NYC congestion pricing scanners are staying on, despite President Trump's attempt to end New York's toll for drivers in Manhattan.

Summary

NYC’s congestion pricing program, launched Jan 5 after Biden administration approval, faces new threats from the Trump administration.

Governor Kathy Hochul vows to keep the toll scanners active, deeming Trump’s effort and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s order an attack on the city.

The MTA swiftly filed a legal complaint to uphold the $9 toll, citing reduced traffic and critical funding for mass transit.

Legal experts warn the Trump administration faces an uphill legal battle.

  • PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat
    21·
    2 days ago

    I mean, it kind of makes sense. If Trump can say “naw fuck your laws I am king” nothing is really to stop the (edit: mayor) governor of New York from saying “naw fuck you king, I run this place.”

    I don’t think it is overall a good development. The breakdown of democracy is not a good thing, even if it is widespread instead of concentrated. But also, it feels like it’s better, the more that people look at what the federal government in its current form has to say about anything and just kind of have a good belly laugh and go back to whatever they felt like doing before.

    • Rentlar@lemmy.ca
      21·
      2 days ago

      And if there was one city and state that was waiting for any opportunity to give Trump the middle finger, that would be New York.

    • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      2 days ago

      Kathy Hochul is the governor of New York state, not the mayor of New York City.

      The mayor, Eric Adams, is a blatantly corrupt piece of shit. There’s a quid-pro-quo scandal bigger than Watergate going on between him and Trump right now that’s resulted in mass resignations of DoJ prosecutors (the “Thursday night massacre” last week). It’s a really big deal (probably more damaging to the rule of law even than this congestion pricing thing, and I mod !fuckcars so coming from me that’s saying a lot); you should watch the Legal Eagle video about it.

      • PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat
        6·
        2 days ago

        True that. I knew about the scandal and you are 100% right and the video is excellent. I was just briefly inhabiting a fantasy world where people are treating Trump with the laughter and dismissal that he deserves, and I guess which person holds which office wasn’t a part of my imagining.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
      2·
      1 day ago

      The breakdown of democracy is not a good thing

      You could argue this is the opposite, the triumph of democracy over fascism. It’s definitely a triumph of the legal system over whims of a tyrant

      • Congestion charges were wanted locally, or at least by local officials. They got all their paperwork done, overcame objections, got final approval and got started. Now a tyrant comes in and tries to cancel in personal preference. Ignoring that is a triumph of at least the preferences of the local government over fascism imposed from outside
      • Final approval was in place and congestion tolls were being collected. Attempting to stop this out of personal preference, with no votes or requests, no evidence, no due process is not supposed to happen. Laws need stability and reason
      • PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat
        2·
        1 day ago

        Yeah, maybe I should have said it as “the breakdown of adherence to objective norms.” You could make a pretty good argument that those norms are directly in opposition to “democracy,” and the tension between the two is part of what builds a healthy society.

    • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
      5·
      2 days ago

      I think you’re misunderstanding this particular situation. Hochul didn’t ignore Trump’s order; he’s going to contest it in court as outside Trump’s legal authority as president.

      • PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat
        2·
        2 days ago

        Yeah, I kind of knew that from glancing at the story. Just let me enjoy my fantasy where the US is not about to fracture and collapse into the sea, amid a big chorus of “But he’s not allowed to do that!”