Former New York Governor George Pataki recently expressed his support for President Donald Trump’s efforts to eliminate the controversial congestion pricing scheme in Manhattan. This toll, which taxes drivers $9 to enter the city, has become a burden for many motorists, according to Pataki, who believes that it serves only to feed the already financially strained Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Pataki, a stalwart Republican, criticized current Governor Kathy Hochul for her focus on generating revenue through congestion pricing. “New York State gets enough money—too much money—from the taxpayers,” he commented during an interview on WABC 770 AM’s “The Cats Roundtable.” He went on to describe New York as an expensive place to live, where the costs of government are too high, suggesting the need for greater efficiency within the government.
“We could use a little DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] in Albany and City Hall,” Pataki stated, advocating for a push towards reducing unnecessary spending instead of imposing additional taxes on residents. He emphasized that the MTA is asking for billions in additional funding from Albany on top of the revenue that congestion tolls were supposed to generate, highlighting the ongoing financial mismanagement.
“This cycle of funding requests never ends,” Pataki remarked, criticizing the MTA’s proposed $65 billion, five-year capital plan. He labeled the financial strategy as unsustainable and unsound, indicating that New Yorkers are already stretched too thin by high taxes and fees.
Even though Pataki supports Trump’s stance against congestion pricing, he also voiced concerns about Trump’s approach to foreign policy, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He expressed puzzlement at how Trump seemed to apply greater scrutiny to Ukraine and its President, Volodymyr Zelensky, than to Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, who initiated the conflict nearly three years ago.
Reflecting on past visits to Ukraine for humanitarian efforts, Pataki critiqued Trump’s handling of the situation, saying, “President Trump’s positioning on Ukraine so far has been completely wrong.” He urged that the pressure must be directed toward Putin and Russia, rather than on Ukraine, which is defending itself against aggression.
Pataki likened Trump’s current stance to President Joe Biden’s previous handling of the Hamas-Israel conflict, where he felt Biden unfairly targeted Israel instead of the aggressor, Hamas. “Sadly, I think Trump is making the same mistake that Biden made with Israel in the case of Ukraine,” he noted. “Instead of putting all the pressure on Putin—who’s clearly the bad guy, a horrible human being—he’s putting the pressure on Ukraine.”
The former governor asserted that the Ukrainian people desire to end the conflict, but they should not be the ones bearing the brunt of pressure. “It’s to pressure Putin and Russia, because they’re the ones that are wrong,” he reiterated. He characterized Putin as a “killer who is anti-American, anti-Western, anti-civilization,” underscoring the need for a focused approach in addressing international conflicts.
As discussions between Washington and Kyiv fluctuate, Trump has stirred controversy with comments aimed at Zelensky, suggesting that Ukraine’s leader is a “dictator without elections.” In his remarks, Trump claimed to be the only one capable of negotiating peace and criticized Zelensky’s role in how the war has unfolded.
“I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job,” Trump remarked, indicating frustration over what he perceives as unnecessary suffering and loss as the war continues.
In conclusion, while Pataki supports Trump’s initiative to scrap congestion pricing, his critique of the former president’s foreign policy, particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict, highlights a division even among conservatives. Pataki’s call for efficiency in government spending contrasts sharply with policies that burden taxpayers, indicating a need for thoughtful and decisive leadership at both state and international levels.
