'Embarrassing': Critics claim NY gov’s latest move 'could definitely hurt' Dem candidates

05 January

Republicans, and some Democrats, are criticizing New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul over pushing forward her Manhattan toll plan — "known as congestion pricing" — according to a Sunday Politico report.

Per Politico, "In a dramatic and jarring move, Hochul suddenly delayed the tolls in June over concerns they would kneecap Democratic House candidates in battleground races," but in a recent "about face, she revived congestion pricing in the aftermath of the election and nixed a planned $15 toll in favor of $9."

NBC News reports, "Motorists entering Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods will now have to pay up to $9 in congestion charges, as New York City’s first-in-the-nation Congestion Relief Zone officially launched Sunday."

Amid the plan implementation, Politico notes that Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority "are fending off multiple legal challenges aimed at squelching the tolls — attacks that are scrambling the region’s hard-charging politics."

While "Republicans want Trump to rescind federal approval of the program," Politico reports, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) — who could possibly challenge Hochul in the state's next gubernatorial race —, "likened Hochul’s congestion pricing switch to the president-elect’s political" style.

"This reflects the kind of erratic and chaotic governance one would expect from a Trump presidency,” the Democratic congressman said. "It’s embarrassing."

Queens Democratic Assemblymember David Weprin told Politico, "It could definitely hurt the governor and some congressional candidates and state legislative candidates."

He added, "It’s going to have a negative impact in two years if it’s still in effect and not stopped."

Politico's full report is available here.

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