Congestion Pricing Unpaused, Judge Refuses To Grant Injunction, New Tolling Goes Into Effect January
Editor’s note: Rep. Malliotakis stated, upon the pausing of congestion pricing prior to the election in November, that the move was temporary, meant to help democrats get elected because the plan is widely unpopular. Asm Pirozzolo has the same view. Quite soon after the election, it was announced that congestion pricing would become a reality. BP Fossella and other elected officials continue to fight to defeat the bill entirely. New Yorkers, especially working-class New Yorkers, don’t need yet another toll, which will just cause an indirect cost of living increase while shifting pollution and cars to the outer boroughs, especially Staten Island. Another indirect result is likely to be even worse ambulance response times than what is already seen as too long.
A Statement from Borough President Vito Fossella on Denial of Injunction in Congestion Pricing Lawsuit
We are disappointed, but not that surprised, that the judge denied our request for an injunction in our lawsuit against congestion pricing, with less than two weeks to spare before the program begins.
There yet remains a possibility that other legal proceedings may delay the program, as the Rockland County and New Jersey cases are still being considered. Our claims that congestion pricing violates the Green Amendment, Federal NEPA, and the Commerce Clause and right to travel continue to be heard, and it continues to be our hope that the program will be defeated in court.
We also thank President-elect Trump for his ongoing opposition to congestion pricing, which he has vowed to eliminate on his first day in office, and we are optimistic that President-elect Trump will intervene to protect Staten Islanders and end the program once and for all.
As we have said from day one, we will continue to fight against this program on behalf of all those Staten Islanders who stand to gain nothing, and lose much, due to congestion pricing.
Banner Image: Better Buses Action Plan Photo 2 – Pedestrians at Flushing Queens. Image Credit – NYC DOT
BP Vito Fossella
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.