Congestion pricing is alive again

New York Minute: Long Island Representative and former Republican candidate for governor. Donald Trump, the incoming president, appointed Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

The second New Yorker in the last 24 hours to be appointed to a high-level position in the incoming Trump cabinet is Zeldin, a fervent Trump supporter who received a low rating from the League of Conservation Voters while serving in Congress.

Upstate Representative. as well as the nomination of Elise Stefanik, the chair of the House Republican Conference, to be Trump’s ambassador to the UN (more on that below).

PERFECT TIME: Gov. When Kathy Hochul announced her congestion pricing pause in June, she assured New Yorkers that it had nothing to do with elections or politics.

Hochul’s efforts to reinstate it come less than a week before Election Day, which is incredibly convenient timing.

“This clearly smells of politics if that reporting is accurate,” stated Orange County Democratic state senator. James Skoufis.

Hochul denied five months ago in a POLITICO article that she abruptly stopped the congestion pricing toll program because of political concerns. Specifically, Hochul said that the program was put on hold to prevent a burden on Democrats in battleground congressional districts. She claimed that after listening to commuters’ financial worries during dinner conversations, she changed her mind.

Hochul is working quickly to update the tolling plan before Trump takes office, as the results of the House election are still being tallied and New York Democrats appear to be on track to gain three seats. The incoming president has expressed his disapproval of the toll.

According to a POLITICO story published on Friday, Hochul is contacting the Biden administration about reviving the toll program but reducing the toll to about $9 instead of the original $15 to enter parts of Manhattan.

When questioned by reporters about the report, she responded, “Talks with the federal government are not new.”. The White House and the DDOTO have been in constant communication with us. Federal Highway Administration, or T, since June. That talk goes on. “”.

Democrats are now criticizing the governor and warning her that it will cause her the political pain she wished to avoid, outside of New York City’s transit-rich center.

According to some, a reboot would contradict her claim that the pause was not political.

Three days after her narrow victory over Rep., Democratic Representative-elect Laura Gillen wrote on X, “We need a permanent end to congestion pricing efforts, full stop.”. D’Esposito Anthony. “Commuters on Long Island can’t afford two taxes.”. “”.

Skoufis denied Hochul’s down-ballot victories would boost her popularity.

He went on, “If she does that, she will have angered those who opposed the pause in the first place and believed this was politics.”. Pick a side is something you learn in Politics 101 very early on, and she will have succeeded in making everyone angry. Select a side. Take a stand. “”.

The time to restore the program is running out.

The MTA’s capital plan imposes an additional $33 billion on the state in addition to resolving the $15 billion congestion pricing revenue hole, which will need to be adjusted if the toll is less than $15. Additionally, the transit authority is requesting $14 billion more from the federal government, a request that may encounter resistance from the Trump administration, which provided significantly less funding for the MTA and New York transit systems than the Biden administration did.

According to Rachael Fauss, a senior policy advisor at the government reform organization Reinvent Albany, Hochul will likely reinstate the program in a matter of weeks or days rather than months.

With reference to the impending budget crisis facing the MTA, she stated, “If she wants congestion pricing to be part of the solution, this is it.”.

The political ramifications of an aging and increasingly broken transit system are also pursuing the governor.

The former governor… Andrew Cuomo, who had a lot of support from Democrats throughout the state prior to his downfall, had some of his lowest approval ratings during the MTA’s “Summer of Hell.”. “”.

Regarding the MTA’s financial problems, Fauss stated, “It doesn’t add up without congestion pricing.”. “Now is the time to do it.”. Those are the times. She has a few days to complete this task. — Jonathan Beeferman.

from the Capitol. .

Republicans are joking that an unofficial primary is taking place to replace Rep. After accepting Trump’s offer to serve as ambassador to the UN, Elise Stefanik is now a member of the House of Representatives in a northern New York district.

Chris Tague and Robert Smullen, two Republican members of the state Assembly, are interested in the position. Both state senator and Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin’s names have been proposed. Dan Stec. .

And if he does lose his slender reelection, Rep. A source familiar with the discussions suggested Marc Molinaro might run for the seat. With the count of ballots still ongoing, Molinaro is less than two points behind Democratic opponent Josh Riley.

Riley still hasn’t given up his race to Molinaro. However, a campaign spokesman made it clear that a run for Stefanik’s current district was not out of the question.

Molinaro spokesperson Dan Kranz declared, “Our race isn’t over.”. In addition to being a fighter and delivering significant conservative outcomes for the North Country, Elise Stefanik will help rebuild American credibility at the UN. There are big shoes to fill, and her successor needs to be prepared to contribute to Trump’s agenda right away. “”.

After Democratic Rep., Stefanik switched the district to her party and has been the area’s representative since 2014. Bill Owens gave up his job.

The district, which extends from the suburbs of Albany to the Canadian border, is vast and overwhelmingly Republican. Along with Fort Drum, it includes the Adirondack Mountains.

There was a libertarian undertone to the district for years, but in the last eight years, it has firmly become Trump country. Any candidate would need to show unambiguous support for the policies of the incoming Trump administration, according to two Republican strategists who spoke to Playbook this morning.

The nominees will be chosen by the county chairs, which gives Tague an early advantage. As the chair of the Schoharie County GOP, the Assembly lawmaker stated in an interview with Playbook that he would start calling other county leaders.

“I would represent this district with strength. “We’re thinking about it,” he stated. The primary goal here is to keep this congressional seat in Republican hands. “”.

Smullen, who served in the Bush administration and has a wealth of experience in national security, applauded Stefanik’s appointment to the UN ambassadorship. However, he was also quiet about running for her seat in an interview, mentioning his son’s passing earlier this year.

