5 of 6 Ballot Measures Pass + Potential Return of Congestion Pricing
No. 399 | Monday, November 11, 2024
The NYC Thorn is a weekly roundup of local political news compiled by members of NYC-DSA.
Election News
The City made a map showing how every election district in NYC voted in the Presidential race. Overall, only 68% of NYC residents voted for Kamala Harris, the lowest margin for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1988.
Proposition 1, also known as the Equal Rights Amendment, passed by a more than 20% margin, adding abortion rights and anti-discrimination measures to the New York State constitution. The amendment will prevent future legislatures or governors from weakening these protections, but they could be upended if a Federal abortion ban is passed.
The other five ballot measures were proposed by Mayor Adams’ Charter Review Commission; four of the five measures passed.
Proposition 2 will expand the Department of Sanitation's ability to enforce cleanliness rules in public spaces, including clearing out unlicensed street vendors.
New York State Democrats maintained their majority but lost their supermajority in the Legislature, with one race still too close to call.
Republican Mike Lawler held onto his seat in New York’s 17th Congressional District (Hudson Valley), defeating Democratic challenger Mondaire Jones by 7 points. Democrats did flip the 4th Congressional District (Long Island), with Democrat Laura Gillen defeating Republican incumbent Anthony D’Esposito in a close race that wasn’t called until Thursday.
Local News
Because implementing congestion pricing requires Federal approval, Governor Hochul would need to relaunch its implementation before Trump’s inauguration in just over two months. She is allegedly considering dropping the toll from $15 to $9 and has inquired with the US Department of Transportation about whether this change would require another round of environmental review.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes (District 26, Bay Ridge, Sunset Park) has proposed legislation that would send $1,800 to expecting parents on Medicaid during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Trump’s re-election opens up a pathway for Eric Adams to receive a presidential pardon of his Federal corruption charges.
Nearly a quarter of NYPD officers say they are actively looking to leave the department, according to a survey conducted by CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, citing dissatisfaction with pay, equipment/facilities, and poor work-life balance.
Over the weekend, several brush fires broke out within and around NYC due to ongoing drought conditions.
The NYC Local
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