Candidate Promises Toll Reimbursements and Tax Relief if Elected

Potential mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, a Republican, plans to offer New Yorkers up to $500 annually to offset toll costs for driving into Manhattan’s congestion zone, if he wins the election. His proposed “Money In Your Pocket” plan also includes eliminating city taxes on tips and providing property tax rebates of up to $500 for primary residences, co-ops, and condos owned outright.

Sliwa intends to reduce the city budget by $8 to $10 billion, targeting inefficiencies particularly within the Department of Education, and redirect those savings toward making living in New York more affordable. His approach opposes the current congestion tolling scheme, which has faced criticism for its high costs.

The rebate program would return 10% of the yearly tolls paid for entering Manhattan below 60th Street, capped at $500 per household. To fund this initiative, Sliwa suggests auditing city agencies for waste reduction, especially within the DOE, which has a $41 billion budget and spends an average of $42,000 per student annually.

In addition to toll rebates, Sliwa proposes removing federal income taxes on tips for certain jobs, aligning with a law signed by President Trump, which exempts tips from federal taxes for roles like waitstaff and golf caddies. He also plans to offer property rebates similar to the state’s School Tax Relief (STAR) program, targeting homeowners in NYC with primary residences, funded through the city budget with potential future support from the state.

Sliwa emphasized that his policies aim to support working-class residents and avoid driving away taxpayers, contrasting with proposals from other candidates who advocate for higher taxes and increased regulation. Though polling shows he remains in third place behind frontrunners Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, he leads incumbent Mayor Eric Adams in current rankings.