New York City’s congestion pricing has sparked concerns among firefighters that the toll will negatively impact response times, leaving residents and first responders vulnerable to deadly results. Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro and Uniformed Fire Officers Association President Jim Brosi expressed their worries during an interview on “FOX & Friends.”
The new toll, which costs $9 for cars, $4.50 for motorcycles, and $14.40 for large trucks and tour buses, has prompted many firefighters to leave their personal vehicles at home due to the high price tag. This has resulted in a shortage of vehicles available for emergency calls outside their original zone.
“It’s difficult to see how the response times wouldn’t be affected because these units are operating well beyond their normal routine response area,” Brosi said. “We’ve already seen firefighters stay on duty for an extra two, four, six or eight hours after a 24-hour shift in a place where they’re really already doing 6,000 runs a year.”
Ansbro added that the congestion pricing will cause a significant impact on their ability to respond quickly and effectively, leading to potentially deadly consequences. “Our business is uncontrolled chaos,” he said. “You start out in the morning, wherever you start out, you could be at a fire in five minutes. You could be anywhere.”
The FDNY union leaders are urging the city to reconsider its stance on congestion pricing, citing concerns about response times and public safety. However, officials claim that the revenue generated by the toll will help modernize the city’s transportation system and reduce emissions.
Despite criticism, Governor Kathy Hochul remains committed to the program, stating that “the vast majority of people are going to benefit from this.” But for firefighters, the reality on the ground is a different story – one where response times are being pushed to the limit and public safety is at risk.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/media/fdny-union-leaders-warn-against-congestion-pricing-after-being-denied-exemption-dont-go-down-road