Julianne Cuba
Julianne Cuba joined Streetsblog in February, 2019, after three years covering local news and politics at The Brooklyn Paper. There, she also covered the notoriously reckless private carting industry and hit-and-runs. A 2015 graduate of Stony Brook University’s School of Journalism Master’s Program, she now lives in Brooklyn. Julianne is on Twitter at @julcuba. Email Julianne at julianne@streetsblog.org
Enforcement of Illegal Batteries — and, Apparently, Mopeds — Starts on Saturday
The city says it will send out inspectors this weekend to begin enforcement of a new law prohibiting the sale of uncertified lithium-ion power cells.
Council Passes Battery ‘Buy-Back’ Program and Other Bills to Curb Lithium-Ion Fires
Finally, there's a law to create a citywide "buy back" program that would allow delivery workers to exchange faulty or second-hand lithium-ion batteries for safe, certified ones.
Amid Rash of Crashes, DOT Has No Bronx Borough Commissioner
“Whenever I have concerns with DOT at the moment, I have to call you," Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. told DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez at a hearing.
Brooks-Powers and DOT Exchange Testiness Over Agency’s Alleged ‘Master Plan’ Shortfalls
In a testy Council hearing on Tuesday, the Department of Transportation declined to answer a simple question from Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers: How many bus and bike lane miles have you built so far this year?
Anti-Immigrant Cop Busted for Harassing Cyclists, Police Watchdog Finds
Meet Police Officer Frank Faber — a rogue, anti-immigrant, anti-cycling cop who finally got caught.
There’s Been a Decade of Public Engagement on Atlantic Ave — and Years More are Coming Before Roadway is Fixed
Turning Atlantic Avenue into anything other than a six-lane speedway with narrow sidewalks is still years away.
The Moped Crisis: Cops Seize Illegal Vehicles from Central Park Vendor
The NYPD says it seized a handful of mopeds from someone renting the illegal two-wheeled devices near Central Park.
The NYPD Doesn’t Want You to Know the Official Policy on Police Chases
The NYPD Patrol Guide has certain pages deleted and the CCRB, the main watchdog, took them down, too. Experts are alarmed.
The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants
Mayhem — and, more accurately, the perception of mayhem — on the streets of the city is provoking a new backlash against delivery workers. But are poor workers really the ones to blame?
City Seeks $800M from Feds to ‘Repair and Enhance’ Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
“It’s sad to see the city’s text invoking the negative history of urban highway construction while seeking to cement that legacy for the rest of the 21st century,” said one activist.