October 29, 2022 - Day 1
Total Number of Early Voting Check-Ins 49,709
*Unofficial as of Close of Polls
October 30, 2022 - Day 2
Total Number of Early Voting Check-Ins 97,155
*As of Close of Polls – Unofficial and Cumulative
Milestone Marks Another Major Street Safety Success for Adams Administration, Following 24/7 Speed Cameras and Nearly $1 Billion Investment in NYC Streets Plan
Mayor and Commissioner Set New, More Ambitious Goal of 1,400 Intersections for Safety Improvements by End of 2022
DOT Has Employed Full Street Safety Toolkit at More Than 1,200 Intersections, Where 55 Percent of Pedestrian Fatalities and 79 Percent of Pedestrian Injuries Occur
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced that the administration has met and surpassed its goal of making safety improvements at 1,000 intersections in 2022. As of today, DOT had completed safety upgrades at more than 1,200 intersections. Building on this success, Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez set a new, more ambitious target of 1,400 intersections for safety improvements by the end of this year. This major success follows a series of victories and actions taken by the Adams administration in its first year, including turning on speed cameras 24/7 and investing an historic $900 million to carry out the goals of the NYC Streets Plan. Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez made the announcement along 8th Avenue in the Midtown Theater District, where a dramatic street redesign this year has increased pedestrian and cycling space, making every intersection along the corridor safer. The administration’s focus on intersection safety reflects a data-driven approach to making the city’s streets safer. Crashes at intersections account for 50 percent of all fatalities and 70 percent of all injuries, as well as 55 percent of pedestrian fatalities and 79 percent of pedestrian injuries. So far this year, New York City has recorded 88 pedestrian fatalities, among the fewest to date in the city’s recorded history.
“Earlier this year, Commissioner Rodriguez and I committed to fixing 1,000 of New York City’s most dangerous intersections,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, I’m proud to say we’re not only meeting out goals, but we’re exceeding them — making more than 1,200 intersections safer for all who use them. Traffic safety is public safety, and no New Yorker should be scared to walk our streets. These upgraded intersections are going to reduce the risk of traffic violence, keeping all New Yorkers on our streets safer.”
“Today, DOT’s tireless work improving the safety of our city intersections is everywhere, not only meeting the target of improving 1,000 intersections, but surpassing it,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Intersections in our city cannot be a safety gamble. DOT’s work will result in fewer crashes and fatalities for pedestrians and bicyclists, and we will not slow down. There is still much work to do to ensure that all of our streets and intersections are safe havens for all New Yorkers."
“In January, we made a commitment: We declared intersections ‘sacred spaces’ and pledged to make safety enhancements at 1,000 of them — and today, we can proudly say both that we exceeded that pledge and that we are not done yet,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “By the end of the year, the great team at DOT will have used its safety treatment toolkit to expand our total commitment. New York City is a model for Vision Zero cities across the country, and these efforts show this administration is committed to deploying our full toolkit to make our streets safer.”
A map of the more than 1,200 intersections where DOT has made safety improvement, protecting road users in every corner of the city. Credit: New York City Department of Transportation
DOT’s approach employs a proven and varied road design toolkit to address intersection safety. From multi-block street re-design projects to daylighted intersections, DOT identified intersections across the city to enhance for pedestrians — the most vulnerable road users — as well as cyclists, drivers, and all other road users. DOT has used the following tools to improve safety at intersections this year.
Intersection-Focused Street Improvement Projects: DOT, this year, focused its comprehensive street redesigns on Vision Zero priority areas — locations where fatalities and serious injuries have occurred — and Priority Investment Areas as defined in the NYC Streets Plan. DOT has so far made improvements at more than 200 intersections through individual Street Improvement Projects, including the intersection of West 46th Street and Eighth Avenue, the site of today’s event.
Signal Improvements: DOT’s suite of signal improvement tools includes pedestrian head-starts — known as Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) — as well as new signal installations and left-turn signal treatments. LPIs, which DOT installed more than 500 intersections, are proven to be highly effective — reducing crashes by as much as 60 percent. In addition to these core safety enhancements, DOT has also updated more than 380 intersections with Accessible Pedestrian Signals to bring the full measure of signal safety treatments to people with low vision as part of the city’s larger commitment to accessibility. Intersections that only received Accessible Pedestrian Signals are not counted in the 1,200 intersection tally.
All-Way Stops: This year, DOT has dramatically increased its improvements to intersections without signals, adding new stop signs to calm traffic. With a special focus on intersections near schools, DOT has already added All-Way Stops at more than 350 intersections this year, the highest number ever in a single year.
Bike Corral Daylighting: DOT pledged to daylight 100 intersections with bike corrals in 2022 as part of its bike parking initiative. Bike corrals help provide visibility for everyone on the road and prevent drivers from cutting corners or making quick turns. With 32 completed and many currently being installed in the heart of construction season, DOT remains on track to meet this goal.
