MTA will reap NYC business tax, speed camera fines under NY's $254B behemoth budget
Final details on a big business-bashing payroll tax to fund the MTA's ambitious capital plan were revealed Thursday as lawmakers voted on the behemoth $254 billion state budget.
The nitty-gritty budget bills also revealed a new way for the MTA to generate much needed cash: speed cameras targeting lead-footed bridge-and-tunnel drivers.
Raising taxes to 'feed the bottomless pit at the MTA' undercut Gov. Kathy Hochul's argument that the much-delayed budget is an affordability win for New Yorkers, state Sen. James Skoufis (D-Orange) said.
'Meanwhile, if the Governor ever got out of her helicopter, she would know the basics of government — like repaving roads or addressing crippling property taxes — continue to be neglected under her leadership,' he said.
3 A Gov. Kathy Hochul-approved budget deal includes a tax hike on big businesses for the MTA.
Lev Radin/ZUMA / SplashNews.com
The payroll mobility tax hike facing city companies with yearly payrolls of $10 or more will bump their rates from 0.6% to 0.895%.
And big payroll businesses in Long Island, Westchester and other suburban counties served by the MTA will see their rates go from 0.34% to 0.635%.
The hikes — which will help pay for the $68 billion plan to modernize the MTA's decaying trains, stations and infrastructure — follow the outlines revealed in a handshake deal between Hochul and state legislative leaders.
Many, but not all, business leaders fumed over the tax hike expected to hit up to 10,000 New York companies.
'Things will be run tighter, possibly with fewer raises,' billionaire business mogul John Catsimatidis, who owns the Gristedes and D'Agostino's grocery chains, previously told The Post. 'Will there be fewer hires? Absolutely!'
While the tax is being hiked on larger businesses, it's also being cut completely for employers with yearly payrolls that are less than $1.25 million.
The budget bills didn't just give the MTA a tax windfall.
3 Speed cameras soon could be coming to the MTA's bridges and tunnels.
KKF – stock.adobe.com
3 The Verrazzano Bridge is among nine bridges and tunnels where the MTA could set up cameras in work zones.
AFP via Getty Images
The MTA soon could install speed cameras in construction zones on its bridges and tunnels – including the Verrazzano Bridge – under a law tweak tucked into the budget.
The tweak expands a pilot program that already put the speeder-trapping cameras in certain New York State Thruway and state highway work zones.
The Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, Queens-Midtown Tunnel and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge are among the nine MTA-run bridges and tunnels that could see cameras.
The fines will be $50 for a first violation and $75 for a second within an 18-month window, MTA officials said.
Third and all subsequent speeding violations will be a $100 fine, the officials said.
The cameras can only be set up after public hearing and vote by the MTA's board, according to the bill.
Any MTA construction zone speed cameras will be separate from those working for the $9 construction pricing tolls for motorists entering Manhattan south of 60th Street.
The first-in-the-nation toll program has been criticized as effectively a tax on everyday New Yorkers who need to drive into lower Manhattan.
Additional reporting by Hannah Fierick
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Newsweek
27 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Want To Stop Mamdani? It's Time To Get Serious
As of right now, Zohran Mamdani is the overwhelming favorite to be elected mayor of New York. Beyond his appeal to many New Yorkers on a variety of issues—most notably his extremely left-leaning policies intended to deal with the issue of affordability—in a race where three other candidates are poised to split the anti-Mamdani vote, his victory is all but assured. Many major interest groups in New York believe a Mamdani victory would be disastrous. It is almost impossible to find a business leader who thinks Mamdani would not be highly destructive to the interests of the city. Similarly, many Jewish leaders think that a city with the biggest Jewish population outside of Tel Aviv shouldn't have a mayor who still cannot disassociate himself completely from slogans supporting a "global intifada," especially during a time of rising antisemitic incidents. Moreover, hardly anyone who has expertise in law enforcement and crime reduction believes Mamdani is the best candidate to protect public safety—and for a large proportion of New Yorkers, that issue is right up there with affordability as a top concern. Unfortunately, incumbent mayor Eric Adams and former governor Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani's two major opponents, are both very flawed candidates. Many New Yorkers believe that Eric Adams' federal indictment, which was subsequently dropped by the Trump Justice Department, is indicative of a corrupt administration. Indeed, given the circumstances under which it was dropped, many now view Adams as being in the pocket of President Donald Trump. Of course, New Yorkers being overwhelmingly Democratic, many believe Trump's policies are antithetical to the city's well-being, and the president himself is extremely unpopular in his native city. