Aaron Naparstek
AARON NAPARSTEK is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Streetsblog. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Naparsteks journalism, advocacy and community organizing work has been instrumental in growing the bicycle network, removing motor vehicles from parks, and developing new public plazas, car-free streets and life-saving traffic-calming measures across all five boroughs. Naparstek is the author of "Honku: The Zen Antidote for Road Rage" (Villard, 2003), a book of humorous haiku poetry inspired by the endless motorist sociopathy observed from his apartment window. Prior to launching Streetsblog, Naparstek worked as an interactive media producer, pioneering some of the Web's first music web sites, online communities, live webcasts and social networking services. Naparstek is currently in Cambridge with his wife and two young sons where he is enjoying a Loeb Fellowship at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. He has a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Naparstek is a co-founder of the Park Slope Neighbors community group and the Grand Army Plaza Coalition. You can find more of his work here: http://www.naparstek.com.
Recent Posts
Look Who’s Pledged to be an Obama Delegate…
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I was surprised to find on my ballot this morning, pledged as a delegate to the National Democratic Convention on behalf of Barack Obama, State Senator Eric Adams, friend of double-parkers everywhere.
Who is the Livable Streets Candidate?
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It’s Super Duper Tuesday, primary election day here in New York. If you’re still mulling your options and trying to figure out who the best candidate on Livable Streets issues is, Damien Newton of Street Heat L.A. and the editor of soon-to-be-launched Streetsblog Los Angeles, dug up the positions of the Democrats and Republicans for […]
Commission Approves Pricing. Next Stop: City Council
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After five months of work and something like 14 public hearings, the Congestion Mitigation Commission has finally made its recommendation. Here’s how the voting went down at this afternoon’s meeting: 13 yes votes.2 no votes: Richard Brodsky and Denny Farrell1 abstention: Richard Bivone1 absent: Vivan Cook Next stop on the timeline, March 28: The City […]
Congestion Commission Recommendation: First Look
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Streetsblog has gotten hold of the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission recommendation, which should be voted on this hour. According to the version we have (pdf), the commission’s alternative to Mayor Bloomberg’s plan is expected to exceed the 6.3% VMT reduction required by the federal government, and raise an estimated $491 million per year for mass […]
Pricing Recs to Include Residential Parking Permits
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The Congestion Mitigation Commission will vote on a plan today at 3 p.m. A source who has seen the final draft of the Commission’s report tells me that it includes the following recommendations: Congestion pricing revenue goes directly to the MTA. A residential parking permit program with revenues going towards funding streetscape improvements and bike […]
Proof That Congestion Pricing Supporters Do Exist in Queens
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Transportation Alternatives Queens Committee Chair Mike Heffron sends along this report from last night’s traffic commission hearing at York College in Jamaica, Queens. No huge surprise, Assemblymen Andrew Hevesi and Rory Lancman both came out against congestion pricing, citing not enough evidence it would work and demanding transit improvements without explaining where the money would […]
Testify! Public Hearings on Congestion Pricing Tonight
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I’ve been accused of "droning on" about congestion pricing here on Streetsblog, and not just by hostile commenters. Even Mark Gorton, our publisher, has mentioned that he’s sick of reading about it. Still, we continue to spill all of this ink over congestion pricing because it is far and away the most important game in […]
Next Monday: How You Can Transform New York City Streets
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What can you do to reduce automobile dependence and improve conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders in New York City? As an individual with finite time, energy and resources, how can you make a Livable Streets revolution happen in your own neighborhood? On Monday I’ll be moderating a panel discussion with eight of New […]
Masdar: Arabic for Chutzpah?
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The world’s first car-free, zero-carbon city is slated to rise near the Persian Gulf by 2013. Even though it derives almost all of its wealth from oil and gas, the emirate of Abu Dhabi is making a splashy effort to wean itself from fossil fuels, reports Agence France-Presse. Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahayanis […]
Queens Parking Workshop Turns to Talk of Motorist “Rights”
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Speaking of the upcoming second round of citywide parking workshops, the summary of Round 1 is now online at the Department of Transportation’s web site. To get a sense of why it’s so essential for non-car owners and livable streets advocates to attend the second round of parking workshops (especially in Queens), download the summary […]
Gridlock Sam: Mayor’s Placard Reduction Plan is Step One of Ten
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The following was contributed by Samuel I. Schwartz, AKA Gridlock Sam. Mayor Bloomberg correctly recognizes that reining in city workers’ parking privileges is a pre-requisite to congestion pricing. But his goal of 20 percent is too modest, and he should know it’s easier to do than it looks. Believe me I know; I led the […]
NYPD Tow Pound is Still a Major Source of Greenway Danger
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As Transportation Alternatives recently noted in an essay for Streetsblog, more than a year after the death of Eric Ng, the alphabet soup of government agencies responsible for the Hudson River Greenway, have done almost nothing to fix glaring safety problems along New York City’s most important bike route. Photographer and bike commuter Lars Klove […]