“It’s a really hard job, but we’ll see what happens and what will be discussed,” he stated.

Even though he gave a rather apathetic response when asked about his plans, McLaughlin, who seems to be everywhere on X, would probably be the most aggressive candidate. “We’ll see,” he texted me.

Stec did not return calls or texts.

Assemblyman Billy Jones, a moderate from the Plattsburgh region, is being considered on the Democratic side. — Reisman Nick.

— THE TIMING OF THE SPECIAL: A 2021 law would determine the date of any special election, requiring a governor to select a date that falls between 70 and 90 days after being informed that a vacancy has been created.

About a week after Inauguration Day, three of the previous five ambassadors to the UN for elected administrations were confirmed. Stefanik is already well-known in Washington, and the Senate is firmly controlled by Republicans, so it’s safe to assume that she will also be moving quickly.

Three possible Tuesdays would remain. There are only two dates left: April 8 if Hochul wants to rush the vote, and April 22 if she wants to leave a Republican-friendly seat vacant for a little longer and give Democrats a little more time to campaign. This is because April 15 falls on Holy Week and Passover, so any oddsmakers can overlook that.

Naturally, all of that depends on Stefanik being confirmed as soon as possible and holding off on resigning until then. Additionally, Hochul would have to be formally notified that the seat is open, which hasn’t always happened right away in the past. Mahoney, Bill.

FROM THE CITY HALL.

TIME TRIAL: In the face of numerous law enforcement investigations into his administration and criminal bribery charges, Mayor Eric Adams seems adamant about seeking reelection. The trial date in Adams’ federal criminal case is currently set for April 21. His attorney, Alex Spiro, wrote to the judge today requesting that it be moved up three weeks. Why? According to Spiro’s future vision, this would allow Adams more time to run for office following his exoneration.

An earlier trial date will guarantee the protection of Mayor Adams’s right to a speedy trial, allow the Mayor to fully engage in his reelection campaign, and free the City’s voters from the distraction of this misguided indictment so they can hear from and assess the Democratic candidates for Mayor based on their qualifications, Spiro wrote.

In exchange for expediting the case, Spiro sacrificed his right to request more discovery materials. His confidence in the defense and the conviction with which Adams seems to be pursuing a second term were both conveyed by the unconventional move.

Adams was charged by federal prosecutors with taking bribes from people connected to the Turkish government in order to expedite the opening of the Turkish embassy in midtown.

Voters’ decision to return former President Donald Trump to the White House last week marked a dramatic turn for the uncertain in the case.

Throughout the campaign, the mayor carefully refrained from criticizing Trump. Additionally, the president-elect has expressed sympathy for Adams’ legal predicament. Trump could get involved in the mayor’s criminal case in a number of ways, including by pardoning Adams if he is found guilty, as POLITICO reported last week. — Joe Anuta.

via the campaign trail.

SOUR GRAPES: While some House Democrats in New York enjoyed a victory lap over the weekend, former Congressman Mondaire Jones returned to his perch after losing his last House race, the CNN pundit seat, to explain why Trump did so well in the 17th District of New York.

Jones stated, “It illustrates how the Democratic Party’s image is in ruins in the suburbs due to the immigration issue, and I have chastised my party on this point.”. We took the migrant crisis seriously, acted to secure the border, and were tough on the border after far too long of waiting. And we are seeing that all across the United States, and we are paying the price.

Last Tuesday, however, the majority of other House Democrats failed to notice that in the Empire State.

To the north of that, Democratic Rep. On a platform centered on affordability, Pat Ryan easily won by 13 points after losing by only 1 point 4 points the previous cycle.

Laura Gillen, a Democrat, ousted Republican Rep. “Even though we’re 2,000 miles away from Mexico, we’re feeling the migrant crisis,” Anthony D’Esposito stated in an advertisement. “”.

Jones entered the race carrying some baggage related to the subject. Four years ago, he claimed to be in favor of cutting off funding for US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Jones wrote on X over the weekend, “The Democratic Party will continue to lose difficult elections as long as its leaders give in to extremists who want them to use phrases like ‘defund the police’ and deny the existence of a border crisis.”. “Those extremists never gain political power for a reason. “.”.

Jones made repeated calls to defund the police during his initial 2020 congressional campaign.

Jones’s comeback bid in the lower Hudson Valley began with an ad in which a police officer said he listened and funded the police, but it was insufficient to make up for his previous calls for the opposite after he moved to Brooklyn and lost in a crowded primary in the 10th District.

An inquiry for comment from Jones was not answered. — Facciola Timmy.

OTHER NEWS.

— GETTING TO KNOW ELISE: The three-part series documents the anticipated future UN Ambassador’s ascent to prominence (NY1). MEET AND GREET: In addition, Stefanik will meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog following her appointment as a UN Ambassador. Fox News.

DREAMERS FACE THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY: New York’s undocumented immigrants are figuring out what a Trump presidency and his mass deportation plan would mean for them. (Gothamist). .

— NYPD BOSS WISHES TO STAY: Despite his own scandals since assuming the position, NYPD interim chief Tom Donlon wishes to remain in his employment. (The Times of New York).

— JUDICIAL NOMINEE Tali Farhadian Weinstein, a former Manhattan District Attorney candidate, is expected to be appointed to a position in the Southern District of New York. (Source: Bloomberg).

We forgive you for missing the New York Playbook this morning. Get it here.

Observe us on Twitter.

The handle @JasonBeeferman is Jason Beeferman.