Wednesday’s Headlines: Victory Lap Edition

The big story yesterday was Gov. Hochul’s full-throated valedictory speech on the day after the federal government gave its “Finding of No Significant Impact” (or, as Dave Colon is fond of calling it, “Ayyyy! The Fonsi!”) for congestion pricing.

Lots of outlets (including ours!) covered Hochul’s speech, but there was also lots of other coverage of congestion pricing, including:

• The Daily News played it straight, but added in another round of Garden State griping.
• amNY focused on the likely start date in May 2024.
• Make that April! (Gothamist)

Before we get to the news from yesterday, let’s be careful today as Canada’s global warming mess again blows across the Big Apple (NYDN, The City). OK, now the news digest:

• There were Council elections yesterday (in some places, at least) and City & State is tracking the votes here. It looks like the biggest news is Yusef Salaam’s win in Harlem.
• Hey, #BikeNYC, let’s not go full ostrich about the rumblings of the Upper West Side yentas — they have Brad Hoylman and Gale Brewer’s ears. (West Side Rag)
• That said, when the anti-bike crowd refuses to acknowledge the dangers of cars, remind them that another kid is in the hospital today because he was struck by a driver in Fort Greene. (The Brooklyn Paper).
• And speaking of which:

• That proposed price hike in the MTA’s Access-a-Ride will be a little less than we thought. (NYDN)
• Several outlets followed our story about Monday’s “ghost plates” hearing in the City Council, but most (including Gothamist) missed the point we revealed: The NYPD’s crackdown is slowing. We were pleased, however, that amNY and Gothamist mentioned Streetsblog’s seminal coverage of covered and defaced plates.
• We were sad to hear about political reporter Erin Durkin’s bout with long Covid. (Hell Gate)
• We were also happy that Hell Gate called out the Post for its recent idiotic coal-oven pizza story.