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 11: New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference at the 1199SEIU headquarters on August 11, 2025 in New York City. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 11: New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference at the 1199SEIU headquarters on August 11, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Andrew Cuomo, having been forced to resign as governor amid a sexual harassment scandal, not to mention what many consider to be his very abrasive style, ran a horrendous primary campaign. I wrote a column recently suggesting Cuomo did not learn any lessons whatsoever from the failed Kamala Harris presidential campaign, making him absolutely guilty of political malpractice. While the Republican in the race, Curtis Sliwa, has virtually no chance of winning the election, based on previous mayoral elections it is clear a Republican candidate will syphon away 200,000-300,000 votes, which could make all the difference for anybody with a chance of challenging Mamdani. Under these circumstances, one might ask, how can Mamdani possibly lose? The answer is, under these circumstances he can't. So, if one believes that Mamdani's election would be an enormous setback for the city of New York, and many right-thinking people strongly believe that, why aren't these circumstances being changed? Underpinning the intensity of feeling that Mamdani would be a disastrous choice for the city is the impact of his election on national politics. There is no doubt that Trump and the Republican Party would point to Mamdani's election to make the case that an avowed socialist, far to the left of most Americans' political outlook, is what the Democratic Party fundamentally represents. Democrats would have a very difficult time distancing themselves from Mamdani as representative of what their party stands for. The recent fawning endorsement by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) certainly makes it appear that the most progressive members of the Democratic Party believe they should stand behind Mamdani. It is also likely that Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will in some form endorse Mamdani. In that case, it will be impossible for Democrats to meaningfully distance themselves from Mamdani's most radical positions and policies. That perception will be extremely politically detrimental to the Democratic Party nationally. So, bad for the nation's largest city, bad for the Democratic Party, and bad for the nation overall given the importance of the Democrats mustering the ability to take back the House next year to counter Trump. If New York's mayoral race does not fundamentally change by Labor Day—meaning the anti-Mamdani candidates consolidating behind a single horse—Mamdani will undoubtedly be the next mayor of New York. So how do these circumstances on the ground change? Answer: with great difficulty. Mayor Adams, as the incumbent, contends that it is hubris for Cuomo to suggest he drop out of the race. Cuomo argues, with substantial polling data to back him up, that he is the only candidate who can beat Mamdani in a one-on-one contest. The fact is that polling clearly suggests both Cuomo and Adams are weak candidates—over 60 percent of voters indicate they would never vote for either. However, the polls do suggest in a one-on-one race there is some chance Cuomo could beat Mamdani, and clearly also suggest Adams could not. Among "likely" voters, both Adams and Cuomo lose to Mamdani. However, when it comes to registered voters, which is a much larger group, polls have shown Cuomo to be within the margin of error. However, Cuomo would have to expand voter turnout well beyond typical mayoral elections to really have a shot. Cuomo would also have to demonstrate to the public how detrimental a Mamdani win would be to New York City and the Democratic Party, and deliver a higher level of intensity and passion in his messaging. Moreover, he would need city leaders of all sectors and ethnicities to join the battle cry to get a record voter turnout. So here is a modest proposal. It may sound radical, but a drastic situation calls for drastic measures. Mayor Adams should aim for a future that leverages his expertise and sets him up for a much better outcome than a career-ending loss in this race. He should announce that instead of pursuing public office again, he will set up a consulting firm to provide counseling to cities around the country on how to better provide for public safety. Crime rates in New York City have dropped dramatically in recent years so Adams has insights based on a credible track record to offer. Cuomo has a substantial monied interest behind him, including many donors who care about keeping New York safe. As a show of unity, they should commit resources—even as much as $10 million—to help Adams bring his experience to cities across the nation. I think Sliwa is an easier case to handle. Sliwa siphoning off votes in this race will only lead to the election of a mayor who will undermine all the public safety concerns he has fought for his entire life. That should not be his personal legacy. Cuomo should offer him a position as