While many Bronx elected officials have openly endorsed the mayor’s plan to charge drivers entering Manhattan, Sen. Ruben Diaz [D-Bronx] said the plan would only benefit Manhattan residents and would turn the borough into a parking lot and possibly raise asthma rates.

This week, Diaz openly attacked the congestion pricing plan that would charge car drivers $8 and truck drivers $21 for entering Manhattan below 86th Street. The idea is to try to relieve the vehicular traffic and lower the asthma rates in the city. However, Diaz said such congestion and asthma will not be eliminated but instead will be relegated to the Bronx.

“The Bronx is going to be a parking lot,” the senator said.

Commuters, especially from Long Island, could park their cars and then take a short ride on public transportation to their jobs, he said. As for reducing asthma rates: “It will definitely reduce asthma in Manhattan, but I don’t know what will happen in Hunts Point.”

Diaz said an environmental impact study needed to be conducted before the plan is put into effect.

Another point of outrage has been the price. Under the plan, Manhattan drivers will pay only $4 for cars while everyone else will be forced to pay $8. Diaz said the move is unfair to Bronxites, because unlike Manhattan, public transportation is not as extensive into the city and thus makes driving a more preferred option. Communities like Co-op City and some neighborhoods in Riverdale do not have direct subway links; although, under the plan, Co-op City would finally get a Metro North station.