Comments on: On NY1 Tonight: The New John Liu vs. The New Broadway http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:01:47 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68965 Mark Walker Fri, 29 May 2009 21:07:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68965 I think the Herald Square project makes more sense in context with the Times Square project, especially since the two of them have worked together to reduce Broadway car traffic between, above, and below the two areas. Works for me! I think the Herald Square project makes more sense in context with the Times Square project, especially since the two of them have worked together to reduce Broadway car traffic between, above, and below the two areas. Works for me!

]]> By: Think_twice http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68959 Think_twice Fri, 29 May 2009 20:48:02 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68959 Speaking of "Green Light for Midtown", I'm getting worried about <i><b>Herald</i></b> Square. So far it's been the red-headed-Wednesday's-stepchild of this program. Lots of walking room for sure, but sparse crowds, little seating or amusements to attract them, and almost no promotion or publicity from the media. The DOT is dropping the ball on the other half of "Green Light" and it better not wait until Holiday shopping season to draw crowds. Speaking of "Green Light for Midtown", I'm getting worried about Herald Square. So far it's been the red-headed-Wednesday's-stepchild of this program. Lots of walking room for sure, but sparse crowds, little seating or amusements to attract them, and almost no promotion or publicity from the media. The DOT is dropping the ball on the other half of "Green Light" and it better not wait until Holiday shopping season to draw crowds.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68896 ddartley Fri, 29 May 2009 04:17:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68896 Makaveli, you're quite right about Main St. near the end of the 7 line. The sidewalks are tiny and teeming with pedestrians, while a cars trudge through miserably. The place could be a boomtown if they'd just put those cars out of their misery at that spot. Makaveli, you're quite right about Main St. near the end of the 7 line. The sidewalks are tiny and teeming with pedestrians, while a cars trudge through miserably. The place could be a boomtown if they'd just put those cars out of their misery at that spot.

]]> By: Moocow http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68886 Moocow Fri, 29 May 2009 01:54:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68886 Anyone remember the photo of Liu riding his 'bent on the sidewalk? I think it was early Streetsblog material, those were two actions were all I needed not to trust that guy. Anyone remember the photo of Liu riding his 'bent on the sidewalk? I think it was early Streetsblog material, those were two actions were all I needed not to trust that guy.

]]> By: Niccolo Machiavelli http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68885 Niccolo Machiavelli Fri, 29 May 2009 01:34:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68885 When it comes time to move to car free "outer borough" neighborhoods the place to start should be Flushing, Queens. It is almost ideal as a matter of fact. Terminus to the "magnificent" 7. Important Queens stop for the LIRR. Huge bus terminus. Completely packed neighborhood. Liu will be out of office by then. Imagine the beauty of a pedestrianized Main Street. The real estate and economic value it would add would be enormous. Meet me for Dim Sum, we'll walk from the 7. When it comes time to move to car free "outer borough" neighborhoods the place to start should be Flushing, Queens. It is almost ideal as a matter of fact. Terminus to the "magnificent" 7. Important Queens stop for the LIRR. Huge bus terminus. Completely packed neighborhood. Liu will be out of office by then. Imagine the beauty of a pedestrianized Main Street. The real estate and economic value it would add would be enormous. Meet me for Dim Sum, we'll walk from the 7.

]]> By: Marty Barfowitz http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68882 Marty Barfowitz Fri, 29 May 2009 00:03:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68882 I'll be voting for David Yassky for comptroller: http://www.davidyassky.com/ I'll be voting for David Yassky for comptroller:

http://www.davidyassky.com/

]]> By: Shemp http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68879 Shemp Thu, 28 May 2009 22:41:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68879 Complaining about process is the last refuge of a (local) scoundrel. Complaining about process is the last refuge of a (local) scoundrel.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68872 Glenn Thu, 28 May 2009 21:08:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68872 Funny, I don't remember voting for more cars and trucks polluting my air, but there they are everyday, imposing their will on my neighborhood without even asking me first. Ballot question: Would you like to see more traffic on your block or neighborhood? Those neighborhoods or blocks that vote "yes" get more parking and wider blocks (along with some truck routes) and less sidewalk space. Those that vote "no" would get less parking, wider sidewalks and narrower streetspace for cars & no trucks. That would be democracy in action! Funny, I don't remember voting for more cars and trucks polluting my air, but there they are everyday, imposing their will on my neighborhood without even asking me first.

Ballot question: Would you like to see more traffic on your block or neighborhood?

Those neighborhoods or blocks that vote "yes" get more parking and wider blocks (along with some truck routes) and less sidewalk space. Those that vote "no" would get less parking, wider sidewalks and narrower streetspace for cars & no trucks.

That would be democracy in action!

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68871 ddartley Thu, 28 May 2009 20:51:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68871 His listserv proudly distributes this excerpt from the News: "The agency took away two lanes of Broadway traffic last summer between Times and Herald squares, setting out benches for midtown passersby while infuriating some drivers. The idea didn't sit well with City Councilman John Liu (D-Queens), chairman of the Council's Transportation Committee, who said the DOT should ask people what they think of the idea before simply imposing it. 'There is already a fair amount of dissatisfaction with the changes on Broadway, where large amounts of space have been expropriated,' Liu said." Expropriated? Cute perspective--and short sense of history, bro. Also, as far as "asking people what they think...before simply imposing it," well, that sounds democratic, right? But maybe the change was a response to what people were asking for. I'd take the bet that of all the people who contacted the City demanding more space, pedestrians outnumbered motorists. If I'm right, then these changes are not as undemocratic as Liu paints them. His listserv proudly distributes this excerpt from the News:

"The agency took away two lanes of Broadway traffic last summer between Times and Herald squares, setting out benches for midtown passersby while infuriating some drivers.

The idea didn't sit well with City Councilman John Liu (D-Queens), chairman of the Council's Transportation Committee, who said the DOT should ask people what they think of the idea before simply imposing it.

'There is already a fair amount of dissatisfaction with the changes on Broadway, where large amounts of space have been expropriated,' Liu said."

Expropriated? Cute perspective--and short sense of history, bro.

Also, as far as "asking people what they think...before simply imposing it," well, that sounds democratic, right? But maybe the change was a response to what people were asking for.

I'd take the bet that of all the people who contacted the City demanding more space, pedestrians outnumbered motorists. If I'm right, then these changes are not as undemocratic as Liu paints them.

]]> By: Nathan H. http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68859 Nathan H. Thu, 28 May 2009 19:55:26 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68859 I appreciate that Liu is giving those of us that live outside his district a chance to vote against him and his backwards politics. I appreciate that Liu is giving those of us that live outside his district a chance to vote against him and his backwards politics.

]]> By: Dan Berkman http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/28/on-ny1-tonight-the-new-john-liu-vs-the-new-broadway/comment-page-1/#comment-68856 Dan Berkman Thu, 28 May 2009 19:46:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6264#comment-68856 Just saw that Working Families is backing Liu. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/working-families-party-backs-liu-and-de-blasio/ Just saw that Working Families is backing Liu.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/working-families-party-backs-liu-and-de-blasio/

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