Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) slammed Governor Andrew Cuomo and the NYS DOT Friday morning for completely ignoring Mayor de Blasio’s office and the NYC Department of Transportation’s request to halt the disastrous Ocean Parkway Project. Traffic signals were activated along Kings Highway and new signage unveiled Friday, as part of the state’s motion toward implementing changes to traffic flow thanks to the two-year, $15 million Ocean Parkway Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety project. The decision to move forward comes days after NYS DOT officials met with Assemblyman Hikind and several other elected officials to hear their concerns regarding the proposed traffic changes, to which the concerns were ignored.

“Government is supposed to work for the people, not against them,” said Hikind, who was joined by Public Advocate Tish James and representatives from Councilman Chaim Deutsch’s office on Kings Highway. “This is the epitome of chutzpah to completely ignore both the Mayor’s office and the NYC Department of Transportation’s request to halt this project. Something is terribly wrong here.”

“I thank Mayor de Blasio and NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg for addressing our concerns,” Assemblyman Hikind said. “It is a travesty and an embarrassment, however, that our Governor and NYS DOT, despite an outcry from thousands of residents adjacent to Ocean Parkway, could move forward with these disastrous traffic changes knowing that thousands of people are disgusted.”

“These traffic changes will only wreak more havoc for all parties affected and will severely endanger the lives of children, senior citizens and pedestrians, in general, by diverting more traffic down these service roads, where there is already an abundance of school buses, sanitation trucks and emergency service vehicles,” Hikind said. “Apparently the NYS DOT and Governor Cuomo know what’s better for us than lifelong residents of Ocean Parkway and local elected officials.”

“I support Assemblyman Dov Hikind, and the fact that we stand here in the bitter cold represents the sacrifices this community is willing to make. I urge Governor Cuomo to follow the recommendations of Assemblyman Hikind to stop this insanity. This is a reasonable approach; all we are asking is for a simple delay to these changes,” said Public Advocate Tish James.

“I stand united with Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Public Advocate Tish James, and my colleagues in government, calling upon Governor Cuomo to stop this project. Mayor de Blasio and New York City DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg’s offices have said they have asked the State to halt the implementation of this ban while it is further reviewed. However, New York State DOT plans to continue to proceed. Tens of thousands will be adversely affected by this plan, including motorists, residents, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Studies have shown that turning, particularly left-hand turns, are more likely to cause vehicular accidents. While I appreciate that the NYS DOT seeks to reduce collisions by establishing this ban, data shows that it might in fact increase them, because drivers will ultimately end up making more turns than they have been with the current traffic layout. I ask that Governor Cuomo and the NYS DOT hear the voices of our community and agree to hold off and review the project until its impacts can be studied more thoroughly,” said Councilman Chaim Deutsch.

Assemblyman Hikind vowed to continue to fight the changes slated for Ocean Parkway for the thousands of outraged residents and commuters who oppose certain parts of the project. “We must continue to call the Governor at 212-681-4580 and ask him why your concerns are being shoved aside,” Hikind said. “Ask the Governor why he doesn’t care! We must remain united on this issue and continue to do all we can to fight these unsafe, disastrous changes.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)