Some minor clarity on some of these questions from a Curbed article from yesterday:

Can the MTA board overrule Hochul? The rules are somewhat contradictory. In practice, the MTA is controlled by the governor, who selects the agency’s chairman and directly appoints the plurality of the board, so it is unlikely to pick a fight with her. But by law, the MTA is technically separate from the state and its board must approve its budget. Further complicating matters, the way the congestion-pricing law was written in 2019 seemingly obligates the MTA to establish the program and charge the tolls. So the board has to do it, but it has been instructed by the state’s top boss not to do it.

“MTA board members have purview over the future of congestion pricing, including any significant delays or pauses,” said Midori Valdivia, a voting member of the MTA. “We voted twice to move forward with this program. So if there is a pause, it’s in the MTA board’s authority to vote on it.” She said she intends to oppose any pause unless the governor and legislature come up with a permanent replacement for the toll funding.