ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul is good for her threat to withdraw $1.3 billion in state funding aimed at overhauling the much-anticipated Penn Station, she said Friday — that negotiations over her massive budget proposals have been dragged out.
Hochul proposed that cash would be directed towards initiatives to address “fare avoidance and other issues” as part of its fiscal year 2026 budget plan, scheduled for April 1.
She made the announcement during an improvisational visit to the State Capitol Press Office shortly after 5:30pm, saying she and the Congress were “finishing” details of the proposed $252 billion budget.
“This process is closed and we are reaching a good place,” Hochul said.
Last week, Hochul threatened to withdraw $1.3 billion in cash for the pen after the Trump administration effectively put the Metropolitan Transportation Agency up and running from leading the project.
She said she will continue to framble the Transportation Department’s move as a victory, hold the fundraising accountable and run a large-scale project (which can run north of $7 billion) in the federal government.
“I say thank you for taking over this. I hope that you’ll make an advancement soon given how important efficiency is to you. Perhaps Elon Musk will be in charge of it and get it done really quickly.
She also said that if Donald completes the project, he will rename Penn to “Trump Station.”
“It’s not my favorite to call it, but it’s going to save USD 1.3 billion that I’m not planning to spend,” Hochul said.
Following Friday’s meeting between state Sen. Andrea Stewart Causins (D-Westchester) and Congress President Carl Heaty (D-Bronx), talks over the state budget appeared to be approaching a “handshake” resolution, but no such deal was announced.
“We’re in the last day to close the numbers, and we’re sure that’ll happen by the end of this month,” Hochur said in an interview with Syracuse’s news channel 9 on Friday.
Stewart Cousins signaled the reporter. She is optimistic that next week will reach a deal that will allow Congress to start voting in a massive package.
“I think you guys will be very busy next week,” she said.
The governor has been stagnant primarily for weeks as he agreed to the changes that left-handed lawmakers proposed to change the law on how evidence will be presented prior to a criminal trial passed by Congress in 2019.
“It’s a bit complicated, but basically it’s what’s happening under the laws that were enacted in 2019. And I stand behind the original intent behind those laws, but now there are so many cases that are being dismissed.
