New York joins Soros-funded conglomerate with climate mandate
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan this month to charge drivers in New York City a $9 daily toll for vehicles entering the city’s Central Business District (CBD) come January.
The move is designed to improve congestion and fight climate change by reducing private cars on the roads. Some of the proceeds from the tolls will go toward the city’s public transportation system, which the city hopes will experience a large influx of former car drivers.
Hochul appeared to expect gratitude from taxpayers, saying she lowered the toll from $15.
“As I said from the start, a $15 toll was just too high in this economic climate. That’s why our plan cuts the daytime toll to $9 for cars,” Hochul said in a statement. “By getting congestion pricing underway and fully supporting the MTA capital plan, we’ll unclog our streets, reduce pollution and deliver better public transit for millions of New Yorkers.”
C40: ‘Discourage private car use through road pricing’
While Hochul’s decision is the first in the nation, it follows moves by a number of mayors across the globe who are part of the Soros-funded C40 conglomerate.
The C40 is a syndicate of approximately 100 mayors of major cities who have pledged to implement the World Health Organization’s Air Quality Guidelines. It is backed by Google, the World Bank, George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, and many other corporations, non-governmental organizations, and various government entities.
The C40 openly recommends totalitarian climate mandates such as restricting the number of flights for taxpayers and reducing the number of clothing items citizens can purchase. By 2030, for example, the organization advocates limiting residents to one flight every three years up to 932 miles. Another initiative would reduce the consumption of clothing and textiles to only three new garments per taxpayer annually by 2030.
The New York Times pointed out that other C40 cities like Amsterdam, London, and Milan have implemented measures similar to Hochul’s. C40 Managing Director and former Toronto Mayor David Miller praised the governor’s decision to exact toll revenue from drivers.
“The money collected helps create better transit service, making the city far easier and safer to get around, for everyone,” Miller told The New York Times.
The C40 has for years recommended that cities “[d]iscourage private car use through road pricing, and driving and parking restrictions” while “investing in walking, cycling and public transit.”
15-minute cities
C40 mayors are known for forcing climate mandates against the will of taxpayers, who have protested fiercely against the measures. In addition to driving and parking fees, such mandates include the creation of 15-minute cities. These communities, where supposedly everything residents need is within a 15-minute walking distance, "obviate the need" for cars. Elites are promoting 15-minute cities as idyllic utopias that will save the climate by reducing private vehicles. Many oppose 15-minute cities, however, calling them “climate ghettos” that would allow authorities to impose pandemic-style lockdowns more efficiently.
“A 15-minute city reimagines streets and public space to prioritise people not driving, building more vibrant neighbourhoods where walking and cycling are the main ways of getting around,” explains the C40 network on its website. “It enables and encourages people to choose not to drive. This means reclaiming car-dominated space for more productive, social and community-building uses, upgrading walking and cycling infrastructure to better serve the daily, local trips of people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, and expanding green space in every neighbourhood.”
German Member of European Parliament (MEP) Christine Anderson is among those who oppose 15-minute cities. Speaking on an episode of Ask Dr. Drew, Anderson said the “15-minute ghettos” will be used for “climate lockdowns.”
"The climate madness is the very next thing they're coming up with,” she stated. “So people are willing to give up their cars, individual mobility, even possibly accept like these 15-minute ghettos which will be used to have a climate lockdown and all of that. But it's always for ‘the greater good,’ for the ‘good of society’ and we have to sacrifice, sacrifice and sacrifice and once we are there we will live in this great utopia. Well, no, we won't."
