New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) is reviving the highly controversial congestion toll in New York City, reversing her decision to indefinitely "pause" the plan this past summer.In June, Hochul stopped the proposed $15 toll for those entering Manhattan below 60th Street following widespread opposition. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority agreed to pause the plan indefinitely.'You wonder why people are cynical of elected officials? This is exhibit A.'Hochul's stated reason at the time was to avoid adding "undue strain on already stressed New Yorkers." However, post-election, Hochul has decided to bring back the initiative, sources told the Gothamist and the New York Post. The sources indicate that Hochul plans to reduce the $15 base toll to $9. However, the governor reportedly is also considering increasing the base toll to as much as $23 within the next three years.At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Hochul announced that New York City will proceed with a $9 base toll. She presented this reduction as a savings benefit for commuters, even though the original higher toll was never put into effect.“From day one, I have made affordability for New York families a top priority,” Hochul stated. “I’m proud to announce we have found a path to fund the MTA, reduce congestion, and keep millions of dollars in the pockets of our commuters. Under this plan, the MTA will implement a congestion pricing plan with a reduced daytime toll of $9 beginning in January.” “You heard that correctly. It was $15 before; now it is $9. That is a 40% reduction,” she continued. “This lower toll will save daily commuters nearly $1,500 annually, and that kind of money makes a big difference for our families. And there'll be further discounts for low-income New Yorkers. Car owners who make less than $50,000 a year will get a 50% discount on every toll after their 10th toll of the month. In addition, after 9 p.m., the toll is discounted even further.”The previously proposed congestion toll received substantial legal and public backlash.In April, New Jersey filed a complaint against New York, claiming that it "failed to adequately consider the environment impacts" and "ignored the significant financial burden being placed on New Jerseyans and New Jersey's transportation system."The Trucking Association of New York sued the state in May over the toll's pricing structure, arguing that it "disproportionately targets" truckers. Under the initial plan, truck and tour bus drivers would have been charged $36.The toll's revenue will cover $15 billion in repairs to the MTA's transit systems. Hochul's proposed plan to reinstate the toll has raised questions about the timing of this decision.Kyle Smith, a film critic with the Wall Street Journal, stated, "This is really unbelievably cynical politics. Kathy Hochul backed off a toll for midtown Manhattan because it polled disastrously and might have cost her party a House seat or 2. Now, the WEEK AFTER THE ELECTION, she says she's going ahead with it."Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella (R) said, "I can't believe Hochul put congestion pricing to bed and brought it back.""It stinks. You wonder why people are cynical of elected officials? This is exhibit A," Fossella added.Jim Brosi, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, expressed concerns that first responders would also be charged."Congestion pricing will compromise staffing in the FDNY [New York City Fire Department]," he explained. "The disproportionate impact on members assigned to inside the congestion zone will cause a rapid drain of senior officers and firefighters, which could create a significant safety risk for all New Yorkers."Republican Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler accused Hochul of "trying to pick the pockets of New Yorkers to bail out the corrupt MTA's waste, fraud, and abuse, and that's shameful."In a Wednesday statement, a spokesperson for the governor said, "Gov. Hochul paused congestion pricing because a daily $15 toll was too much for hardworking New Yorkers in this economic climate.""Tomorrow, the governor will announce the path forward to fund mass transit, unclog our streets, and improve public health by reducing air pollution," the spokesperson added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Numerous wealthy celebrities — including geriatric singers Barbra Streisand and Cher and 66-year-old script-reader Sharon Stone — threatened in recent months that if Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election, then they would pull up their shallow roots and leave the United States. Time will tell whether these liberals will honor their pledges now that President-elect Trump is assembling his Cabinet, having secured over 3 million more votes nationwide and 86 more Electoral College votes than Harris. There is, however, at least one Democrat who has actually jumped ship. In a post-election interview with the French women's magazine Marie Claire, Texas native Eva Longoria indicated that she has moved her family out of the "dystopian" United States. The 49-year-old "Desperate Housewives" star, once touted by the Washington Post as a "political power broker," now appears devoid of the enthusiasm that she previously exuded in her speech at the Democratic National Convention. "The shocking part is not that he won," the multimillionaire told Marie Claire. "It's that a convicted criminal who spews so much hate could hold the highest office." It turns out that Longoria's personal efforts to turn out the Hispanic vote for Harris, as well as the efforts of the group she co-founded, the Latino Victory Fund, weren't enough this time around. CNN exit polls indicated that 46% of all Hispanics and 55% of Hispanic men voted for Trump. 'I'm privileged.' "I would like to think our fight continues," she continued, adding that she does not know what the future holds for the country. Longoria suggested that if Trump "keeps his promises, it's going to be a scary place." According to Marie Claire, Longoria, her husband, and her son now divide their time between Spain and Mexico when not jet-setting around Europe and South America. Despite supporting a California Democrat keen on raising taxes, the script-reader suggested that the fallout of leftist policies helped grease her way out of the United States. "I had my whole adult life here," she said, referring to Los Angeles. "But even before [the pandemic], it was changing. The vibe was different. And then COVID happened, and it pushed it over the edge. Whether it's the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to s*** on California — it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now." Under Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, California's homeless population ballooned to over 181,000 people last year — nearly 0.5% of the population. CalMatters revealed in September that the number is now closer to 186,000 homeless people. "I'm privileged," continued Longoria. "I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren't so lucky. They're going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them." The incoming president of the "dystopian" country that Longoria has abandoned has indicated that he will secure the southern border, expel criminals who have stolen into the U.S., lower taxes, reduce crime, eliminate government waste, protect children from sex-change mutilations, lower energy costs, improve the health of American youth, end the corporate capture of federal agencies, and broker international peace. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

