Shortly before NYC’s congestion pricing was about to go into effect Governor Kathy Hochul indefinitely paused the program. And while the pause will unfortunately have negative effects on the NYC subway system, not pausing it can cause NYC pizza prices to rise.
And if there’s one thing you shouldn’t do, it’s get between a New Yorker and their pizza.
While further explaining her decision to pause the congestion pricing program last minute, Governor Hochul stated in a conference on Thursday, June 13th, that the cost of the program would trickle down to consumers, meaning more than just New Yorkers driving cars will have to cough up some extra cash.
“Everything from the cost of a piece of pizza is going to go up because there’ll be charges imposed that’ll be passed onto consumers. This moment in time is not the right time to put that on the backs of New Yorkers,” stated Hochul.
The pizza comment is Hochul’s latest in a string of comments used to justify her decision to pause the congestion pricing program in the first place.
And with NYC already holding the title of “The Priciest Pizza City In The Country”–the cost of a slice has jumped 19% over the last eight years–and a law went into effect this past April requiring pizzerias to knock down their smoky pollutants 75%, effecting the cooking process for many, we’re left wondering when pizza will simply be left out of the equation.