Anonymous wrote:Great, a tax to enter the Capitol. Poll taxes next!

No, a fee if you want to drive into certain parts of DC ar certain times. If you don't want to pay the fee, you can choose a different way of getting there - bus, Metro, bike, walk, scooter...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great, a tax to enter the Capitol. Poll taxes next!

London does it.

Not even. It’s only a tax to bring your car in here. You’re welcome to take public transit, bike, walk, scoot, etc. for free!

Anonymous wrote:Great, a tax to enter the Capitol. Poll taxes next!

London does it.

The congestion tax is a great idea and would benefit the entire region. Numerous cities have successfully implemented those taxes. The amount do not even need to be high (just $2-4 dollars), to have a significant impact on traffic and congestion. The DC area is way too reliant on cars, and congestion taxes are one of the best methods to force change in this area. The profits can go to help beefing up public transit in areas where it is currently lacking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m generally in favor of congestion taxes, but it does make sense here. Va or Md could just set up their own tolls targeting DC drivers to retaliate.

A lot more VA and MD drivers commute in than vice versa. Check out the traffic going OUT of DC in the morning.

DC has all the leverage here.

ha! wait until the major non-government employers balk (i.e., move to Tysons, Arlington, etc.) and/or let employees telework or use alternate office instead of commuting over the VA bridges or from MD.. all of that = HUGE loss in revenue (food spending, parking garages - all taxed).

Would a ten dollar a day congestion tax (say) which will not be paid by suburbanites who commute on metro, on VRE/MARC, etc really have such a dramatic impact on labor availability as to motivate many employers to move out? I doubt it. Has London lost a lot of jobs as a result of its congestion charge?

As for retaliatory taxes, as a Car Lite Virginian, I would welcome that. If Arlington could apply it to Maryland drivers, I would be delighted.

There aren't really other employment "centers" to challenge London - and London is actually losing high paying financial sector and related jobs, but due to Brexit. here in DC, employers have other options to [re]locate their offices and many have already set up second offices in VA. The non-metro commuting employees NGOs, non-profits, association/groups/unions will be stuck to "foot" the bill

Central DC already commands higher office rents than other local office markets. Any firm locating in central DC is choosing it for because it is a better location for one reason or another. I have a hard time believing that a modest congestion charge (that won't impact employees who take metro, commuter buses, VRE/MARC, etc) will really have a big impact. BTW if it DID, that would impact the market for parking, and likely lead to lower garage parking rates, which would offset.

Anonymous wrote:I live in the burbs, so take this for what it’s worth. I can pay a congestion tax and I would. BUt would that type of tax hurt lower income people? I hate the Lexus lanes everywhere now, allowing wealthy people fast access to their jobs and truly hurting working class people.

I’m all for a tax on sweetened tea and coffee.

'
No. In general, lower-income people are taking the bus, riding bikes, and walking.

Anonymous wrote:From the article:

Cheh proposed raising the current effective 6% soda tax to 8%, and proposed adding sweetened coffee and tea drinks to those covered by the tax. She wanted the funding to go largely to improve school and summer meals programs for children in need.

So if you buy a regular latte at starbucks it is 6% tax but a vanilla latte would be 8% tax?

OMG this sounds like the lottery insanity, where in so many places we made to believe its generating money for education. In many places (maybe DC) the money goes into a general fund, and teeny bit goes to education. If that money were to go into something other than an education only bucket, I'd be peeved after getting that sales pitch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m generally in favor of congestion taxes, but it does make sense here. Va or Md could just set up their own tolls targeting DC drivers to retaliate.

A lot more VA and MD drivers commute in than vice versa. Check out the traffic going OUT of DC in the morning.

DC has all the leverage here.

ha! wait until the major non-government employers balk (i.e., move to Tysons, Arlington, etc.) and/or let employees telework or use alternate office instead of commuting over the VA bridges or from MD.. all of that = HUGE loss in revenue (food spending, parking garages - all taxed).

Would a ten dollar a day congestion tax (say) which will not be paid by suburbanites who commute on metro, on VRE/MARC, etc really have such a dramatic impact on labor availability as to motivate many employers to move out? I doubt it. Has London lost a lot of jobs as a result of its congestion charge?

As for retaliatory taxes, as a Car Lite Virginian, I would welcome that. If Arlington could apply it to Maryland drivers, I would be delighted.

There aren't really other employment "centers" to challenge London - and London is actually losing high paying financial sector and related jobs, but due to Brexit. here in DC, employers have other options to [re]locate their offices and many have already set up second offices in VA. The non-metro commuting employees NGOs, non-profits, association/groups/unions will be stuck to "foot" the bill

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I’ll go there even less now https://wtop.com/dc/2019/05/too-many-cars-dc-to-consider-tolls-congestion-pricing/

Please stay away.
DC doesn’t like conservatives. Smart people live in DC.

Yes, “smart people” who all are salivating at the idea of becoming independent meter maids and writing parking tickets to each other

Just to the people who park illegally in ways that endanger other people who are behaving legally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I’ll go there even less now https://wtop.com/dc/2019/05/too-many-cars-dc-to-consider-tolls-congestion-pricing/

Please stay away.
DC doesn’t like conservatives. Smart people live in DC.

Yes, “smart people” who all are salivating at the idea of becoming independent meter maids and writing parking tickets to each other

Why not put a 20 percent tax on all drinks served in paper/plastic cups?

It will raise revenue, cut back on waste, and likely reduce the amount of sugar people are consuming (since you’re probably not putting as much sugar in your own coffee as Starbucks has in their sweetened drinks).