New York State Assembly Members Ed Ra (R- Garden City South) and Missy Miller (R- Atlantic Beach) are calling upon Gov. Cuomo to provide transparency and accountability to suburban motorists regarding his signature congestion pricing proposal that is currently being negotiated as part of his state budget. The initiative, which has been marketed as funding scheme to prop up a financially beleaguered NYC subway and commuter rail system, would impose tolls on motorists entering New York City below 60^th street, providing a $1 billion infusion to a gluttonous mass transit system. What’s more, state legislators and the public are being told by the governor to accept the new tax on drivers or face major mass transit fare hikes; however, he offers no transparency or meaningful details associated with his proposal. Understandably, many suburban drivers are apprehensive about the financial burden that the plan may place upon them. Additionally, the new plan to tax suburban drivers has featured little information on any associated oversight reforms to stem runaway spending by management of the affected transit agencies. The officials called upon the governor’s Office and Majority Senators from Long Island to join them in their call for transparency and accountability on congestion pricing. They also announced their opposition to the regressive new tax.

“The governor’s Congestion Pricing proposal will certainly have a dramatic impact on motorists who drive into Manhattan on a regular basis,” said Ra. “It is outrageous that the administration has not publicized details on exactly what our overtaxed Long Islanders can expect from the plan. What’s more, this is a regressive tax, which is unavoidable for those who must drive into Manhattan for work. In short, Long Islander motorists and those from other suburbs are being told to accept the new driver tax without question. Accordingly, I oppose it.”

“My father commuted into the city for work on a daily basis, and the costs of that trip were significant,” stated Miller. “Adding to the already heavy tax burden of Long Island motorists with a congestion pricing plan that has been shrouded in secrecy is disgraceful. What’s more, I am deeply concerned that we are throwing good money after bad if the plan does not include a transit oversight component to stem the wasteful spending by the affected transit agencies which will receive the revenues from the congestion pricing.”

The Assembly Members also questioned the prospective distribution of congestion pricing revenues. A ten percent share of the revenues from the plan have been mentioned as being earmarked for the LIRR. However, there has been no analysis provided to the public on the source of revenues generated under congestion pricing. Ra and Miller indicated that they believe that the scheme will amount to another city-centric money grab whereby suburban taxpayers will subsidize New York City transit.

“There have been very few details provided to the public on this plan,” said Ra. “I will oppose any plan that witnesses Long Islanders subsidizing New York City infrastructure. While I oppose congestion pricing on principle, I am further offended by Long Islanders further funding the upkeep of New York City’s infrastructure.”

Ra and Miller invited Long Island’s Majority Senators, who have a powerful say in the budget process, to stand with them in demanding transparency and accountability in the congestion pricing debate. Additionally, they asked all state representatives to fight against the new congestion pricing tax on Long Island’s motorists.