deputy mayor in his administration—a much better result and a goal to rally Republicans behind. Getting Adams and Sliwa out of the race will not be enough. Cuomo, in deep contrast to his primary performance, will have to campaign his heart out, drive a completely different social media presence, demonstrate incredible sensitivity on the affordability issue especially as it relates to housing, showcase the difference between his law enforcement views and Mamdani's, and continue to rally the Jewish community in opposition to Mamdani's anti-Israel, if not antisemitic, views. I recognize clearing the path for Cuomo to take on Mamdani on a one-on-one race is a tall order. However, the future of New York City and the Democratic Party's midterm election prospects rest on it. Let's get serious. Time is running out. To those Cuomo backers with the money to execute this plan: you need to get going. Tom Rogers is executive chairman of Claigrid, Inc. (the cloud AI grid company), an editor-at-large for Newsweek, the founder of CNBC and a CNBC contributor. He also established MSNBC, is the former CEO of TiVo, a member of Keep Our Republic (an organization dedicated to preserving the nation's democracy). He is also a member of the American Bar Association Task Force on Democracy. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Politico
2 hours ago
- Politico
Mamdani and Obama also have this in common
With help from Amira McKee A changing of the guard. An invigorated youth vote. A foreign-sounding name. Zohran Mamdani's rise to prominence echoes Barack Obama's barrier-breaking 2008 presidenti al campaign in many ways — as Al Sharpton, Letitia James and other Democrats have noted — albeit on a much smaller political battlefield. But Obama and Mamdani also have the common experience of being Donald Trump's bogeyman. Years ago, Trump promulgated the conspiracy theory that Obama, a Hawaii native, wasn't born in the United States. Now, as president, he's questioning Mamdani's citizenship and labeling him a communist, though the Uganda-born Democratic mayoral nominee is a naturalized U.S. citizen and a democratic socialist. Mamdani confirmed Thursday to reporters that Obama called him after his stunning June primary win to offer him guidance on leading in a harsh political climate. The two Democrats discussed the role of hope, the animating theme behind the momentous campaign that made Obama the country's first Black president, Mamdani said. Their conversation was first reported this week by the New York Times. 'We spoke about the importance in a moment such as this, where politics is often characterized by a language of darkness, the necessity of hope in how we speak and how we orient ourselves to the world,' Mamdani said Thursday at a campaign stop in the Bronx. Mamdani is poised to come into power opposite the MAGA president in a political landscape far more divided and partisan than it was two decades ago. The young state lawmaker has sought to make Trump a target in his general election campaign, embarking on a 'Five Boroughs Against Trump' tour and linking his top competitor in the race — former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — to the president. 'Calling President Obama a Muslim, a socialist, not born here and somehow un-American, none of that was true,' independent political analyst J.C. Polanco told Playbook of Trump. 'Mamdani, on the other hand, actually fits that mold. He is Muslim, a socialist, born in Africa, and his name is not exactly Tom, Dick or Harry, easy fodder for those focused on otherizing.' Mamdani, if elected, will have to face off against Trump far more directly than Obama did, especially as the president threatens federal funding cuts to New York City and vows to arrest Mamdani if he interferes with deportation efforts. 'Mamdani will likely take office as mayor when Trump has been at his most authoritarian, whereas Obama intentionally only weighs in selectively during Trump's presidencies,' Democratic strategist Trip Yang told Playbook. At his anti-Trump tour's Staten Island stop on Wednesday, Mamdani faced jeering protesters in the only borough Trump has won in each of the past three presidential elections. The candidate remarked Thursday that it was a sign of the political times. 'I had to walk through a number of New Yorkers who told me to go back where I came from,' Mamdani said. 'I know that those New Yorkers are representative just of themselves. And yet, sadly, that is what politics has become for far too many.' — Emily Ngo HAPPY FRIDAY, and a bittersweet farewell to POLITICO New York intern Amira McKee, whose work on Playbook and more has been invaluable all summer long. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE'S KATHY? In New York City with no public schedule. WHERE'S ERIC? Schedule unavailable as of 10 p.m. Thursday. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'There is only one candidate in this race who is standing up to a corporate-dominated politics driven by billionaires. That candidate is @ZohranKMamdani. And I am proud to support him.' — Sen. Bernie Sanders in an X post responding to Andrew Cuomo's video bragging he's the only candidate who passed a bill supported by Sanders, lowering college tuition costs for certain New Yorkers. ABOVE THE FOLD LYNCH TO THE CAMPAIGN: A close adviser to Gov. Kathy Hochul will depart the administration next month to join the reelection campaign, POLITICO Pro exclusively reports this morning. Chief of Staff Stacy Lynch is set to leave after Labor Day, according to the governor's office. Lynch will serve as a senior adviser to Hochul's campaign effort as the governor runs for a second full term next year. 