Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about City Council

One Year and 280+ Deaths Later, No Council Progress on NYPD Crash Reforms

By Brad Aaron | Feb 15, 2013 | 7 Comments

It was a year ago today that the City Council transportation committee, led by James Vacca and Peter Vallone Jr., convened a hearing on pedestrian and cyclist safety and the failure of NYPD to properly investigate traffic crashes. “Driving in our city is a privilege, not a right,” said Vacca, to a room packed with […]

Staten Island Motorist Strikes Couple, Killing Elderly Man; No Charges Filed

By Brad Aaron | Feb 4, 2013 | 5 Comments

A motorist who killed an elderly man and injured his wife on Staten Island has been cleared of responsibility by NYPD. Bujar Hasimja, 72, and his 64-year-old wife were crossing Jefferson Avenue at Mason Avenue, near their home, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Friday when the driver of a Nissan SUV hit them while making a […]

34th Precinct Ceases Speed Enforcement After Inwood Slow Zone Goes In

By Brad Aaron | Jan 25, 2013 | 16 Comments

Here’s another example of how James Vacca and Jessica Lappin, if they’re serious about street safety, targeted the wrong agency for a public scolding yesterday. In September, DOT completed the installation of Manhattan’s first 20-mph “Slow Zone,” between Dyckman and W. 218th Streets west of Broadway, in Inwood. This Slow Zone was requested by my […]

Details on Fatal Midwood Crash Don’t Mesh With NYPD Victim-Blaming

By Brad Aaron | Jan 23, 2013 | 9 Comments

The driver of a Ford van killed a 15-year-old girl in Midwood Tuesday. It was the second crash in which a child has died in city traffic in less than a week, and at least the fourth time a motorist has killed a pedestrian in the course of six days. Sara Kishik was crossing Avenue […]

Legal Double Parking in School Zones — What Is Joel Rivera Thinking?

By Brad Aaron | Jan 10, 2013 | 40 Comments

City Council Member Joel Rivera is taking some heat for a bill that would, in his words, “allow parents to double park when picking up their kids from school [and] not receive a parking ticket.” It’s the latest answer to a question no one asked from a council whose raison d’être seems to be absolving city […]

James Vacca’s Pet Peeve Committee Is Back in Session

By Brad Aaron | Dec 5, 2012 | 26 Comments

The City Council transportation committee met today, and if you thought the council was due for a break from dreaming up motorist entitlements, think again: this afternoon’s agenda was all about parking. On the docket were three bills: one to require DOT to provide notice before changing street signs that affect parking; one to allow […]

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