Tuesday Headlines: Budget Deets Edition

Later today, Gov. Hochul will be expanding beyond her State of the State address talking points.

She’s already teased new public transit projects in New York City, letting the city’s Department of Transportation police super speeders, shortchanging auto injury victims, and allowing automated vehicle pilots throughout New York, but today we expect to get more details.

State Budget Director Blake Washington, a genuine smart public servant, will provide guidance on some of the financial details in Hochul’s executive budget proposal, as well as the state’s overall financial picture. Streetsblog will keep you updated, never fear.

Progressives — some of whom are already rallying behind her Hochul’s Democratic primary challenger, her own Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado — are concerned that some of her promises represent a poisoned chalice.

Transit infrastructure is nice, but many city residents want Hochul to get on the fast and free bus that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ran and won on. Working Families Party Co-Director Jasmine Gripper told Streetsblog that she hopes affordable transit and additional infrastructure don’t find themselves at odds as state officials map out their priorities.

“Why can’t we have them both? Why can’t we just make bold investments in public transportation and help New Yorkers [who are] dealing with the affordability crisis and are tired of dealing with crumbling subways?” asked Gripper. “We need to do both, and I think we do not have to accept this narrative that is one thing or the other.”

She thinks the answer here is to work with legislative leaders and the state budget office to find solutions that allow for wider transit solutions, also known as taxing the rich.

“Let me be clear, when I say, ‘the revenue to pay for this,’ I don’t mean more raising of the fare. I don’t mean more tolls that everyday New Yorkers pay. I specifically mean progressive taxation and progressive revenue raisers that look at the ultra wealthy in New York State and ask them to pay their fair share,” Gripper said.

Gripper has backup from a likely source: Mayor Mamdani spoke about taxing the rich at an MLK Day event on Monday, as amNY reported.

In other news:

• It’s a rough time to be a Buffalonian. New Mayor Sean Ryan is projecting a $24-million deficit. (The Buffalo News)
• The state Department of Transportation is holding an info session on its plans for Monroe Avenue between the Rochester city line and the I-590 bridge between 4 and 7 p.m. as street quality concerns grow (WXXI)
• A judge temporarily blocked the state Thruway Authority from issuing a 1-percent surcharge on commercial trucking (the Times Union)
• And, finally, upstate is upset: