Grace Ashford

New York

Reporter at The New York Times

Reporter with @nytimes based in Columbia county. Tips welcome.

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Articles

In Face of Trump's Hostility, Hochul Responds With Barbed Gratitude

5 days ago | nytimes.com | Grace Ashford |Benjamin Oreskes

President Trump said he was taking over the Penn Station project. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has at times aggressively criticized Mr. Trump, went a different route. When President Trump extended his reach into New York's affairs with a promise to "kill" the state's congestion pricing plan, Gov. Kathy Hochul drew her sword. "We are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington," Ms. Hochul, a Democrat, told reporters, vowing to preserve the program.
New York Lawmakers Want to Get Paid, Even if the Budget Is Late

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Grace Ashford |Benjamin Oreskes

While late budgets are nothing new in New York, one thing has always kept talks moving forward: Until a deal is reached, state lawmakers go without pay. Carl E. Heastie, the speaker of the State Assembly, wants to change that. With this year's budget talks now a week past the April 1 deadline, Mr. Heastie has introduced a bill to reduce a governor's leverage to force legislative leaders to come to a budget agreement by essentially withholding their pay.
FEMA Cuts More Than $300 Million in Disaster Aid to New York

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Benjamin Oreskes |Dana Rubinstein |Grace Ashford

Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokeswoman for Mayor Eric Adams of New York City, said the funding reductions "pose serious risks to multiple communities across the five boroughs."Ms. Mamelak Altus noted that the program was designed to protect communities from natural disasters and to save the federal government money it might otherwise spend on disaster relief. "Multiple studies have shown that $1 spent in advance saves $6 in response and recovery costs down the line," she said.
Trump Declares Victory as He Wins Pennsylvania - The New York Times

Dec 3, 2024 | nytimes.com | Jonathan Weisman |Katie Rogers |Catie Edmondson |Michael M. Grynbaum |John Koblin |Kate Zernike | +11 more
Hochul Tries to Meet New York's Climate Goals Without Provoking Trump

Nov 28, 2024 | nytimes.com | Grace Ashford

In 2019, New York passed a sweeping law that promised to drastically reduce emissions and make New York an example for the nation. But the measure also served another purpose: helping New York's pugnacious governor, Andrew M. Cuomo, stick a thumb in the eye of President Donald J. Trump, whose administration was striving to dismantle environmental regulations and expand fossil fuel production.
Opponents Renew Attacks as Congestion Pricing Plan Returns

Nov 18, 2024 | nytimes.com | Ana Ley |Winnie Hu |Grace Ashford

Transit leaders on Monday voted to approve New York City's congestion pricing program, fueling a growing backlash against Gov. Kathy Hochul, whose decision to revive the unpopular proposal has given her critics ammunition to renew their attacks. Governor Hochul sidelined congestion pricing in June because she said she feared its economic impact on New Yorkers trying to make ends meet.
Despite Lowering Toll to $9, Hochul May Find a Higher Political Cost

Nov 14, 2024 | nytimes.com | Grace Ashford

Ms. Hochul had pledged to do everything in her power to support Democrats in November, particularly in key House races in the Hudson Valley and Long Island, where the party lost ground in the 2022 midterms, and where the tolling plan was particularly toxic. The governor insisted that economics, not politics, was behind her decision. Even so, with congestion pricing off the table, New York was one of the few states where Democrats gained House seats.
New York to Revive Congestion Pricing With $9 Toll

Nov 13, 2024 | nytimes.com | Emma Graves Fitzsimmons |Grace Ashford |Winnie Hu

New York will revive its once-abandoned plan for the nation's first congestion-pricing program, but at a reduced rate of a $9 toll for most vehicles to enter Midtown and Lower Manhattan, according to five people familiar with the matter. Gov. Kathy Hochul intends to announce the state's revised proposal on Thursday, lowering the initial $15 charge for cars to enter Manhattan's core at peak hours. The new plan would be fast-tracked for implementation.
Hochul, in Unwanted Position, Says She Is Ready to Work With Trump

Nov 10, 2024 | msn.com | Nicholas Fandos |Grace Ashford

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Will NYC Revive Congestion Pricing After Trump’s Victory?

Nov 8, 2024 | shorturl.at | Grace Ashford |Emma G. Fitzsimmons |Winnie Hu

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York is exploring options for reviving a congestion pricing plan for New York City before President-elect Donald J. Trump has a chance to kill it, according to four people familiar with the matter. Ms. Hochul’s move to salvage the contentious plan comes as she faces pressure from various corners, including a group that represents transit riders, and is planning to start an advertising blitz on Monday in support of the tolling program.