The New York Times reports, with less than 12 hours to go before a legally questionable deadline it imposed for the shutdown of MTA congestion pricing, USDOT granted an extension and issued a threat.
Around 2:00 PM Eastern today, Secretary Sean Duffy used social media to advise New York Governor Kathy Hochul he is extending the deadline by 30 days to allow “discussions” to continue. He added, “Your refusal to end cordon pricing and your open disrespect towards the federal government is unacceptable. . . . Know that the billions of dollars the federal government sends to New York are not a blank check. Continued noncompliance will not be taken lightly.” Duffy called congestion pricing “a slap in the face to hard working Americans,” and compared it to New York’s stance against an energy pipeline proposal supported by President Trump.
Governor Hochul’s response to the message was issued through a spokesperson: “We’ve seen Secretary Duffy’s tweet, which doesn’t change what Governor Hochul has been saying all along: the [tolling system] cameras are staying on.”
Beyond covering the deadline confrontation, The Times article looks at the broader political and legal contest between New York and the federal government over congestion pricing. It also reports on coercive measures the Trump administration may be contemplating to force New York to end tolling.
Associated Press and Gothamist also cover this developing story.