Doubling the Turn-Calming Program: DOT committed to doubling turn-calming efforts to force turns at slower speeds through the addition of low-level curbs and other vertical elements. With more than 100 intersections completed so far, DOT is on pace to reach the commitment of 200 intersections.
Raised Crosswalks: In January, Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez announced that DOT would begin an ambitious program to ultimately construct 100 raised crosswalks at curb level each year. DOT is partnering closely with the New York City Department of Design and Construction on this overall program and, in 2022, will jointly construct a record number of 40 raised crosswalks at intersections this year, nearly seven times higher than last year.DOT’s approach employs a proven and varied road design toolkit to address intersection safety. From multi-block street re-design projects to daylighted intersections, DOT identified intersections across the city to enhance for pedestrians — the most vulnerable road users — as well as cyclists, drivers, and all other road users. DOT has used the following tools to improve safety at intersections this year.
Intersection-Focused Street Improvement Projects: DOT, this year, focused its comprehensive street redesigns on Vision Zero priority areas — locations where fatalities and serious injuries have occurred — and Priority Investment Areas as defined in the NYC Streets Plan. DOT has so far made improvements at more than 200 intersections through individual Street Improvement Projects, including the intersection of West 46th Street and Eighth Avenue, the site of today’s event.
Signal Improvements: DOT’s suite of signal improvement tools includes pedestrian head-starts — known as Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) — as well as new signal installations and left-turn signal treatments. LPIs, which DOT installed more than 500 intersections, are proven to be highly effective — reducing crashes by as much as 60 percent. In addition to these core safety enhancements, DOT has also updated more than 380 intersections with Accessible Pedestrian Signals to bring the full measure of signal safety treatments to people with low vision as part of the city’s larger commitment to accessibility. Intersections that only received Accessible Pedestrian Signals are not counted in the 1,200 intersection tally.
All-Way Stops: This year, DOT has dramatically increased its improvements to intersections without signals, adding new stop signs to calm traffic. With a special focus on intersections near schools, DOT has already added All-Way Stops at more than 350 intersections this year, the highest number ever in a single year.
Bike Corral Daylighting: DOT pledged to daylight 100 intersections with bike corrals in 2022 as part of its bike parking initiative. Bike corrals help provide visibility for everyone on the road and prevent drivers from cutting corners or making quick turns. With 32 completed and many currently being installed in the heart of construction season, DOT remains on track to meet this goal.
Doubling the Turn-Calming Program: DOT committed to doubling turn-calming efforts to force turns at slower speeds through the addition of low-level curbs and other vertical elements. With more than 100 intersections completed so far, DOT is on pace to reach the commitment of 200 intersections.
Raised Crosswalks: In January, Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez announced that DOT would begin an ambitious program to ultimately construct 100 raised crosswalks at curb level each year. DOT is partnering closely with the New York City Department of Design and Construction on this overall program and, in 2022, will jointly construct a record number of 40 raised crosswalks at intersections this year, nearly seven times higher than last year.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that remaining Deer Management Permits (DMPs) in several Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) will be available to hunters beginning Nov.1. Applications for leftover DMPs will be accepted for the following WMUs: 1C, 3M, 3R, 3S (bowhunting-only), 4J (bowhunting-only), 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8C (bowhunting-only), 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 9A, 9F, and 9G.
“In units with leftover Deer Management Permits, hunters can pick up another two tags to help meet New York State’s management objectives,” said Commissioner Seggos. “In these areas, DEC encourages hunters to hunt safely and responsibly and to prioritize doe harvest and share extra venison with friends, neighbors, and venison donation programs.”
DMPs, which allow hunters to harvest antlerless deer, are issued for specific WMUs to control deer populations. In some WMUs, the DMP target has not been reached even after all applicants received permits during the initial application process. In these units, DEC will re-open the DMP application process on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters may apply for up to two additional DMPs in these WMUs at any DEC license sales outlet beginning Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Leftover DMPs are not available by phone, mail, or internet. Applications must be made at license issuing outlets. Applicants who previously paid the $10 DMP application fee during the initial application period, or are exempt from the application fee, will not be charged for this additional application. Hunters who did not previously apply for a deer management permit are required to pay the $10 application fee.
During this extended application period, DEC will issue DMPs for an individual WMU until the target issuance quota is achieved. The status of permits will be reviewed each night, and as individual units are filled, they will be removed from the list of those available effective the following day. A list of units with available leftover DMPs will routinely be updated on DEC's website or via the DMP Hotline at 1-866-472-4332
Additionally, Bonus DMPs are available for hunters who successfully take an antlerless deer in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J, or 8C.
For WMU locations, refer to the 2022-23 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit DEC's website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/
Dear Community,
I’m excited to share that this past Wednesday the MTA announced that it will be expanding cyclist and pedestrian access across two bridges in the Bronx. Cyclists will now be able to bike across the Cross Bay bridge and bike across the Henry Hudson bridge in 2025, once necessary renovations are completed. This upgrade is part of a series of actions the MTA will be undertaking through its landmark Bike, Pedestrian, and Micromobility Strategic Action Plan— a direct result of my legislation with Assemblymember González-Rojas that was signed into law to require the MTA to develop a plan for expanding cyclist and pedestrian access on MTA bridges and stations.
