Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Elections

Wednesday’s Headlines: Election Recap Edition

Yesterday's election didn't bring many surprises — except that Marjorie Velázquez lost in The Bronx. Plus other news.

Yesterday's election didn't bring many surprises on a local level (as always, NY1 had the easiest summary) ... except the apparent defeat of Bronx Council Member Majorie Velazquez by her Republican challenger Kristy Marmorato.

Full results were not available when we went to bed, and a lot can change when only 81 percent of the vote is in, but if the result holds up it will be a major upset.

If Velazquez is known to Streetsblog readers, it's only for her flawed bill to make the pandemic-era outdoor dining program a permanent fixture of New York streets. Her failure to make it year-round was hardly the deciding issue in her district, but it still sticks in advocates' craw.

Don't look for Velazquez's name in the Streetsblog archives; she almost never returned calls from reporters. (The Daily News covered her loss.)

Justin Brannan (left) apparently beat Ari Kagan.

In other major election news: Democrat Justin Brannan appears to have triumphed in the "Battle of the Brooklyn Incumbents" over Republican Ari Kagan (NY Times, NYDN, Crain's). The pair faced off once redistricting merged their Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst districts into one. Brannan is a more reliable supporter of street safety measures ... to a point. Ever notice that there are no on-street protected bike in Bay Ridge? We have. And we'll be watching.

In other news:

  • Patch followed our story about the delayed Bedford Avenue bike lane.
  • The Atlantic (nice!) profiled Friend of Streetsblog Charles Komanoff and revealed what the real cost of the congestion pricing toll should be.
  • It's kinda funny (not funny) how much supposedly America-loving people actually hate interacting with America. Behold, the increasing popularity of the drive-thru window. (NY Times)
  • Mets owner Steve Cohen will give you some bike lanes ... if we give him a casino license. (NY Post, Streetsblog, QNS, Hell Gate, The City)
  • We found this piece in the Times about the subway a bit exaggerated.
  • Finally, just when you thought you were safe from tributes to me, author/journalist Zeke Faux cheered my mentoring in a podcast interview. Jump to timecode 1:22:13 in the transcript for all the exciting homage. Or listen to the entire "Big Picture" podcast to learn more about Faux's new book about crypto currency, "Number Go Up."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New DOT Report Questions Daylighting As Council Bill Gains Steam

Is DOT saying cars blocking your view is safe?

January 18, 2025

Larry Penner, Federal Transit Official and Letter Writer, is Dead

The former federal transit official, who had a second career as one of the most prolific writers of letters to the editors of scores of area newspapers, died on Thursday.

January 17, 2025

BLUNDER ROAD: Garden State has Spent $1M in Failed Bid to Block Congestion Pricing

Jersey pols have spent big and talked big on their anti-congestion pricing efforts as their own transit agency has fallen into disrepair.

January 17, 2025

Congestion Pricing Gets Kids To School On Time, Data Shows

Data shared with Streetsblog shows school buses traveling faster and being late less since congestion pricing began.

January 17, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Fun in the Sun Edition

The mayor is going down to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Trump, eh? Plus other news.

January 17, 2025
See all posts