This simply isn't true, where is there free parking in Lower Manhattan, on a day other than Sunday? And also you're telling me the poor people are small business owners in NYC?
Out of all of parking in Lower Manhattan maybe 5% is free. And it's still very difficult to get that parking.
It sounds like you’ve never tried to park downtown. I drove, lived and parked daily for free in Manhattan for 6 years
The entire length of Manhattan from below 14th street/above Houston on every single street has free street parking as long as you can comply with the 1.5 hours twice a week that you can not park there. It’s a few choice streets and aves that are the exception to this.
Business owners and employees park in those spots daily because street cleaning hours take place typically before 11AM, so they just drive in and hang out for 10 mins before getting free parking all day.
Ya buddy, go run the numbers on a wash and fold service or any small business with 6-7% cash on cash returns and lmk how much is left at the end of the month to pay $450 for congestion fees.
Out of all of parking in Lower Manhattan maybe 5% is free. And it's still very difficult to get that parking.