President Trump must give you $15 billion in federal money to repair New York Metropolis’s subway system if he needs to chop congestion pricing, Gov. Kathy Hochul insisted Thursday — as their ongoing spat over the controversial Manhattan toll solely continues to escalate.
The Democrat stated she gave Trump the so-called ultimatum throughout their White Home sit-down late final week, telling him he would wish to dip into US coffers to offset the billions the state is estimated to lose if the congestion toll is nixed.
“You’re gonna have to give me $15 billion to invest in a subway system, then,” Hochul informed MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” of her closed-door assembly with the president on Wednesday.
“If I lose $15 billion that we’re able to leverage with the money brought in by congestion pricing, then I won’t be able to fix the stations and the repairs and the new buses I need.”
Her obvious demand is simply the most recent improvement within the showdown between the feds and state over the scheme to cost drivers a $9 payment to enter Manhattan beneath sixtieth Road.
The Trump administration has given the state a deadline of March 21 to “cease the collection of tolls” after US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy introduced final week he was scrapping federal approval.
Hochul, for her half, has repeatedly vowed to withstand the order.
“We have to fight to keep it going, and that’s why I’m taking it to the courts and I’ll take it wherever I can,” Hochul stated throughout Thursday’s MSNBC look — as she doubled down on remarks made a day earlier.
“They’re telling us we have to have an orderly cessation by the end of March. I’m saying we’re going to have to have an orderly resistance,” she added.
“We are not turning off the cameras.”
Hochul stated she tried to lean on the truth that Trump and she or he are each native New Yorkers in a bid to sway the president, who has decried the toll as a “terrible tax on working class.”
“I said, ‘Mr. President, you’re a New Yorker. First of all, the most offensive thing I found in the letter from Sean Duffy was citing New Jersey saying they don’t like this,’” she stated, referring to the transportation secretary’s order to chop the toll.
“‘Mr. President, we’re both New Yorkers. Why do we care what New Jersey thinks?,’” she continued.
“It’s a stunning place. However you recognize what? If you’re taking the tunnels, it’s 48% sooner. So I need New Jersey residents to come back right here. Come be a part of an essential a part of our financial system. When you’re nonetheless driving … I simply gave you the present of time.
“Yes, I’m sorry, there’s a cost to it — but that’s what the concept of congestion pricing is all about.
I need to continue proving this to the president.”
It comes after MTA honcho Janno Lieber additionally vowed to proceed amassing the toll till the state is slapped with a court docket order.
“We have an approval that is valid and in effect, and we’re not turning them off absent a court order,” Lieber stated throughout Wednesday’s MTA board assembly.
He argued the toll had already confirmed to be efficient, saying there had been 2.8 million fewer automobiles within the congestion aid zone for the reason that program kicked off final month.
