Jessica Lappin’s October Community Bulletin

Thank you to everyone who filled out my online survey on the MTA’s pilot program removing trash cans at 8 subway stations across the city—including the 57th Street F station. Most of you said that you noticed more trash at the station, and think the plan is a bad idea.

In the survey, 66% of 218 respondents said they’ve noticed more trash at the 57th Street F station this past month. And 93% said that removing garbage cans from subway stations is a bad idea. You can read more about the survey in the New York Times City Room blog here.

The MTA made 8 subway stations trash can free on September 2nd, and will evaluate the program over the next six months. I will be sure to share the survey results with the MTA—it’s clear from your responses that they should toss the plan and put the garbage cans back.

Back in February, I organized a survey around bike and pedestrian safety.  Not surprisingly, 72 % of over 1,300 respondents said they have been hit or almost hit by a delivery bike.  And 70% said the city does not enforce bicycle rules enough.

That’s why I am pleased to share that last week the New York City Council passed new measures to help make our streets safer.  I co-sponsored this package of legislation which requires businesses to enroll their employees in bicycle safety courses, sets civil penalties for businesses that disobey commercial cycling laws, requires delivery cyclists to wear reflexive vests, and gives the Department of Transportation (DOT) enforcement powers. You can read more about it in the Wall Street Journal article here.

New York is a city on the go, and we want to keep it that way – but we must do so safely. Once these bills are signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg, we’ll be better able to work with the DOT, NYPD, and local businesses to do targeted education and enforcement that should help keep pedestrians safe.

As you may know, the Department of City Planning recently unveiled a plan to rezone the area near Grand Central Terminal to allow for the construction of new Class A office space. While I agree that Midtown Manhattan must remain an iconic business address, I have some serious concerns about the city’s proposal—especially the rushed timetable.

Despite requests from myself, and many others, to postpone the Draft Scope for 6 months, the City Planning Commission moved forward on a plan that lacks many specifics. At a September 27th public hearing, I testified about the need to 1) preserve the existing residential neighborhoods in East Midtown, 2) include more open space in the plan, 3) conduct a thorough transportation study and propose concrete prioritized mitigation plans, 4) protect existing and potential landmarks, and 5) allow hotel uses by special permit only.

To continue to compete on a global stage, and to prevent older buildings from converting to hotel or residential uses, the city must immediately and seriously engage the East Midtown community and other important stakeholders.   That’s why I am working closely with the Tri Board Task Force formed by Community Boards 4, 5 and 6.  Input from concerned citizens will only make this rezoning better.