Governor Andrew Cuomo
Opponents of dense housing and public transit have seized on the disproportionate death toll originating from the epicenter of the nation's coronavirus outbreak. Is it time for the leaders of New York and New Jersey to admit they acted late?
Slate
Part I was shutting down the economy on a multi-state basis in the absence of federal leadership. Part II will be opening them up in spite of federal assertiveness.
Politico
Many counties throughout the nation have recorded no deaths from COVID-19. A perception exists that population density is responsible for the massive death toll in New York and New Jersey and that exurban and rural counties may be spared.
The New York Times
Early intervention, or population density? NPR reporters based in the Bay Area and New York City offer explanations as to why the two regions are seeing such a wide contrast in experiences during the coronavirus outbreak.
NPR
After repeatedly stating on Saturday afternoon that he was considering a quarantine for New York, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut to contain the spread of COVID-19, President Trump tweeted a plan to issue a travel advisory.
The New York Times
To encourage recreational walking while practicing social distancing in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked the New York City mayor and city council speaker to devise a pilot project to provide for open streets.
CNBC
In the absence of federal leadership in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, East Coast states and West Coast counties have collaborated to implement uniform containment strategies to arrest the spread of COVID-19, and it's catching on.
CNBC
High population density is viewed as an environmental benefit in terms of decreasing emissions, particularly from transportation, but from the public health perspective of containing the spread of COVID-19, it might be a significant negative.
The Washington Post
The city’s subway system is lagging in station accessibility, but the MTA has a plan to add elevators to 70 stations.
The New York Times
The New York City MTA has changed the story, twice, about its plans for little used WiFi service on the city buses.
The City
The MTA board approved a new restructuring plan despite not hearing any words of support from the public.
Politico
New state legislation will allow the city to expand the network of cameras and step up enforcement.
Crain's New York Business
The state of New York's new Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act is described by the New York Times as one of the most ambitious climate targets by any state legislature in the world.
The New York Times
Finally, congestion pricing, as applied to city cordons, not highways, will be coming to the U.S., thanks to a budget deal approved by the New York State Legislature early Sunday morning. Tolls below 60th Street should begin by Jan. 1, 2021.
amNew York
With the New York State legislature expected to pass a tolling plan for Manhattan early next week, the Chronicle's Rachel Swan reports on the unlikelihood of a similar plan being adopted in San Francisco or any city in the Golden State.
San Francisco Chronicle
New York State Budget Director Robert Mujica penned a Sunday op-ed for the Daily News on the benefits of congestion pricing. On Tuesday, Gov. Cuomo broke the news on WNYC that he and Mayor de Blasio agreed on tolling the central business district.
New York Daily News
New York City and State offered up nearly $3 billion in incentives to lure Amazon and its 25,000 high-paying jobs to Queens only to see the tech company cancel their plans after local opposition materialized. Was their retreat too hasty?
The New York Times
The Democratic governor proposed a ban on single-use plastic bags in his state-of-the-state address on Jan. 15. Nearly two years earlier, he signed a bill that prevented New York City from charging for bags as the District of Columbia and Boston do.
The New York Times
New York City's ailing taxi industry is fighting what they call a "suicide surcharge," a new $2.50 fee they will be forced to charge riders below 95th Street in Manhattan. Eight drivers have already taken their lives as their business suffers.
The New York Times
MTA Chair Joe Lhota has resigned after 16 months on the job, announcing his departure just days after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo won reelection.
The Wall Street Journal
