There is some drama and/or intrigue to report from Community Board 1, the always interesting body that covers Williamsburg and Greenpoint and deals with some very contentious issues. One of the most contentious recent ones is the status of bike lanes in the neighborhood and, in particular, those on Kent Avenue running through the Hasidic part of the community. Apparently, the chair of CB1 is removing the chair of the Transportation Committee. Here’s the email circulating from Teresa Toro, who is well known in North Brooklyn circles:
On Tuesday night, Vinnie Abate called to tell me that the executive committee had voted to request my resignation. I asked why and he didn’t tell me. I told him I wouldn’t resign. He then said that he’d “have to remove me” which is untrue, since the executive committee — according to CB1 bylaws — does not play a formal role in the appointment of committee chairs. I asked him why he was removing me and he said it’s his prerogative. He won’t tell me why.
In the working world this is called termination without just cause, and depending on the actual cause, it can be actionable. (Just a note which emphasizes the gravity of this type of situation in the ‘real world.’) We’re all volunteers so we’re supposed to hold to an ethical standard, I suppose, in place of a legal one. I don’t think this behavior on Vinnie’s part is ethical at all, and I still don’t know why I’ve been removed — especially since he routinely praises my work as transportation committee chair, on behalf of the board. Naturally I’m pretty confused.
At this point at least two dozen of you (ok, more, but I’m feeling too humble about it to say) have phoned and/or emailed me to offer words of support or indignation or other emotions. I thank you all,
thank you so much, for that show of support, especially during this busy holiday week when we all really ought to be focusing on family, love, and sharing kindness with each other.But as I always tell you all, it’s not me you need to express your feelings to, it’s the board. It’s a board issue since this can happen to any chair at any time, and it’ll make things hard for motivated, smart people to offer to chair committees if they can have the rug pulled out from under their feet at any time. So — I truly do thank you, thank you and thank you again.
Who says community boards are boring?
7 responses so far ↓
1 mikki // Dec 29, 2008 at 12:04 pm
This was shabbily done, and the timing makes it look worse. Those who want to speak out should attend the next CB 1 meeting: Tuesday, January 13.
2 these nuts // Dec 29, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I have no idea what this post is about, someone please translate.
3 humanist // Dec 29, 2008 at 9:36 pm
******************************
NO MORE BIKE LANES IN NYC !!!!!
EVEN CHINA IS BANNING BIKES IN MAJOR CITIES !!!!!
(because they slow traffic including commercial pick-ups & deliveries)
******************************
NO MORE BIKE LANES IN NYC !!!!!
– bike lanes are for the elite “few” and not the masses
– bike lanes, barriers, dividers, etc. are a waste of money and space.
The #1 problem is bikers want to have their cake and eat it too.
– they want bike lanes, but they also want to ride with traffic.
– they also want to be FREE from obeying traffic regulations.
******************************
THE FUTURE:
Buses / Streetcars / SUBWAYS / elevated Magna-Mono-Rail
THE PAST:
Bikes are the past. Bikes are the past. Bikes are the past.
Bikes are the past. Bikes are the past. Bikes are the past.
******************************
“IF” bike lanes are forced upon the good citizens of NYC –
– and “IF” the bicyclists want OUR respect ….
then the bicyclists MUST follow the rules of the road.
Until they do … they DO NOT deserve a bike lane!
1) Bicyclists MUST stop at redlights.
2) Bicyclists MUST yield to pedestrians.
3) Bicyclists MUST obey oneway streets.
4, 5, 6, ) Etc., Etc., Etc.
******************************
******************************
Bicyclists must also:
7) PAY TRANSPORTATION and INFRASTRUCTURE TAX
8) LICENSE AND REGISTRATION FEES
9) WEAR HELMETS AT ALL TIMES
10) HAVE FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS
11) Have a BELL but use ONLY in an EMERGENCY
12) CARRY “PROOF” OF INSURANCE
13,14,15) ETC ETC ETC
******************************
******************************
In addition:
16) Bicyclists MUST signal when turning and stopping
17) Bicyclists MUST ride with both hands on the wheel
….. (unless they are signaling a turn)
18) Bicyclists MUST NOT read or talk on their cells while moving
19, 20,21) ETC, ETC, ETC
******************************
******************************
Check out the latest Bike Lane Folly in Little Italy, Chinatown and SoHo:
http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7887058&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1
http://sohopolitics.blogspot.com/2008/11/mean-streets-of-soho.html
http://thevillager.com/villager_290/thenewgrand.html
*****************************
Transportation priority in the city should be:
1. Essential Services (garbage/sweepers/emergencey vehicles)
2. Pedestrians (safe sidewalks free of bikes and dog leashes)
3. Buses and/or Streetcars (dedicated lanes)
4. Commercial Vehicles (dedicated parking and NO double parking)
5. Bikes (Messenger ONLY)
6. Pedi-Cabs
7. Yellow Cabs (Taxi’s)
8. Medians (for Greenstreets projects)
9. Personal vehicles (with VERY HIGH PARKING FEES)
10. Pedestrians (they deserve another mention before bikes)
11. Bikes (for personal transportation)
12. Bikes (for recreation)
13. Pedestrians (they deserve another [3rd] mention)
******************************
NO MORE BIKE LANES IN NYC !!!!!
4 Mike // Dec 29, 2008 at 11:57 pm
humanist, please stop copying-and-pasting this all over the internet.
5 Eric // Dec 30, 2008 at 8:58 am
“Humanist” is off his or her rocker, at least where bicycles are concerned.
6 paul // Dec 30, 2008 at 9:47 am
FREE THE BIKES!
MORE, MORE, MORE BIKE LANES IN NYC!
BICYCLES ARE THE FUTURE!
BICYCLES ARE THE FUTURE!
BICYCLES ARE THE FUTURE!
BICYCLES ARE THE FUTURE!
BICYCLES ARE THE FUTURE!
BICYCLES ARE THE FUTURE!
************************************
Bike lanes make us more European!
************************************
Why would we look to the Chinese for guidance? They also have horrible pollution and poison milk and eggs!
************************************
“4, 5, 6, ) Etc., Etc., Etc.” Makes no sense!
************************************
“13,14,15) ETC ETC ETC” Makes no sense!
************************************
“19, 20,21) ETC, ETC, ETC” Makes no sense!
************************************
Transportation priority in the city should be:
“priorities” – Please go back to school and learn some English grammar. You might also look up the word “humanist”. By the way, you can get to school on a bike!
************************************
MORE BIKE LANES IN NYC!
7 these nuts // Dec 30, 2008 at 11:17 am
this person above posts this same long-ass rant every single day on Curbed; over and over again. I’d have to say, this is SPAM at this point. I’ve seen it on other sites, too.
humanist- you are a spammer and you are boring.