Op-Ed: Congestion pricing is ‘a tax on working people disguised as progress’

In an editorial, Jersey City Council President Joyce Watterman, a candidate for mayor, says that congestion pricing is “a tax on working people disguised as progress.”

Set to go into effect tomorrow, New York City’s congestion pricing plan is nothing short of an economic assault on working-class commuters from New Jersey.

Framed as a progressive solution to traffic and climate issues, it instead deepens the divide between Manhattan elites and the working poor who rely on their vehicles to access jobs, education, and healthcare.

For Jersey City residents, already burdened by skyrocketing costs of living, this $9 toll is not a step toward equity—it’s a tollgate to exclusion.

While proponents tout congestion pricing as a necessary step for funding public transit, the reality is that it disproportionately punishes those least able to afford it.

Manhattan residents, who are statistically wealthier and less reliant on cars, will reap the benefits of reduced traffic and cleaner air.

Meanwhile, working-class commuters from New Jersey—many of whom lack reliable transit options—will shoulder the financial burden.

For someone commuting five days a week, this toll adds up to over $2,000 annually, a staggering expense for families already living paycheck to paycheck.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s claim that the reduced $9 fee is “reasonable” ignores the lived realities of those outside Manhattan’s bubble. This isn’t just about money; it’s about mobility and opportunity.

By making access to Manhattan more expensive, the plan effectively tells lower income workers that their presence in the city is less welcome than that of wealthier residents who can easily absorb the cost.

Supporters argue that congestion pricing will reduce pollution in Midtown Manhattan, but at what cost? The plan conveniently ignores the environmental consequences for neighboring communities like Jersey City.

As drivers reroute to avoid tolls, local streets will see increased traffic, noise, and emissions—further degrading air quality in areas already struggling with environmental justice issues.

The South Bronx has seen similar effects from policies prioritizing Manhattan’s air quality at the expense of surrounding areas.

This isn’t environmental justice; it’s environmental hypocrisy.

Instead of addressing systemic inequities in transit access or investing in sustainable infrastructure across the region, New York is exporting its problems to its neighbors while claiming moral high ground.

The congestion pricing scheme also undermines regional cooperation between New York and New Jersey. Governor Phil Murphy has rightly pointed out that New Jersey commuters will see little benefit from this toll despite bearing its costs.

The funds raised—estimated at $15 billion— are earmarked exclusively for New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), leaving New Jersey Transit underfunded and overburdened.

This one-sided arrangement not only strains interstate relations but also sets a dangerous precedent for future policymaking.

If New York can unilaterally impose financial burdens on its neighbors without offering reciprocal benefits, what’s to stop other states from following suit?

Regional challenges like traffic congestion require collaborative solutions—not policies that pit states against each other.

What makes this plan even more infuriating is the lack of consideration for viable alternatives. Instead of imposing regressive tolls, why not invest in expanding and improving public transit options for underserved communities?

Why not implement targeted measures like higher fees for luxury vehicles or corporate fleets that contribute disproportionately to congestion? These solutions would address traffic issues without punishing working-class families.

Moreover, if reducing vehicle use is truly the goal, why hasn’t New York prioritized fixing its crumbling subway system first?

The MTA’s inefficiency and mismanagement are well documented, yet commuters are being asked to bankroll its recovery through punitive measures rather than systemic reform.

Congestion pricing is part of a broader trend where urban policies cater to affluent residents at the expense of everyone else.

From rising rents to gentrification-driven displacement, cities like New York are increasingly becoming playgrounds for the wealthy while pushing out those who make them function—teachers, nurses, construction workers, and small business owners.

This toll doesn’t just create a literal barrier; it reinforces a social one. It sends a clear message: Manhattan is for those who can afford it.

For everyone else—especially lower-income residents in Jersey City and beyond—it’s another reminder that their needs are secondary.

Congestion pricing may reduce traffic in Manhattan, but at what cost?

It exacerbates economic inequality, shifts environmental burdens onto vulnerable communities, and undermines regional cooperation—all while failing to address systemic issues in public transit.

If New York truly wants to lead on climate and urban policy, it must find solutions that uplift all residents—not just those who can afford to pay their way into Midtown.

Until then, congestion pricing remains what it has always been: a tax on working people disguised as progress.