Today, Evergreen Action Executive Director Lena Moffitt and the heads of four of the country’s other leading climate organizations sent a letter calling on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to reconsider her decision to indefinitely delay congestion pricing implementation and recommit to the 2019 legislation. 

In the letter, the groups highlight the whiplash felt by both the climate movement and residents in the region after the announcement earlier this month. Prior to the decision, the governor had been an enthusiastic supporter of congestion pricing and partnered with advocates to champion and implement the nation-leading climate program. The letter, from Moffitt and the executives of League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and Earthjustice was sent just over a week before the congestion pricing program was initially scheduled to be implemented. 

Read the full letter here. 

“Governor Hochul’s eleventh hour decision to pause congestion pricing was a disappointing shock not just to New Yorkers, but to climate advocates across the country. The program stood to provide a policy roadmap for states and further cement New York’s and the governor’s position as a national leader on climate action. Now, New York’s climate legacy is at risk,” said Evergreen Action Executive Director Lena Moffitt. "Like New Yorkers, we were incredibly dismayed by the decision—especially when it stands in direct opposition to the governor’s previous support of the program. But there’s still time to reconsider. We strongly urge Governor Huchul to recommit to implementing congestion pricing before it’s too late. New York—and America—is watching.” 

Evergreen Executive Director Lena Moffitt is joined in this letter by: 

League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski

Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous

Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp

Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen

Read the full letter here. 

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