Hudson Valley lawmakers push for congestion pricing to end, local businesses discuss impact
The legal showdown over congestion pricing rages on as some Hudson Valley lawmakers call for it to come to a halt. Meanwhile, local business owners say it's taking a toll on them.
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The legal showdown over congestion pricing rages on as some Hudson Valley lawmakers call for it to come to a halt. Meanwhile, local business owners say it's taking a toll on them.
Carolina Libran stays busy. She owns Carolina's Desserts in Yonkers. Her business delivers to a lot of places all around New York City and its suburbs.
However, those stops in Manhattan have had to be slightly restructured.
"We have to change the route, maybe not go as often as we used to before," Libran explains.
Libran says congestion pricing is to blame.
She's not the only one having to re-navigate some things.
"We have folks who are in wholesale beverage distributions, they're making deliveries to hotels and bars. If the prices have to go up, it could interfere with the profitability," says Al Samuels, CEO of the Rockland Business Association.
A growing number of lawmakers are working to get congestion pricing shut down.
"We don't need to pause congestion pricing, we need to hit delete," says Sen. Rob Rolison.
They're not only calling for a full repeal of congestion pricing but they also want an independent audit of the MTA.
It comes as a legal battle plays out between the White House and the MTA.
Data from the MTA shows congestion pricing is reducing traffic below 60th street and is generating revenue.
"For the month of January, our estimated revenue is $48.6 million," said Jai Patel, co-chair of the MTA finance committee.
Some commuters are in support of it.
"I think it's great, I hope we continue it," says Metro North commuter Laura Moreira.
Others are not.
"I don't think it's fair. You already pay the bridge, now you got to pay another toll. It's too much," says Metro-North commuter Irma Rivera.
