Streetsblog New York City

Anthony Weiner, enemy of congestion pricing and infamous bike lane antagonist, is talking about street design on the campaign trail. Though there was plenty of warning this day would come, it’s still kind of surreal.

Weiner told Capital New York’s Azi Paybarah he was just joking when he boasted to Michael Bloomberg and a room full of NYC Congress members, in 2010, that one of his first acts as mayor would be to “have a bunch of ribbon-cuttings tearing out all your [expletive] bike lanes.”

These days, Weiner would have us know that he’s a fob-carrying bike-share member, and that “I love bike lanes.”

But not the one on Broadway near his house, and not the one on Prospect Park West near the house of his political mentor, Chuck Schumer. Those two excellent street redesigns might still fall under the “tear out” category.

So this is the new Anthony Weiner. The reinvention is so dramatic we had to recycle the Weinermobile picture Streetsblog first used back in 2007.

If Anthony Weiner has anything in common with his mentor Chuck Schumer, it is that he thrives on attention. And now that he’s created a niche for himself on the national stage as the unapologetic, in-your-face liberal congressman from Noo Yawk, he’s apparently gained a following of disaffected young Democrats who don’t necessarily feel represented by yellow dogs and centrist softies.

But as Reid Pillifant notes in his incisive Observer profile, for all the choreographed kookiness and “Oh no he didn’t” one-liners, the man who would be mayor goes all squishy on an issue that should be the unquestionable province of any worth-his-salt progressive. When he isn’t flat-out “ducking” (his word) questions on this particular topic, here’s what the brash Mr. Weiner has to say:

“Are bike lanes a progressive thing? I know a lot of very progressive people who were very pissed off at the bike lane in their neighborhood … I do believe that I’m pro-bike like a lot of New Yorkers are. I do hear a lot of New Yorkers say to me, ‘I love bikes, I bike all the time,’ or whatever it is, ‘But damn these f’ing bike lanes’ … That’s a weird place for us to be. That means that people who would be naturally part of a constituency are getting peeled away because they don’t feel something is right.”

“I do believe that I’m pro-bike.” That clear enough for you?

If not, there are other Democrats who have a more developed sense of self. In Chicago, Rahm Emanuel has pledged to build out 100 miles of protected bike lanes during his first term as mayor. And Weiner’s colleague from Portland Earl Blumenauer has for years been an outspoken proponent of cycling and sustainable transport in general. “It’s all about choice,” he recently told Grist. “In too many communities, people have to burn a gallon of gas to buy a gallon of milk. That’s not freedom. That’s tyranny.”

See? It’s not that hard to say it in a soundbite. How can a few lanes for bicycles be the source of such fretful vacillation for a pol who represents a city where over half the population does not own cars?

Back in 2009, when Blumenauer biked the city with the Streetfilms crew, we asked: “When will we get to see a rep from New York City walk, bike, or ride the bus with Clarence?” You can still be the one, Congressman Weiner. Just imagine the airtime.

This just in from the muckrakers at Roll Call: Of the $15,000+ in outstanding parking and traffic fines accumulated by members of Congress, more than $2,000 was owed by NYC’s Anthony Weiner alone, according to reporters’ survey of license plates and records.

Weiner promptly paid the fines after Roll Call informed him of the findings. As the local political reporters have been quick to point out today, New York’s contingent of parking scofflaw international diplomats may be feeling some schadenfreude at this moment. Weiner released a press release last year about their outstanding parking fines, saying, “It is insulting to all New Yorkers that countries like Yemen, Zimbabwe and Iran owe the City millions in unpaid parking tickets.”

You may now proceed to write punchlines to the set-up, “What’s the difference between Anthony Weiner and Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations?”

Queens Congressman Anthony Weiner has edged a little closer to clarifying his now-infamous “tearing out your [expletive] bike lanes” remark.

Though he previously seemed to confirm what many suspected — that the Times, in its zeal for a juicy lede, turned an off-the-cuff exchange with Mayor Bloomberg into an indictment of transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan — Weiner, who’s not exactly known for holding his tongue, has declined to elaborate when it comes to the question of whether he would maintain or continue the expansion of the city’s program for safer biking and walking if elected mayor.

Yesterday, during a social media exchange that brought in thousands of questions and comments, Weiner had this to say:

“first it was a joke. but it make the story because we now have open and unnecessary warfare over bike lanes. its a false choice : bike lanes and true civic planning.”

