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Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amber Ruffin, Sarah Jessica Parker Advocate for Free Speech at 2025 PEN America Gala
Amber Ruffin, Sarah Jessica Parker and more called for free speech at the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala on May 15 in New York City The annual ceremony, hosted by the literary nonprofit, honored 'the freedoms to write, read and speak," as well as the "defenders of these rights at a perilous moment" Ruffin hosted the event, and Parker was one of multiple honorees recognized for their work in service of readers, literature and freedom of expressionLiterary supporters, including Amber Ruffin and Sarah Jessica Parker, called for the right to free speech at the 2025 PEN America Literary non-profit organization, which advocates for writers and free speech, hosted their annual gala on May 15 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Per a statement shared with PEOPLE, the ceremony celebrates 'the freedoms to write, read and speak' and honors "defenders of these rights at a perilous moment.'Ruffin, who hosted the event, spoke about the importance of freedom of expression in her opening monologue.'Free speech is something we have to fight for. We can joke about it — until we can't,' she said. 'That's the reality of where we're at right now.' The writer and comedian recently made headlines when her invitation to perform at the White House Correspondents' dinner was rescinded in March. The event, hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association, typically invites a featured comedian, but decided to forgo the tradition for their 2025 an email sent to WHCA members on March 29, as obtained by NPR, association president Eugene Daniels stated the organization wanted to 'ensure the focus is not on the politics of division,' but on awarding colleagues for 'their outstanding work.' 'I am officially a banned book,' Ruffin said. 'They booked me and then they banned me.'The Gala's 2025 honorees included Parker, who accepted the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award. In addition to her role as founder of the book imprint SJP Lit, Parker was recognized as an executive producer on the 2025 documentary film The Librarians, about the nationwide book censorship crisis. 'To censor a book is to limit imagination, curiosity, connection, empathy and inspiration,' Parker said. 'Libraries aren't just buildings with shelves, they are sanctuaries of possibility.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest America also awarded Wesleyan University President Michael Roth with the PEN/Berenson Courage Award, for his advocacy in support of higher education and 'commitment to academic freedom.' Macmillan Publishers CEO Jon Yaged received the Business Visionary Award for his dedication to publishing diverse authors and 'igniting a lifelong love of reading in young people' throughout his foundation also recognized the poet and activist Galal El-Behairy with the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award. The writer has been imprisoned in Egypt for seven years for his work, which was critical of the country's government. El-Behairy's sister accepted the award on his behalf.'We see fear spreading — not just among those under direct attack, but among so many who hear the message loud and clear: Stay quiet, or YOU could be next,' PEN America Interim Co-CEO Summer Lopez said in her remarks.'At PEN America, we refuse to stay quiet. We know what happens when people and institutions obey in advance. So we do not flinch — we do the work.' Read the original article on People
CBS News
19-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Trump and DOT take action to stop NYC congestion pricing. Here's a timeline of the controversial toll.
Congestion pricing is on the ropes in New York City, as President Trump appears to be making good on a promise to kill the first-in-the-nation toll. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to New Yok Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday pulling the federal approval for the program. While the next steps remain to be seen, here's a look back at how the plan came to be. History of congestion pricing: The early years Congestion pricing was nearly 20 years in the making before it became a reality in New York City. Taking a page from other cities like Singapore and London, then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg first proposed the plan in April 2007. In an Earth Day address from the American Museum of Natural History, Bloomberg unveiled what he called "PlaNYC," a sweeping vision to make the city more sustainable. "The time has come for New York to try congestion pricing: a carefully-designed charge for drivers in part of Manhattan during business hours. This solution is bold. It is also proven. Cities around the world have shown that congestion pricing can reduce congestion and speed travel times with no significant negative impact on economic activity," the plan read in part. Under the initial proposal, most drivers would have been charged $8 to enter Manhattan below 86th Street from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. The proposal called for exemptions for transit and emergency vehicles, taxis and handicap license plates. The proposal reached the state Legislature, where a commission revised the plan, removing Manhattan's Upper East and West sides from the congestion zone, and calling for drivers to only be charged in the inbound direction. Despite securing federal funding and City Council approval, the proposal was met with opposition in the state Assembly, particularly from the city's outer boroughs. Lawmakers blocked a vote to advance the plan before the funding deadline, effectively killing it. Congestion pricing's (first) comeback More than a decade after it was first introduced, reports surfaced in August 2017 that then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo wanted to resurrect the toll. He appointed what he called a "Fix NYC" commission to explore ways to alleviate traffic in Manhattan while funding improvements for the MTA. "These are difficult choices, but difficult choices don't get easier by ignoring them," Cuomo said in his State of the State address in January 2018, including the plan in his budget proposal. Days later, the commission recommended a $11.52 toll for peak trips below 60th Street. Then-Mayor Bill de Blasio initially came out against congestion pricing, favoring a millionaire's tax instead. He eventually hopped on board and endorsed it, as he and the governor announced a 10-point plan to fix the MTA. Following a brief legal delay, the first congestion surcharge took effect in February 2019, targeting for-hire vehicles below 96th Street in Manhattan. It added $2.50 to base taxi fares and $2.75 for ride-share vehicles. The next month, state lawmakers approved the broader toll in the budget, and started hammering out the details for other drivers. Months of debate ensued, as residents and lawmakers from the city, Long Island and New Jersey waited to learn how the tolls would work. Congestion pricing was slated to start in January 2021, but the plan hit another snag from the federal government in February 2020, and then came the COVID-19 pandemic. The feds eventually gave the green light for the MTA to move forward with an environmental assessment in March 2021, and the political debate picked back up. Later that year, Cuomo stepped down in a sexual misconduct scandal, and the project fell to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Current battle over congestion pricing In the summer of 2023, the feds approved the plan, clearing another hurdle. Several lawsuits were filed to stop the rollout, as the MTA's Traffic Mobility Review Board met to determine how much drivers would be charged, and the first toll scanners were installed. Later that winter, the board recommended a $15 toll for most vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Following a public comment period, the full MTA board voted on March 27, 2024 to adopt the recommended fees, discounts and exemptions. A month later, the agency said the new tolls would start on Sunday, June 30. Then, just weeks before congestion pricing was supposed to begin, Hochul made the stunning announcement to pause the program. "After careful consideration, I have come to the difficult decision that implementing the planned congestion pricing system risks too many unintended consequences for New Yorkers at this time. For that reason, I have directed the MTA to indefinitely pause the program," the governor said in a video statement on June 5. The sudden pause left the MTA scrambling to fund several projects, and it was met with another round of lawsuits. Then in November, after the 2024 general election, Hochul announced she was resurrecting the toll at a cheaper rate of $9 for most trips into Manhattan. The MTA approved the lower toll, and the feds also signed off later that month. Despite a last-ditch legal fight, the congestion pricing tolls went into effect on Sunday, Jan. 5. After the first three weeks, the MTA said travel speeds appeared to be improving, and more people were taking mass transit. Nonetheless, opponents continued to ask President Trump and the federal government to kill the controversial toll. Late last month, CBS News New York learned the president had been in talks with the governor about the future of the program. Hochul then canceled a meeting with Mr. Trump about congestion pricing after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against New York over it's Green Light Law that allows undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers' licenses. On Feb. 19, the U.S. Department of Transportation said it was terminating a November 2024 agreement with the state. The MTA quickly responded, saying it was filing court papers to make sure the program stays in place.
