Dear Neighbor,

I hope all who celebrated had a happy Chanukah this month, and all those looking forward to Christmas and Kwanzaa can enjoy peaceful and joyous holidays as well. For all of us, I hope that the New Year will bring a world in which the experience of peace, prosperity, sustainability, and justice touches far more people, both here at home and around the globe. That's exactly the work that I hope to contribute to when the Legislature returns to session in January.

Below is an update on some of the legislative issues I have been working on, the latest details on congestion pricing and how to share your thoughts with the MTA, as well as other information that may be of interest.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at [email protected] or 212-490-9535. Please Note: my office will be closed from Monday, December 25 until Tuesday, January 2 for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Best,

Liz Krueger

State Senator

Leonardo DiCaprio Joins the Fight for the

NY Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act

This week, Hollywood's own Leonardo DiCaprio lent his voice to the many people and organizations already calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign my NY Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act. This bill, which passed both houses of the Legislature earlier this year, will ensure that our taxpayer dollars are not driving tropical deforestation through our state procurement policies.

The bill was delivered to the Governor last week, starting a 10-day clock for her to sign or veto it, which ends this Saturday. As of this writing, my staff and I are deep in ongoing negotiations with the Governor's office on changes she would like to see made. I continue to hold a firm line that the fundamental purposes of the bill must remain intact for me to accept any negotiated agreement.

This is crunch time to make sure New York is solidly on the path to fight climate change with everything we've got. That means we can't ignore the emissions we outsource to other countries through our consumer choices. State government must take the lead in ensuring our procurement dollars are not driving deforestation in our planet's critical tropical forests, exacerbating the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, and threatening the rights and lands of Indigenous peoples. At the same time, we can give New York businesses a leg up on the competition by helping them clean up their supply chains. It's a win-win-win for people, planet, and New York's economy, and the only thing we need now is the Governor's signature.

Earlier this month I joined a statement signed by women's rights leaders condemning the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war during the October 7th Hamas attacks. To view the full list of signatories, go to www.womensrightsleadersspeakout.org.

Statement by Women's Rights Leaders

on Rape Atrocities During the October 7th Attacks:

As women’s rights activists and leaders, we stand for the right of every woman and girl, of every nationality, religion, and community, to live free of all forms of violence, including rape and sexual assault.

In the weeks since October 7th, overwhelming evidence has emerged that widespread, horrific acts of rape and sexual violence were systematically perpetrated by Hamas attackers against Israeli women and girls during the October 7th assault. The evidence includes forensic examinations of Israeli victims’ bodies bearing signs of rape and torture; eyewitness testimony by survivors of the Oct. 7th attacks who saw women being raped and mutilated; the testimony of first responders who found the bodies of Israeli women and girls in their bedrooms amid unmistakable and virtually unspeakable evidence of having been raped; video footage filmed by Hamas attackers and recovered from their devices, which recorded evidence of sexual assault, and which has been viewed and attested to by American journalists and elected officials; videos which have been made public showing a young Israeli woman with bloodied pants, being dragged by her hair in and out of a vehicle by Hamas abductors, and another young woman stripped to her underwear with Hamas abductors on top of her; and testimony being compiled by an independent, nongovernmental commission investigating war crimes perpetrated against women and children by Hamas on October 7th. 

The undersigned have marched, organized, and spoken out for women of every race, religion, identity, and nationality. Our hearts break for all victims of gender-based atrocities, and our hearts break for these specific victims, the Israeli women and girls raped and sexually tortured on and after October 7th. Despite our different backgrounds and perspectives, we stand united in these principles: 

• We denounce the use of rape as a weapon of war, which is a crime against humanity. 
• We call for a thorough, skillful, and unbiased investigation by international human rights investigators of acts of rape and sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist groups against Israeli women and girls on and after October 7th; we call for perpetrators of war crimes to be held accountable by all relevant authorities including the International Criminal Court. 
• We demand the immediate, unconditional release of all remaining hostages so that they can receive desperately needed treatment for trauma and other serious medical conditions; we affirm that continuing to hold these kidnapped hostages captive is an ongoing violation of international law; and we say to these hostages and their loved ones: you are not alone.

