MAYOR ADAMS, GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCE PROGRESS BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE, PROSPEROUS “NEW” NEW YORK AFTER ONE YEAR

 

On “New” New York Anniversary, Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul Announce Efforts to Reimagine Commercial Districts, Shorten Commutes, Generate Inclusive Growth Have Propelled City’s Economic Recovery   

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul today announced progress in building a more inclusive, prosperous “New” New York, one year after releasing the "Making New York Work for Everyone" action plan last December. Since convening the “New” New York panel of civic leaders and industry experts to help shape New York City’s path to equitable economic recovery and resurgence and releasing their recommendations, the city has recovered all of the nearly 1 million jobs it lost during the pandemic; boosted subway ridership to set a new post-pandemic record of more than 4.1 million riders in a day on back-to-back days; increased the number of New Yorkers returning to the office and hit record post-pandemic levels; and drove more New Yorkers to participate in the local economy, especially people of color across New York City, at near-historic rates. 

 

“New York City has supercharged its economic recovery because we’ve looked towards the future and have not tried to recreate the past,” said Mayor Adams. “With the partnership of Governor Hochul and the ‘New’ New York panel, we have laid out a bold vision for what a more vibrant, inclusive New York City looks like, and we’ve been relentless in our work to make that vision a reality for New Yorkers. While we have not solved all of New York City’s economic challenges in one year, we have started to shape a “new” city with re-imagined commercial districts, better transportation options, and more inclusive opportunities that will benefit New Yorkers for decades to come.”  

 

“The recommendations of the ‘New’ New York panel are our road map to a stronger, fairer, more accessible New York, and, over the past year, Mayor Adams and I have worked hand-in-hand to deliver on those recommendations for all New Yorkers,” said Governor Hochul. “We’ve made incredible progress toward creating thousands more units of housing, secured historic investments in child care and mental health, boosted fast-growing industries to create 21st century jobs, improved our transit system and more to build a future that New Yorkers can be proud of. I am committed to working with the mayor and all of our local, state, and federal partners to fulfill the panel’s recommendations and build a New York that truly works for everyone.”  

 

To help pave for New York City’s economic resurgence, the city and state have made significant progress against the “New” New York action plan’s three core goals to: 1) reimagine New York’s business districts, 2) make it easier for New Yorkers to get to work, and 3) generate inclusive, future-focused growth. Highlights include:  

 

Reimagine New York’s Business Districts as Vibrant 24/7 Destinations: Transforming New York City’s single-use business districts into great places where people live, work, and play. 

•    Launched a new Office Conversions Accelerator to convert vacant offices into housing.  
•    Kicked off and completed initial phases of the “Broadway Vision” plan to create vibrant, new public spaces and improved street safety between Madison Square and Herald Square in Manhattan.  
•    Created “Dining Out NYC,” New York’s permanent outdoor dining program and the largest outdoor dining program in the nation.  
•    Launched the Manhattan Commercial Revitalization Program to provide financial assistance to support transformative renovations of aging commercial office buildings in Midtown, Manhattan.  
•    Invested $40 million to deliver vibrant public spaces and street safety improvements along Fulton Street and across Downtown Brooklyn. 

•    Advanced a plan requiring all businesses and the majority of residences, to containerize waste.  
•    Advanced the historic “City of Yes for Economic Opportunity” zoning proposal to modernize zoning to support small businesses and industrial growth and create good-paying jobs for working-class New Yorkers.  
•    Launched the Public Realm Equity Plan to provide tools and support over 100 public spaces in under-resourced neighborhoods. 
•    Appointed the city’s first chief public realm officer to create extraordinary public spaces across the entire city and continue to drive the city’s economic recovery. 
•    Made substantial progress on an initiative to transform underutilized state land into housing, including the release of the Creedmoor Community Master Plan; the selection of a winning proposal to redevelop the former Lincoln Correctional Facility, and requests for proposals to redevelop the former Bayview Correctional Facility and Javits Center’s Site K.   

•    Secured an agreement to advance a major, mixed-use development at 5 World Trade Center that will include approximately 1,200 units of housing, one-third of which will be permanently affordable, and a portion of which will be offered to New Yorkers impacted by 9/11.  
•    Created a program to advance projects in the Gowanus rezoning area halted by the expiration of 421-a, unlocking thousands of units of housing, including affordable housing, for New Yorkers.  

