New ballot measure sparks concerns about public input on NYC street changes
“All we’re saying is you cannot have a plan without the community," Jamell Henderson, a community advocate, said.
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A group of Brooklyn residents gathered outside Barclays Center this week, saying they support safer streets but want a greater voice in how street redesign projects are planned.
The demonstration comes after the passage of Ballot Proposal 3, which allows the city's Department of Transportation to bypass community board presentations for some street safety projects if officials determine there is a significant risk of injury without the changes.
“All we’re saying is you cannot have a plan without the community," Jamell Henderson, a community advocate, said.
The measure could affect the way the department, and at times the MTA, makes decisions on bike lanes, bus lanes and parking restrictions.
City officials say the change will reduce street project timelines by 33%, while community advocates believe it will limit public input and impact small businesses, traffic and emergency vehicle access.
Sources in the Department of Transportation called this a misunderstanding. They told News 12, "NYC DOT previously had this emergency authority to bypass community input, as long as the agency consulted with PD/FDNY. The change from the ballot proposal allows NYC DOT to use this authority without consultation of those agencies as long as it provides data-based justification. And it would still require community notice as any project is implemented."
