Several companies in Manhattan are notifying customers that they will be adding a congestion pricing fee to their bills due to the new toll in the area. CompuVoip, a phone and data service company, sent notices to customers informing them of the surcharge that will be applied to service calls in the congestion pricing zone. The company stated that they had previously absorbed any cost increases but would now need to pass on the fee to customers.
Dream Events & Decor, a Long Island-based catering and party events company, is also planning to add the cost of the toll to their bills. The general manager, Isabel Doerbecker, mentioned that the new toll could cost the firm around $20,000 a year. As a result, the business is considering reducing trips to vendors in Manhattan and finding suppliers outside of the congestion zone to save on costs.
Mechanical East, a Brooklyn-based air-conditioning and ventilation service firm, has already imposed a surcharge to compensate for the toll. However, opponents believe that passing along the cost to customers will have a negative impact. Queens Councilman Robert Holden criticized the congestion toll, calling it a disaster and accusing MTA chairman Janno Lieber and Gov. Kathy Hochul of pillaging taxpayers to fund mismanagement of the transit authority.
Bronx Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato expressed concern about the impact of congestion pricing on everyday life, sharing CompuVoip’s notice on social media. She believes that the toll will lead to increased costs for commuters and reduced affordability. Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald Clavin, who has filed lawsuits against congestion pricing, referred to the new toll as “Hochul inflation” and criticized it as another tax that will drive up prices in an already expensive city.
Despite the pushback from businesses and politicians, the congestion pricing toll has been implemented in Manhattan’s central business district south of 60th Street. Companies are now adapting to the new fee by informing customers of the surcharge that will be added to their bills. While some are considering changes to minimize the impact of the toll on their businesses, others are openly critical of the toll and its potential effects on consumers and the local economy.
