Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) will host a rally with the community this Sunday, Dec. 4, at 11 a.m. on the corner of Ocean Parkway and Avenue J in an effort to fight traffic changes coming to Ocean Parkway, calling it “Stop the Madness on Ocean Parkway.” The changes, which will be implemented in the coming weeks by NYS DOT, include eliminating right turns onto Avenues J, P, Kings Highway and other avenues heading North and South along Ocean Parkway, forcing motorists to turn one block earlier onto the service road to make the right at the intersection.

“Eliminating the right turn on these avenues will pose a dangerous threat to the safety of both pedestrians and motorists alike, ultimately creating havoc, confusion and frustration for all parties involved,” Assemblyman Hikind said of the NYS DOT’s two-year Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety project that will cost over $15 million in taxpayer dollars. “Ocean Parkway is a major thoroughfare that over 100,000 people use on a daily basis. I agree that safety is a top priority, and while I believe the project has good intentions, I’m not the only one who believes these changes will create havoc and frustration.”

Last week, Assemblyman Hikind penned a letter to Gov. Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio, fellow elected officials and residents within the 48th District to notify them of the changes being made, asking for their cooperation in rectifying the plans. “Never before has my office been inundated with complaints of this magnitude,” Hikind said. “The community is in an uproar over these changes! Hundreds of people who live adjacent to Ocean Parkway are so frustrated with these proposed plans, with many acknowledging they weren’t aware of the changes taking place. Countless motorists who commute along Ocean Parkway described the changes as ‘stupid’ and ‘ridiculous,’ and called on my office to help them scrap these changes. As someone who has lived adjacent to Ocean Parkway for over 25 years, I concur with their objections.”

In addition, Hikind published a video that garnered 20,000 views in days, urging members of the community to contact the offices of Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to express their frustration with the traffic changes. “Please call the Governor at 518-474-8390 and the Mayor at 212-788-3000 and ask them to save Ocean Parkway from this insanity,” Hikind said. “It is unconscionable that people gathered in an office somewhere in Albany and agreed these changes would be a good idea. This will undoubtedly cause major aggravation and confusion for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike. Forcing motorists to turn one block earlier onto the service road will only direct traffic down these narrow, congested avenues, creating a hazardous safety risk for hundreds of children and their families. It must be stopped, and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure the plans are corrected.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)