 

Make it Easier for New Yorkers to Get to Work​: Improving commutes into Manhattan and strengthening employment hubs and workspaces across the five boroughs so people can work closer to home. 

•    Made record investment to save the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and secure stable long-term financial plan. 

•    Invested $200 million and unveiled community vision to redevelop Kingsbridge Armory and create new economic opportunities in the Bronx. 
•    Accelerated the pace of completion of MTA accessibility projects across the New York City subway system. 
•    Advanced New York’s nation-leading congestion pricing program to generate billions in revenue for the MTA and improve overall regional air quality.  
•    Expanded the “MTA City Ticket,” which provides Metro-North and Long Island Railroad customers with a low-cost, flat-fare to travel within the five boroughs. 
•    Launched an action plan and “Smart Curbs” pilot to reimagine the city's curb space. 

•    Announced an historic expansion of New York City's greenway corridors to build more than 40 miles of new protected bike infrastructure. 
•    Announced a $700 million first-in-the-nation climate research, education, and jobs hub on Governors Island.  
•    Advanced the city’s Blue Highways initiative to activate the robust network of local waterways for the sustainable movement of goods. 
•    Opened the Grand Central Madison terminal, representing the largest expansion of the Long Island Raild Road in 112 years.  
•    Unveiled a new vision for a first-of-its-kind hub for sustainable transportation and deliveries at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. 

•    Advanced the “City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality” zoning proposal through the New York City Council to facilitate climate action, clean energy, and resiliency by removing barriers to greener and more efficient energy systems, buildings, and transportation. 
•    Made historic investments in the area around the Broadway Junction subway station to create vibrant public space, create family-sustaining jobs, and unlock economic growth throughout East New York. 

 

Generate Inclusive, Future-Focused Growth: Supporting the growth of jobs and innovation and breaking down barriers to economic mobility. 

•    Signed legislation that will advance the city and state’s shared efforts to tackle New York’s affordable housing crisis. 

•    Advanced the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) project to create a life sciences career and education hub to anchor industry in New York City.  
•    Announced nearly $300 million for a new biomedical research hub with support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. 
•    Unveiled a $600 million action plan to build inclusive career pathways for young New Yorkers. 
•    Launched a $150 million Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund for mixed-use housing and infrastructure projects throughout the Mid-Hudson Region. 
•    Created a $50 million fund for new spaces that drive innovation in future-focused sectors, including the life sciences, green economy, offshore wind, and technology. 

•    Signed legislation to create a tax incentive for growing biotech companies. 
•    Created the first Mayor’s Office for Child Care & Early Education and launched a plan to make New York’s child care system fairer, more affordable, and easier to access.  
•  Created a record number of affordable and supportive homes while connecting the most number of vulnerable New Yorkers to permanent housing.  
•    Unveiled the “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” zoning proposal to “build a little more housing in every neighborhood” that will end up creating an additional 100,000 homes and more than 250,000 family-sustaining jobs. 
•    Launched a $75 million “Small Business Opportunity Fund” — the largest public-private loan fund directed at small businesses in the city’s history. 

•    Created the “Office of Community Hiring” to leverage city contracts to create jobs in economically disadvantaged communities. 
•    Announced “Pilot: New York City” to advance New York City as a global hub for urban innovation. 
•    Announced over $6 billion to a record-setting 1,903 city-certified minority- and women-owned business enterprises.  
•    Secured a historic increase to New York’s minimum wage that will increase the minimum wage to $17-per-hour in New York City by 2027, then index the minimum wage to inflation.  
•    Expanded the New York Film Tax Credit to $700 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 New York State Budget to encourage production in the state.  

•    Expanded the New York City Musical & Theatrical Tax Credit program as part of the FY 2024 New York State Budget to include Off-Broadway productions.  
•    Eliminated a key barrier to workforce participation for low-income New Yorkers and mitigated the public assistance "benefits cliff" by disregarding income earned by recipients through workforce training programs.  
•    Invested $120 million in the FY 2024 New York State Budget to expand the Medicaid buy-in program beginning in FY 2025 so that more New Yorkers with disabilities can work and still qualify for their health care coverage.  

