Not really. Here are five laws she potentially broke by disrupting this program:

1. Article 78 of NY Civil Practice Law and Rules provides an avenue to challenge the states failure to implement congestion pricing.

2. Section 7.2 of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA): The Governor and New York State agencies, including NYS Department of Transportation and the MTA, are required to act in a manner consistent with statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.

3. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Delaying congestion pricing translates to a delay in accessibility improvements, potentially violating existing settlement agreements reached between MTA and disability advocates to address longstanding MTA noncompliance with the ADA.

4. Environmental Assessment (EA): Residents of the CBD, people with disabilities, people with distinct vulnerabilities to traffic (e.g., asthma), businesses in the CBD, and other beneficiaries of positive environmental impacts identified in MTA’S EA for the CBDTP have standing.

5. 2021 Green Amendment: The New York State constitution grants all residents the right to clean air, clean water, and a clean environment. Failure to implement congestion pricing violates this right.

See: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/nyc-comptroller-lander-coalition-of-legal-experts-and-potential-plaintiffs-announce-plan-to-explore-legal-avenues-to-resume-congestion-pricing/ 

New taxes take months if not years to pass in the legislature. Furthermore, the revenue taken from taxes must be "appropriated" to agencies like the MTA. This means that agencies have to wait for the state to doll out money, which can also take years. Congestion pricing revenue is to go directly to the MTA to spend immediately.

And congestion pricing not only generates revenue for public transit improvements, it also addresses the negative environmental, health, and economic effects associated with car traffic. 100,000 fewer cars would enter Manhattan with congestion pricing than today. That's less traffic, cleaner air, and safer streets for everyone. Even drivers benefit! Taxes cannot do this.

There are several reasons why more fare revenue, while important, cannot replace congestion pricing:

• Fare revenue goes towards the operating budget -- that's mostly wages and keeping day-to-day things running. Congestion pricing revenue would pay for large infrastructure projects -- which would mean more money saved for operations.

• Even if some fare revenue went to capital, it would not be nearly enough to cover Hochul's $15B hole. Subway and bus fares bring in about $4B a year total, only a quarter of what the MTA has lost due to this short-sighted "pause."

• Congestion pricing has numerous secondary benefits: cleaner air, less traffic, and safer streets. Fares cannot do that.

According to an Albany watchdog group:

• 100,000 jobs in New York state are in jeopardy. 87% of those jobs were from vendors working with the MTA and no longer have projects.

• Every New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut congressional district has at least one company paid by the MTA for capital projects, as do 100% of New York State senate districts, and 98% of New York State assembly districts. 

•  21% of the $15 billion congestion pricing revenues would support in-house capital work conducted by MTA workers.

The combination of a $15 fee ($9 overnight) and several exemptions are what the MTA has found to be a "sweet spot" so that most people paying reguarly will be out-of-state and suburban drivers who can afford it. Exempt or discounted groups include:

• 50% discount for personal incomes less than $50,000

• Residents of the Congestion Relief Zone with incomes less than $60,000 may qualify for a tax credit in the amount of tolls paid

• Disability plates are exempt, as are fleet vehicles from organizations that serve disabilty/care organizations

• Emergency vehicles are exempt

• Buses of many kinds are exempt, including school buses and commuter buses

By canceling congestion pricing, Gov Hochul defunded an important public service millions of working-class people rely on to get to work, school, and care, yet she has not tackled people's biggest expenses: housing, healthcare, and energy bills. What's more, her blunder is costing New York state 100,000 jobs. She is a disaster for the working class. 

Congestion pricing not only generates revenue for public transit improvements, but 100,000 fewer cars per day would enter Manhattan with congestion pricing. That's less traffic, cleaner air, and safer strees for everyone -- even drivers. Thanks to this "pause," if you drive into midtown or lower Manhattan during the day, you will only see traffic get worse. Kathy Hochul has no plan to address your commute.