Governor Kathy Hochul is accused by Republican officials of planning to raise taxes following the November elections, a tactic they claim mirrors her previous actions with congestion pricing post-2024 campaigns.
Hochul, a Democrat campaigning for her second full term, has assured she will not yield to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s appeal to increase income taxes on the wealthy and boost corporate taxes to address a budget gap in the city.
Nevertheless, Republicans argue that her prior reversal on congestion pricing is a reason for skepticism among voters.
GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman stated, “After securing her position, Hochul reversed her stance on congestion pricing, and similarly, she will hike taxes impacting not just millionaires but also middle-class families via higher utility bills, commuter expenses, and concealed charges.”
Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, who also chairs the Staten Island Republican Party, remarked, “Last year, Governor Hochul misled taxpayers by initially halting congestion pricing, only to reinstate it post-Election Day. There is no justification to trust she won’t repeat this with tax increases following November.”
“Voters should remain vigilant,” he warned.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority was scheduled to implement congestion pricing in June 2024. But Hochul, with much fanfare, issued a “pause” or suspension of the program amid a backlash, including from parts of the city that have no subways and rely more on driving to get around the city.
Published reports at the time said Democrats — including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries eyeing to become the next speaker — urged Hochul to back off implementing the new toll to protect the party’s candidates in congressional races.
She resurrected congestion pricing — albeit a lower $9 fee to enter Midtown south of 60th Street — in November 2024, following the elections, and the tolls took effect the following January.
“Fool me once, shame on you Fool me twice, shame on me,” said Queens GOP Councilwoman Joann Ariola.
“Hochul did it with congestion pricing. She’ll do it with taxes.”
GOP Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis said Hochul should sign a “no tax pledge” but “even then, I’d be skeptical.”
“She stopped the congestion tax two years ago because it was a third rail for Democrats, then brought it back immediately after the election. When it comes to taking money from New Yorkers, Kathy Hochul just can’t be trusted,” said Malliotakis, who represents Staten Island and southern Brooklyn.
State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-SI) chimed in,”Her track record would certainly portend that action.”
“The single greatest factor and cause of New York’s unaffordability problem: Democrat and socialist taxes and policies,” he said.
A Hochul spokesperson said Thursday that “the governor has been clear she won’t raise taxes for the sake of raising taxes.”
“New Yorkers can trust that Governor Hochul will continue delivering on her affordability agenda that includes a substantial child tax credit, no tax on tips and a record middle class tax cut that will deliver nearly $1 billion in tax relief to millions of New Yorkers beginning this year,” the spokesperson said.
