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Reposted by Jon Orcutt

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 10h

"On Wednesday, Mr. Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, rode the full route of the M57, a crosstown bus that traverses Midtown Manhattan and is one of the city’s slowest, to remind New Yorkers that he wanted to speed up their commutes."

Mamdani Rides Slow Bus to ‘Fast and Free’ Buses Event

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Jon Orcutt

Gordon Padelford @gordonofseattle.bsky.social · 15h

Imagine being the Secretary of Transportation for the entire country and cheering ripping up a crosswalk because of your hatred. Sad little man

Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 17h

Just openly cheering the destruction of any representation of gay people in public space. They think their power is totally unrestricted, and the entire country will support them rolling back society to the 1950s, or maybe the 1850s

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 1d

Cmon has no one tossed these robots into the river?

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Bike New York @bikenewyork.bsky.social · 1d

Meanwhile, note from a Carroll Gardens friend:

"News12 is covering the Court St bike lane like it is World War III"

Bike New York @bikenewyork.bsky.social · 1d

Illegal parking everywhere is the main reason NYC's bike lanes/network always feels so half-assed #bikenyc

Council Member Lincoln Restler @cmrestler.bsky.social · 1d

Our office released a new study highlighting rampant illegal parking across Downtown Brooklyn. Vehicles block sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes & loading zones - making it more dangerous for New Yorkers to get around the neighborhood.
www.lincolnrestler.nyc/s/Illegal-Pa...

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 1d

Amtrak as a terrible partner for local govts is back in the news

Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · Aug 18

When I was at DOT, it was axiomatic that having to work w Amtrak meant a lot of money & time would die a needless death

Blair Lorenzo / The Fox and the City @thefoxandthecity.com · Aug 18

I have no idea what this means, but it sounds more than a bit ominous.

I know Amtrak gave the Starlight Park reconstruction a huge headache with a ton of demands...

thefoxandthecity.com/articles/urb...

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Reposted by Jon Orcutt

Council Member Lincoln Restler @cmrestler.bsky.social · 1d

Our office released a new study highlighting rampant illegal parking across Downtown Brooklyn. Vehicles block sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes & loading zones - making it more dangerous for New Yorkers to get around the neighborhood.
www.lincolnrestler.nyc/s/Illegal-Pa...

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 1d

Basic observational studies documenting what we all know about chronic, ubiquitous illegal parking are unfortunately few & far between. 👏👏👏 @cmrestler.bsky.social

Hell Gate *subscribe today!* @hellgatenyc.com · 1d

"People know they can park whenever they want and get away with it."

A new study confirms what you already knew—Downtown Brooklyn is parking anarchy.

hellgatenyc.com/downtown-bro...

Confirmed—Downtown Brooklyn Is One Big Illegal Parking Lot

Placard abuse reigns supreme and other links to start your day.

hellgatenyc.com

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 2d

Recent analysis showing *bus lanes on their own* aren't accomplishing all that much @annieweinstock.bsky.social @walterhook.bsky.social @nyc.streetsblog.org

Why No BRT For NYC? Two New Reports Tackle Why Your Bus Service Sucks - Streetsblog New York City

Years of bus priority projects have barely paid off because Big Apple leaders won't install real bus rapid transit, two recent reports argue.

nyc.streetsblog.org

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 2d

Yes, the city should do many bus lanes. But it should do it as part of a negotiation with the MTA to get the bus operating agency to do its part with faster boarding & fewer stops. The MTA has done far less to speed buses than the city in recent years

🚇 Riders Alliance @ridersalliance.org · 2d

How can our next Mayor go beyond red paint and create a citywide network of fast, reliable, accessible transit service?

(hint: it's how we put the 'fast' in 'Fast and Free')

Read our latest report, Much Better Buses: It's About Time!
www.ridersalliance.org/news/its-abo...

Much Better Buses: It’s About Time — Riders Alliance

As we approach the end of four long years of waiting for faster bus service, waiting for leaders like Mayor Adams to build the network of bus lanes he committed to on the campaign trail, we’ve been pr...

www.ridersalliance.org

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Reposted by Jon Orcutt

Streetsblog NYC @nyc.streetsblog.org · 2d

Uber’s in-app navigation is giving directions that oppose traffic laws — but drivers are afraid that ignoring what the app tells them will lead to “deactivation” from a job that offers few worker protections.

