A Manhattan judge, one whose name you may recognize, last week allowed lawsuits to proceed challenging Governor Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing pause. That’s according to Gothamist.com. Judge Arthur Engoron, who was on the bench for former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial, is presiding over two cases seeking to have the congestion pricing scheme re-instated. Though one of the suits was filed by The Sierra Club and the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, Rockland Assemblyman John McGowan of the 97th district, covering Orangetown and parts of Ramapo, says the plan has little to do with the environment…
The governor has been looking for ways to make up for the revenue shortfall without congestion pricing, and may have options once the legislature reconvenes in January. Had the congestion pricing plan gone into effect in June as scheduled, MTA lawyers said the organization would have already made $152 million in revenue. The program would have charged many drivers $15 to enter Manhattan’s congestion pricing zone below 60th Street.