In Defense of Horodniceanu

MichaelHorodniceanu is more progressive than generally appreciated.  He reallyknows city streets and how they could function better for everyone. Hisfirm's Technical Memo #1 to NYCDOT on Downtown Brooklyn so honestlyreported traffic and transit conditions (including the penalty of"free" bridges) that developers' EISs and compliant agencies have beencovering up, that the rest of the high level study -- a Mayoralcommitment -- has been buried for two years.

Mike was a pioneertraffic calmer. In 1986, as NYCDOT Deputy Commissioner, he offered$600,000 to carry out a community traffic calming plan that would havedone 20 years ago what the City's costly sidewalk cosmetics stillignore -- protecting neighborhood streets from through traffic.  He wasso far ahead of his time that he took brickbats in a personal appeal toa skeptical community board that now rues the day they voted it down.Today, he uses graphic traffic network models (tools NYCDOT has refusedfor Brooklyn) to show how innovative pedestrian measures can benefiteveryone.  If chosen, he'll know where in the agency to find goodpeople ready to do the right thing.