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The majority of voters living in New York City’s suburbs approve of Gov. Kathy Hochuls surprise last-minute decision to indefinitely pause the congestion pricing toll, according to a new poll.

The statewide Siena College survey conducted last week also showed Hochuls approval rating hovering at its lowest level in a year, with only 38% of respondents giving her a thumbs up. 

Almost half, 49%, disapproved of her, tied for the second lowest rating ever, set back in April.

Of the statewide respondents, 45% said they supported Hochuls decision to pause the $15 daily toll on drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street. 45% of respondents to a Sienna poll conducted last week say they support Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com

Suburban voters continued to voice the most fierce opposition to the toll, with 56% supporting Hochuls pause. Those voters encompass Long Island as well as Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Counties.

The poll was conducted last week, just days after lawmakers ended their yearly session in Albany after bucking Hochuls last-minute attempt to raise taxes to make up for revenue the MTA had expected to generate from congestion pricing. Hochul suddenly paused the congestion pricing scheme last week, just a few days before lawmakers ended their legislative session in Albany. rfaraino

The decision has led to furious backlash against Hochul from lefty pols.

City Comptroller and mayoral hopeful Brad Lander is leading a group looking to sue to force Hochul and the MTA to move forward with the plan.

Despite the protests, only 23% of respondents told Siena they opposed the pause.

Earlier this year, even more poll respondents ripped the toll, with 63% saying they opposed or somewhat opposed congestion pricing.

While the suburbs may like Hochuls congestion pricing pause, they still arent showing her as much love with 52% of suburban respondents saying they have an unfavorable opinion of the Governor. Thats the same rate as the rest of the state outside New York City.

Despite strongly supporting Hochuls decision to put congestion pricing on hold, and even more strongly supporting the social media bill she championed, voters now give Hochul the lowest favorability and job approval ratings shes had in nearly three years as Governor, Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said.

Hochuls approval rating lags behind that of President Joe Biden, who got a thumbs up from 42% of those polled.

The survey included 805 respondents from across the state who were reached by landline, cell phone, and through an online panel. The poll carries a margin of error of 4.1%.

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European central bank pushes for CBDC launch in 2029: Report

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European central bank pushes for CBDC launch in 2029: Report

European central bank pushes for CBDC launch in 2029: Report

Nigeria, the Bahamas and Jamaica are only three jurisdictions with launched CBDCs, according to the American think tank, the Atlantic Council.

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Trump, Xi meet in South Korea to iron out tariffs that sank crypto this month

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Trump, Xi meet in South Korea to iron out tariffs that sank crypto this month

Trump, Xi meet in South Korea to iron out tariffs that sank crypto this month

US President Donald Trump has flown to South Korea to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping to resolve trade tensions between the world’s two superpowers.

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Donald Trump says tariffs will be cut after ‘amazing’ meeting with Xi Jinping

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Donald Trump says tariffs will be cut after 'amazing' meeting with Xi Jinping

Donald Trump has described crucial trade talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping as “amazing” – and says he will visit Beijing in April.

The leaders of the world’s two biggest economies met in South Korea as they tried to defuse growing tensions – with both countries imposing aggressive tariffs on exports since the president’s second term began.

Catch up on Trump-Xi meeting

Aboard Air Force One, Mr Trump confirmed tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the US will be reduced, which could prove much-needed relief to consumers.

It was also agreed that Beijing will work “hard” to stop fentanyl flowing into the US.

Semiconductor chips were another issue raised during their 100-minute meeting, but the president admitted certain issues weren’t discussed.

“On a scale of one to 10, the meeting with Xi was 12,” he told reporters en route back to the US.

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‘Their handshake was almost a bit awkward’

Xi a ‘tough negotiator’, says Trump

The talks conclude a whirlwind visit across Asia – with Mr Trump saying he was “too busy” to see Kim Jong Un.

However, the president said he would be willing to fly back to see the North Korean leader, with a view to discussing denuclearisation.

Mr Trump had predicted negotiations with his Chinese counterpart would last for three or four hours – but their meeting ended in less than two.

The pair shook hands before the summit, with the US president quipping: “He’s a tough negotiator – and that’s not good!”

It marks the first face-to-face meeting between both men since 2019 – back in Mr Trump’s first term.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Pic: AP
Image:
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. Pic: AP

There were signs that Beijing had extended an olive branch to Washington ahead of the talks, with confirmation China will start buying US soybeans again.

American farmers have been feeling the pinch since China stopped making purchases earlier this year – not least because the country was their biggest overseas market.

Chinese stocks reached a 10-year high early on Thursday as investors digested their meeting, with the yuan rallying to a one-year high against the US dollar.

Analysis: A fascinating power play

Sky News Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith – who is in Busan where the talks took place – said it was fascinating to see the power play between both world leaders.

She said: “Trump moved quickly to dominate the space – leaning in, doing all the talking, even responding very briefly to a few thrown questions.

“That didn’t draw so much as an eyebrow raise from his counterpart, who was totally inscrutable. Xi does not like or respond well to unscripted moments, Trump lives for them.”

Read more from Sky News:
US cuts interest rates as inflation fears ease
Is Trump preparing for war with Venezuela?

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Will Trump really run for a third term?

On Truth Social, Mr Trump had described the summit as a gathering of the “G2” – a nod to America and China’s status as the world’s two biggest economies.

While en route to see President Xi, he also revealed that the US “Department of War” has now been ordered to start testing nuclear weapons for the first time since 1992.

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