Not wanting to believe the results
How did the Times run a story suggesting, without basis, that voter bias may have played a material role in Chris Quinn’s dismal third place showing in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary? Missing: a willingness to confront the substantive reasons why voters rejected Quinn. Ever hear of the dictatorial way in which she ran the City Council?
Initial victory against NYPD in Freedom of Information suit
Court settlement directs NYPD to provide Remapping Debate with copies of protest permit records previously withheld from us, and to pay our attorney's fees. But data provided so far is incomplete and fight will continue over Department's claim of having no records for key periods (including 1967 to 1969, a time of extensive protest).
Remapping Debate sues NYPD for withholding vital public records
Documents sought would allow public to know whether and how the Police Department has changed the way it handles applications for permits needed to hold political demonstrations, but NYPD has kept the records hidden for almost 11 months. A clear violation of the Freedom of Information Law.
Bloomberg trumpets “bigger is better” but ignores quality of city life
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was ecstatic last week, announcing that the city’s population had swollen to an all-time high. Unfortunately, the mayor remains completely dissociated from the many negative consequences already arising from the city’s population “boom.”
We’ll take the crumbs
In part 2 of our story on New York’s failure to get a full build-out of the Second Avenue subway, we focus on the area’s politicians — especially those who claim to be advocates of mass transit. Most hid from our questioning; some accepted the idea that key infrastructure needs will not be met; a few insisted that the decision to shortchange the Second Avenue subway was indefensible.
Don’t hold your breath
A fully realized Second Avenue subway would replace service lost decades ago, help meet ever growing transit demand, and provide a wide range of economic and environmental benefits to New York City and its residents. Even though the entire line could be built at one time, and even though delay is more costly than action, all that has been funded is a less-than-two-mile stub.
Where was long-term planning from Bloomberg and Cuomo?
A devastating article about the devastating storm leaves no doubt that the two officials have been asleep at the wheel when it comes to upgrading New York’s infrastructure to meet the threat of “rising sea levels, more frequent flood and extreme weather patterns.”