Sliwa's Plan to Lower Transportation Costs for Commuters
 

New Yorkers are working harder than ever, yet most of their income is spent just to live here. Public transit is unreliable, rideshare costs are skyrocketing, and every Uber or Lyft ride if filled with fees being paid to the city. People shouldn’t have to worry about getting to work, school, or home safely. Under a Curtis Sliwa administration, working people will get real, immediate relief. This plan is simple, verifiable, and focused on the people who keep our city moving. Here’s Curtis’ plan.

1. City Commuter Relief Rebates

Many New Yorkers must drive for work, off hours, tools, or caregiving, so Curtis will create a city funded rebate that returns 10 percent of congestion charges paid in the prior year, capped at $500 dollars per household. Sliwa will also offer $500 rebate for all commuters, as the MTA raises costs for commuters, yet subways and buses are often late, delayed, canceled and unreliable. 
 

As Mayor, Curtis will:

• Curtis Sliwa pledges $500 rebate for all NYC resident commuters, including public transit users and drivers impacted by congestion pricing.

​

•  Public transit is failing working families: rising fares, unreliable service, late trains, and frequent delays, this rebate is essential for those relying on public transportation to go to school or work.

• Issue payments as a direct city payment or a city credit, not through E ZPass

• Limit eligibility to primary New York City residences, one rebate per household, with a means
  tested phase out

• Verify payments through secure data matching and require residency verification

• Enact the program through City Council legislation and a dedicated budget line, with audits and fraud checks

• Sliwa pledges $500 rebate for all NYC resident commuters, including public transit users and drivers impacted by congestion pricing

• The rebate will offset skyrocketing rideshare, taxi, and congestion fees that make commuting more expensive for working families

• Criticizes unreliable public transit, citing late trains, frequent service interruptions, outdated infrastructure, and safety concerns 

​

Sliwa promises to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable transit while providing immediate relief to commuters.

2. No City Tax on Tips

Service workers power our city and deserve to keep more of what they earn, so Curtis will push to mirror the federal no tax on tips at the city level.

As Mayor, Curtis will:

• Seek State Legislature approval to exclude a portion of tips from the New York City income tax

• Lead the effort with clear fiscal notes and a responsible phase in

• Focus relief on workers who rely on tips without new red tape for small businesses

3. Homeowner Relief: Simple Property Tax Rebate

Homeowners and owner occupants keep neighborhoods stable, so Curtis will deliver a straightforward rebate up to 500 dollars for primary residences and owner occupied co ops and condos.
 

As Mayor, Curtis will:

• Use a simple income cap to target relief

• Apply the benefit automatically to property tax accounts, with checks available for escrowed mortgages

• Publish clear eligibility and timelines

4. Make Work Pay: Stronger NYC Earned Income Tax Credit

The Earned Income Tax Credit is proven to reward work and support families, so Curtis will champion a higher New York City EITC match in the state budget with city co funding to unlock larger refunds.

 

As Mayor, Curtis will:

• Prioritize outreach so eligible households receive the credit they have earned

• Publish clear metrics on participation and refund size so the public can track results

​

5. Paying For It And Getting It Done

Relief only works if it is real, funded, and delivered on time, so Curtis will make sure these benefits reach New Yorkers without new bureaucracy.

 

As Mayor, Curtis will:

• Reprioritize city spending by auditing contracts, reducing duplicative administration, and cutting high overhead arrangements that do not deliver results

• Create tight program integrity rules including data matching, residency checks, and audit triggers for unusual claims

• Publish simple eligibility guides and timelines so families know what they will receive and when

New York taxes are too damn high. Curtis will cut the budget, live within our means, and put money back where it belongs. With you. No gimmicks. Clear rules. Real results.