Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Downtown Brooklyn

No Evidence of de Blasio’s Placard “Crackdown” on Adams Street in Downtown Brooklyn

Responding to public backlash after he voluntarily reissued tens of thousands of parking placards to city school teachers, Mayor de Blasio promised back in May that NYPD would start taking placard abuse seriously.

Given that many placard abusers are cops and NYPD has resisted any attempt to reform the placard system, the public had no reason to take the mayor's proclamation seriously. Six months later, placard abuse is still commonplace.

Downtown Brooklyn is a rats nest of illegal parking. In this Streetfilms Shortie, Clarence Eckerson compares the state of Adams Street today to the conditions in 2002. As you can see, employees who work in nearby government buildings in 2017 are as free to double-park in the bike lane as they were 15 years ago.

If de Blasio is cracking down on placard abuse, as he said he would, there's no evidence of it here.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

EXCLUSIVE: Council Will Force Apps To Fund Safe E-Bikes for Workers

The City Council is set to pass a bill on Monday that will make app companies responsible for their workers using safe e-bikes.

June 27, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: In the Swim Edition

Good luck parking your bike at Harlem's brand new state of the art pool in Central Park. Plus other news.

June 27, 2025

Eyes on the Street: New Bike Lane Puts the ‘Bliss’ in Blissville

That new bike lane on Review Avenue is great ... and it's just the start.

June 27, 2025

HEAR IT! Staten Island Pol Loves to Speed — Then Shrugs Off His Recklessness

Council Member David Carr has 12 speed-camera tickets, one red light ticket and one bus lane infraction since Feb. 2, 2023. But does he care? No.

June 26, 2025
See all posts