 

Additionally, in June 2023, Mayor Adams appointed B.J. Jones as the first-ever executive director of “Making New York Work for Everyone," overseeing implementation of the plan crafted by the “New” New York panel. 

 

“I am proud of the progress that the Adams administration has made to implement our vision for a ‘New’ New York.  The milestones that we have reached in the past year are demonstrable — including our record jobs numbers, improvements to public spaces, and investments in our workforce. We are shaping a city that thrives on innovation, sustainability, and equity,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “I am grateful to our government and private sector partners and our esteemed panelists for their invaluable expertise. Together, we are continuing to take meaningful steps towards creating a New York that works for everyone.” 

 

"The ‘New’ New York panel set a bold vision and actionable plan to make New York work for everyone, and on the first anniversary of the report's release, I am proud to celebrate all of our collective accomplishments,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Looking to year two of ‘New’ New York, I am eager to continue the city's strong collaboration with the state and advance the entire ‘New’ New York agenda so that we create more jobs, strengthen our core business districts, improve transit access, and build a more inclusive, future-focused New York.

 

“New York City’s economic resurgence has been on full display since the launch of the ‘Making New York Work for Everyone’ action plan — from transforming Broadway to constructing more housing and making strategic investments in our public spaces and innovation sectors of tomorrow,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “The panel of civic leaders and industry experts, led by Richard Buery and Dan Doctoroff, has proposed a new vision to unlock and reimagine not only our commercial business districts but also the entire New York City region. One year since the plan was unveiled, while we’ve made tremendous progress, it’s clear there is more work to be done to ensure New York City is working for all New Yorkers.” 

 

“The ‘New’ New York panel laid out an ambitious, far-sighted agenda for an equitable economic recovery — and we have made significant progress in the past year to put their plan into action,” said New York City Department of City Planning Director and City Planning Commission Chair Dan Garodnick. “I’m grateful for Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, panel chairs, and members’ leadership in meeting this moment, and we will continue working every day to revitalize New York’s business districts, support good-paying jobs and growing businesses, and create a city that works for everyone.” 

  

“Through ‘New’ New York, the New York City Department of Transportation is reimagining our streets to help small businesses recover from the pandemic and support safe, sustainable ways for New Yorkers to get around,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Whether you are biking with your family, strolling along one of the city’s new pedestrian spaces, or dining outside at your favorite restaurant, New York City is leading by example on how to build streets that better serve people. We thank Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul for their support of this comprehensive vision to support New York City’s economic growth.”  

  

“Make no mistake: New York City isn’t coming back, it is back — and these milestones prove it,” said New York City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. “The numbers are clear: One in seven small businesses started during this administration, and the city has regained all of the nearly 1 million just lost during the pandemic. The ‘New’ New York Plan is working, and thanks to the leadership of Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, today we are one step closer to being the ‘City of Yes.’” 

 

Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul launched the “New” New York panel in May 2022 with co-chairs and former New York City deputy mayors Richard Buery, now CEO of Robin Hood, and Daniel Doctoroff, former CEO of Sidewalk Labs. The broad and diverse panel of civic leaders and industry experts worked for six months to generate recommendations for the city and state — at a time of historic alignment between the two — to partner with each other and across sectors to reimagine a "New" New York that propels the city and the region forward for its next chapter of equitable, inclusive growth. 

 

“New Yorkers never back down from a challenge and there has been encouraging progress by the city and state to advance initiatives outlined in the ‘New’ New York action plan to spur growth, make it easier for people to get where they need to go, and reimagine commercial districts,” said Dan Doctoroff, co-chair, “New” New York Panel. “We must continue to build momentum to leverage this blueprint for transformative change, breaking down bureaucratic friction and regulatory barriers. By making the necessary investments now, we can realize an inclusive economy that makes New York the best place to live, work, and visit.”   

  

“Over the past year, the ‘New’ New York panel has developed an ambitious agenda to lead New York City on the fast track to economic recovery and revitalization,” said Fred Cerullo, president and CEO, Grand Central Partnership and panel member, “New” New York. “While we still face many daunting challenges, the work of this important private public partnership has generated positive momentum for the resurgence of our city.”   

