FACT CHECK: No, Gov. Hochul Is Not Implementing A $1.00 Walking Fee For Pedestrians In New York City

A video shared on TikTok claims New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul is purportedly implementing a $1.00 walking fee for pedestrians in the city.

@lzkuxzkxowv New York City Mayor Kathy Hochul will implement a $1.00 walking fee in the city#fypage #fypシ゚viral #foryoupage ♬ original sound – lzkuxzkxowv

Verdict: False

The claim is neither referenced on Hochul’s website nor on verified social media accounts. In addition, a spokesperson for Hochul’s office denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

Hochul has invited federal workers impacted by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts to apply for government jobs in New York, according to The New York Times. New York has over 7,000 unfilled jobs, the outlet reported.

The TikTok video claims Hochul is purportedly implementing a $1.00 walking fee for pedestrians in New York City.

“New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing fierce backlash over plans to implement pedestrian tolls using existing congestion cameras. The controversial proposal would charge $1 per person crossing designated zones like Manhattan’s Uptown/Downtown Divide. Critics call the scheme a cash grab, noting drivers already pay $9 daily under the city’s congestion pricing system,” an unnamed narrator claims via the video’s voiceover.

The unnamed narrator claims New York City residents are supposedly planning to protest the purported fee by flooding City Hall with torn dollar bills. Besides TikTok, the claim circulated on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, where it has received over 30,000 views as of writing.

The claim is false. Check Your Fact did not find a press release published on Hochul’s website or a statement shared to her verified social media accounts referencing the claim. (RELATED: No Listening Devices Found In The White House)

Likewise, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On Feb. 26, Lead Stories debunked the claim.

Furthermore, a spokesperson for Hochul’s office denied the claim’s validity in an email to Check Your Fact.

“This is 100% false. No one is proposing a walking fee,” the spokesperson said.