QUESTION
Council Member Feliz Questions DOT's Management and Capacity
0:42:53
·
4 min
Council Member Oswald Feliz raises concerns about the Department of Transportation's (DOT) capability to manage its existing responsibilities while adding new ones. Highlighting issues like responsiveness and effective management, Feliz points out specific cases, such as the empty plaza in his district despite significant investment. The DOT responds, looking to address specific concerns while committing to improve city spaces and tackle identified issues. Feliz thanks a colleague for a vendor bill aimed at supporting street vendors' right to work.
Speaker 15
0:42:53
Thank you, Chair.
0:42:55
So two questions.
0:42:57
1, regarding the EBITDA bill and also another one on the Vanderbilt, eBay bill.
0:43:04
So DLT obviously has many things under its jurisdiction.
0:43:08
Managing plazas, doing RFPs, maintaining sidewalks, bike lanes and etcetera.
0:43:16
So I'm just curious.
0:43:17
We've heard I've spoken a lot with with colleagues about the way that DLT has managed all the different things under its jurisdiction, and I always hear one thing.
0:43:27
Lack of responsiveness, and also lack of results on the issue, whether it's sidewalks, it's on the passes, whether it's plazas and etcetera.
0:43:36
I actually have a plaza in my district.
0:43:38
We the city invested $34,000,000 about 7 years ago.
0:43:42
And to date, 7 years later after $734,000,000 renovation and complete transformation, that plaza is still empty.
0:43:52
Due to the the lack of attention that DLT has provided to this plaza.
0:43:56
So I'm just wondering, does DLT have capacity to add additional things under umbrella when at least in Yorkers, most in Yorkers would agree that it seems like they're not able to manage what they currently have.
Speaker 3
0:44:09
Council member, I would love to get into more of the details.
0:44:12
Like, you you made a very kind of general statement.
0:44:16
I'd like to get into any details of any issues that you or your constituents have encountered so we can dig into that.
0:44:21
And if there's something we need to do better, we're happy to admit that.
0:44:25
If there's a good reason for something else, we want to talk that through too.
0:44:29
I think you're referring to Fordham Plaza as we've spent a lot of time talking about that some of the concessions that we had planned for that very important public space did not prove to be viable.
0:44:41
After COVID, they dropped out and the city's process is taking some time, but we hope to have people in very shortly in those concessions.
0:44:49
So I want you to know that we have a commitment to make those public spaces work.
0:44:54
Also have a commitment to go through any other issues in your district or in the city that you've identified.
Speaker 15
0:44:59
Public Plaza, but that was only one example.
0:45:02
We have the Kingsbridge on the past that we and talking about that on the path is so unwalkable, that people are literally walking on the streets because that that that sidewalk or crosswalk area the sidewalk area is unwalkable, and we've been working for over 3 years 3 years later.
0:45:18
We're told that we needed 3 year feasibility study.
0:45:20
I'm just wondering if DOT has capacity to add new things to the umbrella 1.
0:45:25
It's pretty clear based on our conversations that I've had with a lot of colleagues, but they're not able to produce results on their current things on their umbrella.
0:45:34
But second question or more comment I wanna thank my colleague, Krish Shaker, for the bill.
0:45:41
Our vendors only wanna do one thing.
0:45:44
They only wanna work.
0:45:54
So I want to thank you for the work that you're doing on that issue.
0:45:57
Thank you.
Speaker 17
0:46:00
A lot
Speaker 1
0:46:00
of questions.
0:46:01
Okay.
0:46:02
We have one other council member.
0:46:04
Council member Sanchez is literally walking up the stairs, and she has some questions, so we're just there she is.
0:46:10
Right on cue.
0:46:13
So if you could hold for one minute so she can get settled.
0:46:16
Thank you.
0:46:24
Okay.
0:46:25
We've been joined by council member Sanchez who is gonna ask a number of questions.
0:46:31
Thank you.
Speaker 18
0:46:33
Thank you so much, madam chair.
0:46:36
I have not caught my breath, but thank you so much, madam chair.
0:46:42
Excuse me.
0:46:43
I'm gonna take 30 seconds to breathe.
0:46:45
Just ran all all through those stairs.
0:46:53
Okay.
0:46:55
Thank you.
0:46:56
So no worries.
0:46:57
I don't actually have questions for you.