Gov. Cuomo, Gov. Christie had secret meal prior to Port Authority toll deal

Glenn Blain and Kenneth Lovett New York Daily News 09/22/2011 16:23

New York Gov. Cuomo (right) and New Jersey Gov. Christie (left) met secretly before PA deal.

Gov. Cuomo held a private strategy dinner with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie days before the Port Authority - which they control - announced massive fare hikes.

The top-secret skull session, held July 29 at the Beacon Restaurant in Manhattan, appeared in Cuomo's private schedules posted on a new state website designed to promote transparency.

Later, Cuomo and Christie issued a joint statement blasting Port Authority boss Christopher Ward's Aug. 5 proposal to nearly double tolls on bridges and tunnels to New Jersey.

The governors said they were blindsided by the size of the hike.

Sources have told the Daily News that Cuomo and Christie signed off on the increase, knowing they could score political points by lessening the increase - which they did.

Spokesmen for the governors refused to say if the executives - both touted as 2016 White House contenders - brokered a Port Authority deal while breaking bread.

"A wide range of topics were discussed.... I don't know what the specifics were," Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto said.

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