We grieve as we witness the heartbreaking anguish of women, children, and all those who suffer through no fault of their own in both Israel and Gaza. We mourn the deaths of so many Palestinian and Israeli civilians who have been killed in this war. We long for a just peace. To denounce rape as a weapon of war is not to express approval or alignment with the governing coalition in Israel, nor does it signal support for the bombings in Gaza. But as feminists we are committed to the universal principle that rape must always be condemned; we bear witness to the mountain of evidence that Hamas and other terrorist groups used rape as a weapon of war against Israeli women and girls; and we demand accountability for crimes that must never be tolerated by the world community. Most of all, we stand with the victims of gender-based atrocities, with the survivors and with those who did not survive, and we raise our voices in solidarity with them.  

As you may know, the Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) recently released its report recommending a tolling structure for the Central Business District Tolling Program, commonly known as congestion pricing. My staff and I have heard from many of you with concerns and suggestions for congestion pricing, and I wanted to provide an update on theTMRB’s recommendations and next steps. The TMRB report explains the suggested fare structure in detail, and includes important insight into the board’s thinking on which exemptions to include and how the prices for each class of vehicle were determined. You can read the full report by clicking here.

It is important to note that this is not the final fare structure for the congestion pricing program. The TMRB was formed to provide recommendations to the MTA on how to implement a fare structure. The MTA will take the TMRB’s report into consideration before the MTA board votes on a final tolling structure, which is likely to occur at their March meeting. In the meantime, there will be opportunities for public input, which I have outlined below.

The TMRB recommended a base fare of $15 for any personal vehicle entering the zone with an EZ Pass. If drivers do not have an EZ Pass, the fare will increase to $22.50. This fare will apply from 5am-9pm on weekdays, and 9am-9pm on weekends. Outside those hours, any driver entering the zone will be charged $3.75, a 75% reduction. The fare will be 25% higher on “gridlock alert” days, when traffic in Manhattan is determined to be exceptionally high. Taxis and for-hire vehicles (Ubers, Lyfts, and the like) will not pay a base toll, instead having a $1.25 surcharge for taxis and a $2.50 surcharge for for-hire vehicles per trip. Drivers will not be charged for leaving the zone, or driving within the zone, only for entering, and only once per day. Drivers will not be charged for re-entry if you leave and return within the same day. There will also be a $5 credit for drivers who are entering the zone during the daytime hours through the Queens-Midtown, Hugh L. Carey, Holland, and Lincoln Tunnels. 

If you live within the zone and earn less than $60,000 per year, you will have the money you pay towards the fare returned to you in the form of a tax credit. If you have disability license plates on your car, you will be completely exempt from paying at the point of entry. For more information on the process for applying for disability license plates, click here.

The MTA will begin a 60-day public comment period starting on December 28th and lasting until the end of February. They will then hold a public hearing, and the MTA board will hold a final vote on the fare structure and any exemptions in March 2024. You can submit public comments through this form. If you have any concerns, questions, or suggestions about congestion pricing or the TMBR’s report, it is very important to submit your comments to the MTA during the open 60-day comment period. I will share information about the public hearing once it is available. The MTA does in fact read all public comments submitted for a project, and while they will not implement every suggestion, it is an important way to have your voice heard in this process. 

The 2019 state law establishing congestion pricing included broad guidelines on a potential congestion program but left the design, development, and operation of the program up to the MTA. The law requires congestion pricing to generate $1 billion annually which will enable the MTA to obtain $15 billion in bond financing for its current capital plan. The law only requires three exemptions: one for emergency vehicles, a second for vehicles transporting people with disabilities, and a third for residents of the congestion pricing zone who earn less than $60,000 per year. The MTA board will decide on any other exemptions or discounts not mandated by state law.

I continue to be a strong supporter of congestion pricing. Those of us who live and work in Manhattan know all too well the negative impacts of traffic congestion on our daily lives – the air pollution, the noise, the risks to pedestrians posed by our overcrowded streets, and the frustration of being stuck on a bus or in a car or taxi moving slower through traffic than pedestrians walking. We also know the benefits of well-funded, reliable, fast public transit. Congestion pricing is a tried and tested approach that will reduce congestion, improve the quality of life of Manhattanites, and provide desperately needed funds to support the subways and buses that the vast majority of New Yorkers rely on every day.

