Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

November 15, 2024

What’s Inside

  • Governor to Implement Congestion Pricing
  • Governor Signs Executive Order and Legislation to Support Veterans
  • NYS Exceeds 30 Percent MWBE Utilization Goal for Fourth Year
  • Governor Announces Funding for High-Speed Broadband
  • Governor Announces New Initiatives to Support the Growth of New York Agricultural Education
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

Governor to Implement Congestion Pricing

The Governor announced an updated congestion pricing plan, which aims to charge a fee for vehicles to enter the city’s Central Business District (CBD) at peak hours. The initial program called for a $15 fee but will now be reduced to $9.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will take this up for approval at its next meeting on November 18. If approved, the plan will take effect on January 5, prior to President-elect Donald Trump being sworn in. The President-elect has expressed opposition to New York’s congestion pricing program.

Under the newly announced plan, the toll structure for entering the city’s CBD would initially be as follows, starting at midnight on January 5:

Daytime E-ZPass tolls

  • Passenger vehicles (once per day): $9
  • Motorcycles (once per day): $4.50
  • Small trucks and non-commuter buses: $14.40
  • Large trucks and sightseeing buses: $21.60

Tunnel crossing credits reduced by 40 percent of original plan

Nighttime discounts of 75 percent of daytime tolls

Per-ride fees for all trips to, from, or within the CBD

  • Taxis and black cars: $0.75
  • App-based for-hire vehicles: $1.50

More information can be found here.

Governor Hochul said:

As I said from the start, a $15 toll was just too high in this economic climate. That’s why our plan cuts the daytime toll to $9 for cars. By getting congestion pricing underway and fully supporting the MTA capital plan, we’ll unclog our streets, reduce pollution and deliver better public transit for millions of New Yorkers.

Governor Signs Executive Order and Legislation to Support Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day this week, Governor Hochul signed an Executive Order to enhance quality of supportive housing available to veterans and military families. Executive Order 41 mandates annual training for supportive housing providers throughout New York that receive State funds to designate a certain number of their housing units for veterans. The training program, which will be provided free of charge by the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, will focus on military cultural competency and access to benefits and services for veterans and military families.

Subsequently, the Governor signed a package of legislation to honor the service and sacrifice of New York’s veterans. Legislation signed includes the renaming of bridges and highways across the state in honor of fallen heroes as well as measures enhancing access to veterans benefits, reflecting New York’s unwavering commitment to honoring and supporting veterans and their families.

More information on the legislative package signed by Governor Hochul can be found in a press release here.

In a statement, Governor Hochul said:

Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the brave men and women who have served our country by ensuring their legacy lives on in communities across New York. These laws not only honor our fallen heroes but also expand vital resources for veterans and their families, making sure they receive the recognition and support they deserve.

NYS Exceeds 30 Percent MWBE Utilization Goal for Fourth Year

The Governor announced that New York has surpassed 30 percent Minority- and Women-owned Businesses (MWBE) utilization goal for the fourth year in row. This year’s 32.21 percent utilization rate represents nearly $3 billion in public contracts awarded to certified MWBEs in FY 2023-24. The Governor made the announcement and unveiled a new MWBE certified decal at the 14th Annual New York State MWBE Conference Forum in Albany. The decal will serve as the official recognition of MWBEs that have been certified by the state’s MWBE Certification Program.

The full annual report can be found here.

Governor Hochul said:

Since becoming Governor, my administration has championed an economic agenda that benefits all New Yorkers, and this year’s utilization rate shows the progress we have made toward achieving that goal. We have more to do, but diversity is New York’s greatest strength and our communities are our greatest voice – together, we will continue to promote nation-leading programs and policies that support a fairer, stronger, diversified economy.

Chief Diversity Officer Julissa Gutierrez said:

New York’s commitment to MWBEs, championed by Governor Hochul, reflects our vision of an inclusive economy where opportunity is within reach for all. By surpassing our utilization goals and introducing tools like the MWBE Certified Decal, we’re fostering an environment where minority and women-owned businesses are seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Governor Announces Funding for High-Speed Broadband

This week, Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced over $140 million in awards from the ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program to expand broadband infrastructure throughout Central New York, the Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Mid-Hudson and Western New York regions.

These public-private partnerships will lead to the construction of more than 1,200 miles of publicly-owned fiber optic infrastructure and wireless hubs, connecting over 60,000 homes and businesses with affordable, symmetric service — offering equal download and upload speeds at rates below regional averages.

These six new grants build on previous awards, bringing the program’s total to $214.7 million, funded primarily by the Treasury Department’s Capital Projects Fund. Altogether, the program now supports over 2,000 miles of broadband infrastructure, reaching more than 87,000 homes and businesses statewide.

The most recent awardees include the following:

  • Orleans County (Finger Lakes) – $11 million
  • Broadband for Schoharie County (Mohawk Valley) – $30 million
  • Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (Central New York) – $26 Million
  • Franklin County (North Country) – $13.1 Million
  • Sullivan County (Mid-Hudson) – $29.9 Million
  • City of Jamestown / EntryPoint Networks Inc. (Western New York) – $29.9 Million

More information on the Municipal Infrastructure Program can be found here.

Governor Announces New Initiatives to Support the Growth of New York Agricultural Education

The Governor announced the launch of the new Blue-Ribbon Panel to Advance Agriculture Education and additional investments to grow agricultural education and support youth leadership following the state’s first-ever Youth Agriculture Conference. The Blue-Ribbon Panel will bring together food and agriculture industry stakeholders, educational institutions, and educators to chart a course for strengthening agriculture education and supporting the multi-faceted needs of the workforce.

In addition, the Governor announced $50,000 will be provided to the statewide 4-H program at Cornell University, a part of Cornell Cooperative Extension, for strategic visioning that will bring together state staff, county leadership and youth to map out the key role 4-H will play in preparing New York’s youth for the next 10 years.

Governor Hochul said:

As a former 4-Her, I understand the importance of youth ag education and how valuable it is to ensuring we have a strong, vibrant agricultural industry. With additional funding being provided to support critical programming and a new Blue Ribbon Panel that will tackle challenges and identify new opportunities in this area, we will pave a clear path forward for our next generation of agricultural leaders, bringing young people together from every corner of our New York State.

In The News

City & State NY’s Weekly Winners and Losers here.

City & State NY’s Top 50 Lobbyists here.

NY lost 9 billionaires this year — here’s how their absence is bad news for every New Yorker.

Courts appoint special counsel to oversee reform of NY’s troubled guardianship system.

Scoop: The 2024 blame game finally comes for Hakeem Jeffries.

Upstate NY Native, former ICE director to serve as Trump’s ‘border czar’.

Still bitter over Bide, Adams hopes Trump will fix migrant crisis.

Report: NYSED Commissioner says school smartphone rules should be decided at local level.

New York cannabis office approves a 6-month extension for CAURD provisional licenses.

The sand is eroding beneath Democrats’ feet in New York.

What a Trump presidency means for climate change, electric cars, pollution.

Molinaro concedes race, but GOP still on path to take House.

Emboldened by re-election, Trump renews bid to overturn his conviction.

‘No one is safe.’ NY Dems fret over 2026 governor’s race.

NY state senator James Skoufis has some advice for Democrats after 2024 election results.

After NY-19 loss, Rep. Marc Molinaro doesn’t rule out running for Stefanik’s seat.

State Comptroller report outlines threats to New York’s farms.

SUNY sees enrollment boost for second consecutive year.

Coming Up

The Assembly will hold a public hearing to examine PFAS contamination in water on November 21.