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LOWER EAST SIDE RESIDENTS ARE THE LATEST TO FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST NYC'S
CONTROVERSIAL CONGESTION PRICING PLAN

By Marcia Kramer

Updated on: January 18, 2024 / 8:46 PM EST / CBS New York

 * 
 * 
 * 

Lower East Side residents sue to stop congestion pricing

NEW YORK - Residents of the Lower East Side joined a bevy of elected officials
to file a class action lawsuit to stop congestion pricing. 

They're the latest New Yorkers to claim the MTA disregarded the environmental
impact on their community in pushing ahead with the controversial plan. 

First, it was New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, followed by the mayor of Fort Lee,
and the borough president of Staten Island. Now it's people who live on the
Lower East Side saying congestion pricing will adversely impact their lives and
demanding a full-scale environmental impact study before the tolling plan goes
into effect. 

 * READ MORE: MTA's congestion pricing public comment period runs through March
   11      
   

"I feel that my voice and the voices of my neighborhood have been ignored and
dismissed," Lower East Side resident Trevor Holland said. 



Holland was one of many sign-carrying protestors worrying about the increase in
pollution caused by congestion pricing, which will charge drivers steep fees to
drive into Manhattan's Central Business District below 60th Street. 

"The MTA lies when it says that congestion pricing will have a positive impact
on the Central Business District, and that it will help the environment. Their
own environmental impact statement shows it will increase pollutants in this
very community," Lower East Side resident Lee Berman said. 

The residents were joined by numerous public officials in filing a class action
lawsuit. Several lawmakers represented so-called "transit deserts," where
residents are forced to drive dur to the lack of mass transit options. 

"Why isn't there an environmental impact study on such a - it's going to push,
obviously, pollution around the other nieghborhoods. Why not? You know why.
Because they might not like the results," said Councilman Robert Holden of
Queens. "They did an environmental assessment study, which is essentially a
rubber stamp. That's how serious the MTA is." 

With congestion pricing set to raise a billion dollars a year for capital
improvements, others questioned the ability of the agency to spend money
wisely. 

"Simply throwing more money down the black hole of a broken system is not the
answer," Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said. 



The MTA defended its 4,000-page environmental assessment, and insisted the
environmental concerns "will be reevaluated for the adopted tolling structure
before tolling commences." 

"It's time to move forward and deal with the congestion that's clogging roads
and slowing down emergency vehicles, buses and commerce while also polluting the
air we breathe," John McCarthy of the MTA said. 

Legal experts said residents may have a good case for a reevaluation of the
policy. 

"There's a lot of moving parts here, but certainly the court is going to be
given enough to chew on that they need to at least put the MTA's feet to the
fire about the environmental impact," legal expert David Schwartz said. 

The MTA hopes congestion pricing will begin in the spring, but with so many
different suits, it's unclear whether they'll be able to.



CLICK HERE for more information about the plan.


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   In:
 * Congestion Pricing
 * Lower East Side
 * MTA
 * Class-Action Lawsuit

Marcia Kramer

Marcia Kramer joined CBS2 in 1990 as an investigative and political reporter.
Prior to CBS2, she was the City Hall bureau chief at the New York Daily News.

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First published on January 18, 2024 / 2:43 PM EST

© 2024 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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