OPINION:
No jurisdiction is more hostile to cars than Manhattan. New York politicians abuse drivers as if they were a limitless source of funding for the latest progressive initiatives. Yet the public has finally reached a limit, and politicians are feeling the heat.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul abandoned her “congestion charge” scheme that would have forced anyone driving south of 60th Street to hand over $23. Earlier this month, she declared an “indefinite pause” on the plan, depriving the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the $15 billion windfall it expected.
MTA intended to use those funds to torture drivers with yet more bus lanes, bicycle paths and street closings — the agency approves any proposal that makes life miserable for motorists and has the word “justice” attached to it.
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It took more than a decade to plan, set up and install the necessary enforcement cameras to advance this audacious tax on commuters. Just before it was set to begin, “Bidenomics” hit. With bank accounts already drained by inflation, suburban drivers weren’t going to be able to pay $460 per month on top of the other fees to get to work in the Big Apple.
“You shouldn’t have to pay to drive anywhere, especially after you’re already paying outrageous bridge tolls,” Angelo Veltri, founder of Save Long Island, told The Washington Times. “And public transit has become even more dangerous.”
A round trip via midtown bridges or tunnels can cost between $11 and $17. The less-expensive alternative for getting to work means dealing with subway shootouts, stabbings and the possibility of being shoved in front of a moving train. Not everyone is enthusiastic about being confined in an underground tube with people of unknown mental stability.
On the bright side, Suffolk County commuters will soon be liberated from the 216 money-raising red-light cameras that shake them down on the way to work. Thanks to grassroots activism, lawmakers in Albany and Suffolk County opted not to renew the photo-ticketing contract that expires in December. Save Long Island generated enthusiasm for ending the hated program by running online ads and circulating petitions at street fairs.
Transparent cash grabs tend to be unpopular in an election year. Passed under the guise of improving safety, Suffolk County’s red-light cameras have made its streets more perilous. Rear-end crashes jumped 55% at the intersections with the devices, according to the county’s own report.
This happens when fastidious drivers slam on the brakes as soon as the light turns yellow to avoid getting a ticket in the mail. They are instead surprised by a loud jolt from behind, as the driver following wasn’t able to stop in time. The resulting shunts either require an unwelcome trip to the body shop, or worse, a trip to the emergency room.
Local politicians were happy to ignore such downsides because of the steady stream of loot — $20 million a year — camera contractors poured into county coffers.
If a special session of the Legislature is called, there’s a chance the ticket cameras and congestion charging can be revived. That’s why the local activists aren’t resting until all the cameras are permanently removed, ensuring they can’t be turned back on after the election.
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