Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., told Newsmax on Tuesday that New York City's new toll for drivers entering midtown Manhattan and the financial pain it will cause commuters and businesses is "[Democrat Gov.] Kathy Hochul's mess."
On Sunday, the congestion pricing toll for certain areas of New York City officially took effect with the intention of reducing traffic gridlock while simultaneously raising money to update the city's decaying public transit. Malliotakis said that the GOP currently has "a lawsuit in court saying they violated federal law by not conducting a full environmental impact statement."
"I spoke with President-[elect Donald] Trump last week about this, and I know he still opposes congestion pricing and understands that it will have a negative impact on New York's economy and the residents that we represent. But we're looking right now at every legal and legislative option. Obviously, this was a mess created by the Democrats in New York. This is Kathy Hochul's mess. We're going to try to fix it from the federal level. But really, what the state should be doing is repealing this," she said during an appearance on "National Report."
Malliotakis, who represents two of the impacted neighboring boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island, says they are looking at various options when Trump takes office to repeal the law.
"It was ridiculous that the Biden administration rubber-stamped the state's law and this program without requiring that study. In fact, they said there was a finding of no significant impact, which is ludicrous when you see how it's shifting pollution and traffic to the outer boroughs and communities like the one I represent. So we still have some options here on the table, and we will use every tool possible," she added.
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James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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