'I am extremely fortunate to have had Stacy Lynch serve as my Chief of Staff for the past three years, and I am grateful she will continue to advise my campaign going forward,' Hochul said. 'Stacy leaves our administration and our state stronger, and I am deeply thankful for her leadership, partnership, and friendship.' Hochul credited Lynch with helping negotiate state budgets and rent relief for New York City Housing Authority tenants, bolstering New York's response to the migrant crisis and leading an investment in the SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Lynch also established the state Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development. 'After three years in the New York State Executive Chamber, I will conclude my service as chief of staff and join Gov. Hochul's reelection campaign,' Lynch said in a statement. 'I am grateful to Governor Hochul for her friendship, trust, clarity of purpose, and the support she gives me to do the work, and I am excited to get to work helping her win re-election in 2026.' The departure comes as the governor is preparing for a challenging 2026. Federal cuts to the state are expected to widen a budget gap that's already projected to be $7.5 billion. Her potential Republican opponent, Rep. Elise Stefanik, has wasted little time attacking the governor this summer on a variety of issues, including public safety. 'Stacy Lynch is an extraordinary asset to any team: smart, strategic, and deeply connected to the communities she serves,' said Hochul campaign manager Preston Elliott. 'Bringing her on as senior political advisor is a win — not just for our campaign, but for the people of New York. With Stacy's help and Governor Hochul's leadership, we will inspire voters and chart a path to a safer, more affordable New York.' — Nick Reisman CITY HALL: THE LATEST A LIST CAUSE: Cuomo said Thursday he would not release a list of clients who paid his legal consulting firm, Innovation Strategies, during his time out of the public eye. During a Thursday press briefing, the independent mayoral candidate flatly declined to publicize his client roster, continuing a posture he has held since the primary, as POLITICO previously reported. 'They were private clients, and there's an attorney-client privilege,' Cuomo said. 'But there was no representation before any city government or state government.' As governor, Cuomo pursued new ethics rules that mandated the disclosure of legal clients who paid state legislators and sought to limit exemptions for attorney-client privilege. And while he has said he did not advocate for clients before local governments, a Bloomberg report found that the former state executive worked as a paid adviser to a cryptocurrency exchange facing a federal investigation. A separate report in POLITICO also found Cuomo failed to disclose millions of dollars in stock options from a nuclear technology company he received via his consulting company as compensation for being on the firm's advisory board. The client list has become part of a back and forth between Cuomo and frontrunner Mamdani, whose rent-regulated apartment paperwork has been sought by Team Cuomo. — Joe Anuta CUO OUT EAST: Cuomo's going back to the Hamptons this weekend where he'll attend a fundraiser hosted by Andrew Stein — weeks after the former New York City Council president briefed his longtime friend Trump on the mayoral race and pitched Cuomo as the strongest candidate to defeat Mamdani, as The New York Times reported. Stein and his brother, media executive Jimmy Finkelstein, are among the hosts of a Saturday night Cuomo fundraiser in Southampton, according to an invitation reviewed by Playbook. Also co-hosting is Finkelstein's wife Pamela Gross, a close friend of Melania Trump who held an unpaid White House role advising the first lady. And tonight, Cuomo's raising bucks in Bridgehampton where the host list includes billionaire investor Greg Hymowitz and his wife Marcella. She previously donated $150,000 to pro-Cuomo super PAC Fix the City. Cuomo has made a habit of the Hamptons, spending at least three other weekends out east since losing the primary. After all — it's where the money is. And Cuomo's allies have been trying to convince people with second homes to switch their voter registration back to the city, the Post reported. Cuomo's campaign declined to comment on the fundraisers. — Jeff Coltin TURKEY DAY: Erden Arkan, the Turkey-born construction company owner who pleaded guilty to giving straw donations to Adams, is due to be sentenced in Manhattan federal court at 11 a.m. today. He's hoping to get no prison time for the scheme, Playbook reported. More from the city: — The NYPD allows unlicensed psychologists to perform assessments that can cost would-be cops their jobs. (City & State) — Chinatown residents confront the city over 'Megajail' designs at the first public