 

“Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and their leadership team are doing a superb job bringing the ‘New’ New York report to life,” said Mitchell L. Moss, panel member, “New” New York and professor of urban policy and planning, New York University. “New York City’s vitality depends on more housing, good jobs, and improvements in transportation, and this is precisely what our city agencies are doing today.  

 

“Implementation of the ‘New’ New York recommendations has been making real progress including the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, a permanent open restaurants program, funding the MTA and implementing congestion pricing, and many other important initiatives,” said Tom Wright, president and CEO, Regional Plan Association. “These ambitious efforts are essential to creating a more prosperous and equitable New York City and region. While there is much work left to do, RPA is pleased to see so many concrete steps toward implementation and we are proud to continue to partner with the Adams administration to see them through to completion. Congratulations to Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul and their teams for swiftly advancing these much-needed programs.” 

 

“I'm thrilled to have been part of the ‘New’ New York panel and to see the fruits of our labor, with an eye for inclusion across all boroughs and sectors, as well as the needs of diverse segments of our population,” said Khin Mai Aung, panel member, “New” New York and executive director, Mid-Atlantic for Generation Citizen. “In particular, I am encouraged by the plan's prioritization of expanding equitable access to high quality early education and childcare, the development of career pipelines in the technology sector through FutureReadyNYC, and the record-breaking production of affordable homes in our city."  

 

“Continuing the city’s economic recovery will require an ongoing focus on policies to reimagine our business districts, strengthen our transit infrastructure and reverse our housing supply crisis,” said James Whelan, president, Real Estate Board of New York. “The work of the ‘New’ New York Panel has provided a roadmap for continuing that recovery.” 

 

Bronx House Menorah Lighting

 

It was a cold Tuesday evening as the Bronx House Menorah ceremony was being held to mark the sixth day of Chanukah. On hand were Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr., State Senator Gustavo Rivera, outgoing Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, the Bronx House afterschool children, and close to one hundred local residents. Congressman Ritchie Torres was unable to attend as he was called to Washington. 

After the elected officials spoke on the subject of Chanukah, the ceremony was done by Rabbi Moshe Fuchs of the Sons of Israel Congregation. As Rabbi Fuchs was lighting the traditional candles the wind kept blowing out the candles, he had each of the elected officials hold a candle and everyone used their imagination that the candle menorah was lit as Rabbi Fuchs said the Chanukah prayers. Afterwards the electric Bronx House Menorah was lit by Bronx House COO Mr. Leon Davis.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson speaks about the holiday of Chanukah.

Assemblyman John Zaccaro speaks about the holiday of Chanukah.

Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez speaks about the holiday of Chanukah.

With the wind blowing out the lit candles, Rabbi Fuchs had each elected official hold a candle as he said the Chanukah prayers. He asked everyone to use their imagination to see six candles lit on the menorah. Deputy Inspector Kentish Commanding Officer of the 49th Precinct stands in for Councilwoman Velazquez who had to leave. 

The almost one-hundred people from the neighborhood who came to see the Bronx House Menorah.

Children from the Bronx House afterschool program sing the Dreidel song.

Bronx House COO Leon Davis lights the Bronx House electric Menorah for the sixth day of Chanukah.

DEC ISSUES FINAL STATE STORMWATER GENERAL PERMIT

 

Permit Will Help Reduce Pollution from Stormwater and Improve Water Quality Across New York

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the issuance of the final State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). The permit incorporates changes made in response to extensive stakeholder input and public comments and will help prevent runoff and other pollutants from negatively impacting water quality, habitat, and wildlife across New York State.

There are currently more than 500 regulated small MS4 operators across the state, including municipalities (e.g., cities, towns, or villages), counties, State agencies, and other institutions. Since 2003, DEC has issued MS4 permits to address urban stormwater.

The permit, which will take effect on Jan. 3, 2024, requires MS4 Operators to develop a stormwater management program meant to reduce the discharge of pollutants and protect water quality.

Among other requirements the permit requires MS4 operators to conduct routine inspections of monitoring locations to detect illicit discharges and structural concerns, map stormwater infrastructure, and prioritize efforts geared towards improving water quality and increasing efficiency. The permit also details, in a clear, specific, and measurable way, what is required to meet statutory and regulatory requirements and ensures the applicable requirements are enforceable and understandable to MS4 operators and the public.

