'Clean pass' ending on HOV lanes in the state

Daily Point

Program expires Oct. 1; EV, hybrid drivers urged to call local House reps for reprieve

New York State has stopped issuing new Clean Pass Vehicle stickers, denying drivers of new hybrid and electric vehicles access to the high-occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes as they have had since the program began in 2006. While the action last week stops any new vehicle purchasers from using the program, existing Clean Pass sticker users also won’t be able to use the HOV lanes as of Oct. 1. The state, which administers the program, says the end is due to an expiration date set by federal law.

State officials are pointing fingers at congressional representatives for not yet getting drivers a reprieve.

"The responsibility lies squarely at the feet of Congress," Gordon Tepper, a spokesman for Gov. Kathy Hochul, told The Point. "We’re hopeful that they renew the program, and we’re calling on them to do it, but as of right now, it’s coming to an end."

Rep. Nick LaLota told The Point Monday that he has recommended an extension of the program to the House transportation and infrastructure committee.

But, he said, additional analysis regarding the program’s future is necessary.

"While I support a temporary extension of the current policy, Congress should consider, when making longer-term decisions, that a single-occupancy EV powered by electricity from a natural gas power plant may not be more environmentally friendly than a gasoline car with multiple passengers," LaLota said.

An analysis, he added, should also look at whether the addition of many more hybrid and electric vehicles means the HOV lane is too crowded, and not moving quickly enough.

"The incentive matters," LaLota said. "If the point is to incentivize consumer or driver behavior, you have to make sure it’s markedly faster."

State Sen. Anthony Palumbo told The Point his office has received some calls and emails about the program, but, he noted, many people are still unaware that it’s expiring. His email response to constituents notes that it’s a federal program, and that LaLota is working on the issue.

Palumbo said he, too, supports a temporary extension but added that he’d like to see data analyzing how many cars using the HOV lane are carpooling versus Clean Pass Vehicles.

"The sunset aspect was fairly smart, so you could reevaluate whether we are getting more cars off the road," Palumbo said. "The point is to have fewer cars on the road no matter what type of vehicles they are."

An original expiration for the Clean Pass Vehicle program was put into law in 2015, and then extended to 2025 as part of the infrastructure investment act, but it now appears to also be caught up in the Trump administration’s negative views of climate change policies and preference for expanding the use of fossil fuels.

Palumbo pledged he would stay on top of the program’s approaching expiration and any attempts to assess its future.

"It needs to be data-driven, if we continue the program at all," Palumbo added. "We’ll work closely with our federal partners to find the best solution."

Tepper said the Department of Motor Vehicles planned to issue a letter to current Clean Pass holders to inform them of the approaching expiration.

Said Palumbo: "When the program does end, if it’s not extended, I’m sure we’ll have plenty of voices heard."

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

Pencil Point

You bet!

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Final Point

Zombie campaign for Brookhaven Town clerk?

You don’t have to be a political strategist to know who’s going to win this November’s Brookhaven Town clerk election.

The Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent Kevin LaValle is Tricia L. Chiaramonte, who is running in her fifth election since 2011 without ever actively campaigning in any of them.

A 2024 Newsday voter guide profile for Chiaramonte states: "Chiaramonte is not actively campaigning." A 2023 RiverheadLocal.com story says, "Chiaramonte did not immediately return a message sent via Facebook Messenger requesting an interview." A 2023 preelection story by tbrnewsmedia.com says, "The name of the other candidate, Tricia Chiaramonte (D), does appear on the ballot but she has not run a campaign." And a 2024 story in Riverhead News-Review says, "… the Suffolk County Democratic Committee confirmed that she is not running an active campaign."

The Point located just once when Chiaramonte was quoted about an election, in October 2011 in Dan’s Papers when she ran for Suffolk County’s 1st Legislative District. The story states, "Chiaramonte has not yet decided the way she is going to campaign …" Chiaramonte herself told Dan’s Papers: "As of now I am a name, a name on the ballot, I haven’t decided how I am going to get my message out."

Since 2013, Chiaramonte has filed six no-activity reports and one claim of exemption with the state Board of Elections.

Chiaramonte lost her 2024 bid for state Assembly with 35.1% of the vote. She received 36.9% of the vote for her 2023 bid for Brookhaven receiver of taxes. In her 2015 race for Brookhaven Town Board's 6th District, she received 22.7% of the vote, and she got 22.1% of the vote in her 2011 county legislator race.

Why would the Democratic Party nominate her again? And why would residents vote for her?

And facing a ghost candidate, you might think LaValle — whose brother is former Brookhaven Town Supervisor John J. LaValle, and cousin is retired State Sen. Kenneth LaValle — was campaigning in cruise control.

Wrong.

LaValle’s July 15 filing with the state BOE notes $59,015.00 raised since Jan. 15 and a closing balance of $160,615.43. He spent $4,616.56 on lawn signs on Feb. 11 and $3,119.16 for a fundraiser at a Bellport restaurant on Feb. 6. He also spent $5,554.28 for a May 15 fundraiser at a Patchogue restaurant.

That’s active campaigning against "a name on the ballot," in Chiaramonte’s own words.

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com

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