[chlvsl]

If we start to allow those who can't afford the congestion pricing to get a discount on congestion pricing, do we really have congestion pricing? Or just a new proportional-to-income "driving tax" in addition to state, county, and city taxes?

[dionidium]

A "driving tax" is just another way to say "congestion pricing." Driving introduces massive negative externalities and should cost a lot more than it does today.

Automobiles are one of the absolute worst quality-of-life-impacting things about living in Manhattan. They're loud, dangerous, and smelly.

I'm not trying to hide my cards; if it were up to me, I'd ban private cars (at the very least) entirely in Midtown (at the very least).

[bumholio]

>Or just a new proportional-to-income "driving tax" in addition to state, county, and city taxes?

The difference is that you can avoid the driving tax by not driving; unlike the city tax that can only be avoided by not getting born.

So it's less of a tax and more of paying for a public service.