Former President Donald Trump railed against New York City‘s new congestion pricing Tuesday as he made his way to the courthouse for his criminal hush money case.
“I can’t believe that New York City is instituting Congestion Pricing, where everyone has to pay a fortune for the ‘privilege’ of coming into the City, which is in desperate trouble without it. It is a big incentive not to come — there are plenty of other places to go,” Mr. Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“It’s been a failure everywhere it has been tried, and would only work if a place were HOT, HOT, HOT, which New York City is not right now. What office tenant or business would want to be here with this tax. Hopefully, it will soon be withdrawn!” he said.
According to the MTA’s website, congestion pricing is set to begin on June 30. The plan consists of a fee to enter Midtown Manhattan, the central business district, which starts below 60th Street. The fees include $15 for cars, $7.50 for motorcycles, $24 for small trucks and $36 for big trucks.
The MTA has estimated the new fees will result in 100,000 fewer vehicles in the district each day. The authority has said the funds are necessary to cut down on traffic, but to also raise funds for mass transit projects.
There are certain exemptions, such as school and commuter buses, certain emergency and government vehicles, those with disabilities and low-income residents.
Lawsuits are pending to take down the plan.
Mr. Trump has not had good things to say about New York City ever since he’s had to face one civil fraud lawsuit and one criminal case in Manhattan.
He is in the city for his criminal hush-money trial. He pleaded not guilty last year to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with reimbursement payments to his former attorney Michael Cohen. His lawyers have said the payments to Mr. Cohen were actual legal expenses and not part of a cover-up. The trial is on day 13 and is expected to last six to eight weeks.