I am a NYC resident. Here's the problem: apart from the toll itself, the whole way of setting this CD up is an absolutely obvious MTA money-grab because it is clearly set up to catch and squeeze as much money from people who DON'T EVEN ENTER THE TOLLED DISTRICT as well as those who do. How is this possible? One example: I commute from Queens to Upstate NY 2-3 times a week. I have absolutely no interest in entering the toll zone and am happy to take the subway when I need to. Now, I get out from the Queensboro bridge on 59th street to get onto the FDR. But that of course would immediately toll me (when I attempt to get out to the FDR). I understand that the geniuses have hastily made a way around it: that I should ONLY take the upper level, get out at 61st street, and that way i will be safe. Of course, that would mean that the QB upper level would be available (which for the last 3 years and probably the next 3 years was and will be under complete construction and repair); that it will not be totally congested and barely usable at all hours w huge car-killing bumps and valleys (like it is now); that if I cannot or am not willing to wait 1 hour or more to use it or if police, fire, MTA, etc. tell me I have to go to the lower level or to the streets I will be allowed to take the lower level and NOT pay anything to get to the FDR. FAT chance, right?! From talking to other people, it seems they did the same w the Lincoln, etc. tunnels and other bridges to make sure to maximize their catch, which could probably be at least another 10% people who would pay, JUST TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, not even to enter Manhattan proper! This is how money gets made, and it is probably only surpassed by the MTA's indifference, and disdain and lack of pity for all of us schnooks who actually do something useful every day for the betterment of NYC and humanity! Manhattan is an island - there is no way to get into it from anywhere except the couple of bridges and tunnels, even if we don't even drive into the CD. The London CD experiment, where there is no such problem, has turned out to not be so successful, and ours will be a catastrophe. The streets are more congested NOT because of the traffic, which is less, but because in many places half the roads have been set up for other things, parking opportunities have been lost, and things rerouted for the worse. The whole idea of a CD is to solve a specific territorial problem - the particular streets, avenues, times of day, other streamlinings and traffic diversions that can be built, etc., etc, - NOT to create a blanket money-sucking machine that brings no improvements and makes the people's lives worse. The businesses in the area will wither and all the sick people going to the big hospitals in Manhattan will have to pay more, which will fall in many cases on the government anyway to cover the increase - what sense does that make? AND I witness every day the MTA police doing nothing to stop fare evaders, which itself may bring in over $1B a year if enforced. I am sure there are also many other ideas that could work, maybe incrementally, as have been offered by many people. I am 100% behind improving the environment, etc. but this NOT the way to do it. I am with the Governor, I believe she has a better sense of what is right.