I am a driver commuting daily from New Jersey to lower Manhattan. The burden of paying $17 to cross into the city already strains my budget, and now, the proposed congestion toll would further aggravate the financial pressure. The toll — an additional $9-a-day charge to drive in the city — would make daily living unaffordable for many like myself.

This proposal is not only concerning to individual drivers but also to the overall economy. The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council has highlighted that roughly 833,000 vehicles per day travel into Manhattan's central business district (source: New York Metropolitan Transportation Council Annual Report, 2019). The proposed congestion pricing could deflate the city's bustling economy by up to 7.5% if these users decide to switch their mode of transport or change their routes to avoid the charge.

This squeeze on the pockets of every day hardworking people during an already challenging economic climate reflects poor planning and lack of empathy to the citizens. We understand the need for managing traffic and mitigating air pollution but penalizing us by levying daily usage charges is not an equitable solution. We call on our city leaders to halt this proposal and instead seek other sustainable ways to address traffic and environmental issues.

We are asking for your support to stop the imposition of this unjust congestion toll in Manhattan. Please, sign this petition to demand a fairer solution for all of us.