New York, NY —
Truck drivers are fuming over mayor Bloomberg's proposal to charge them a $21 a day fee for entering Manhattan. The American Trucking Association says the added cost would hurt delivery services.
REPORTER: But Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff told WNYC's Brian Lehrer show that truckers and other delivery drivers would actually benefit under the plan once they add up what they're already spending.
DOCTOROFF: They'll tell you they spend 25-40 percent of their day caught in traffic. So for them it's actually a great deal because the time they waste goes way down and the amount of money they earn can go up.
REPORTER: Bloomberg's proposal would charge cars 8 dollars to enter Manhattan south of 86th Street, but all tolls would be deducted from the cost. The plan has also met with opposition from some state lawmakers who would need to approve it. But environmental, business and labor leaders support the initiative.