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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alan Mukamal, Resident of Red Hook, Brooklyn on Universal Daylighting
2:52:39
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118 sec
Alan Mukamal, a resident of Red Hook, Brooklyn, testifies in strong support of universal daylighting (Intro 1138) despite owning a car and living in a transit desert. He argues that the safety benefits for many outweigh the parking inconvenience for a minority of car owners.
- Urges DOT to explore low-cost hardening treatments to meet or exceed the target of 1,000 intersections per year
- Suggests using inexpensive turn calming devices as a temporary solution
- Argues that reducing parking spots will encourage less car ownership and more use of mass transit
- Emphasizes that universal daylighting is crucial for achieving Vision Zero goals
Alan Mukamal
2:52:39
Hi.
2:52:39
My name is Alan Mukamal.
2:52:40
I'm a resident of Red Hook, Brooklyn.
2:52:43
And thank you to all the council members who have already supported eleven thirty eight.
2:52:48
I own a car and I live in a so called transit desert and I know when the bill passes there'll be at least two fewer spots on my street to park and but despite that potential for inconvenience, I fully support universal daylighting.
2:53:02
I hate to put it so crassly, but any member of the council that votes against universal daylighting is putting the convenience of a minority over the safety of many.
2:53:14
The other argument I heard against the bill is the cost of hardening daylighting, which is critical to making daylighting effective.
2:53:21
I would urge DOT to look for low cost hardening treatments to be able to meet or even beat the aggressive target of a thousand per year.
2:53:30
DOT cited that untreated daylighting can encourage drivers to cut corners recklessly, but DOT has already been installing inexpensive turn calming devices, those black and yellow bumps, at many intersections and these can be used temporarily with paint and flex posts for intersections that cannot receive more permanent and expensive treatments in the short term.
2:53:55
Daylighting has an ancillary positive effect.
2:53:58
By reducing the legal number of on street parking spots, New Yorkers will be encouraged to choose to not own cars and visitors will be encouraged to take mass transportation.
2:54:11
This is behavioral economics one hundred and one.
2:54:15
It is time to challenge the assumption that car owners can park their property for free in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world.
2:54:26
Without universal daylighting, Vision Zero is a joke.
2:54:31
Let's make New York City the safest, most pedestrian friendly city in the world.