New Jersey

New York governor puts congesting pricing on hold • New Jersey Monitor

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2024

New York governor puts congesting pricing on hold • New Jersey Monitor

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that she has directed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to put an indefinite hold on implementing its controversial congestion pricing plan, saying she cannot “add another burden to working and middle-class New Yorkers or create another obstacle to our continued recovery.”

The congestion price plan was slated to begin June 30. Drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street would have been forced to pay a $15 toll, in addition to tolls for using bridges and tunnels to enter the city.

The news was met with cheers from a group of New Jersey Democrats who have voiced opposition to congestion pricing, including Gov. Phil Murphy. The Murphy administration filed a lawsuit last July arguing the feds failed to conduct a comprehensive environmental review before giving the plan their OK.

“I want to thank Governor Hochul for pausing the implementation of congestion pricing in Manhattan’s Central Business District. Although we have had a difference of opinion with our colleagues in New York in congestion pricing implementation, we have always had a shared vision for growing our regional economy, protecting our environment, and creating good-paying jobs on both sides of the Hudson River,” Murphy said in a statement Wednesday.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-05) also celebrated Hochul’s decision to drop the state’s “outrageous congestion tax.” Gottheimer, who represents parts of Bergen County home to many commuters, has been one of the loudest voices opposing the plan, saying it would increase traffic and pollution on this side of the Hudson.

“We threw the kitchen sink at New York — and then some — and got it done. Even when some said the fight was over, we kept going. Well today, Jersey families, their wallets, and the environment won big,” he said. “As I always say, don’t mess with Jersey.”

New York would have been the first city in the nation to implement congestion pricing. Similar pricing schemes exist in London, Milan, and Singapore. Supporters of congestion pricing say it decreases the number of vehicles on the road, leads to more people using public transit, and reduces pollution.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said congestion pricing threatened New York City’s post-pandemic economic recovery. (Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

The plan was first signed into law in 2019 by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Revenue from the tolls was intended to fund public transit in New York (none would go to NJ Transit). Hochul on Wednesday said “circumstances have changed” since the plan was introduced, most notably the pandemic.

“While our recovery has been stronger and swifter than anyone imagined, it is by no means complete. And we cannot afford to undercut this momentum, and I won’t allow this delicate recovery to be jeopardized,” she said.

She noted many workers are commuting into the city for just two or three days instead of five, with subways packed Tuesdays to Thursdays but much less so on Mondays and Fridays. And while the idea behind congestion pricing was to generate more revenue and shift commuters to public transit, she laid out another possibility — people avoiding the city altogether, for work and leisure.

Commuters might tell their bosses they need to work fully remote, or families visiting on the weekend might skip the trip to the city, she said. An additional cost to enter Manhattan would hurt its recovery even more, she added.

The Regional Plan Association, a tri-state environmental organization, called Hochul’s move a “betrayal to New Yorkers and our climate.” Delaying the plan will also delay critical transit projects like improving subway lines and electrifying buses, said Kate Slevin, executive vice president of the association.

Talya Schwartz, president of SafeStreetsJC, said the group had been looking forward to congestion pricing, hoping it would reduce the number of cars headed to Manhattan that clog Jersey City streets daily.

“The cost of delaying congestion pricing means more crashes and unsafe streets, more buses stuck in traffic, and all of us breathing dirty air,” she noted.

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New Jersey

Hischier | POST-RAW 1.4.26 | New Jersey Devils

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12 minutes ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Hischier | POST-RAW 1.4.26 | New Jersey Devils

NewJerseyDevils.com is the official web site of the New Jersey Devils, a member team of the National Hockey League (“NHL”). NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Copyright © 1999-2025 New Jersey Devils and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.

