By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-15 22:06:55 | Updated at 2024-11-27 18:30:11
1 week ago
A New York City diner owner roasted Governor Kathy Hochul after she claimed to be a regular at his Manhattan eatery.
At a press conference Thursday to discuss a revived congestion pricing plan that would charge motorists to drive into areas of Manhattan, Hochul said that she 'spend[s] more time in diners than probably anybody in this room.'
Earlier this year, Hochul named the Comfort Dinner as one of her favorites to have conversations with average New Yorkers about the plan.
But owner Tarek Soliman said he hasn't seen much of the politician since her 2022 gubernatorial race.
'After the election, she doesn't come. She must have changed,' Soliman told the New York Post.
'Before the election, she comes all the time.'
The diner's owner said congestion pricing will keep customers from the outer boroughs and New Jersey from frequenting his Lower East Side restaurant.
'How much money do people have to pay to come to this diner to eat?' he told the Post. 'No one is going to come.'
The Comfort Diner owner, Tyrek Soliman, roasted Governor Kathy Hochul after she claimed to be a regular at his Manhattan eatery. Pictured: The Comfort Diner in Manhattan's Midtown
At a press conference Thursday to discuss a revived congestion pricing plan that would charge motorists to drive into areas of Manhattan, Hochul (pictured) said that she 'spend[s] more time in diners than probably anybody in this room'
But owner Tarek Soliman (pictured) said he hasn't seen much of the politician since her 2022 gubernatorial race
Hochul announced her plans to move forward with modified version of the much disputed plan, which would charge motorists $9 - as opposed to the original $15 - to travel below 60th Street in Manhattan during the day.
'As I said from the start, a $15 toll was just too high in this economic climate. That's why our plan cuts the daytime toll to $9 for cars,' she said.
The initial plan was paused in June, after Hochul faced push-back.
She has also faced resistance from Presidential-elect Donald Trump.
'It will put New York City at a disadvantage over competing cities and states, and businesses will flee,' he said in a statement.
Local Republicans have already called on the president-elect to intervene, with Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents a suburban district just north of New York City, requesting that Trump commit to 'ending this absurd congestion pricing cash grab once and for all'.
Hochul defiantly stated that she planned to press on with the plan regardless of who is calling the shots in Washington.
'I'm not driven by the calendar of when people are elected or not elected,' she said.
