New York City's Fire Department unions, representing thousands of firefighters, are urging the city to exempt emergency responders from the newly implemented congestion tolls.
The tolls, which came into effect on Sunday, impose a $9 charge on passenger vehicle drivers entering Manhattan at or below 60th Street during peak hours. The toll reduces to $2.25 during off-peak hours.
According to The Blaze, the unions have expressed concern that these fees, which are projected to rise to $12 by 2028 and $15 by 2031, could potentially hinder emergency response times. They argue that firefighters may opt to leave their vehicles at home to evade the hefty charges, which could impact response times if they are summoned to a location outside their designated zone. "The difference between life and death," they warned, could be the outcome of such delays.
Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, voiced the unions' apprehensions about the congestion toll during a Sunday press conference. He stated, "All we were asking for was an exemption for our members bringing their vehicles into the zone. Those vehicles are regularly used to transport firefighters to and from their detail to another firehouse, which is a shortage in one spot, and they need them somewhere else."
The unions elaborated that this scenario occurs approximately 200 times daily throughout New York City. They noted that around 2,000 firefighters are on duty at any given time in the city, with most of them bringing their vehicles to work.
The unions also contended that without their vehicles, firefighters would be compelled to transport their hefty, 85-pound equipment on public transit or rely on a ride from a superior in an FDNY vehicle. This reliance on FDNY vehicles, they argued, could cost taxpayers millions. Furthermore, they claimed the congestion toll could result in an additional $1.8 million in overtime pay.
The unions also warned that the congestion toll could generate additional traffic in areas surrounding the zone as drivers attempt to bypass it to avoid the charges. Ansbro stated, "We have a lot of members that are saying, 'You didn't want us to bring our vehicle into the city. Deal with the aftermath.'" He further described the situation as not just a logistical issue, but a potential public health crisis.
Ansbro labeled the congestion toll as an "unfair tax burden" on the city's firefighters and residents. Jim Brosi, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, clarified that the unions did not request "an entire fire department exemption." He remarked, "We asked very specifically for the people who are working in here, so they don't retire, so that they don't transfer out, so we don't lose institutional knowledge."
In response to the unions' concerns, Mayor Eric Adams' office stated, "Ensuring public safety is a top priority for the Adams administration. We do not expect any negative impacts to the department's ability to respond to emergencies." However, the unions' concerns highlight the potential unintended consequences of the congestion toll, raising questions about the balance between generating revenue and ensuring public safety.
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