Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Council Member Restler questions DOT officials on Open Streets program funding and implementation
1:37:16
·
6 min
Council Member Lincoln Restler engages in a detailed discussion with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Executive Deputy Commissioner Paul Ochoa about the Open Streets program. The conversation focuses on the program's funding, the number of open streets, and concerns about maintaining and expanding the program.
- DOT officials clarify that the current funding for Open Streets is $2.1 million, but this is not the total budget
- There is debate over the exact number of open streets, with Restler citing a decrease while Rodriguez commits to surpassing previous years' numbers
- The discussion highlights the need for clarity on total funding allocation and the importance of resources for programming and maintenance
Lincoln Restler
1:37:16
I also just wanted to shift to open streets.
1:37:19
I'm concerned about the lack of dedicated funding for open streets.
1:37:26
Does DRT have adequate funding to maintain open streets at the levels that we have in recent years?
1:38:49
But my understanding, commissioner, is that this year we're at one twenty seven.
1:38:51
That's a 45% decrease.
1:38:53
Is that number accurate?
1:38:55
That we're at a 27 open streets for this year.
1:38:57
We did reach two thirty two in 2024, but that we've seen a significant decline.
1:39:01
Do I have those numbers correct?
1:39:33
Commissioner, just because I'm out of time.
1:39:35
I'm sorry.
1:39:36
If if you're down if I'm if my numbers are inaccurate and you're not at one twenty seven this year, do we have a number for what we are
1:39:57
I'm happy to hear that.
1:39:58
I think we have more open streets in District 33 than any council district in the city or just as many.
1:40:03
Keith can correct me.
1:40:04
But we're very proud to support all of the open streets we have across Washington Street, Hoyt, and many many others, Montague, Berry, and we've appreciated DOT's partnership.
1:40:15
But I'm concerned that $2,100,000 is that fully that 2,100,000.0 is fully for open streets?
1:40:21
Just a yes, no.
1:40:26
you and you're confident that that's adequate funding to ensure dynamic programming and maintenance of what you're committing will be over 230 open streets?
1:40:36
That is an adequate allocation of resources?
1:41:24
What is the allocation of funding for Open Streets
1:41:41
are in ours too.
1:41:41
And do you think there's adequate funding for open streets programming and and Correct.
1:41:52
Okay.
1:41:53
I would appreciate if you all can circle back with us just to understand what is allocated in total because there's been a lot of confusion.
1:41:58
Sure.
1:41:58
And I if if you all think you have enough resources, that's good to hear.
1:42:03
We really value the programming and the maintenance support that DOT has provided.
1:42:06
Your team has done a great job.
1:42:07
I really wanna recognize them, but they can't do without resources.
1:42:12
And if we need to have that conversation, we just wanna have it honestly and push to make sure that we can continue to have great open streets moving forward.
1:42:17
Thank you very much.
Ydanis Rodriguez
1:37:34
We appreciate that mayor baseline, our funding sorry.
1:37:40
Not baseline.
1:37:41
That he put the money for our open sweep for this year.
1:37:44
As I read in my opening statement, everything that we have in twenty three, twenty four, twenty five came with money from COVID.
1:37:55
And that's why we cannot compare, like, the the numbers of of what was Open Street during COVID.
1:38:02
Open street was places that New York City went and put some barricade so that people could walk with distance.
1:38:09
It was in '22 that we decided to build permanent Open Street.
1:38:16
We built February.
1:38:19
The 217 OpenStreet, there were 217 location that OpenStreet had partnership with non for profit business improvement district.
1:38:30
And we were able to put the money out to $20,000 for activation in those location, especially underserved community that they didn't have the money.
1:38:39
It was last year, we continue increasing from 217 to 224, and last year to 237 open Streets.
1:39:03
No.
1:39:03
It's not correct.
1:39:04
Okay.
1:39:04
That it what we share what how many open street we have so far.
1:39:09
Because the application continue being open starting in March.
1:39:13
So what is the OpenStreet?
1:39:15
Any block, that group of residents, we partnership with a non for profit or a business improvement district.
1:39:23
They can start running together.
1:39:25
They can it is an OpenStreet if they can activate two days in a year.
1:39:31
That can that can be two day in a year.
1:39:41
I can can tell one thing.
1:39:43
I my commitment as a commissioner is to always overpass my previous numbers.
1:39:48
And I will be ending this year.
1:39:51
If we did 237 last year, I can tell you that I will stay in my office if I know Okay.
1:40:22
The 2 yeah.
1:40:23
The answer is yes.
1:40:24
That's That's fully for open streets.
1:40:25
And do
1:40:39
Look, I more always mean better for me.
1:40:45
And as I say, not the 237 that we had last year require for DOT to put money on them.
1:40:54
We prioritize those community that there's not a non for profit or a bid who is a partner.
1:41:01
So definitely any way or how as I will be sitting there that the council would like to put more money for the OpenStreet, I will welcome those additional resources.
1:42:27
And and I I I would like for this to be one of the legacy that during our time as a council, or we from the administration, we live for the future generation.
1:42:40
I believe that the OpenStreet, again, as you can see, Sony spaces and more than happy to send it to I don't think that there's one day of of an open street.
1:42:50
But we all should know that one of the first like open street was a pedestrian plaza in Times Square that used to be a storage for car.
1:42:57
And became a play with Shaquita Holocaust with 44,000 people like in '23.
1:43:02
So definitely I'm very proud.
1:43:04
You know, one of the thing that, another sources of funding that we have for the Open Street is with the Whole Cultural Society.
1:43:13
Is that the name?
1:43:15
The Whole Cultural Society, which is a a contract that we gave them $27,000,000.
1:43:21
That money is secure.
1:43:23
So with that $27,000,000, and for the first time, that whole culture must have a 32% with of of NWBE.
1:43:32
And we are able to get the whole culture society, which is the institution that they put the plant, they work with the beautification.
1:43:39
So this additional money is more for the activation when it came to the funding.
1:43:43
But I any way or how we all can work together to lead the open street solid in a good place for us and for the future generation, think it's a great investment for our children.
Paul Ochoa
1:41:11
Council member, let me just correct.
1:41:12
The 2,100,000.0 is not the total budget.
1:41:15
It is just the additional money that we got for coronavirus that was expiring.
1:41:19
We have more funding as part of our normal budget that was funded with city tax dollars.
1:41:26
I believe there's different buckets.
1:41:28
I'm happy to give you a briefing, but we have an equity program where we help underserved Open Streets partners.
1:41:34
That's the partnership we have with the HORT, I believe.
1:41:37
I'm not sure if it was actually your district, but the HORT is all over the city.
1:41:46
We have enough funding for us to continue this season.
1:41:48
I You pointed out that it is not baseline.
1:41:50
It is something that we'll continue conversations with City Hall and OMB.
1:42:18
That number does include Tricker Streets, which is not out yet.
1:42:22
So we'll we expect a big chunk of those open streets to be for Tricker Streets.
Justin Brannan
1:41:26
this year?
1:41:40
Yeah.
1:41:41
They
Mercedes Narcisse
1:43:14
Yes.
1:43:14
Yes.