It’s not the same as, “No, I’m not going to tear out any bike lanes,” but Weiner appears to be acknowledging that the current bike lane “controversy” has been trumped up in the press. As for saying that New Yorkers can have both bike infrastructure and “true civic planning” — that’s sort of a no-brainer, right?

More to come, no doubt.

Does Anthony Weiner really intend to someday rip out all the bike lanes in New York City? Or was his remark to Mayor Bloomberg “on a balmy night last June” merely a topical quip blown out of proportion in last week’s Times profile of Janette Sadik-Khan?

We’ve queried Weiner’s office to find out, but the Times piece, more than anything, should serve as a rallying point for those who support the work of NYCDOT. Whether or not Sadik-Khan has hurt feelings or ruffled feathers, her efforts continue to make city streets safer and more accessible for the majority of New Yorkers. Period.

With the axing of the 34th Street pedestrian plaza, you can bet the haters — the “real New Yorkers” for whom pedestrians and bus riders are obstacles on the other side of the windshield — smell blood in the water. Today’s sneering editorial from the Post calling for Sadik-Khan’s job is likely but a hint of what’s to come.

Several Streetsblog readers have posted their letters to Weiner and the Times. After the jump, read what John Petro of the Drum Major Institute wrote to the congressman. At this pivotal moment, consider adding your voice of reason to what is sure to be an ongoing war of words over the very future of the city.

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Has the Times ever published a profile so singularly devoted to one city commissioner’s relationships with other public figures as this Michael Grynbaum story?

It’s not so much a profile of transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan as a 2,500-word description of her place in New York’s political firmament. The question that drives the piece forward is this: “What is it about Sadik-Khan that gets under the skin of state legislators, City Council members, and other political figures?”

A more revealing piece might have asked: “What is it about a program to make New York a better city for transit, biking and walking that gets under the skin of the city’s political class?”

New York is now seen as a national innovator in progressive transportation policy, emulated by cities all over the country. I would like to know more about why so many elected officials in this supposed bastion of progressivism are so worked up over this development, which has not really affected all that many streets. What is it about some thermoplastic stripes on a street that gives Lew Fidler such agita?

The quote that’s already sending the most ripples has nothing to do with Sadik-Khan herself, and everything to do with the program that’s advanced under her leadership at DOT. It comes from Congress member, congestion pricing foe, and once and future mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, at a Gracie Mansion dinner last year:

“When I become mayor, you know what I’m going to spend my first year doing?” Mr. Weiner said to Mr. Bloomberg, as tablemates listened. “I’m going to have a bunch of ribbon-cuttings tearing out your [expletive] bike lanes.”

The strange thing about Weiner’s wisecrack is that he’s on the record supporting the expansion of NYC’s bike network.

In 2007, while he was opposing congestion pricing, he was supporting steps (including bike-share) to increase cycling in New York to 10 percent modeshare.

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Congressman Anthony Weiner released his own MTA rescue plan today. As if that in itself weren't surprising enough, the outspoken toll opponent has modified his position, sort of. City Room reports:

[Weiner] said on Monday that making new tolls — which he would set at $4.15 — payable only by non-city residents would be a compromise that could gain traction in Albany and would be a bit like reviving the commuter tax, which was eliminated ten years ago.

He predicted the tolls would raise $391 million a year.

"This is my contribution to trying to solve this problem," Mr. Weiner said in a telephone interview.

Acknowledging that he has fought tolls in the past, he said, "We seem to be slipping from, should we have them, to, how should we have them. And I’m trying to engage that second discussion."

Weiner, who has not spoken with Sheldon Silver or Malcolm Smith about his proposal, is also calling for the MTA to cut administrative costs, post more of its financial data online, and for more power over the agency to be vested in the mayor, rather than the governor. 

It's hard to know where to begin here. If you're a transit rider, how much does it help to have another "plan" muddying the waters? On the other hand, if you're Anthony Weiner, how great is it to jump in at the last second with a plan that carries no political risk whatsoever?

Biggest Setback: After being approved by an unprecedented civic coalition, the mayor and New York City Council, congestion pricing -- the one policy measure that simultaneously reduces traffic congestion while raising money for mass transit and livable streets -- died in an Albany backroom without even a vote.

