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Dear New Yorkers,
Summer temperatures are running off the rails in New York and around the world, so here’s an update on our coalition' [[link removed]] s legal action against Governor Hochul’s halt on congestion pricing.
As anyone who’s descended into an MTA station this week knows, the punishing heat wave combined with transit delays makes life difficult and more dangerous for New Yorkers – especially working New Yorkers who rely on public transit.
MTA Chair Janno Lieber said about the 100 degree temperatures, “This is what takes place when you underinvest in an essential infrastructure system that is 100 years old and getting older all the time.”
Riding the subway in the dead heat of summer shouldn't be as uncomfortable or dangerous as it is.
But Governor Hochul’s decision to halt congestion pricing leaves a $15 billion hole in MTA’s budget – which means no improvements to MTA stations to keep passengers cool, and no capital projects to improve service and cut down on delays.
That’s why our legal coalition and upcoming suits on congestion pricing are so imperative. Last week we announced [[link removed]] an all-star team of attorneys, including experts from law firms, Earthjustice, and Mobilization for Justice, spearheaded by Professor Michael Gerrard. Together, we’re preparing legal action against Governor Kathy Hochul’s illegal and ill-conceived pause on congestion pricing.
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Last Wednesday, the first lawsuit was filed by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Transport Workers Union of America Local 100 on behalf of bus and transit riders. It’s the first stop along the legal suit journey, and we expect our coalition of transit riders, disabled commuters, and environmental advocates to make more announcements concerning litigation in the coming weeks.
Look, congestion pricing is one of those rare policies that will deliver benefits that every single New Yorker is clamoring for – cleaner air, less traffic, better service – no matter who you are or where you live. It should have been implemented on June 30.
But instead of investments for on-time trains and accessible stations, working New Yorkers now face preventable subway delays, worsening gridlock, air quality alerts, and service cuts.
One of the most disheartening consequences of Hochul’s about-face – especially during Disability Justice Month – is the pause on legally-required accessibility improvements to MTA stations. As of this writing, the MTA has already deferred ADA accessibility upgrades at 23 subway stations [[link removed]] because of lack of funds that would be provided by congestion pricing.
I’ll have more updates soon on our impending lawsuits. In the meantime – stay safe, and stay cool, New Yorkers.
Brad
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The Office of New York City Comptroller
Our mailing address is:
Office of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander
1 Centre Street
New York, NY 10007
United States
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