Heated Exchange: Nadler and Duffy Clash Over NYC Subway Crime Statistics

Disputed Subway Crime Data

• 🎯 Representative Nadler challenged Transportation Secretary Duffy's claims of a subway crime surge, stating that major crime is down 3% since last year and 8% since 2019.
• ⚠️ Duffy countered, asserting that assaults are up 60% since 2019 and accused Nadler of ignoring critical safety issues.

Congestion Pricing Review

• 🚗 Nadler questioned Duffy's denial of a traffic impact study for congestion pricing, pointing to a nearly 4,000-page environmental assessment received by Duffy's office in 2023.
• 🧐 Duffy stated he had not denied the existence of the assessment but rather that his complaint was about the elitist nature of the program and its impact on those who cannot afford to pay.
• 📜 Nadler highlighted that Duffy's attempt to revoke MTA's congestion pricing approval came after it had already undergone a full NEPA review and was cleared by the Federal Highway Administration.

Precedent and Road Usage

• 🚫 Duffy argued that there is no precedent for a cordon pricing situation like New York's, differentiating it from the New Jersey Turnpike.
• 🗣️ Nadler accused Duffy of lying and mischaracterizing the situation, emphasizing that the $9 daily fee to access Manhattan is unique.
• ⚖️ Nadler urged for a focus on making subways safe and accessible for everyone, questioning why people who cannot afford the pricing should be excluded from the city.