President Donald Trump outlined a plan to pressure New York into scrapping congestion pricing in Manhattan through the federal Department of Transportation while also warning that the Justice Department will be looking at the state’s “sanctuary” laws and policies for illegal migrants.
According to the New York Post, the Department of Transportation could impose penalties, including withholding millions of dollars in funding or reopening the environmental review process that authorized the toll under the Biden administration.
Trump also pledged to remove bike lanes and address the issue of criminal migrants on New York City streets, according to his statements to The Post.
He expressed optimism that his “respect” for Gov. Hochul and their ongoing discussions would lead to a mutually beneficial resolution on the controversial toll.
“Out of respect” for the governor, Trump declined to share details of at least two phone conversations the two have had regarding the effort to end the unpopular $9 tax on vehicles entering Manhattan during peak hours south of 60th Street, known as the Congestion Relief Zone, The Post reported.
The president said he thinks that he and the Democratic governor can reach an agreement over ending what is essentially a tax, which he ripped as “destructive to New York.”
“I think it’s really horrible, but I want to discuss it with her at this point,” he said. “If I decide to do it, I will be able to kill it off in Washington through the Department of Transportation. It’s a lot of power.”
Part of the $36 billion in federal transportation funding allocated to New York over the next five years, extending through 2026, is now at risk, The Post said. Additionally, other federal grants could be affected if Trump targets what New Yorkers are calling the “congestion con.”
The toll went into effect last month, and the program’s revenues are earmarked for enhancing public transit infrastructure and curbing the decline in subway ridership by encouraging people to leave their cars behind. However, Trump contends that the toll is only hurting business in his hometown.
“Traffic is way down because people can’t come into Manhattan and it’s only going to get worse,” he said. “People don’t know about it until they get the bill.”
Trump further argued that New York “should focus on safety and cleanliness in the subway,” citing cases of straphangers being pushed onto the tracks by “thugs.”
“Cleanliness and efficiency are good, but they gotta get tough on the thugs. They can’t be nice,” Trump added.
The president also took aim at bike and pedestrian lanes in the middle of traffic, which he also says contributes to the congestion.
“They should get rid of the bike lanes and the sidewalks in the middle of the street,” he said. “They’re so bad. They’re dangerous. These [electric] bikes go at 20 miles an hour. They’re whacking people,” he told the outlet.
Trump also warned that New York is a target of his Justice Department regarding “sanctuary city” laws that hinder his efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens.
“We’ll have to” sue the state and NYC, he told The Post.
“That’s a great thing to be suing over, anywhere where they have sanctuary cities. … New York doesn’t really want them. I don’t think anyone wants it. I think the only one who wants it are corrupt politicians,” Trump added. “I don’t think the people want sanctuary cities. Why would they want to protect criminals?”
Last week, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, accusing them of obstructing federal immigration enforcement efforts. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, commented that “sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals.”