SmithieForMayor NYC 2025

Congestion charge is an unfair regressive tax levied on New Yorkers'

NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 25, 2025 / Congestion charge in New York City is not just unfair on New Yorkers', it is a regressive tax nobody wants, but afraid to say so. To drivers in the city, it is a tension afflicting burden. A nightmare to those bringing supplies to the city, and an unnecessary charge to those driving through or visiting the city.

It is not only forcing numbers of visitors to Times Square to drop below expected numbers, it is impacting Broadway shows and parking garage businesses in Manhattan, in ways similar to the public drought of the pandemic period. As for coffee shops, delis and street food trucks, that are far from being happy with their main suppliers spreading the cost of congestion charge onto essential commodities.

No matter what the city says about reinvesting profits generated from this charge as a reason for justifying its existence, matter of fact is, congestion charge is a good example of what we've always thought of equality, equity and tax, regressive or not.

For example, if you are one of those who commute to work in Manhattan via helicopter from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, New Jersey or Connecticut, to any of the many heliports in Manhattan, then get picked up and driven to your office - anywhere below 60th street - you are far from being touched by the newly enacted congestion charge in Manhattan.

But like any New Yorker who lives in a congestion affected area, you can always turn around and claim to be affected by this regressive tax in your corporate tax filing at the end of each year. Vehicle or not, the effect of this charge on basic essentials is enough to back up a claim from the IRS.

This alone is a direct slap on any type of tax, all types of levy and equality.

On the equity front, the argument is, New Yorkers' - especially low-income earners, who now have to pay to go to work, pay to seek healthcare or drop kids off schools, are now conditioned - like parolees, to access resources needed to keep their lives going.

Guess what! I thought we had started a revolution over something similar to this!

This is why I plan to nullify congestion charge if elected Mayor, City of New York, this winter.

As a remedy, I propose an introduction of a levy on movable items. This will be a mandatory levy for all vehicle owners. Say, a "chit-in-lieu" for a yearly deposit of $500 - in advance of parking violations in New York City, on movable items like cars, SUVs, vans, buses and trucks of certain size before you put them on the road. This will be renewable every year.

Paying into this traffic trust/depository means your tickets and fines come out of your deposit. You can always refill the whole depository as soon as your deposit is depleted, or carry over your balance into the next vehicle year, and top it up.

I am Abbey Laurel-Smith, an Independent candidate running for Mayor of the City of New York. As your candidate, I favor the general well-being of all New Yorkers. And as much as I promise to work to improve the living experience for retirees, students, city workers and low income families, I also promise to work hard on bringing back those high earning out-migrators who left the city for neighboring states during the pandemic.

And if elected Mayor, city of New York, I will protect your right by standing up for what you care about the most.

I put New Yorkers first.

Join me, vote better live this general election and let's rebuild your city.

https://www.rebuildnewyork.city

Follow my campaign, donate if you can, and help spread the word about SmithieForMayor NYC 2025.

Contact:
Abbey S Laurel-Smith
mayor@rebuildnewyork.city
@smithieformayor @SmithiesNewYork

SOURCE: Abbey S Laurel-Smith