NY Post: NYC food industry begs for exemption to traffic congestion toll, warns prices will spike: ‘People will stop going out’

By Jennifer Gould

Published Dec. 17, 2024, 5:05 p.m. ET

New York City’s food industry leaders begged Gov. Kathy Hochul for an exemption from her controversial congestion pricing plan – warning that the fee will lead to higher prices for consumers.

A coalition of more than 100 businesses and associations – including restaurateurs, distributors, food banks and businesses such as Baldor Specialty Foods and Acme Smoked Fish – are raising concerns about the toll on all vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street, which is set to begin Jan. 5.

Famed chef Tom Colicchio feared the onerous toll will drive down business at restaurants in the congestion pricing zone that have finally started to recover from pandemic lockdowns.

“At a certain point, people will stop going out,” Colicchio, owner of Crafted Hospitality, told Side Dish.

“Everything is getting too expensive. No company will absorb the cost of this, they will just pass it on to the consumer.” 

Read the full article here: https://nypost.com/2024/12/17/business/nyc-food-industry-begs-for-exemption-to-traffic-congestion-toll-warns-prices-will-spike-people-will-stop-going-out/