Manhattan did not significantly improve air quality.
Whoops.
Here’s more (emphasis added):
One year of congestion pricing in Manhattan has not dramatically improved air quality citywide, but nor has it worsened pollution in neighborhoods like the South Bronx where some predicted drivers would detour to avoid tolls.
That is the key finding of a report released Friday by New York City health officials, providing what it said was the most comprehensive evaluation to date of four traffic-related pollutants including PM 2.5, the fine particulate matter produced by fuel-burning vehicles and other sources. The report also examined nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and black carbon.
“Before we turned the cameras on, there was concern about the potential for increased pollution caused by drivers looking to avoid the toll,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, in the release. “As this study confirms, that didn’t happen, and congestion pricing is already funding additional investments to further improve air quality.”
New Yorkers are getting scammed.
They were told congestion pricing would fix air quality. It didn’t. So the city is still stealing their money to fund “additional investments to further improve air quality.”
It has been a huge success in creating congestion, though. You need to give credit where credit is due.
— JJS (@jamesseegs) August 16, 2026
Good work all around.
Congestion Pricing should NEVER have been implemented! It was pushed through because too many people catered to the #Gentrifiers instead of listening to Native #NewYorkers who actually live, work, and contribute to this city. #NYC #MTA #JannoLieber @SecDuffy # pic.twitter.com/1ULjTFAtlo
— Paris Sorel (@ParisSorel) August 16, 2026
Why would the government listen to the people most impacted by this?
It was never meant for “air pollution.” It’s another tax to feed a bloated bureaucracy (MTA). pic.twitter.com/GYV2OBMSRG
— Liam Greentree Appreciator🇺🇸🇻🇦🇮🇱 (@RamonesFan41) August 16, 2026
Of course.
Congestion pricing had some effect on traffic in begining. Now it’s back to good old days with congestion everywhere in business district. Only difference we are getting robbed out money every time we set a foot on business district. Shame on MTA shame on governor.
— Tamer Sumer (@TamerSumer6) August 16, 2026
They have no shame.
What a surprise! It was another Communist scam! https://t.co/e1q5tQVZbn
— James Lindsay, anti-Communist (@ConceptualJames) August 16, 2026
It’s all a giant scam.
You don’t say. It’s almost as if those who called out Hochul’s Congestion Pricing tax a money grab were right https://t.co/NkqG50u3RY
— Jean (@queens_parents) August 16, 2026
This includes President Trump and Secretary Duffy.
Top image via Inside Edition/YouTube screencap.
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