For more information, go to https://www.dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quality/stormwater/ms4-permit-forms

News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

 

UPCOMING EVENT

2023 HOLIDAY PARTY
Please join Team Salamanca for our 2023 Holiday Party!!

*NO RSVP is required, it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis*

Thursday, December 14th
      7 PM-12 AM
      Maestro’s Caterers

I hope to see you all there!

Visit our District Office at: 
1070 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, New York 10459
(718) 402-6130
salamanca@council.nyc.gov

Senator Gustavo Rivera’s ‘Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act’ Becomes Law

 

State Senator Gustavo Rivera’s ‘Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act’ (S.4907) was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. This bill will prohibit medical debt from being collected by a consumer reporting agency or included in a consumer report and prohibits medical service providers from reporting medical debt directly or indirectly to a consumer reporting agency. This is the third bill from Senator Rivera’s legislative package to end medical debt in New York State to become law.  

In New York, communities with high rates of medical debt are predominantly low-income communities, communities of color, and rural communities. A New York poll showed that 41% of New Yorkers have either appealed a medical bill or paid one they don't think they owe for fear of being sued or placed into collections. Medical debt has serious implications on financial stability. A bad credit record can make it impossible for a patient to rent a home, buy a car, or secure a loan for a home repair or educational opportunity.

“I am so grateful to Governor Hochul and our coalition for standing together to relieve New Yorkers from the burden of medical debt's impact on credit reports. The Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act will stop medical debt from damaging patients' financial stability and mitigate the fear of seeking medical care due to cost in our most vulnerable communities. I look forward to working together to eradicate medical debt and ensure quality, affordable healthcare for every New Yorker."

Eradicating medical debt is a key component in Senator Rivera’s fight to transform our for-profit healthcare system, which is affecting more than 100 million Americans nationwide, into a system that puts patients first. In addition to this bill, he is the sponsor of two more medical debt-related bills: 

S5909B/ A6096 - Medical Debt Relief Act: Establishes a three-year pilot medical debt relief program for eligible residents utilizing a not-for-profit organization to acquire and cancel medical debt directly from state health care providers.

S1366A/A6027: Standardizes hospitals' financial assistance policies to make sure low- and moderate-income patients and uninsured patients can access free or discounted care, which hospitals must offer as a condition of receiving Indigent Care Pool funding.

Brothers Sentenced to More Than 35 Years Combined for Manufacturing and Distributing Machineguns Intended for ISIS

 

Moyad Dannon, 25, of Fishers, Indiana, was sentenced today to 200 months, equivalent to 16 years and eight months, in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to attempting to provide material support or resources, namely, firearms, to a designated foreign terrorist organization. His brother, Mahde Dannon, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in October 2021, after pleading guilty to the same charges.

“The defendants in this case fused together two grave threats to Americans’ security by attempting to support a brutal terrorist organization through the illicit manufacture of ghost guns,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Just as we’ve done in the fight against terrorism, the Justice Department is committed to prevention — stopping gun violence before it happens by cracking down on the illegal production and trafficking of ghost guns.”

“The defendant showed an absolute disregard for the rule of law and is being held accountable for his actions,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “Working with his brother, the defendant produced large caches of privately made firearms and attempted to place them in the hands of ISIS members overseas to be used against U.S. service members and allies. The FBI and our partners worked tirelessly to prevent the weapons from reaching their intended destination, and ensured these defendants faced justice for their attempts to support a foreign terrorist organization. We will continue to aggressively investigate anyone who tries to help terrorists and endangers the lives of others.”

“Violent extremists inspired by events abroad continue to pose a threat to our local communities and to our national security. Indiana is not immune from the poison of radicalization, fueled by terrorist propaganda available online,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana. “For nearly a year, these defendants worked persistently to arm murderous terrorists with deadly, illegal weapons. Cases like this demonstrate the need for law enforcement agencies to use all available lawful means to identify, disrupt, and prosecute national security threats here at home. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Fishers Police Department, these dangerous men have been held accountable for their actions and our communities will be safe from them for many years.”

According to court documents, in June 2018, the Dannon brothers devised a scheme to deliver stolen firearms to a convicted felon who was cooperating with the FBI.

