REMARKS
Council Member Nantasha Williams introduces Intro 468
0:17:24
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152 sec
Council Member Nantasha Williams calls for increased transparency and accountability within NYC's Department of Transportation regarding traffic control devices and speed reducers.
- She advocates for legislation mandating the DOT maintain a comprehensive online database with detailed updates
- The database would include rationales for approving or denying requests, timelines, and other relevant information
- This would empower constituents to engage in decision-making about safety measures in their communities
- Currently, the public lacks insight into the progress and reasons behind traffic control requests
Nantasha Williams
0:17:24
Thank you, chair.
0:17:25
I'm here today to advocate for intro 468, a crucial piece of legislative inflation aimed at enhancing and expanding transparency and accountability within our city's Department of Transportation.
0:17:37
As we gather here to address matters of intersection, sidewalk, and pedestrian pedestrian safety, it is imperative that we also discuss the means by which we can empower our constituents with readily accessible information regarding traffic control measures.
0:17:52
Our city streets are bustling arteries of activity, filled with commuters, pedestrians, and cyclists navigating their way through their urban landscape.
0:18:00
Ensuring their safety should be our paramount concern.
0:18:04
Yet too often residents find themselves in the dark regarding the status of traffic control device and speed reducer requests within their communities.
0:18:12
This lack of transparency not only breeds frustration, but also undermines the trust between our city agencies and the communities they serve.
0:18:20
It is time for a change, a change that places the power of information directly into the hands of our constituents.
0:18:26
The legislation that I am proposing today would mandate DOT to maintain a comprehensive online database providing detailed updates.
0:18:36
This database will include a lot of the things that the database already includes, but we hope it can include other things like the rationale behind approval, or denial of requests, timelines, and any other relevant information that would increase transparency at every step of the process.
0:18:56
By making this information readily accessible to the public, we empower them to actively engage with the decision making process concerning their own safety.
0:19:05
And no longer will be left in the dark wondering about the progress of their request.
0:19:10
Instead, they will have the Tuesday need to hold our city accountable and advocate effectively for safety measures they deem necessary.
0:19:18
And if I was staying for I would have a ton of questions around how what the cadence is around updating the current website that you have and the propensity to add additional things to it.
0:19:32
So a lot of times, they may get a denial, but they don't have, like, the details that you may send to our elected official offices about why you potentially denied something.
0:19:41
Like, that level of transparency is really not available to the public online.
0:19:46
And so I'm hoping and looking forward to working with you all to figure out what other things can be added to the website to increase and expand transparency.
0:19:55
Thank you very much, Sherry.