Connect with us

Government

Legislator Hofstein: MTA Needs Discounts For Rockland Commuters Before New Manhattan Tolls Are Charged

Published

on

Rockland County legislators want better treatment from the MTA as it prepares to launch new tolls estimated to cost daily commuters who drive into Manhattan an extra $3,000 annually.

The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Central Business District Tolling Program could launch as soon as June. “At the very least, we deserve to be treated fairly and this New York City MTA plan does the complete opposite,” Rockland County Legislator Minority Leader Lon M. Hofstein said. “No discounts will be made available to Rockland commuters. Instead, these commuters are looking at a $15 per day toll – a brand new tax – just because they work in downtown Manhattan.”

Legislator Hofstein is the sponsor of a resolution unanimously adopted by the County Legislature that calls on the Governor and the State Legislature to delay the new tolling program until passage of a state law mandating discounts for Rockland and other drivers entering the city after crossing the Tappan Zee or George Washington bridges.

The Central Business District Tolling Program, also referred to as congestion pricing, would affect vehicles entering all parts of Manhattan at or below 60th Street, excluding the FDR Drive, the West Side Highway, and the Hugh L. Carey (Brooklyn-Battery) Tunnel connection to West Street.

State lawmakers and then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo authorized the plan in 2019 as a way to ease traffic and reduce air pollution in NYC’s congested business core and as a way to raise $1 billion annually for upgrades to the city’s transit system. Approximately 4,000 daily Rockland commuters travel into the congestion zone. Drivers who cross the Tappan Zee or George Washington bridges on their way into the congestion zone will get zero discounts.

Legislator Hofstein said the treatment of Rockland drivers mirrors that of the “metropolitan commuter transportation mobility tax,” a 2009 payroll tax put in place on employers and the self-employed not only in NYC, but Long Island and Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Duchess and Westchester counties.

Yet, Rockland still hasn’t seen any bang for the buck despite the additional funding it has been providing for the past 15 years, still has no one-seat train ride into Manhattan, and still has no significant MTA system improvements in Rockland. Just the opposite, Rockland experiences a $40 million value gap between how much is paid into the MTA via taxes and other revenue versus the services provided.

The overwhelming majority of revenue to be collected by the new congestion pricing tolls is slated to cover the costs of operating the NYC Transit bus and subway system.

“Rockland and other commuters outside New York City are again being forced to supplement transportation costs for commuters who live in New York City,” Legislator Hofstein said. “The commuters using the New York City Mass Transit System should be held responsible to supplement the cost for any improvements made. To place the burden on those commuting from Rockland is unfair and just wrong.”

He added, “The MTA and others need to stop seeing people who live outside New York City’s official boundaries as ATMs that they can just keep draining. This new toll, which is a tax, is going to cause hardships on many families who are already struggling just to get by,” Legislator Hofstein said.

Government

Rockland County Offers Free Mosquito Dunks® and Mosquito-Eating Minnows to Residents

Published

on

Protect your home and community from mosquitoes this spring and summer!

The Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) is offering free mosquito control products to residents, including Mosquito Dunks® and fathead minnows, to help reduce the mosquito population and prevent mosquito-borne illnesses.


Mosquito Dunks® – Available by Appointment

What they are: Small, floating “donuts” that release safe bacteria to kill mosquito larvae in standing water.

Who can get them: Rockland County residents for use in unused swimming pools, spas, and other water-holding containers.

How to get them:

  • Pick-up location: Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Road, Building D, Pomona, NY

  • By appointment only – Reserve in advance by calling 845-364-3173 or emailing [email protected]

  • Required: Download and complete the order form from the Mosquito Control Program webpage and bring it with you to your scheduled pickup.


🐟 Fathead Minnows – One-Day Giveaway Event

What they are: Small fish that eat mosquito larvae—up to 200 larvae per day!

Event Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, Building D, 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, NY
Important: Minnows must be released only within Rockland County

How to reserve:

  • Register online via the Mosquito Control Program webpage, or

  • Call 845-364-3173
    Note: The event date and time are subject to change. Signs will be posted to guide attendees to the correct location.


For more information, visit the Rockland County Health Department Mosquito Control Program webpage.

Continue Reading

Government

988: Three Numbers That Can Change a Life

Published

on

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is here for anyone feeling overwhelmed, sad, stressed, or in a mental health crisis. It’s free, private, and available 24/7.

What happens when you contact 988?

  • You’ll talk with a trained counselor who listens and cares.

  • They’ll help you feel supported and work through what you’re going through.

  • You can call, text, or chat—whatever feels best for you.

988 is for everyone.

  • You don’t have to be in a serious emergency.

  • You can reach out for yourself or if you’re worried about a friend or family member.

Sharing 988 can save lives.
Let’s help more people know that support is just three numbers away.
You’re not alone—and no one else has to be either.

Continue Reading

Trending