Between July 2018 and December 2018, the Dannon brothers sold a number of illegally obtained firearms to the cooperating individual. Around the same time period, the Dannon brothers also began to manufacture untraceable “ghost guns” by purchasing firearms parts online and assembling those parts into fully-functioning, .223 caliber semi-automatic rifles, which they sold to an FBI undercover agent.

In late 2018, the Dannon brothers began manufacturing untraceable, fully automatic, .223 caliber rifles, using much the same process they used to manufacture the semi-automatic rifles, and selling those to the undercover agent and confidential informant (CI).

Shortly thereafter, Moyad Dannon accompanied the undercover agent to a location near the U.S. southwest border in an effort to market that rifle, and additional fully-automatic rifles, to a potential buyer who was also cooperating with the FBI. During that trip, Moyad Dannon learned that the potential buyer sought to ship the weapons to a location in the Middle East, where they would be used by ISIS. ISIS is a designated foreign terrorist organization pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Despite learning of the ultimate destination of the weapons, the Dannon brothers agreed to manufacture and sell at least 55 additional fully automatic “ghost guns” to the buyer from the American southwest border, believing those weapons would be shipped to the Middle East, to ISIS and its members. 

On May 15, 2019, the Dannon brothers manufactured five untraceable, fully automatic, .223 caliber rifles from parts they had purchased online. At that time, the Dannon brothers were fully aware that the plan was to send the five automatic rifles overseas to ISIS. After building the fully automatic rifles, the Dannon brothers sold all five weapons to undercover FBI agents posing as employees of the buyer from near the southwest border. The Dannon brothers were arrested immediately thereafter by the FBI.

Between February and May of 2019, Moyad Dannon had numerous and extensive conversations with an undercover agent who he believed was a member of ISIS then fighting in Syria. During those conversations, Moyad expressed his desire to travel from Indiana to ISIS-controlled areas of Syria, where he sought to utilize his knowledge of firearms and other skills to provide direct military assistance to ISIS in its fight against the United States and Syrian government. 

In a search following his arrest, FBI agents located a flash drive on Moyad’s keychain containing approximately 16 gigabytes of ISIS propaganda, including graphically violent videos depicting ISIS fighters beheading civilians and hostages, and ISIS snipers killing U.S. military personnel. Identical ISIS propaganda videos were discovered on a laptop computer.

The FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Fishers, Indiana, Police Department investigated the case.

Governor Hochul Announces Holiday Season “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Enforcement Initiative

 Additional Troopers will be Deployed on NYS Roads Looking for Impaired Drivers this Holiday Season

Construction Related Lane Closures Limited Over Christmas and New Years Weekend

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York State Police will participate in the national enforcement initiative to crack down on impaired driving this holiday season. The New York State Police will participate in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs from Wednesday, December 13, 2023, through Monday, January 1, 2024.

"Impaired driving is reckless, dangerous and illegal, and we have zero tolerance for it on New York's roadways," Governor Hochul said. “We’re sending a clear message this holiday season that those in violation of our vehicle and traffic laws will be ticketed or face criminal charges.”

In addition to the DWI checkpoints and patrols, Troopers will be watching for distracted drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly buckled up, and drivers violating the “Move Over Law,” which requires motorists to exercise extreme caution when passing emergency vehicles that are stopped in or on the side of the road. State Police will also conduct underage drinker enforcement details statewide.

New York State Police Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento said, "We wish you all a wonderful Holiday season and a Happy New Year! We will be doing our part to ensure the holidays remain safe. Our members will remain vigilant upon your roadways to prevent needless tragedies that result from reckless and impaired driving. Please think twice before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle if you’ve been drinking. If you have had a drink, there are numerous options available that will provide safe passage to your destination. Together, let’s make safety on our roadways a priority this holiday season.”

These traffic enforcement campaigns are funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC), which promotes and supports participation of law enforcement agencies at the state, county and local levels in high-visibility enforcement efforts. Grant funding is intended to provide for supplemental traffic enforcement and engagement during those times of the year, like the holidays, when there is greater potential for drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs to be on the road.

