A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
WINNERS
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito — In her East Harlem rezoning plan, Mark-Viverito recommended eliminating parking minimums.
New York City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer — Councilmember Van Bramer installed a homemade stop sign at 46th Avenue and 5th Street in Long Island City alongside parents and students from P.S. 78 after the Department of Transportation declined Van Bramer’s request for one last year.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc and Wethersfield Mayor Paul Montinieri — The three mayors urged the Connecticut legislature to pass a constitutional amendment securing transportation funds.
East Haven, CT residents Sajjad and Ali Chaudhary — After witnessing a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian in New Haven on Monday, the Chaudharys followed the driver and detained him until police arrived.
Citizens Budget Commission — The CBC called on New York lawmakers to reject a proposal giving Thruway drivers a tax credit on tolls.
LOSERS
New York City Councilmember David Greenfield — At the City Council Transportation Committee Budget hearing today, Councilmember Greenfield complained that speeding drivers in his district received speeding tickets.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie — Governor Christie’s approval ratings have hit new lows over the past few weeks, and now, six New Jersey newspapers are asking for his resignation.
Long Island Rail Road riders – Declining for the third year in a row, LIRR’s on-time performance in 2015 was its worst since 2000.
New York City pedestrians — Between 1:30 a.m. on Sunday and 8:30 a.m. on Monday, drivers killed five pedestrians in New York City. Three of the crashes involved drivers who fled the scene.
Pedestrian deaths/injuries lessen over time is not an indication of an epidemic. Five deaths in one weekend may be a coincidence but perhaps a performance audit of Vision Zero is wanting. Are they doing everything that needs to be done,or, is it possible they are doing too much of some and not enough of of something else?
So let’s see; make it even harder to park in NYC, and somehow it will reduce congestion? No, all it does is make people drive around even longer looking for a space. Some people need a car; making life more miserable for them and everyone around them helps no one.