WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES APRIL 15, 2021 15
NYC’s #1 Source for Political & Election News
Weprin calls for two-year
delay of congestion pricing
BY MARK HALLUM
MHALLUM@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
David Weprin, candidate for city comptroller, is
continuing his long-standing opposition to the
state’s congestion pricing plan which would
create a dedicated revenue stream for the MTA alongside
other members of the state Assembly.
Weprin issued a statement on Thursday calling for
the Cuomo administration to delay the plan for two
years aft er the pandemic comes to an offi cial end as
a means of relieving a fi nancial burden on a small
percentage of motorists traveling into Manhattan.
“One year ago, New Yorkers became patient zero
in a global pandemic that spurred job losses and
business closures,” Weprin said. “Now, we are being
asked to incur an even greater fi nancial burden
while the virus is still not completely under control.
Until we completely recover from COVID-19 and
its aft ermath, I do not believe this is the time to tax
small business owners and outer borough residents
driving into Manhattan. I am calling on the governor
and the mayor to delay congestion pricing for two
years and urge all New Yorkers to stand behind me
in fi ghting for what makes the most sense.”
This call comes aft er the federal government
under President Donald Trump held congestion
pricing back by not providing the MTA with criteria
needed in an environmental review and days aft er
“I am calling on the governor and the mayor to
delay congestion pricing for two years and urge
all New Yorkers to stand behind me in fi ghting
for what makes the most sense.
— City comptroller candidate David Weprin
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg off ered the
information needed for the plan to move forward.
“Expecting working men and women from boroughs
outside of Manhattan to pay for the city’s
fi nancial troubles is not only irresponsible, it’s plain
wrong,” said Assemblyman William Colton. “The idea
that congestion pricing should begin now — during a
still-raging pandemic — is a poorly timed, poorly executed
eff ort to fi x a problem without thinking about
all the eff ects it will have on New York City’s families
and I urge the governor to rethink the timing.”
Assembly members Erik Dilan and Jennifer Rajkumar
joined in the chorus as well.
Weprin’s opposition to congestion pricing was a
point of friction between his allies and members of
Transport Workers Union Local 100, who swarmed a
press conference at Tramway Plaza in March 2019.
A study released over the summer by Cornell
University claimed that a $20 toll could reduce traffi c
in Manhattan by up to 40 percent. Additionally, it
found that only 5.7 percent of drivers in northeast
Queens assembly district neighboring that which is
currently represented by Weprin would be signifi -
cantly impacted by the toll.
Who do they like?
Yang draws backlash
after calling for more
enforcement against
licensed street vendors
Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang
Photo by Mark Hallum
BY MARK HALLUM
MHALLUM@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
New Yorkers gathered in support of the
“Churro Lady,” otherwise known as
Elsa, on April 11 after mayoral candidate
Andrew Yang called for greater enforcement
action against unlicensed street vendors.
The November 2019 incident in which Brooklyn
cops seized Elsa’s churro cartin the Broadway
Junction subway station broke hearts
and provoked a decision in the City Council
in January 2021 to offer more permits and
less enforcement of some of the city’s poorest
entrepreneurs.
“You know what I hear over and over again
— that NYC is not enforcing rules against
unlicensed street vendors. I’m for increasing
licenses but we should do more for the retailers
who are paying rent and trying to survive,”
Yang tweeted.
While a Yang spokesman did not elaborate as
to what the candidate’s statement calling for enforcement
entailed, he did explain that he was
in support of legislation expanding opportunities
for legit sellers and that he was endorsed by
Councilwoman Margaret Chin who sponsored
the legislation formally passed in January to
hand out more permits.
“Andrew emphatically supports the latest legislation
passed in January by Council member
Chin and advocated for by the Street Vendor
Project that will help bring people into the legal
market,” said Jake Sporn, a campaign spokesman
for Yang’s campaign. “In the spirit of the
recent reforms, as mayor, Andrew will make
sure that vendors and local businesses work
together to revitalize New York City’s small
business economy.”
Read more on PoliticsNY.com.
@QNS
NY TEACHERS FOR
CHOICE ENDORSES
ADRIANA AVILE IN
DISTRICT 19
NY Teachers for Choice endorsed
Adriana Aviles to be
the fi rst Latinx female to represent
Queens District 19 in City
Council.
“Adriana is principled, fearless,
truthful and independent,” NY
Teachers for Choice wrote in a
statement. “She is a Democrat who
has not abandoned the party’s
roots of defending civil liberties,
and she does not cater to any special
interests other than the pressing
concerns of her constituents
and all New Yorkers.”
NY Teachers for Choice are an
emergency union caucus made up
of teachers and parents opposed
to forced medical mandates for
any American to keep their job,
especially educators.
MENG ENDORSES
LINDA LEE IN
DISTRICT 23
Democrat Linda Lee, candidate
for City Council in the 23rd District,
announced the endorsement
of U.S. Rep. Grace Meng.
“Congresswoman Meng has
been at the forefront of so many
critical fi ghts for our communities,
from standing strong against
anti-Semitism and AAPI hate to
working to get women a seat at the
table to fi ghting to protect social
security and expand Medicare.
There’s no stronger advocate for
women, seniors and families and
I’m humbled to have her support,”
Lee said.
This was Lee’s biggest endorsement
from a Queens elected
offi cial since launching her campaign,
her campaign said.
“I’m endorsing Linda Lee for
City Council because no one is
better prepared to deliver for
our neighborhoods. As the director
of a large nonprofi t, Linda has
provided meals for homebound
seniors, mental healthcare, and
successfully fought to open the
only vaccine site in northeastern
Queens – all while juggling remote
learning and childcare for
her two boys. No one will work
harder or deliver more for our
families than Linda Lee,” Meng
said.
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