Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) did not exactly deliver a "barnburner" of a speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, with an apparent applause line blasting former President Donald Trump falling flat.
She also started her speech with an error, asking attendees if they were ready to "elect Kamala Harris, the first president of the United States?" The Trump campaign quickly seized on it.
However, at home, Hochul faces more problems than just a lackluster speech. She has not laid out a concrete plan to replace congestion pricing since she nixed it on June 5.
Speaking to Politico the same day of her speech, Hochul maintained her position that the $15 charge on passenger vehicles during peak hours was "too much" for "everyday New Yorkers." She also dismissed the notion that the initial stoppage was due to a worry that it may affect down-ballot races.
"It’s not related to elections,” she said. “We’re studying other options.”
That is contrary to reports immediately after Hochul paused the toll, which suggested she did so to help some Democrats in contested districts, such as Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), who is running against former Republican Alison Esposito, a former candidate for lieutenant governor. Ryan took credit for the pause.
Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) disagreed with Hochul, telling the outlet, “She’s simply trying to minimize the pain Democrats will feel on Election Day simply to kick us in the a** after Election Day."
Congestion pricing was originally intended to fund several improvements to New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority, and many Democrats from across the city blasted Hochul immediately following the pause. Republicans generally supported the pause, many in opposition to the tolls.
The agency still has not found a funding solution to implement the plans it had before the pause, but Hochul gave a small update on its progress, suggesting there will be more clarity on the matter later this year or early next year.
“We will be announcing this by the end of the year because the legislature has to act on it,” she said. “It’s more likely it will be announced by the end of the year, early next year as we get the legislature on board.”
The New York Post reported Sunday that Hochul was weighing a compromise that would exempt municipal workers and reduce the tolls. Or she could just avoid making a decision that would enrage either side until after November's elections.
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In any case, Hochul has grown increasingly unpopular since her pause, even though the state largely supported her decision to do so. Only 38% of voters polled said they had a favorable view of her, while 45% supported her decision to pause congestion pricing.
Then there was her DNC speech, which was largely overshadowed by a fellow New Yorker, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). The congresswoman, who represents a very geographically small part of the state, stirred the crowd considerably with her blue-collar message appealing to working-class voters.
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