TESTIMONY
Matthew Choi, Representative of Open Plans, on Promoting People-First Street Culture and Safety Measures Around Schools
2:08:36
·
135 sec
Matthew Choi testified on behalf of Open Plans, an organization promoting a people-first street culture where public streets are critical. He supports several bills on the agenda, except for Intro 03104, which Open Plans strongly opposes.
- Choi calls out support for Intro 95 to help public schools enroll in school streets programming.
- Open Plans consistently hears from partners about struggles hiring crossing guards and dangerous traffic around schools.
- Of the 70 children killed in the Vision Zero era while walking or biking, a third were killed on their way to or from school.
- Choi argues for a holistic study on safety measures beyond raised crosswalks and speed bumps.
- He opposes Intro 03104, saying it would cement parking as the default use of curbsides and hinder curb management efforts.
- Open Plans also opposes Intro 103, stating the DOT already consults first responders on projects.
Matthew Choi
2:08:36
I just want to thank Robin for that powerful testimony as well.
2:08:39
My name is Matthew Choi.
2:08:41
I'm testifying on behalf of open plans.
2:08:43
Our mission is to promote a people First Street culture and public streets are critical to that mission.
2:08:49
In that spirit, we support a number of the bills on the slate today with the notable exception of 03104, which we strongly oppose.
2:08:56
I do, however, want to call out support of intro 95 in particular.
2:09:01
Our group has been helping public schools across city enroll in school streets programming.
2:09:05
And we consistently hear from those partners about struggles to hire crossing guards and about dangerous traffic conditions around schools.
2:09:11
Of the 70 children killed in the Vision 0 era while walking or biking.
2:09:16
A third of them had been killed on their way to or from schools.
2:09:19
These tragedies are completely preventable.
2:09:22
While we think raised crosswalks and speed bumps are essential tools in making streets safer for kids, These are 1 solution in a wide ranging toolkit, and as we heard from the department, they cannot be installed everywhere.
2:09:33
We would love a holistic study, inclusive of raised cross rocks, ballards, curve bumps, daylighting, car feet, school streets, speed limits, and better lighting and signaling.
2:09:42
Many of these measures have actually been addressed piecemeal in their legislation and other DOT efforts, some of which have been discussed at this session.
2:09:50
We also know a study is not the same as implementation, We're very heartened by the commitment to intersection safety, but we're pushing to quicken the pace of improvements.
2:09:58
In this spirit, we strongly oppose 103104 as we did at the December 4th 2023 hearing.
2:10:06
These bills would be barriers to changes, and they would cement parking.
2:10:09
And our view is the default view of the curb.
2:10:11
When we really should be transitioning into making our curb work for all users, not just those with cars.
2:10:17
As DOT is trying and struggling, frankly, to implement its curve management action plan and is already struggling to meet the mandates in the streets plan, we think these requirements would serve as a major impediment.
2:10:29
We also oppose intro 103.
2:10:31
As we heard, DOT already consults with FDNY and first responders on its projects.
2:10:37
The rise in emergency response times goes hands to hands with the rise of the number of private cars on our streets, blaming us on a lack of parking spaces or corner planters is misguided.
2:10:46
Further detail on our opposition and support of various bills is in our written testimony.
2:10:50
Thank you very much.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:10:51
Thank you.
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William Medina, Delivery Worker from the Worker Justice Project and Los Deliveristas Unidos, on Safety Measures for Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Delivery Workers in New York City
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Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers comments on the bill that covers engaging with the FDNY