New York City's Congestion Mitigation Commission announced it's recommendations regarding congestion pricing, and officials from around the city and state immediately responded to the plan that, if approved by the City Council and State Legislature, will charge motorists $8 to drive into Manhattan and require residential parking permits for neighborhoods across the city.

"The plan that the commission is recommending today meets our goals of reducing congestion, cutting carbon emissions, and providing much-needed funds to improve mass transit for millions of New Yorkers," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who kicked off the debate over congestion pricing with last April's PlaNYC initiative to improve living conditions in the city. "The commission has done a thorough and thoughtful job. They've taken testimony from hundreds of residents, community leaders and civic organizations."

"The recommendations offered today by the Congestion Mitigation Commission will help us frame an important discussion as we consider thoughtful ways to improve our mass transit system, reduce congestion, and keep our economy moving," said Governor Elliot Spitzer. "The economic impetus behind congestion pricing is strong, as is the potential for cleaner air, improved public health, and a steady and predictable source of funding to support the Metropolitan Transit Authority's (MTA) capital plan."

Despite the words of support from the mayor and the governor, congestion pricing in its current form has been met with disapproval by an overwhelming amount of elected officials and community leaders in Brooklyn and Queens.

A majority of community boards and civic associations have opposed the mayor's initial congestion pricing plan. After the release of the commission's interim report, which outlined a number of strategies to reduce congestion in New York City's central business zone including the recommended "Alternative Congestion Pricing Plan," a number of politicians spoke out against the CMC's congestion plans.

Councilman Tony Avella, among others, has described congestion pricing as a regressive tax, and one that is particularly unfair to the city's middle class, and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall called congestion pricing a "punitive measure."

"I continue to believe that we must not punish those who have been ignored by government's failure to provide meaningful mass transit options," said Borough President Marshall.

"What is troubling is the increasing talk of pricing revenue as a way to relieve the budget deficit at the MTA," said Councilman John Liu, who chairs the Council's Transportation Committee and supports congestion pricing in theory. "Congestion pricing is a tax, a tax that should be reinvested in transit services. In the absence of transit improvements, congestion pricing would be an unfair penalty on commuters who have no choice but to drive to work." Liu wants to see more express bus service, expanded access to the Long Island Railroad, and implementation of high-speed ferry service where practical. "I know that it is a plan that will make some people very angry," admitted Liu, "but we if we don't have a plan we are going to get choked both environmentally and economically."

There are many organizations that are in favor of the proposition. The group Transportation Alternatives has been in favor of the plan since the interim report was released. According to the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, only 4 percent of Brooklyn residents drive into Manhattan for work, and the group welcomes the expected mass transit improvements that will come as a result of congestion pricing.

The City Council and State Legislature must vote on the Congestion Mitigation Commission's recommendation by March 31.