A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
Winners
Hartford City Councilmember John Gale — Councilmember Gale proposed increasing the property tax on parking lots to encourage land owners to fill Hartford’s parking craters with buildings.
NJ State Senators Stephen Sweeney, Loretta Weinberg, Tom Kean, Bob Gordon, Joseph Kyrillos and Paul Sarlo — On the eve of the 108th anniversary of the opening of the Hudson Rail Tunnels and New York Penn Station, the six senators called on President-elect Trump to prioritize the Gateway Tunnel Project.
Steuben County, NY and Alstom Transportation — Governor Cuomo announced today that the next generation of Amtrak’s high-speed trains will be built at the Alstom facility in Hornell, Steuben County.
New Haven City Plan Department — The latest draft of the Elm City’s new zoning ordinance reduces parking requirements and makes it easy for developers to build mixed-use buildings.
New York taxpayers — Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for New York’s Southern District, will keep his job.
Nevada State Senator Mark Manendo — Senator Manendo took to the streets of Las Vegas in a chicken suit to raise awareness for pedestrian safety.
Losers
NJ Transit — The nation’s leader in commuter rail breakdowns “has squelched public scrutiny” of how it spends money.
New York State Thruway Authority — Just like he said back in May, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in an audit this month that the Thruway Authority, which is building the new Tappan Zee Bridge, needs a better financial plan.
Sneaky drivers — Red-light and speed enforcement cameras are useless against these outlaws who illegally obscure their license plates.
The argument that hi-vis gear will keep you safe — A New Jersey driver crashed into a storefront window in which high-visibility clothing was on display.
High visibility clothing is no guarantee of safety but if you are hard to see, you are more likely to be hit. I know that influences the choice of color for my car and the law in Canada that cars must have daytime running lights. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists all must be alert to their surroundings. I don’t have much sympathy for pedestrians who walk into the sides of transit vehicles because they aren’t paying attention. I also have little sympathy for those who text and drive.