After careful consideration, I have come to the difficult decision that implementing the plan congestion pricing system

risked too many unintended consequences for New Yorkers at this time.

For that reason, I have directed the MTA to indefinitely pause the program.

And listeners as you have no doubt heard by now that was Governor Hockel's surprise announcement yesterday.

Congestion pricing was all set to go into effect for Manhattan below 60th Street

on June 30th and the Easy pass readers are installed but she cited unintended consequences

as her reason.

So what does this mean for the intended consequences of congestion pricing badly needed money for next generation

transit improvements plus less time waiting in traffic for those who do need to

drive and the cleaner air and less climate pollution that comes from fewer cars.

Plus, what other surprises might there be in store on this maybe final day of the legislative session in Albany for the year?

And oh, by the way, wasn't that Kathy Hockel there

with President Biden when he announced his border crackdown

this week?

Could her actions on those two very different issues, congestion pricing and the asylum

seekers, have a common political goal. Let's ask WNYC and Gothamist

own Albany reporter, John Campbell, and Transportation reporter,

Stephen Nesson.

Hello again, John and Stephen.

Hello?

Where do we start?

Maybe Stephen with you on how far long we were

...