Christie and Cuomo both denied knowing about the toll hikes for more than a few days before the Port Authority publicly unveiled their proposal
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo in file photos. The governors dined together one week before the Port Authority announced trans-Hudson toll hikes.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had dinner a week before the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which they jointly control, announced a steep hike in trans-Hudson tolls.
Christie and Cuomo both denied knowing about the toll hikes for more than a few days before the Port Authority publicly unveiled their proposal.
The dinner meeting, at the Beacon Restaurant in Manhattan, became public today when Cuomo released copies of his detailed schedules for his first eight months in office on a new government transparency website. The meeting was first reported by The New York Daily News.
The toll hikes were announced on August 5 and at the time Christie issued a statement critical of the large increase. He later said he was shocked by the proposal and had only learned of it on August 3.
Critics accused Christie and Cuomo of working together to allow the toll hikes to be announced and then returning to issue a compromise lower plan. Two weeks after the initial announcement, the two governors signed off on a toll hike that was smaller than the initial proposal.
Christie's office provided no specifics about the conversation at the dinner meeting.
"The two governors talk frequently on any range of topics of mutual interest and concern between the two states," Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the governor, said in an email.
Christie does not release his detailed schedules to the public, only schedules that show his public appearances. His travel became an issue this month when it was revealed that he went to speak to a conservative group in Colorado in June and did not notify the public.
Christie has defended not notifying the public about his out-of-state trips, saying he doesn't have to let the public or press know everywhere he goes. Christie does not plan to follow Cuomo's lead in releasing detailed schedules.
"As you know, Governor Christie releases a daily public schedule, and he has spoken at length on this topic recently," Drewniak said. "Nothing else to add."
Previous Coverage:
• Academy Bus decides not to hike fares following steep Port Authority toll increase
• NJ Transit not planning to raise fares following toll hikes on Hudson River crossings
• Port Authority approves modified toll, fare hike for Hudson River crossings PATH