ABC News is reportedly in "panic mode" trying to find more conservative voices to balance "The View" after the show's entire panel threw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris' failed presidential bid.Sources told the New York Post that the network is scrambling to rectify the voter disconnect on the talk show. According to the unidentified sources, ABC News has been hosting "intense," "high-level meetings" since last week.'The current panel is clearly resonating with audiences given that the series just had its highest rated episode in more than a decade.'Reportedly, the first order of business for the network's executives is to find a panelist to join the show who is a supporter of President-elect Donald Trump. Even the show's two current so-called Republican co-hosts, Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin, have repeatedly bashed Trump and his policies.A source told the Post that the show is "facing pressure from higher-ups.""Viewers can expect some major changes including bringing in new panelists that can bring in a pro-Trump perspective," the source continued. "Everyone on 'The View' endorsed Kamala Harris. They lost. They are out of touch with America.""For a show about different perspectives, 'The View' doesn't seem to have any when it comes to Trump. ABC bosses don't want to alienate the pro-Trump demographic," the source added.The source speculated that bringing on a pro-Trump host could cause a stir with the other panelists."The question is what will happen to the Whoopis and the Joys if they bring on a Trumpster?" the source questioned, referring to Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar.Whether the network plans to replace any current hosts or simply add another panelist is unclear.A second source told the Post, "We are trying to sort out how we cover the next 4 years when everyone inside ABC News is on one side."An ABC spokesperson denied the sources' claims, stating that it is an "opinion-based show featuring a diverse panel of women with different points of view."The spokesperson then remarked that the show had just seen its highest ratings, seemingly oblivious to the likely reason behind the surge in viewership. It is plausible that many Americans, especially those with conservative views who typically avoid the program, flocked to see the far-left panelists' dramatic reactions to Trump's landslide election win.The ABC News spokesperson told the Post, "The current panel is clearly resonating with audiences given that the series just had its highest rated episode in more than a decade and hit a 4-year high in total viewers."After Trump's win, Behar accused his supporters of being racist and misogynistic.Co-host Sunny Hostin questioned what was "wrong" with the Americans who voted for him, blaming "uneducated white women" and "Latino men" for Harris' loss. Meghan McCain, a former co-host on "The View," criticized her former colleagues for being out of touch with American voters."Respectfully, please stop sending me clips from The View," she told her followers on X. "It's a radical progressive insane asylum and that is why I left years ago."In an earlier post, McCain wrote, "It is actual malfeasance on the part of ABC news that there isn't one single conservative woman on The View this morning who voted for Trump or simply isn't repulsed by his supporters to explain to America why he is still so popular."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

THE HORROR! Lefty Scholar All But WETS Himself After Discovering Pete Hegseth Is ... A CHRISTIAN (Thread)

'What an Endorsement'! Andrew McCabe Warns Matt Gaetz Would 'Tear Things Up' at the FBI

FBI Indicts Three Mississippi Officials in Massive Bribery Scandal

OPINION: Matt Gaetz and the Expectation of Fairness

WATCH: After Demanding Meat Tax, Activists at UN COP29 Climate Conference Won't Go Near Vegan Buffet

MSNBC Panel Ponders: Will Trump Court-Martial Generals and 'Military Tribunal' Liz Cheney?

Newly Minted Senate Majority Leader John Thune Lays Out His Agenda on the Senate Floor