The existential crisis of climate change demands that we urgently lower our vehicle emissions, and congestion pricing is a proven way to do this. In addition, this policy will reduce the high levels of traffic that increase commute times and pose a threat to pedestrian safety. In London, Singapore, and Stockholm, three other world-class cities where congestion pricing programs have been implemented, there have been reductions of up to 25% in traffic congestion, up to 20% drops in air pollution, and reduced drive times for those who do continue to use personal vehicles to commute into and out of the respective congestion zones.

Having said this, I understand that many of my constituents have serious concerns about how congestion pricing will impact them personally and their neighborhoods. I appreciate that it will increase the cost of car ownership for many New York City residents, and may lead to slightly higher fees for those who regularly use ride-hailing services. As a car owner myself, as well as a pedestrian and a user of mass transit, I believe that the positives of this program outweigh any negatives for those of us who live in the overly-congested core of Manhattan. I have submitted testimony and a joint letter to the MTA and TMRB outlining suggestions to make congestion pricing as effective as possible while minimizing the impacts on the most vulnerable. 

This past week, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)

and NYC Parks officially opened the East Midtown Greenway and Phase 2B of Andrew Haswell Green Park. Located on a stretch of newly-created open space spanning from East 53rd Street to East 62nd street, these two new spaces total almost three acres. East Midtown Greenway, which fills a key gap in the

Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, is built over the East River and includes new pedestrian walkway, landscaping, a pedestrian bridge, and separated bike lane. Andrew Haswell Green Park Phase 2B includes renovations to the East 60th Street

ramp, a new lawn and landscaping, lighting, and seating. The completion of both projects is a product of extensive community outreach with representation from Community Boards 6 and 8 and local elected officials.

I first sent a letter to former Mayor Bloomberg calling for transforming the FDR Outer Detour Roadway into a new East Midtown Greenway back in February of 2006. They say good things come to those who wait, and we've certainly waited a long time, but I am thrilled that East Midtown residents will finally have access to the East River and desperately needed open space. Thanks to the commitment of multiple mayoral administrations, my fellow East Side elected officials, and Community Boards 6 and 8 over almost two decades, we are now much closer than ever to seeing the completion of a continuous East River Greenway.

The New York State Education Department is conducting a comprehensive review and assessment of the overall effectiveness of mayoral control of New York City schools. All members of the public—including students, parents, teachers, school administrators and staff, and individuals with experience and expertise in education policy and school governance—are invited to provide feedback on their experiences, assessments, and/or review of the mayoral control system of New York City schools.

Members of the public may participate by providing oral testimony at one of five public hearings and/or by submitting written electronic testimony by January 31, 2024 at 5pm. Information on the date, time, and location of each public hearing can be found by clicking here. Please be advised that each in-person public hearing will be livestreamed and recorded.

The Manhattan hearing will take place at 6pm on January 18th at the High School of Fashion Industries, 225 W 24th Street.

As you may be aware, the Mount Sinai Health System has announced its intention to close Beth Israel Medical Center (also known as Mount Sinai Beth Israel), a full-scale hospital and emergency department, which is located at 16th Street and 1st Avenue.

The Community Coalition to Save Beth Israel has composed a survey to find out how community members use Mount Sinai Beth Israel and how they would be impacted by the proposed closure. If you, your family members, friends, or loved ones have received medical services at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, your feedback would be very helpful. You can view and complete the survey by clicking here. 

The deadline to complete the survey is Monday, January 7, 2024.

As part of the City’s “Future of Fifth” initiative, the Mayor’s Office is launching an online survey to collect feedback from New Yorkers on their experiences on Fifth Avenue to inform the visioning process for the transformation of Fifth Avenue from Bryant Park to Central Park. 

It takes approximately two to three minutes to complete the survey, which will be open through February 2024. The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PYSWW5L

Reimagining Fifth Avenue as a safer, pedestrian-friendly corridor was one of the recommendations from the “New” New York Panel. To realize this recommendation, the city established the Future of Fifth public-private partnership between The Mayor’s Office, NYCEDC, NYC DOT, and NYC Parks, and Fifth Avenue Association, Grand Central Partnership, Central Park Conservancy, and Bryant Park Corporation.

This fall, the Future of Fifth partnership and its selected consultant team announced the beginning of the comprehensive plan process. Learn more at https://futureoffifth.com/.