Hochul jokes congestion pricing might not work— after NYC traffic made her late for dinner

They’re hitting the city limits

Out of the mouths: Kathy Hochul — always on the dot punctual, and meeting a friend for dinner — arrived 20 minutes late. “Traffic was terrible,” she said. Then: “Maybe this congestion thing isn’t working!”

For over 40 years the owner of big-time restaurant Primola has served everyone — Ivana, Ivanka, Marla, Donald “who always came a few minutes late.” East Side owner says, “If ever I actually write a book, I’d have to leave the country.”

Realtor: High cost of everything causing problems, union carpenters, congestion and bridge tolls, “besides that there’s also kids, 12 years old, in Times Square robbing people.”

Taxi driver: “When passengers pay in cash I now don’t have to report it.” 

Driven to drink

Wait. More taxi driver misery. Marilu Henner and Tony Danza couldn’t find a taxi. They were damp. It was the rained-on West Wide. Ubers were backed up. Cabs no place. Understand, these were the former TV “Taxi” stars. So, in good Big Apple style, they sloshed over for drinks at dry Manny’s Bistro. 

Big cheers for Jersey boy

Lufthansa lounge before a flight to Copenhagen. Newark Airport. TSA staff snarling. Hasidim speaking Yiddish. Passengers said that this week downtown Tenafly had 10 million Israeli-Americans and assorted persons of Jewish persuasion celebrating 21-year-old Edan Alexander’s release from hostagehood. 

High value asset

We now speak bargains. You can go from bland to Bond for $26.5 mil. Sean Connery’s South of France shack is for sale. Stuck above the Mediterranean in Nice. Art Deco estate called “Bond Villa” by locals. Riviera glamour, panoramic sea views, indoor infinity pool, dining room equipped with ejector seats for gabby guests in case the pot roast’s lousy. 

Rule of all?

Europe is at a critical point. America’s shield is rusting. China’s prepping to invade Taiwan. Took only one month, three weeks, two days to bring down the Weimar Republic and its constitution.

Putin’s goal? A redo of Yalta, where half the continent was ceded to Stalin. The south awaits the current conflict outcome to decide whether or not to act further — whether to trample on it. He wants the order put in place by the USA and its allies. First principle being the prohibition of acquiring territory by force.

E pluribus unum. Somewhere I read that it’s all for one — and one for all. Only not in New York or anyplace else.