This is not a tax, it's a toll. You can tell because you can easily get out of paying it. I go into the zone almost every single day and yet I will never pay the toll. I'll simply walk, take the subway, bike, or take a bus. — Martin on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

When we would go to pick up falafel my wife would wait outside because the smell was so strong. Only falafel place I like. — Craig on Falafel Tanami has closed

Not a tax, but a toll. Like at the bridges and tunnels. This is for CBD. — Rich on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

It will not help but more flow into those people’s pockets. if you support this you are NAIVE — Blabla on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

It does not. See this post. https://tribecacitizen.com/2023/08/14/clarity-finally-on-one-angle-of-congestion-pricing-for-downtown-residents/ — Tribeca Citizen on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

@Komanoff Thank you for the thoughtful reply, very helpful On 1, I only moved here in 2007 and back then felt that enforcement was higher. I cycle round the city and was impressed that cylists got stopped if if they hopped on the sidewalk or went the wrong way down a one way street. Now it feels like a total free for all for cars and cyclists. not fact based just survey of one. On 2. that's a shame, we and locally businesses need people coming into the city in off peak hours. Glad you formally flagged it, sorry it was ignored. Helps clarify the purpose of the tax. 3 good to know. Thanks again — Will on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

@N: Perhaps you missed a key nuance from the London rep. Yes, automobile travel speeds in the London zone are no better than they were prior to CP. No, congestion isn't nearly as bad. How can those two statements be true? Because the number of private autos in the zone is down by half compared to pre-CP. As a result, the time that private motorists waste in traffic jams is down by half. Bus speeds are higher due to bus-only lanes. Bicycle speeds are higher due to bike-only lanes. (Yes, CP's "space dividend" has gone to buses and bikes.) The number of *people* coming into London's congestion zone each day is up 20-25% (vs. pre-CP) with no diminution in car speeds. That's a triumph of CP, not a failiure. Details here: https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2023/02/06/latest-data-shows-again-that-londons-congestion-pricing-is-working — Komanoff on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

@Will: 2. I'm in sympathy w/ your opposition to the breadth of the peak price. Under the plan, 60% of all hours in the year, accounting for 80% of vehicle trips, will be charged the peak rate. That's far too much. I proposed a peak/shoulder/offpeak plan in mid-2023 (https://www.komanoff.net/cars_II/NYC-15-9-3.pdf) that at least would have softened/feathered the peak. The MTA wasn't interested. 3. The congestion pricing plan scheduled to start on Jan. 5 includes no exemptions for municipal employees' private cars. 1. Lax (non-existent, actually) enforcement of traffic laws has been part of the city landscape for generations, though I agree it's even worse now b/c drivers are so much more brazen. In my opinion, the absence of enforcement is not an argument against congestion pricing. If anything, CP might make enforcement easier by diminishing overall traffic chaos. — Komanoff on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

Of course it's a tax and that was always the point, never mind the shiny wrapping of virtue they used to sell the idea -- the law's included metric is a $ amount raised, not a metric related to congestion, like the time it takes to drive across town or ambulance response times. I recently saw an interview with an official that was involved in establishing London's initial congestion fee and she admitted that while congestion dropped initially, it is now worse than before, which she attributed to the many traffic lanes they'd subsequently taken out of service for bike lanes, etc. — N on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

Couple of things: 1 - Law Enforcement. I agree with all the above comments recommending that before you even get to congestion charging simply enforce the current law. Follow the traffic lights, don't block the junctions, no use of the horn etc etc. For some reason New Yorkers seem to accept not following the law. Post de-fund the police seems to of created a city where no one expects the law to be enforced. Not the citizens, not the police. Why are people here cheering on this tax but not demanding law enforcement. 2 - It's a tax. Taxing local residents and having it run to 9pm makes it a tax, In other cities they price it to actually hit peak congestion and wave it in off peak to encourage and support local businesses like restaurants. And they support local residents. Why is this being charged until 9pm and not 6.30pm and why all weekend ? , It's fine to do that be just don't call it a congestion charge call it a New York City Road Tax, acknowledge that local businesses will be hit. 3 - Exemptions. Will huge number of city employees parking exceptions also be excluded from paying the new tax ? As discussed here it's difficult for local residents to park as city employees all have an exception to parking restrictions. If they are seems unlikely to make much change locally. — Will on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

Still need clarification on one point...If I drive from...say, Greenwich Street and Chambers across the West Side Highway into BPC and then back out, does that trigger a charge? — pk on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

How do other cities deal with fare evasion, especially on buses, if they use an electronic ticketing system (like OMNY) that has no physical printed receipt? — Marcus on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

Regarding fare evasion on the subways, it might help to turn on the alarms again for the emergency gates. In the past, those emergency gates triggered the alarm, and was much less common to see people using it as an exit, much less holding it open so others could cheat their way in. The gates are clearly marked that they are for emergency use only, yet people now use them as an exit instead of exiting through the turnstiles. Of course, there still has to be enforcement through ticketing. But at least the alarm is annoying, and if there are police around, that should alert them to address the fact that the gate is open and ticket all the cheaters using it. — Marcus on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

Interestingly a neighbor who describes himself as very progressive sees the trend of dog parents taking dogs where dogs are not permitted (and the entitlement) as related to MAGA culture- do whatever you want no matter what. — Ala on Seen & Heard: Los Tacos No. 1 doing its part

