Hochul, through a spokesperson, dismissed the two new lawsuits filed Thursday in an attempt to re-start the plan that would charge drivers $15 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street.
“Get in line. There are now 11 separate congestion pricing lawsuits filed by groups trying to weaponize the judicial system to score political points,” the Hochul rep said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul made a sudden decision to pause the congestion pricing program earlier this year. rfaraino
The pair of Manhattan Supreme Court suits, first reported by The Post on Wednesday, mark the first legal challenges to Hochul’s decision instituting an “indefinite pause” of the congestion pricing scheme just before it was set to take effect June 30.
The suits, which also name the MTA as a defendant, claim the governor didn’t have authority over the tolling program, or the power to halt it.
They also argue that Hochul’s “indefinite pause” violates a 2021 amendment to the state constitution guaranteeing New Yorkers access to clean air and a healthy environment.
City Comptroller Brad Lander — a vocal critic of Hochul’s move to pause the toll — said he was helping coordinate the opposition, though is not a plaintiff in the lawsuits, one of which was filed by the Riders Alliance and Sierra Club, and the other by The City Club of New York.
“This is a giant mistake,” Lander told reporters Thursday.
“Our transit system is in desperate need of a dedicated funding stream to enable the MTA to invest in a modern signal system they don’t make sure trains come on time,” Lander continued.
James Messerschmidt City Comptroller Brad Lander is working to facilitate groups to try and sue to start the congestion pricing toll. Paul Martinka The two suits mark the first official legal challenges against Hochul’s decision to pause the congestion pricing scheme. Helayne Seidman
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber punted commenting on the lawsuits until he’s had time to read through the details of the accusations.
“I’m not going to get into my private conversation with the Governor, but I’m unaware of the specifics of those lawsuits so it probably doesn’t make sense for me to comment on them,” he said at an unrelated press conference.
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