This week, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) released design concepts for “BQE Central” which is the 1.5-mile stretch of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street, which includes the triple cantilever. This follows public engagement sessions that DOT and their consultants conducted in the Fall. DOT has also started conducting engagement for BQE North & South (north of Sands Street to the Kosciusko Bridge & south of Atlantic Avenue to the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge), which will reconvene in early 2023.
New federal funds, available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide a unique opportunity to upgrade and re-imagine the BQE for the 21st Century. The City DOT is aiming to apply for the first round of federal funding for BQE Central by March of 2023 given its state of decay, and then make applications in subsequent years for BQE Central, North & South. I have had concerns about conducting the engagement in time for that first deadline, which I have expressed on multiple occasions to City DOT, but after the years-long delay it is important to tackle this corridor.
In response to DOT’s design proposals, I released the below statement along with my colleagues Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Congressman-elect Dan Goldman, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Council Member Lincoln Restler:
“The rebuilding of the BQE presents us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to undo decades of environmental racism and community harm, protect our planet, and provide the 21st century infrastructure Brooklynites deserve. With the climate crisis upon us, we must explore options that ensure a just transition away from fossil fuels and greenhouse gasses.
We need to see a more forward-thinking option that re-imagines the entire BQE corridor for the health and well-being of New Yorkers and our planet.
It is also our consensus opinion that any solution must at least achieve two goals: 1) minimizing vehicular traffic to two lanes in each direction and 2) limiting negative impacts on air quality, noise and vibrations, such as maximizing the capping of the roadway.
We recognize that the triple cantilever is falling apart and we support efforts by the Adams’ administration to secure federal funding to address this critical need. Yet any proposal that takes us backward by expanding cars and trucks to three lanes would result in accommodating six million more vehicles annually on the BQE. That is at direct odds with our city and state’s environmental goals. We must encourage forward-thinking policies that consider Bus Rapid Transit and increase regional marine and rail freight movements to minimize long haul trucking on our roadways and bridges.
Finally, we urge the State to participate in this process of re-imagining the entire BQE corridor and address longstanding inequities. We look forward to continuing to work with our city, state, and federal agencies to ensure that the project is consistent with their respective climate change goals and responsive to the community’s concerns.”
Read the Eagle’s coverage here.
I am thankful to those of you who have participated in the BQE engagement process so far, and encourage everyone along the BQE corridor to get involved. You can take the DOT’s new BQE Central survey, view the design concepts, and learn about meetings and other updates here.
Sincerely,
Jo Anne Simon
Recent State Education & Consumer Affairs Hearings. This has been a busy few weeks, including Assembly conference and several hearings in Albany. The Higher Education Committee held an extensive hearing on mental health needs of postsecondary students. We heard from all sectors of the higher education field - CUNY, SUNY, Independent colleges and universities and from faculty and staff groups, as well as students. There is clearly much more we need to do, including recognizing and addressing constructively the incredible pressures that our front line workers faced, the lack of available resources, burnout and critical shortages in certain fields, recruitment and retention and student enrollment and financial aid challenges.
I also attended a Education Committee hearing on learning loss resulting from the pandemic, including the intricate nature of social and emotional well-being and academic learning, the utter impossibility of drawing any answers from available data post March 2020, and the long-term impacts to our children because of the trauma they have experienced, including the difficulties of learning remotely, the lack of socialization and relationship building, the loss of family members due to COVID, the loss of family income and too often, housing and food insecurity.
I also attended a hearing on Examining the Accuracy and Effectiveness of the Consumer Credit Reporting System which poses many challenges and which has been terribly inequitable. I know the Consumer Affairs and Banking committees will be working hard to address these challenges in the new year.
Toy Drive for Warren Houses, drop-off by 12/20. We are thrilled to help deliver holiday cheer to our community. We are accepting toy donations in our district office at 341 Smith St from now until Tuesday, December 20th, weekdays any time between 9:30am-5pm (call or email [email protected] if you need to arrange a drop-off after 5pm). Toys should be new and unwrapped for ages 0-18. We are aiming for 30 toys, and have collected 8 thus far for this toy drive, so please help if you can. (And, thank you to all of you who donated to the Camp Friendship Toy Drive!)
NYS Should Reject ConEd Rate Hikes. I joined my colleagues and advocates in urging the Governor and the State Department of Public Service to reject ConEd’s absurd request for rate hikes in 2023. It is outrageous for ConEd to continue to invest in dirty fossil fuels projects and pass along the cost to New Yorkers, all while raking in the profits. We need to cut fossil fuel spending and lower utility rates for struggling New Yorkers.
