The Issue: Gov. Hochul weighing bringing back congestion pricing after the November elections.
Gov. Hochul says she may want to revive the suspended congestion-pricing program, but only after the November elections (“Kat rethinks congestion,” Aug. 19).
If it is a go𝓡od policy, why not implement it right now? If she thinks it is popular with constituents, then why delay?
The truth is that the majority oppose this proposal and see it for what it is — another tax on our already overburdened citizenry while the MTA wastes millions of dollars and thousands eva🍬de transit fares daily without consequence.
The best solution is to get the freeloaders who jump the turnstiles and board buses without paying to actually pay their fares; this will erase the $700 million shortfall. There is no need to burden the rꦦest of us with the cost of this boondoggle. This is right, simple and fair.
Richard Rafal
Manhattan
Instead of implementing congestion-pricing the MTA should focus on the daily fare-beater♏. If all commuters paid the fare there would be no need for congestion pricing.
Every day🦩 when I take the bus, people are allowed to get a free ride, either♛ by entering through the back door or simply by being waved on by the bus driver.
Ezra Ini, Queens
When are we going to accept the fact that congeꦕstion pricing🎐 has nothing to do with solving the congestion problem in Manhattan?
It is nothing more than a means for the MTA to rai𒉰se more money to overcome its bloated budget and incompetent management. It will not relieve congestion♔.
Congestion in Manhattan is due to a numb⭕er of factors: permanently closed major throughways, numerous bike lanes, oppressive parking regulations an♓d pop-up dining venues.
Harvey Strickon
Great Neck
The governor thinks she has finally found a way to appease⛦ the MTA and the people that oppose congestion pricing entering New York, but don’t be fooled.
Albany could lower the charge to any figure, say $2, and then at any time in the future raise the toll just like it has done on th🎀e bridges and tunnels in the past.
Once the toll-ta𝕴kers get their foot in the door, there will be no turning back.🍨
John Giriat
The Bronx
The Issue: President Biden’s late-night speech at the Democratic National Convention.
President Biden’s convention speech showed him to be a decent, patriotic family man. It also exposed a few of the president’s blind spots (“Welcome to the late late Joe,” Aug. 20).
Biden once again said America is getting better rather than going downhill. This is transparently untrue. This kind of flattery of the♎ electorate shows that Democrats are not above manipulating reality like MAGA Republicans do.
Additionally, Biden’s “big heart” looks false when you consider the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East, which has lead to the disproportionate 🐼slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza. Biden’s decent heart takes a nosedive here.
Kimball Shinkoskey
Woods Cross, Utah
Why was Joe bumped out of prime ܫtime? How do you take the president of the United States and tune him out?
All the compassion 𒉰that Dems showed him on Monday was staged. There is little compa🌞ssion in that party.
Mindy Rader
New City
Unless I missed it, Biden did not try to crash the convention and wre✅stle back the nomination from Vice President Kamal Harris, which is what former President Donald Trump wishfully predicted might happen.
Vin Morabito
Scranton, Pa.
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