FDNY Union Leaders Warn Against Congestion Pricing After Exemption Denied: ‘Don’t Go This Way’
FDNY union leaders oppose the Big Apple’s new congestion pricing, warning that the toll will negatively impact response times, leaving residents and first responders with potentially deadly traffic.
Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro and Uniformed Firefighters Association President Jim Brosi discussed the new congestion pricing and its unintended side effects on the fire service during “FOX & Friends.”
“We begged and begged, ‘Don’t go this way,'” Ansbro told Lawrence Jones on Tuesday. “Only about 270 firefighters work in the zone every day. We estimate the cost will be $3,000 a day because we bring our vehicles into the zone, and we bring the vehicles into the city, and then we use them when they move us from firehouse to firehouse.”
“When there is a shortage [in] in one place, and in another surplus… twice a day you have from three to 400 firefighters going to another fire station or returning from that fire station, and they used to have the possibility to use 2,000 of our cars at a moment, “he continued.
But new tollwhich reportedly makes the Big Apple the most expensive city to drive in, has prompted many firefighters to leave their cars at home to avoid the astronomical cost.
As a result, they no longer have access to those cars if they are called to work outside their zone in the city, leaving them to rely on coordination with other firefighters or public transport – all while lugging their £85 worth of equipment.
Officials say there are about 200 cases each day when firefighters are called to work outside their original zone to relieve staff shortages.
“The members said they’re fed up. They don’t want to do it,” Ansbro said. “So members are waiting … four, six, eight hours after their 24-hour shift to get back to where they started.”
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Congestion pricing, which took effect Jan. 5, costs $9 for cars, $4.50 for motorcycles, $14.40 for small trucks and $21.60 for large trucks and tour buses during peak hours.
City authorities stand by the charge despite criticism, arguing that the revenue is needed by the City Transport Authority (MTA) to modernize the Big Apple and claim the tax will reduce emissions.
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – 11/14/2024: Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a press announcement to unveil a path to nonstop congestion charging. The plan will launch with a discounted base fare of $9, down from the original plan of $15, with a start date set for January 5, 2025. Congestion pricing is designed to raise money for the MTA’s capital plan, while reducing congestion, to tolling drivers in Manhattan south of 60th Street. The press briefing was held at the governor’s office in New York on 3rd Avenue. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The new toll encourages city visitors to use mass transit instead, like New York’s subway system — but recent criminal attacks have raised concerns for people who are forced to use public transport.
“Change is hard. And when things are going well for people — like the 90% of people who know that investing in the system that gets them to work or school every day will be there for them and their families — they don’t take to the streets to say this is great, but they’re the beneficiaries, the vast majority of the people who work in this area,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday.
“I understand the drivers’ frustration. I really do. I really do,” she continued. “But the vast majority of people will benefit from this.”
Brosi argued that the likely delayed response times and unconventional traffic outside of congestion zones could be dangerous for both residents and firefighters, and could cost millions if the department needs additional vehicles to fill the gap.
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“It’s hard to see how that wouldn’t affect response times because these units are operating well outside of their normal routine response area,” Brosi said. “We’ve already seen firefighters stay on duty an extra two, four, six or eight hours after a 24-hour shift in a place where they’re really already doing 6,000 runs a year. That’s a huge toll on members and is likely to lead to more injuries.”
Ansbro said they have sought an exemption from the congestion charge from the city, but to no avail.
“Our business is uncontrolled chaos,” he said. “You start in the morning, wherever you go, you could be at the fire in five minutes. You could be anywhere. You could be sitting and eating breakfast. Who knows how your day will go?”
“But if you’re telling me I have to take a member across town to get him to that firehouse and there’s a run, we’ve got members sitting on platforms while everyone else is inside dealing with an emergency, and a member waiting to go home, he’s sitting out there saying, ‘Well, I’m off duty, I’ve got to sit here and wait,’ and overtime is going on,” he continued. “And it also causes a problem when people are not in position … They lose track of the firefighters.”
Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago are just some of the other cities contemplating a congestion toll.