Public Comments Due on Helicopters. For years, as District Leader and now as Assemblymember, I have joined my colleagues and community advocates to call for banning tourist helicopters over the East River and non-essential flights to the airports and the east end of Long Island. These flights are licensed by NYC Economic Development and fly under the airspace controlled by the Federal Aviation Authority. The state legislature has little jurisdiction (one state bill which only impacted a limited area was unfortunately just vetoed by the Governor for that reason) but the City Council and our Congressional representatives have proposed very good legislation. Many of the flights are within the control of the Mayor of the City of New York, so he could alleviate many of the community impacts and I've urged him to do so.
This is not just a near-constant annoyance, disruptive to sleep (the flights start early in the morning) and learning (children and schools are often negatively affected) but also is totally in contravention to our climate goals. This is inconsistent with the NYS Green New Deal mandates, adding to the deterioration of our planet’s environment.
If HELICOPTERS are impacting you, take action NOW to submit your public comments on the Helicopter Sightseeing Plan for NYC to FAA. Comments - DUE 12/30/22 - MUST be submitted here. Click here for more info from Stop the Chop & to read the FAA/NSP Plan.
All-Electric Buildings. This week was the 1st anniversary of Gas Free NYC’s enactment, ending gas in new construction citywide. We gathered with experts, groups, and elected officials to call on Governor Hochul to end gas in new construction statewide and add this initiative to the state budget. The All-Electric Buildings Act will fight climate change and new studies show that these greener options help New Yorkers access more affordable home heating options. NY State should lead on fighting climate change, rather than ceding ground to the polluting fossil fuel industry. Let's get it done!
Thanks to my colleague Assemblymember Emily Gallagher for spearheading this in the legislature and a strong coalition including New York Communities for Change and Food & Water Watch. We held this event at 100 Flatbush, which is now planned to be the first all-electric skyscraper in NYC.
Read more here.
Covid, Flu & RSV. The CDC and the NYC Health Commissioner have issued a
mask recommendation for indoor and crowded outdoor settings. In addition to masking up, getting boosted for Covid-19 and getting the flu shot are more important now than ever. Call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) or go to
vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.
While there is no vaccine for RSV, you can still take measures to stop the spread. If you have any symptoms–runny nose, cough, scratchy throat, fever–it’s recommended you stay home until symptoms have subsided.
Free Covid Tests. The Biden administration and U.S. Post Office are partnering once again to offer free at-home COVID-19 tests. To request your free tests, visit https://www.covid.gov/tests. We also have a limited supply of free Covid test kits here at the office, so stop by 341 Smith, M-F, 9:30-5 if you need some.
Great News! Congress just passed the Respect for Marriage Act which is an important step forward for our nation and guarantees federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriage. As it should be.
Community Board Applications Open Until February 12, 2023. The Brooklyn Borough President’s office is now accepting community board applications online. To be eligible, you must either live, work, or attend school in the area for which you are applying. If you would like your City Council Member to nominate you, it is recommended you reach out to them after you fill out the application.
In NYC, there are 59 community boards, with 18 in Brooklyn. Boards have an important advisory role in dealing with land use and zoning matters, the City budget, municipal service delivery, and other community matters. Each CB also has several committees, such as a land use committee and public safety committee. City Council Members nominate community board members, and the Brooklyn Borough President appoints them. Members serve staggered 2 year terms. Non-board members can serve on committees. Attend a meeting to learn more.
Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse Act: Look Back Period. One of the things we learned while passing the Child Victims Act a few years ago was the shocking number of adults who suffered from sexual violence and abuse but had not known enough about their rights to pursue them legally in a timely manner. This included numerous instances of physicians who preyed on their patients. In response, the legislature passed the Adult Survivors Act which provides for a one year window to file suit regardless of when the assault occurred. That one year window is now open and closes on November 24, 2023. We encourage anyone who might be protected by this law to look into their newly reinstated right to pursue a civil action for damages: learn more.
Community Events:
- Annual Carroll Park Food Drive Sat., Dec. 17 and Sun., Dec. 18. City Harvest is collecting food donations at Carroll Park from 10am-noon both days. Their most needed items are: canned fruit and vegetables, peanut butter (in plastic jars), mac and cheese, and hot and cold cereal.
- Grand Army Plaza Menorah Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 4pm. This is the largest menorah in Brooklyn! Join the community for a kick-off concert and lighting.
- First Ever Borough Hall Holiday Market. The market is now open daily from 11am-8pm and features over 50 Brooklyn-based vendors.
