One longtime small business owner on Manhattan's East Side is speaking out against the MTA's congestion pricing plan for the Big Apple.
Julia Pena operates Il Posto Accanto Restaurant on Second Avenue. He's been in business since the mid 90's. Pena is concerned after hearing about the proposed 15 dollar congestion toll for those who go south of 60th Street.
"It's going to be a death blow to small businesses like ours in the fact that our customers will think twice about coming into the city."
He also expects his truck delivery vendors to pass the congestion cost onto his restaurant. New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Hudson Valley Congressman Mike Lawler visited his restaurant with the message that the congestion pricing will really hurt small businesses. The MTA's Richard Davey doesn't think congestion pricing will have a big negative impact.
" I think most businesses, their customers actually take public transportation."
Congressional lawmakers from the suburbs and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy are trying to stop the plan. The public will have a chance to weigh in over next few months before the MTA votes on it.