Hooray! Hochul played truly awful politics with this, because she's really not very good at her job, but in the end, her hands were tied, and that's a good thing. I am loath to give her any credit for this, but whatever, we're moving on. I only worry that the $9 toll isn't high enough to reduce congestion enough for people to see the immediate benefits, and the capital construction to improve the subways will take time. If/when they sell the bonds, though, there's likely no going back regardless. It's also sort of infuriating that the price is lower than mass transit of various types. The peak toll of $9 and the off-peak toll of $2.25 are both still cheaper than an off-peak LIRR ride to Nassau ($10.75) and the subway fare ($2.90, likely $3 flat soon), each just for one person. It's just perverse. But I'll take any progress we can get. — malcolm on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

Regarding enforcement, the MTA / NYPD needs a plan to tackle fare evasion. Earlier this week I boarded a 34th St crosstown bus near NYU hospital, using the middle entrance of an articulated bus and a woman was leaning on and blocking the screen of the OMNY kiosk. I had to ask her to move so I could tap to pay my fare and she looked at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was, because of the 12 people who crowded on behind me, only one other person paid the fare. It was about the same ratio all the way west to 7th Ave, where I got off. In the pre-OMNY days when you had to get the little slip of paper before boarding there were often police officers at the 7th Ave stop asking to see them. Also, can anyone explain to me why if I cross the Hudson eastbound on the GWB and then travel south to Tribeca on the WSH / 12th Ave / West St I won't get a credit against the congestion fee, but if I travel south in NJ to either the Lincoln or Holland tunnels and then continue my trip on the same route I will? It doesn't seem like a particularly hard programming problem given that my EZ-pass is going to trigger every toll. — N on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

YES to enforcement! It would likely be as effective as the toll in improving traffic and raising revenue for mass transit. Fare evasion, double parking, blocking intersections, running red lights. No one respects the rules when they are not enforced and this breakdown sadly pervades the city. It has to start somewhere! — Elizabeth on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

WHEN WILL THE TAXES STOP????? — Sleepy Joe on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

I certainly hope it will help. I'm all for giving it a try. So along with this we really need enforcement of traffic regulations, including keeping crosswalks and intersections clear (Remember "Don't Block the Box"). Plus bonus: Enforce the no honking laws. Imagine how many tickets (income, city!) that would generate. Canal Street is one of the worst areas for scoff-law insane traffic, with no regard for pedestrian safety. Nearly got run over again on Canal Street the other day, because so many vehicles were in the crosswalk that turning vehicles couldn't see (or didn't care about) pedestrians who had the light. Recently we were a large group crossing Canal Street (we had the walk signal) and were nearly hit by someone who ran a red light. We all had to quickly get out of the way and it was a near miss. Driver was going way above speed limit as well...and just kept going, of course. If all else fails, let's Canal Street back into a canal and have our own (undoubtedly filthy) Venice in New York. Is there a good reason for traffic cops at an intersection? They are either redundant, repeating the commands of the traffic lights, or confusing, contradicting the commands of the traffic lights. It seems to me that any cops should be there for the sole purpose of enforcing the rules - including the aforementioned rules about red-light running, blocking intersections and crosswalks, and yes, horn-honking etc. But all of that could also be done with cameras and sound sensors (did those ever happen?). I never see cops giving tickets for these infractions. — Marcus on ICYMI, Congestion pricing is back

As of 8/2021, Laughing Man was not listed as a Street Seats location (i.e., open to the public). See PDF list here: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/street-seats-locations.pdf (Even Street Seats locations have a legally limited season: "public spaces between the months of March through December" per DOT.) As an Outdoor Dining location, it need not be open to the public. It has been a Roadway Cafe since the pandemic, as per its application data on NYC OpenData: objectid 655 globalid 18474850-f3cd-472c-8a6b-ebc398957ec2 Seating Interest (Sidewalk/Roadway/Both) roadway Restaurant Name Laughing Man Coffee Business Address 184 Duane Street, Manhattan, NY Roadway Dimensions (Length) 28 Roadway Dimensions (Width) 6 Roadway Dimensions (Area) 168 Approved for Roadway Seating yes Landmark District or Building yes landmarkDistrict_terms yes healthCompliance_terms yes Time of Submission 6/19/2020 13:27 — james on Seen & Heard: Friends & Fashion is this week

K. Say it!!!! No dogs allowed. I’m wearing my Dark MAGA cap to Whole Foods next time. I’ll be kicked out, and the dogs will continue to break the law along with their elite owners. — Bobbie on Seen & Heard: Los Tacos No. 1 doing its part

Tribeca Paint on West Broadway and Franklin — Tribeca Citizen on New Kid on the Block: Little More

If you're an actual person I'm terrified — Thomas on Seen & Heard: Los Tacos No. 1 doing its part

I don’t fully understand why Laughing Man is subject to the seasonal limitations imposed on the dining sheds erected during Covid, and as such has to dismantle its seating area this month. As you say, the seating area at Laughing Man was built pre-Covid pursuant to different regulations, and use is not limited to Laughing Man patrons. Please let us know if you hear of anything we fans of keeping the area intact year-round can do to help! — SW on Seen & Heard: Friends & Fashion is this week

welcome to our town! — madeline c lanciani on New Kid on the Block: Little More