Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
NEW YORK CITY - Today, media reports show that Donald Trump is attempting to kill New York City’s recently implemented congestion pricing program, which went into effect on January 5 for the Central Business District of Manhattan.
The program has been a success so far, with early reports of traffic dropping significantly and positive reports from MTA, including buses moving faster.
The majority of voters want New York City to keep congestion pricing.
Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement:
“When was the last time Donald Trump took the subway or the bus in New York? If he spent just one day living like the majority of New Yorkers, he’d realize the terrible congestion that contributes to polluted air and too many vehicles on the road wasting peoples’ time stuck in traffic. The Sierra Club fought Governor Hochul’s unnecessary delay of congestion pricing last year, and we’ll fight this unlawful attack as well.”
Karl Palmquist, Sierra Club New York City Group Chair, released the following statement:
“New York City suffers from the country’s worst traffic congestion, and we pay the price as residents having to breathe dangerous air pollution from millions of vehicles on our roads. We will not lay down and allow this misguided attack on a successful program that is delivering cleaner air and more efficient transit to our communities. Trump should not be swooping in to block a legally binding policy that New York State passed in 2019.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.