New York State DMV Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “Getting together with family and friends to celebrate the holidays brings great joy, and it is incumbent on all of us to make sure that we are keeping ourselves and others safe in the process. Have a plan if you know that your celebrations will involve alcohol. It only takes a moment to figure out how to get home safely, and it will spare many moments of heartache and difficulty down the road if you haven’t made that plan.”

The Have a Plan app can help. The free app from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the NYS STOP-DWI Foundation allows you to designate a driver, call a cab or ride share, and to review the consequences of impaired driving. You can even use the app to report a drunk or drugged driver. The app is available for Apple, Android, and Windows smart phones.

In an effort to ease travel during the busy holiday weekends, temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended beginning Friday, December 22 at 6 a.m. through Tuesday, December 26 at 6 a.m. Construction will also be suspended from Friday, December 29 at 6 a.m. through Tuesday, January 2 at 6 a.m. to ease travel for motorists.

Motorists are advised that some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers for emergency repairs. The construction suspension aligns with New York State’s Driver’s First Initiative, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridge work.

Text stops, including park-and-ride facilities, rest stops, service areas and parking areas along state highways support the state’s effort to reduce distracted driving. The New York State Thruway Authority will also continue its tradition of offering free coffee and hot tea to travelers along the Thruway from 11 p.m. New Year’s Eve through 7 a.m. New Year’s morning to promote safety and alert driving.

The Thruway Authority reminds motorists that 12 service areas are closed and under construction as part of the $450 million private investment and modernization project. Fuel services remain open at all locations. Motorists can view the service areas and plan their stops on the Thruway Authority’s website and on the free mobile app.

During the enforcement campaign, Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of the operation. The CITE vehicles allow Troopers to more easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices while driving. CITE vehicles allow the Trooper to better observe distracted driving violations. These vehicles blend in with every day traffic, but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

During last year’s crackdown, as reported by the GTSC, law enforcement statewide issued 94,372 tickets. Of those tickets 18,222 were for speeding, 3,028 were for distracted driving, 2,684 were for seatbelts, 472 for the “Move Over Law” and 3,139 individuals were arrested for impaired driving. 66,827 motorists were ticketed for other infractions.

If you drive impaired and break the law, you will face consequences and be held accountable. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services data shows that felony and misdemeanor arrests for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs result in a conviction in approximately 90 percent of cases.

The New York State Police and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also offer these tips to make the holidays safer for all:

• Plan a safe way home before the celebrating begins;
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi or ride sourcing service, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
• Use your community’s sober ride program;
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement;
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES FIRST PHASE OF 10TH AVENUE UPGRADE WITH EXTRA-WIDE PROTECTED BIKE LANE

 

Safety Upgrades Include 10-Foot-Wide Bike Lane, Among Manhattan’s Widest, Better Accommodating E-Bikes on Popular Street for Delivery Workers

 

Concrete Pedestrian Islands, Intersection Safety Upgrades, and Bike Parking Will Enhance Safety for All Road Users

 

Adams Administration on Track to Complete Record Number of New Protected Bike Lane Miles in 2023

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today celebrated the first phase of the Adams administration’s new safety upgrades to Manhattan’s 10^th Avenue. The upgrades — installed between West 38^th Street and West 52^nd Street in Hell’s Kitchen — feature a 10-foot-wide northbound bicycle lane to improve safety with a growing number of cyclists, e-bike riders, and users of other micromobility modes. The administration also built new concrete pedestrian islands, redesigned intersections to slow turning vehicles, and installed new bicycle corrals — making the street safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. The Adams administration is on track to complete a record number of new protected bike lane miles for New York City in 2023.

 

“As New Yorkers change how they use our streets, we need to change our streets with them — and on 10^th Avenue and across the city, we’re doing just that,” said Mayor Adams. “The upgrades we have completed will make 10^th Avenue safer for everyone, and the extra-wide bike lane will make it easier for cyclists to feel comfortable riding through the neighborhood. We are proud to partner with the Hell’s Kitchen community to deliver a better experience for residents and visitors alike, and we look forward to continuing on down 10^th Avenue.”

 

“As biking grows in popularity, our infrastructure must grow alongside it. A 10-foot lane on 10^th Avenue will enable e-bikes and traditional bikes to coexist, creating room for faster vehicles to pass and promoting safe behavior on the road, while supporting our growing cargo bike delivery industry,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “We are grateful to DOT for its vision and advocacy in making this a reality.”

