The Issue: The MTA’s budget deficit widens despite fare hikes and its rising congestion-toll take.

Not a day after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority projects a $900 million budget deficit by 2030, we read that congestion pricing isn’t reducing auto traffic (“We’re Still $tuck in traffic!,” Oct. 28).

“Congestion pricing” was only ever a moniker to trick the public into believing traffic would decrease. Gov. Hochul and the MTA always intended it to be a money grab.

But does the public realize it is paying the MTA surcharges on taxi and for-hire cars and commuter railroads, as well as a business-franchise tax, a corporate tax and phone service fees?

Each of these taxes was created under the guise that they’d help the MTA reach financial stability. But it never does, and it keeps raising fees.

We can’t vote out the MTA, but we can vote out the accidental governor who lacks competence and integrity.

John Brindisi

Manhattan

Because of the placement of the MTA license-plate readers at the 59th Street entrance ramp of the Queensboro Bridge, Roosevelt Island residents who have no other option but to use the Queensboro Bridge to return home are being hit with a congestion toll — even if they have no intention of entering the zone south of 60th Street.

This toll is a crushing financial burden and makes no difference in traffic.

I urge the governor and MTA chief Janno Lieber to rethink this punishment and have compassion for the unique geography of our neighborhood.

Shamecca Ruiz

Roosevelt Island

How can the MTA say with a straight face that it has a budget deficit and at the same time lose $500 million each year to fare evasion?

My advice to Lieber is to get his own house in order before penalizing commuters for his incompetence.

Robert Greco

Milford, Pa.

Congestion pricing was supposed to save the MTA — where is all that money going?

This agency desperately needs auditing by Elon Musk’s DOGE.

James Panzo

Brooklyn

Lieber is the next person we have to fire because he can’t run an agency efficiently.

And I have no doubt the new leadership’s first measure will be an increase in fares.

Gene O’Brien

Whitestone

The Issue: Leftist rioting in France even as the nation suffers worsening economic stagnation.

France’s lesson is that socialist spending does not work (“Macron Economics,” Dominic Green, PostOpinion, Oct. 25).

Hard work and investments build a society that can afford social entitlements.

Protests won’t solve their problems — that will require sacrifice and adjustments to entitlements.

The French have no one to blame but themselves.

Ed Houlihan

Ridgewood, NJ

France’s downfall will be due to its broken finances.

Trade in commodities is increasingly global — and while competition still depends on quality, there’s a recent emphasis on price.

French brie is good, but so is Wisconsin cheddar.

Green also talked about France’s other challenges.

US full-time workers average 20 paid vacation days per year; it’s 36 in France.

Meanwhile, GDP per capita is about $51,000 in France — vs. $95,000 in the United States.

French President Emmanuel Macron must take swift action, even at political risk.

Larry Sylvester

Acton, Ontario

The far-left anarchists in France are shouting, “Down with the state, the cops and the fascists!” (“Face Facts on the Riots,” Editorial, Oct. 27)

Americans must realize that this is the same as left-wing calls to Abolish ICE, police and prisons.

Bruce Collins

Middletown, NJ

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