Lobbyists of the Year: Walter McCaffrey and the Committee to Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free (below). It turns out New York City government is controlled by a handful of Queens Democrats, suburban state legislators and the Automobile Club of New York.

How Not to Lobby a State Legislator: Brooklyn State Senator Martin Malave Dilan's car is towed during a congestion pricing meeting with city officials.

Most Sociopathic Elected Official: Bronx State Senator Jeff Klein nearly crushes a cyclist with his black Mercedes and then tells him, "Get your hands off my car, you f*#king a55hole." Unfortunately for Sen. Klein, this particular cyclist happens to run a pretty robust media operation.

Most Disappointing Elected Officials: During the congestion pricing debate, three State Assemblymembers stood out for their enormous potential to exert leadership and their utter inability or unwillingness to do so. Deborah Glick, Joan Millman and Hakeem Jeffries all represent districts that would have overwhelmingly benefited from New York City's congestion pricing plan. Yet, Glick could only find reasons to oppose it. Millman decided she supported it -- two hours after the proposal was killed by her Democratic Assembly colleagues. And Jeffries had the gall to demand increased subway service on the G line three weeks after helping to eliminate the revenue source that might have paid for it. If only New York City were represented in the state Assembly by an aggressive, attentive, self-aggrandizing politician like...

Elected Official of the Year: You've got to hand it to Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky -- he works hard for his constituents and supporters. Unfortunately for New York City's traffic-choked neighborhoods, beleaguered transit riders and asthmatic kids, his constituents are the metropolitan region's wealthiest car commuters and his supporters own a bunch of parking garages in Manhattan. While New York City's legislators rolled over and played dead, Richard Brodsky worked his butt off to make sure that New York City's congestion pricing plan -- a plan approved by the Mayor, City Council and a state commission -- died a quiet death in the Assemly's Democratic conference. Brodsky did incredible damage to New York City in 2008 but he also showed us what effective representation in Albany might look like.

Worst Elected Official: Rochester Assemblyman and transportation committee chairman David Gantt continued his decade-long effort to deny New York City the ability to deploy automated traffic enforcement systems on its streets. He loosened up a little bit though. This year he introduced legislation that would allow counties outside of New York City to use red light cameras -- as long as they purchased the technology from a Swedish firm represented by one of his cronies. Shocking? Not really. Just another day in Albany.

Most Opinions Fewest Solutions Award: From now on, this will be called the Anthony Weiner Award.

Most Moronic Idea From Albany: State Senators Jeff Klein and Eric Adams put on their serious, fighting-for-the-people faces and proposed suspending tolls on New York City bridges and tunnels and giving drivers a $200 gas tax rebate ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Not planning to burn lots of gasoline for your summer holiday? These two have nothing for you.

Minutes after the Ravitch plan press conference wrapped up this afternoon, Anthony Weiner held court (briefly) on the sidewalk outside the state office building on 41st Street and Third Avenue. Here, in bullet point form, are some choice quotes from the man who would be the next mayor of New York:

• The Ravitch Commission offered "the same old answer of tax and tax and tax again." He was pressed repeatedly to suggest alternative funding sources, but did not even mention an increased federal contribution, as he has in the past.
• He called instead for greater financial transparency ("Let's open the books of the MTA") and efficiency ("Cost-cutting has got to be part of the discussion"). The Ravitch Commission concurs that the MTA should be more open about its finances and smarter in its spending, while also noting that "we do not believe that the budget deficit can be eliminated solely through administrative and managerial actions. Nor can the budget be balanced through major reductions in service."
• "Who is the MTA Board? And why is so much of our future outside the hands of the voters?" he asked. An hour earlier, Ravitch had told the press that the process of increasing the fare had become "a political circus" that "produces distorted results. Putting off fare increases has been a contributing factor to where we are today."
  
• "This document wasn't even available on the internet." When a reporter pointed out that the plan was, in fact, available on the internet [PDF], Weiner said something to the effect that it was unfair for one class of people (policymakers and the press, supposedly) to have access to it before the general public.
  
• "The city and state have spoken loudly already." If Weiner is referring to congestion pricing, the city has approved the idea, and the state legislature did not deem it necessary to stake out a position in a public vote.
  
• "Ravitch is basically an MTA insider. We need some outside voices." We're about to hear a whole chorus of those.