 

“The 10^th Avenue redesign proves that when we reimagine our streets to be safer for cyclists and pedestrians, all road users see the benefits,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “This project brings essential safety upgrades to Hell’s Kitchen and represents just one way we are upgrading our infrastructure to support legal micromobility options. We thank the elected officials — especially Councilmember Bottcher — and the advocates for their partnership in making this happen.”  

 

 

The new, extra-wide bike lane on 10th Avenue. Credit: New York City Department of Transportation

 

The new, extra-wide bike lane and other cycling safety improvements on 10^th Avenue deliver on commitments in Mayor Adams’ “Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City’s Electric Micromobility Action Plan.” Released in March 2023, the plan highlights the importance of adapting street designs to accommodate the growth of e-bikes and other micromobility devices on city streets.

 

Following conversations with Manhattan Community Board 4 in 2022, DOT widened the proposed bike lane to 10 feet for most of the project, maintained a three-foot buffered space between parked cars and the bike lane, and quadrupled the original number of pedestrian islands included in the project. DOT continues to develop wider lane designs for projects across the city. Protected bike lanes improve safety for all road users by shortening crossing distances for pedestrians at intersections, calming vehicle traffic, and improving visibility for those walking, driving, and riding a bike or e-mobility device. These designs have reduced deaths and serious injuries among all road users by 18.1 percent, with a 29.2 percent decline for pedestrians. 

 

At West 41^st and West 42^nd Streets near the Lincoln Tunnel, where many vehicles make turns, DOT will install left-turn lanes with dedicated signal timing to give pedestrians a head start crossing the street. Known as leading pedestrian intervals, these treatments have been shown to reduce pedestrian deaths and serious injuries by almost 35 percent. DOT also installed protected intersections, known as “offset crossings,” at West 39^th, West 43^rd, West 45^th, West 47^th, and West 49^th Streets. These intersections feature painted pedestrian space designed to improve visibility between cyclists and drivers and naturally slow driver turns. DOT installed 10 bicycle corrals across the 14 blocks of the project to provide additional bike parking and further protect the space.

 

DOT plans to implement the second phase of this project — from West 14^th Street to West 38^th Street — with a similar design in 2024.

 

Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, New York City has launched and completed significant bike infrastructure and greenway projects across all five boroughs. After winning a $7.25 million federal grant, Mayor Adams launched an effort to add 40 miles of new greenways in five outer-borough corridors. The Adams administration is also undertaking a groundbreaking effort to expand the Harlem River Greenway seven miles into the Bronx — delivering critical public space in a community too often left behind. Additionally, the administration has launched and completed major bike infrastructure projects in East New York in Brooklyn, on Soundview Avenue in the Bronx, and on Third Avenue in Manhattan, among other locations.

 

“HYHK has supported a bike lane on 10^th Avenue for many years as a way to connect the far West Side with the existing bike network in the neighborhoods of Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, Midtown, and beyond,” said Robert J. Benfatto, president, Hudson Yards Hell's Kitchen (HYHK) Alliance. “Transit infrastructure, such as dedicated bike lanes, allows bikers safer access to city streets. We also love the opportunity for additional greenery the bike lane has created in areas of the district where there was none. We look forward to working with the community to advocate for future bike corridors on the West Side.”

 

“Worker’s Justice Project and Los Deliveristas Unidos applaud the mayor and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez on the completion of these transformative transportation upgrades on 10^th Avenue,” said Gustavo Ajche, leader, Los Deliveristas Unidos. “These enhancements mark an important step in the efforts to foster a safer urban environment for all — including delivery workers who navigate these streets.”

 

“By widening protected bike lanes and implementing innovative safety features at intersections, the 10^th Avenue redesign project will at once encourage the use of micromobility options — which is exactly what we need to reduce climate-damaging emissions from our transportation sector — and make for a safer journey for everyone, including pedestrians,” said Alia Soomro, deputy director for New York City policy, New York League of Conservation Voters. “The New York League of Conservation Voters is thrilled to see the swift completion of phase one of this project and we applaud Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for their commitment to creating a safer and greener New York City.”