The union representing metropolis EMTs and paramedics urged its staff Friday to flee stations in Manhattan’s controversial congestion pricing zone to keep away from getting hit by the $9 toll when driving to work.
Lots of the first responders are paid simply $18.94 an hour — the bottom of any frontline staff citywide — and may’t afford to pay $45 per week simply to get to their jobs, mentioned FDNY EMS Native 2507.
“New York Metropolis’s emergency medical first responders at the moment are about to be pickpocketed by a state company and its new MTA’s driving tax,” mentioned Oren Barzilay, president of the union, which reps 4,100 staff.
“We’re mandated by our employer, town, the place to work and we now have zero choice to work distant.”
To keep away from getting fleeced by the payment, the union inspired the roughly 270 EMS staff assigned to stations in Midtown and Decrease Manhattan to switch to ones in different elements of town.
The congestion pricing toll — set to start at midnight Sunday — forces drivers getting into Manhattan on sixtieth Road or under to pay a peak payment of $9 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.
There are not any exceptions for metropolis staff together with academics or firefighters and different first responders.
The coverage is more likely to make elements of Manhattan much less secure as EMTs and paramedics keep away from the world, Barzilay warned.
“Congestion pricing with out exemptions for FDNY EMS is a public security time bomb ready to detonate,” mentioned Barzilay. “Mark my phrases, it can possible have a big, detrimental affect on public security.”
Enterprise house owners have additionally warned the unpopular charges — compelled by by Gov. Kathy Hochul— will have an effect on everybody as a result of they’ll have to boost costs to remain open.
The price of getting into the congestion zone is as much as $27 in some instances, when added to the fare for crossing by tunnel or some bridges, in response to a map outlined by The Submit.
Supply hyperlink
