World leaders and diplomats are in NYC this week for the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Manhattan’s East Side, marking a historic moment in politics and transit. It is the first UNGA held with NYC’s controversial congestion pricing program in full effect.

But none of these leaders are paying the same $9 toll for entering the area of Manhattan south of 60th Street, also known as the Central Business District (CBD) toll zone, as other drivers must.

In the waning days of the Biden administration, the State Department announced on Jan. 6 — a day after New York launched congestion pricing — that it would exempt diplomats from paying the tolls.

“The exemption from charges assessed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York for entry into its designated 'Conges

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