Alan Gerson

Tonight: Share Your Thoughts on Safer Streets at Gerson “Town Hall”

Itching to tell DOT what you think of recent changes to Lower Manhattan streets? You can tonight at 6:30, when the second installment in Alan Gerson's "Traffic Town Hall" series gets underway at Old St. Pat's Gym (near 275 Mulberry Street).

By Ben Fried

1:52 PM EDT on May 19, 2009

Alan Gerson.

Itching to tell DOT what you think of recent changes to Lower Manhattan streets? You can tonight at 6:30, when the second installment in Alan Gerson’s “Traffic Town Hall” series gets underway at Old St. Pat’s Gym (near 275 Mulberry Street).

Fellow Council Member John Liu, running for citywide office in the crowded comptroller race, is also scheduled to put in an appearance, and Manhattan DOT Commissioner Margaret Forgione will be on hand to soak it all up.

Publicity materials for the event frame it as a chance to “present your views and ideas” to DOT. At the first Gerson town hall, this translated into griping about pedestrian refuges, bike lanes, and other safety measures. Tonight’s agenda invites more of the same: The critical issue of “traffic islands” gets top billing on the docket.

Sidewalks where children’s lives are at risk from reckless drivers, even when parents and teachers are right there next to them? That seems not to have made the cut.

Ben Fried

Ben Fried started as a Streetsblog reporter in 2008 and led the site as editor-in-chief from 2010 to 2018. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with his wife.