By Noah Rothman
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Andrew’s analysis of New York governor Kathy Hochul’s
conspicuously timed resurrection of New York City’s “congestion pricing” scheme
is spot-on. It’s certainly not designed to do much of anything about
congestion. And while the program might scratch the itch of the aspiring
central planners who harbor an irrational animus toward cars, that’s not its
value proposition. Rather, congestion pricing is little more than a cash grab
aimed at milking ever more revenue from the declining population of
out-of-state commuters.
According to Hochul, the targets of her plot should be
grateful. After all, it could have been worse:
The carnival barker pretense the governor slipped into
here illustrates how Hochul sees her relationship with your money. Only a
Democratic politician could envision a brand-new tax, revise it downward under
duress and amid intense public hostility, and then call it savings. Only by
operating from the assumption that, by shuffling into town every day and
producing value, commuters are somehow stealing from the city would such a
paradigm make any sense.
Even if Hochul herself doesn’t necessarily buy that, New
York’s government is replete at all levels with technocrats who do. She’s
probably attempting to provide them with a superficially clever talking point
that might soothe the skeptics. But as talking points go, this is an especially
dumb one.
It’s hard to imagine anyone familiar with the
Metropolitan Transit Authority would believe the organization is maximally
streamlined and proficient enough to do more with less. What’s more, those put
upon commuters for whom public transportation is prohibitive (time is money)
are unlikely to be as enthused by the supposed savings Hochul has generously
bestowed upon them. After all, as she conceded, “Your toll today is $0.” And in
January, it won’t be.
Kathy Hochul seems to be expecting a “thank you.” It’ll be a long wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment