Espaillat Secures Funding for Vital Infrastructure in District in House Appropriations Bill
Earlier this week, Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) secured $192 million in funding for the federal New Starts Program in a recent appropriations package.
The New Starts Program will fund the Second Avenue Subway phase II extension, a project that will significantly expand transit options for residents of East Harlem.
“As we will soon mark the close of another successful legislative calendar year, I am delighted to announce that several efforts that I have pushed in Washington on behalf of my constituents will be included in the recent appropriations package and will impact the lives of New Yorkers and individuals around the nation,” said Espaillat. “We have fought hard for this important project and this appropriations victory will help make expansion of Phase II of the Second Avenue Subway a reality.”
Nadler, Velázquez, Rose Announce Split-Tolling Coming to Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
Yesterday, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn), Nydia Velázquez (D-LES, Brooklyn, Queens) and Max Rose (D-Staten Island) announced the repeal of a split-tolling ban on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge spans the New York Harbor from Brooklyn to Staten Island. The advent of split-tolling will halve the existing fare to be paid in both directions. Going forward, all non-Staten Island residents will be tolled $9.50, while discounts for residents will remain in place.
“After more than two decades working on this issue, I am incredibly proud that the House-passed FY2020 spending bills include language that ends the federal prohibition of split-tolling on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge,” said Nadler. “Restoring split-tolling will greatly improve traffic and congestion in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, while also capturing new vital funding for the MTA from out-of-state trucks, which no longer will avoid a toll entering New York City via Staten Island or dodge tolls on the Hudson River Bridge and tunnel crossings. All New Yorkers will reap the benefits of the restoration of two-way toll collection, from reduced wear and tear on our bridges and tunnels and fewer trucks on the Staten Island Expressway, Gowanus Expressway, Manhattan Bridge and Canal & Broome Streets in Lower Manhattan.”
Maloney Reacts to Trump’s Letter to Pelosi
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) appeared on CNN yesterday to speak about President Donald Trump’s (R) desperate letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) prior to the impeachment vote.
In the six-page letter, Trump blasted the Democrats for their impeachment effort, calling it “an unprecedented and unconstitutional abuse of power”. Maloney, naturally, found his claims to be completely baseless.
“He’s trying to divert attention away from his own crimes,” said Maloney. “[Pelosi] has conducted this inquiry with great respect and intelligence and attention to detail. There is no question – the evidence is overwhelming – that the President abused the power of his office for his own personal and political gain at the expense of our national security. That is clearly an impeachable offense.”