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New Jersey

New Jersey didn’t wait for trends — this is what 2026 feels like here

Published

12 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

New Jersey didn’t wait for trends — this is what 2026 feels like here

Every year comes with its own personality, but New Jersey doesn’t wait around to see what the rest of the country decides is “in.” We move fast here. We adapt. We complain loudly — and then we make it part of our routine. Somewhere between a jughandle turn and a diner refill, 2026 developed a very Jersey personality. You may not have noticed it happening, but you’re already living it.

Here are 10 things that feel unmistakably so 2026, Garden State edition.

The way New Jersey talks now (and what it really means)

Calling every inconvenience “a situation.”
Traffic? Situation. School drop-off? Situation. The coffee machine acting up? Full-blown situation.

Quietly flexing about not pumping gas.
We don’t brag. We just casually mention it… often.

Errands, routines and the New Jersey sense of time

Planning an entire weekend around one errand.
Costco, Home Depot, or MVC — choose wisely and clear your schedule.

Checking Dan Zarrow’s forecast on the NJ101.5 app religiously.
Because if you’re going to trust the weather, it might as well be someone who knows New Jersey.

Having a “favorite small town” you don’t live in.
You’ve “been a few times.” You “get the vibe.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Roads, tolls and the daily traffic psychology of NJ

Treating tolls like a personal betrayal.
Every increase feels targeted, and we all do the same mental math at the booth anyway.

Explaining traffic circles and roundabouts like a survival skill.
Somehow we all know exactly what to do — except when we don’t.

Money stress, comfort food and Garden State coping mechanisms

Treating diners as emotional support buildings.
Coffee refills fix things. It’s science.

Complaining about taxes while never actually leaving.
Because deep down, we know better.

Comparing energy bills like it’s a competitive sport.
Nobody likes the numbers, but everyone wants to know if theirs is worse.

The truth is, 2026 in New Jersey isn’t about trends you see online. It’s about habits, shortcuts, shared frustrations, and small victories we all pretend are normal. And if you read this nodding along, congratulations — you’re not behind the times. You’re just right on schedule… in New Jersey.

Best New Jersey Diners For Breakfast and Lunch

Thank you to our New Jersey listeners for these recommendations.

Gallery Credit: Bill Spadea

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New Jersey

Though down from previous month, New Jersey online casinos post November revenue record in 2025

Published

1 day ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

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While online casinos in New Jersey fell short of another revenue record, November was still the state’s second-best month ever with over $253 million.

ByGrant LucasPublished: Jan 04, 2026 6:19AM UTC . 2 min read

They’ve been around for over 12 years, yet online casinos in New Jersey continue to find ways to set revenue records. After posting the industry’s largest single-month total in October, NJ online casinos last month combined for $253 million to set a November record and ranks as the second-biggest single-month total in Garden State history.

NJ online casinos set single-year record with one month left

Since launching in 2013, NJ online casinos have continually set high-water marks – even now, a dozen years later.

With $253 million in November revenue, as reported by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, casino apps in the Garden State now sit at just over $2.64 billion for the year, leading to $455 million in state tax revenue. With one month left in 2025, the industry has already set a single-year record, which previously stood at around $2.4 billion.

To further put into perspective the growth of online gambling in New Jersey, the industry is over 22% ahead of the 11-month pace it set in 2024. Consider the first 14 months of online casinos in NJ, during which time operators combined for a mere $131.2 million in revenue.

While it’s unlikely that NJ online casinos will reach the $3 billion mark by the end of the year, iGaming has proven it can continue to grow after more than 10 years of existence.

FanDuel Casino, DraftKings Casino continue to set pace

While the monthly total is one for the books, the standard brands set themselves apart from the rest of the market.

For example, FanDuel Casino – which new users can sign up with and claim the FanDuel casino bonus – reported $60.2 million. That was well ahead of the second-place DraftKings Casino bonus, which helped drive $49.6 million in November.

Along with the BetMGM Casino app ($30.6 million), Borgata Casino ($20.6 million) and Caesars Palace Online Casino ($19.3 million), the top five revenue-earners in November accounted for more than 71% of the total online casino total in November.

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