L.A. hoped to learn from NYC’s congestion pricing rollout. Now what?

Good morning. It’s Friday, June 14. Here’s what you need to know to start your day. L.A. is still studying congestion pricing. New York’s flip flop could change the equation. The Supreme Court rejects California man’s attempt to trademark Trump T-shirts Nine L.A. playgrounds near life-giving coffee shops And here’s today’s e-newspaper Newsletter You're reading the Essential California newsletter Our reporters guide you through our biggest news, features and recommendations every morning You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. New York’s congestion pricing flip-flop will make it harder to implement in L.A.Los Angeles and New York have plenty of differences. For example L.A. has nice weather and great food. But we do share a common affliction: soul-crushing traffic.Thankfully, there is a solution to this scourge (hint: It’s not widening freeways). To make driving less of a smog-spewing, time-sucking vortex of misery, we have to drive less. It’s that e...