CRAINSNEWYORK.COM I DECEMBER 4, 2023
Proposed congestion toll aims to ‘satisfy the many, not the few’ A panel recommends a charge of $15 for some drivers entering Manhattan By Caroline Spivack
The mutual civility between Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams has been a relief to political insiders, but hasn’t produced any significant relief from New York’s affordability crisis. | GOVERNORKATHYHOCHULOFFICE/FLICKR
TWO YEARS IN, HOCHUL AND ADAMS’ PARTNERSHIP
ONLY GOES SO FAR The mayor and governor are mostly aligned on issues, but slumping support points to difficulty ahead | By Nick Garber When Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric calm — and the centrist economic policies — Adams ascended to their posts almost simul- ushered in by the Hochul-Adams era. But their mutual civility has not taneously two years ago, hopes resulted in any major relief from were high about what a new spirit ADAMS’ New York’s affordability crisis, of collaboration would mean for a tenure has which residents have ranked as the city and state whose prior leaders featured more state’s biggest problem. That, along resented each other bitterly. radical ups and with a ceaseless migrant crisis and Two years later, Adams and Hodowns than the looming budget gaps — plus the chul have much to be happy about: wild card of Adams’ personal scanCrime in the city is mostly down, governor’s. dals — could put limits on the pothe pandemic recovery has slowly litical legacies that both leaders continued, and hopes that the two would work well together have been largely hope to achieve. “This partnership hasn’t really paid off for borne out, insiders say. Business groups in particular seem to be relishing the relative working New Yorkers who are still struggling
with high rent and flat wages and the lack of childcare options,” said Jasmine Gripper, co-director of the progressive Working Families Party. This time in 2021, both were riding high: Adams had just been elected mayor, while Hochul had assumed the governorship a few weeks earlier after the resignation of Andrew Cuomo. Early polls showed both enjoying solid support — especially Adams, whose approval stood at 61% two months after taking office. Their unpopular predecessors, Cuomo and Bill de Blasio, had feuded for years, and many in the political world were relieved by the fresh faces. That has changed. A Marist College poll last month showed both political leaders See PARTNERS on Page 19
Drivers heading into Manhattan may soon face a $15 charge as part of a long-awaited plan to reduce congestion on New York City’s busiest streets, according to proposed tolls released on Nov. 30. The Traffic Mobility Review Board tasked with crafting the tolls has recommend that most drivers be charged $15 once a day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. The program, which could be in place as soon as May, is poised to make New York the first U.S. city to join the likes of London, Stockholm and Milan in tolling drivers to reduce gridlock and air pollution and encourage the use of mass transit. Congestion pricing is anticipated to collect $1 billion in annual tolls that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would See GRIDLOCK on Page 22
A Manhattan street clogged with traffic | BUCK ENNIS
VOL. 39, NO. 43 l COPYRIGHT 2023 CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. l ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
GOTHAM GIGS A digital marketing executive blends music and visual arts to help brands tell stories. PAGE 23
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WHO OWNS THE BLOCK A big affordable apartment project is planned for a hard-hit part of the Bronx. PAGE 4
CHASING GIANTS Not your parents’ parenting advice. PAGE 3
12/1/23 5:21 PM