Two LI town supervisors: Our residents can't afford tolling plan

When Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York is pressing pause on congestion pricing, millions of Long Island residents breathed a sigh of relief.

Across our communities, we hear the same refrain — families are struggling with affordability and the cost of living.

The ongoing impacts of inflation continue to push the cost of everyday goods higher. And the rising cost of housing and essential services has put even greater strain on many families. Government has a responsibility to help address these issues, not add to them. This isn’t the time to nickel-and-dime Long Island families.

As the governor outlined, the potential effects of congestion pricing are often put into two boxes: People will continue driving and pay the tolls, or they'll take public transportation. But a third possibility — that people will choose not to work in the city or visit it — is now far more salient than it was pre-pandemic.

And we’ve heard that in our conversations with constituents, who dreaded the prospect of this fee hitting them every time they entered Manhattan. They tell us that if congestion pricing were to take effect, they would either struggle further under the financial strain or simply not make the trip.

That’s a lose-lose for Long Island families and for New York’s economy.

Congestion pricing also assumes the presence of viable transportation alternatives, but we know those simply don’t exist for thousands of families. Many families across the Island don’t have commuter rail options that stop at their doorstep. For elderly and disabled New Yorkers, even those limited options are not viable.

One thing that makes us proud to represent our communities is that Nassau and Suffolk counties are home to a concentration of front line workers. Front line workers keep our state afloat — going into work each day not knowing the dangers they will face. For these public servants, the congestion tax was not only going to be an economic burden, but a tax on their service.

Additionally, congestion pricing would have a disproportionate impact on small businesses. Small business owners rely on the ability of customers to travel freely and affordably. The additional cost of congestion pricing could deter customers from coming into the city, further impacting the revenue of small businesses already struggling to recover from the pandemic.

Long Islanders are a force for innovation and a model for what it means to serve your community. At a time when affordability is a top concern, congestion pricing would move us in the wrong direction.

There is significant work still to be done to make our state more affordable, and to make investments in public transportation solutions that save money and promote a healthier environment. We need to focus on expanding and improving public transportation options so they are a viable alternative for all residents. This includes addressing accessibility issues for the elderly and disabled and ensuring that transportation options are reliable and convenient.

We are grateful that Gov. Hochul hit pause on congestion pricing, and we will continue working to address the cost-of-living challenges facing families across Long Island. This decision reflects a commitment to put affordability and the well-being of our residents first. By working together, we can find solutions that support our communities without placing additional financial burdens on them.

This guest essay reflects the views of Democrat Rich Schaffer and Republican Angie Carpenter, the town supervisors of Babylon and Islip, respectively. Schaffer and Carpenter are the chair and vice-chair of the Suffolk County Association of Town Supervisors.