The initial plan also includes additional bike parking infrastructure at 37 priority subway stations throughout the system and the announcement of the initial commuter rail stations to pilot improved car-free connectivity to local communities.
These capital improvements are a transformative step towards building a more sustainable and accessible transportation system, and will benefit thousands of commuters and working New Yorkers. I’m grateful to the MTA for prioritizing cyclists and pedestrians, and look forward to further working with them on this issue.
Additionally, today is the last day to nominate exceptional individuals and businesses in District 34 for the Liberty Medal and Empire Awards. Fill out this form to nominate individuals for the Liberty Medal Award and fill out this form to nominate businesses for the Empire Award
Lastly, this upcoming Monday is Halloween. I’d like to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween!
With Gratitude,
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi
A Unanimous Jury Has Found Shea Guilty of a Scheme to Defraud Thousands of Donors to the Crowdfunding Campaign “We Build The Wall” of Over $25 Million
"Timothy Shea and his co-defendants orchestrated a crowdfunding scheme to purportedly raise funds to erect a border wall between Mexico and the United States. We Build The Wall’s public campaign promised that 100% of the funds raised would be used to build the wall, which induced over 100,000 victims to donate. Shea and his co-defendants lied. And they stole over $25 million from their victims.
The Offices of the New York State Inspector General (OIG) published a newly-issued report as well as five agency letters arising from investigations recently undertaken by her office. These letters, which were previously only sent to the relevant public officials and agencies, detail the Inspector General’s findings regarding allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing, and continues the Inspector General’s commitment make all such letters public.
“At a time when confidence in government is at historic lows, it is more incumbent than ever on public officials to communicate clearly and candidly about the work that is being done to serve our communities, especially in the wake of the unspeakable tragedy that gave rise to today’s report,” said Inspector General Lang. “This office takes seriously our responsibility to thoroughly investigate every complaint that falls under our jurisdiction, to follow the facts wherever they may lead, and to share our findings with the public when our investigations are complete.”
07.27.22 OPWDD letter re: Sprinkler Inspections
10.12.22 DOH letter re: Check Fraud
10.12.22 OGIG letter re: Possession of Gambling Devices
"When Hurricane Sandy struck our shores a decade ago, it took the lives of dozens of New Yorkers. Its waters caused immense loss of life and livelihoods, and decimated homes, businesses, and the foundational infrastructure our city depends on. Today, we are still rebuilding, still recovering, and of course, still remembering the pain of this tragedy.
"Ten years ago, we were unprepared for the damage and devastation that this storm, and the climate crisis that precipitated it, would bring – and that lack of preparedness led to harm that may have been prevented. The reality is that there will be another superstorm – and we have to be ready. In the ten years since Sandy, we have made some significant investments and improvements – but in cases like Hurricane Ida, we have also seen significant vulnerabilities. We must expand investment in climate resiliency, and continue to pass measures to aggressively combat the climate crisis, to learn from the lessons and the loss of a decade ago."
Developers and city agencies recently celebrated the completed of El Borinquen Residences, a new, deeply affordable property in The Bronx. Located at 3401 Third Avenue in the Morrisania neighborhood, the ten-story building houses 148 affordable apartments, including 29 homes for seniors at or below 30 percent Area Median Income (AMI), and 90 units designated for the formerly homeless and youths aging out of foster care. The latter includes access to on-site supportive services.
The remaining apartments are for households earning at or below 60 percent of the AMI.
“Affordable and supportive housing is a fundamental component to addressing homelessness across the state,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Building on the successful opening of the El Borinquen Residence, my administration is implementing our $25 billion, five-year housing plan that will allow us to continue to make important investments in communities like The Bronx.”
The property was developed by Comunilife, a New York city-based organization that helps fund and create affordable and supportive housing properties in Latino communities. The organization selected Alexander Gorlin Architects to design the building which features concrete spans and columns arranged in a box-grid pattern with vibrant window panels meant to evoke the neighborhood’s Puerto Rican Heritage.
Within the property, available units include 112 studios, 35 one-bedroom apartments, and a two-bedroom unit for the super. Amenity spaces include a laundry room, a community lounge, a computer lounge, bike storage, a rooftop garden, and a landscaped courtyard. Supportive services include individual case management, mental health referrals, job readiness training, and financial literacy workshops, all provided by Comunilife.
“With the completion of the El Borinquen Residence, more of our neighbors experiencing homelessness and mental illness will have a place they can call home,” said New York City mayor Eric Adams. “Our administration’s ‘Housing Our Neighbors’ blueprint finally treats homelessness as a housing problem and we’re working to solve it with a housing solution, and supportive housing projects like El Borinquen are a critical part of making that solution reality.”
State financing for the El Borinquen Residence includes $7.7 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $23.2 million in equity and $14.3 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $14.2 million through the Supportive Housing Loan Program.
