Staten Island pizzeria offers discounts amid toll increase
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Talk about comfort food!
A Staten Island pizzeria owner is hoping discounted pizza and pasta can help his customers who say they're struggling to pay an extra $9 per day to get to work in Manhattan.
Dennis Zollo of Mr. Pizza's Pasta House in New Springville tells PIX11 News, "We would be more than happy to give a small discount, 5, 10, 15 percent, depending on the orders. As far as what we're asking for, just give us a copy of your E-ZPass receipt."
Zollo didn't put an end date on the deals. He just said "From now until this craziness ends. I think there's too much of an outcry over this, and I think somebody's got to step up and do something."
The MTA has said the $9 toll to drive into Manhattan south of 60th Street will be used to fund public transportation and infrastructure improvements. On PIX on Politics, Governor Kathy Hochul was asked about the toll the new toll is taking on New Yorkers' wallets. Hochul told PIX11 "That's why I fought so hard to put it on pause, while I structured a plan to reduce it, 40 percent. It would have been 15 dollars a person."
Staten Island content creators JoJo and Nicky Scarlotta have put out a number of new TikTok and Instagram videos slamming Congestion Pricing in their typical profanity-laced videos.
Their father, Joe Scarlotta Sr., who also appears in the Reels tells PIX11 News, "Staten Island again, we're getting the 1- 2 punch. The cost factor, you're getting hit with the bridge, the Verrazano bridge; the Tunnel, the Battery Tunnel, then you're going into the zone."