workshop. (Documented) — Mamdani could learn valuable lessons on city-run grocery stories by looking at the struggles of municipal broadband ventures. (Vital City) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY REDISTRICT THE VOTE: Erasing New York's independent redistricting commission may not pass muster with voters. A survey of deep blue California found voters by a nearly two-to-one margin prefer an independent panel drawing House boundaries. The result comes as Hochul, in response to red state redistricting efforts, said this month she would support disbanding the voter-created independent commission in charge of New York's House maps. The poll is heartening to supporters of the commission — namely political activists on the right and nonpartisan government watchdog groups — that oppose partisan redistricting. 'We believe the more independent a commission is, the better off the public is,' Conservative Party Chair Gerard Kassar told Playbook. Kassar's group backed a successful effort to sink a 2021 state constitutional amendment that would have weakened the commission. He expects a similar campaign will be run if state lawmakers propose a constitutional change to end the independent commission. 'Money plays a role and I'm hopeful we'll be able to come up with the resources to bring the case to the public and I anticipate we'll win,' he said. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Environmental lawyers slammed the Department of Transportation's climate policy. (POLITICO Pro) — Hochul says Mamdani needs a reset with the NYPD. (NY1) — Regulators approved rate hikes for two upstate utilities. (POLITICO Pro) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION CORNERED: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is raring to discuss the Republican megabill cutting social services on national TV. He's far less eager to answer questions about Mamdani, the candidate heavily favored to become the next mayor of Jeffries' hometown. CNBC hosts hammered Jeffries with questions Thursday about Mamdani, his proposals, including freezing rents, and the race for mayor — until the top House Democrat grew visibly frustrated. 'I'm trying to understand why you would spend a significant amount of time asking me about the Democratic nominee who's not even the mayor,' Jeffries said when asked about free market advocacy versus democratic socialism, saying it's Trump 'who is regularly attacking the free market economy, bullying corporations, bullying universities, bullying law firms.' Jeffries and Mamdani met last month in Brooklyn, but Jeffries is among the Democratic leaders who have yet to endorse the party's pick for mayor. In the CNBC interview, the minority leader commended Mamdani's focus on lowering living costs, but he indicated that he believes Mamdani still has work to win over more voters in November. 'He ran a strong race in the primary, obviously, relentlessly focused on affordability, which is a big problem,' Jeffries said. 'But now during the general election, he's going to have to demonstrate to a broader electorate, including in many of the neighborhoods that I represent in Brooklyn, that his ideas can actually be put into reality.' — Emily Ngo More from Congress: — Congress is lukewarm on RFK Jr.'s plans. In the states, they're catching fire. (POLITICO) — The Democratic National Committee will consider two Gaza-related resolutions at its meeting this month. (Semafor) — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's fictional Long Island family, the Baileys: A joke, or tribute to the overlooked voter? (Newsday) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — So-called 'zombie debts' can haunt New Yorkers for decades. (New York Focus) — The Buffalo mayor and city comptroller are in a standoff over a bonding dispute. (Buffalo News) — Faith leaders held a jailhouse vigil in response to Nassau County's ICE policy. (Newsday) SOCIAL DATA MEDIAWATCH: New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa introduced a resolution Thursday condemning the owner of the New York Daily News and calling on private Alden Global Capital to reach a deal with its reporters union. 'New York's Hometown Paper' has been fighting for a contract for more than four years. MAKING MOVES: Jack Lobel is now press secretary to City Council Member Julie Menin. He was previously a special assistant to Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and press secretary for Voters of Tomorrow. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Brian Romero, chief of staff to state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez … former state Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer … DGA Group's Ryan Toohey … Parkside's Jake Herring … Tiana Betancourt … C&V's Lauren George … Gil Quiniones … Rachel Haot … Jorge Fanjul … Puck's Leigh Ann Caldwell … Devin O'Malley … MSNBC's Richard Hudock … ABC's Mariam Khan … Kevin Hall … AP's Juliet Linderman … Larry Cohen … (WAS THURSDAY): Jay Horwitz (8-0) … David Samson … Carol Levin … Ester R. Fuchs … Raphaela Neihausen Missed Thursday's New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Volkswagen Expands XPeng Partnership To Speed Software Upgrades Across All Car Types
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