Mazi Pilip raps Tom Suozzi over $15 congestion toll in Santos replacement race

The controversial plan to charge motorists $15 to enter Manhattan’s business district has become a hot issue in the Feb. 13 special election to replace expelled liar ex-Rep. George Santos. 

Republican nominee Mazi Pilip opposes imposition of the new toll meant to fund mass transit, calling it a “tone-deaf” imposition on the residents of the suburban, car-friendly Nassau County and eastern Queens district — and blasting her Democratic rival, ex-Rep. Tom Suozzi, over his longstanding support for congestion pricing.

“The MTA’s poorly conceived plan to implement congestion pricing in Manhattan’s business district is just another cash-grab scheme that will once again come at the expense of hard-working Nassau residents who are just trying to get to work. It’s undeniable that congestion pricing will hurt middle class families here on Long Island,” Pilip told The Post.

Pilip also claimed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s “commuter tax” will stunt the area’s economic growth.

“The implementation of this $15 surcharge for simply entering Manhattan’s business district is extremely tone-deaf, especially at a time when inflation has been skyrocketing. Finally, I consider congestion pricing among the most regressive forms of taxation since it does not consider income or ‘ability to pay,'” the Nassau County legislator said. 

“The fact that my opponent has supported congestion pricing for nearly 20 years shows you all you need to know regarding his lack of concern for the financial issues Long Island families are facing. I call upon Tom Suozzi to end his long standing support of congestion pricing,” added Pilip.

Suozzi defended his support of congestion pricing Wednesday — with some limitations.

“Tom supports the concept of congestion pricing as a means to reduce traffic and vehicle emissions in the central business district and also to generate an income stream to fund mass transit. However, he is clear that money should be earmarked for the LIRR to improve service and reduce delays,” Suozzi campaign senior adviser Kim Devlin said.

“It will be six months before it is finalized, and Tom believes the focus should be on implementing it in a way that protects small businesses, people who need to drive into the congestion zone for work, and commuters who make less than $75,000 per year,” the Suozzi rep added.

During his ill-fated 2022 campaign for governor, Suozzi boasted that he was a “big supporter of congestion pricing” going back to 2006, while calling for a delay of its implementation post-COVID-19 pandemic.

The toll pricing plan — backed by Gov. Kathy Hochul — is projected to generate $1 billion annually to help the MTA finance up to $15 billion in repairs, improvements and expansion projects across its network of subways, railroads and buses as well as curb traffic jams during peak hours.

The program, introduced by a state-commissioned task force in November, recommended that the MTA charge drivers $15 once per day if they drive into Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours.

Transit officials said they’ve held the line on granting exemptions to the $15 congestion toll for people who reside outside the zone — at least thus far — because waiving the fee for one group of drivers will trigger a lobbying blitz from others wanting a break.

Exclusions could force the MTA to raise the congestion toll higher than $15 to make up for the loss of revenue, officials said.