Thursday Headlines: Haven’t Lirrned Their Lesson Edition

The rubber will be hitting the road, quite literally, if unions representing LIRR workers and the MTA can’t come to an agreement before Saturday.

Gov. Hochul is throwing herself into the fray in an attempt to secure a new labor agreement that would prevent a work stoppage when the weekend starts. On Wednesday, that meant warning the public that a strike would likely prevent them from getting to work, and that the union’s demands risk a fair hike.

“I’m not willing to ask Long Islanders to pay unnecessary fare hikes or higher taxes,” Hochul said.

Shuttle buses are being prepared to ferry “essential workers” into New York City from LIRR stations, but the governor said they would not be a replacement for the service that more than 270,000 New Yorkers rely on.

“That’s why the MTA has encouraged employers and employees on Long Island to plan for work-from-home early next week if a strike occurs,” she said.

Newsday reported that negotiations have taken a positive turn, with a $134 million compensation package on the table that was approved by White House mediators. But that offer was viewed by unions as too reliant on lump sum payments, rather than regular pay increases.

Unions made a counteroffer yesterday, the details of which have not been shared.

Just days ago, negotiations moved at a glacial pace because the MTA was insisting that any deal include overtime limits and changes to some of the work rules for LIRR employees. They’ve since backed off, and not a moment too soon.

As Gothamist’s Clayton Guse noted, a lack of LIRR trains would set back Long Island’s transportation landscape by decades.

More news:

• Newsday’s editorial board wants the MTA and LIRR unions to make a deal already.
• Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island) is disappointed by his party’s attempts to push through redistricting. (The New York Post)
• The Knicks making a deep playoff run while the World Cup is in town could be a disaster for Penn Station. (Gothamist)
• Hochul is looking at shuttles and reduced fares to make accessing the World Cup cheaper. (amNY)
• Assembly Member Micah Lasher (D-Manhattan) is hoping voters see his deep experience in government as a plus as he runs for Congress. (Politico New York)
• In a bizarre interaction, Rep Mike Lawler (R-Rockland County) was mistaken for Jewish and on the receiving end of an antisemitic tirade from Sen. Rand Paul’s drunk son. (NOTUS)
• Congressional candidate Chuck Park is four months overdue on submitting his financial disclosure. (City & State)
• Assembly Member Jordan Wright’s (D-Harlem) primary challenger is still trying to answer for his internship with former Attorney General Pam Bondi. (City & State)
• New York’s roads don’t hold up well against the rest of the nation. (The Journal News)
• State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli is launching a $2.1 million ad campaign as his Democratic primary race heats up. (The Times Union)
• Electric school mandates are likely going to be pushed back in this year’s state budget. (State of Politics)