Under Pressure: Uber's Navigation System Endangers the Public With Reckless Driving Directions - Streetsblog New York City

An Uber driver made an illegal u-turn and hit someone, but the in-app navigation told him to do it and the company won't give up the code.

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 3d

It's on! Pulaski Bridge this evening

@thewaroncars.bsky.social

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Reposted by Jon Orcutt

THE CITY @thecity.nyc · 5d

New York officials pledged Thursday to fight to keep the Second Avenue Subway’s path to East Harlem on track — even as it faces funding threats from Trump.

“It is a major error by the White House to try to stop the funding for this important project.”

City Leaders Rip Trump DOT for Pausing Billions for Second Avenue Subway

“This is retaliation, plain and simple,” said one representative of East Harlem.

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Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 5d

Greater New York is facing an unprecedented assault on its vital transportation infrastructure.

Infrastructure is far too important to be used for political games. Read ETA's statement:

www.etany.org/statements/2...

Greater New York is facing an unprecedented assault on its vital transportation infrastructure. According to an announcement by OMB Director Russell Vought on X and later confirmed by the US Department of Transportation, $18 billion in funding for both the Second Avenue Subway and the Gateway Program’s Hudson Tunnel Project is being put “on hold” pending “administrative review.” This announcement comes one day after it came to light that the Department of Homeland Security is planning to deny New York State tens of millions of dollars for transportation security under the Homeland Security Program and Urban Area Security Initiative.

Transportation is the lifeblood of greater New York, and these projects are vital to the economies of not only the region, but the nation. Indeed, the Gateway Program is an investment in capacity right at the heart of the Northeast Corridor, by far the busiest part of the country’s rail network. The current North River Tunnels under the Hudson already carry more than 200,000 people every day, a number poised to grow dramatically once Gateway opens, and desperately need to be rehabbed due to damage from Hurricane Sandy. Phase two of the Second Avenue Subway is projected to carry more than 110,000 people every day. These numbers are why Congress saw fit to appropriate funds for these important projects. It is no exaggeration to say that every significant delay for these programs translates into millions of dollars in lost economic value.

This halt will inevitably cost the taxpayer. In capital construction, time is quite literally money, and this is doubly true for projects already under construction. Work is already underway for both Gateway and Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway; this interruption may force workers in the field to put down their tools. Work schedules, equipment orders, site preparations, and the like are now uncertain. The only guarantee is that when work starts again, the price tag will be higher.

This entire situation is the result of last-minute rule making clearly designed to leave the New York region stuck in a Catch-22. The administration claims that federally required regulations dating back to the Reagan administration are now considered illegal. The MTA followed these regulations in order to be eligible for funding. To then turn around and claim that following those rules makes the program ineligible for funding leaves the region in a no-win scenario. The administration could have discussed concerns with regional leaders and come to some sort of understanding. Instead, the DOTs proposed new rules were created with such haste that, at the time of the announcement of the funding pause, they had not even been entered into the Federal Register.

Congress created the programs and appropriated the funds for these projects, recognizing their importance to the region and the nation. Whatever the reason for stopping the funds, Infrastructure is far too important to be used for political games.

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 5d

who runs school streets there: school staff or street staff?

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Reinvent Albany @reinventalbany.bsky.social · 6d

ICYMI: Our new report shows that Investing in the MTA is Investing in America

Federal cuts to New York's transit system, which carries 40% of national ridership, not only hurts NY, but all the companies that supply the MTA from a total of 47 states.

reinventalbany.org/2025/10/watc...

Watchdog Report: States that Voted for Trump Get Billions from MTA Spending - Reinvent Albany

New York’s MTA Paid Companies in Other States $19B Over 14 Years, Supporting up to 247,000 Jobs in Blue, Red, and Purple States Alike Introduction: Analysis of MTA Spending on Vendors 2011-2024 The ...

reinventalbany.org

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 5d

Have thought about this as a greenway, but OK!

Streetsblog NYC @nyc.streetsblog.org · 5d

The MTA is making strides towards actually building the Ridgewood busway, a plan to turn a filthy private road underneath the elevated M tracks into a gleaming bus-first corridor.

The MTA Is Headed To The Lab To Design The Ridgewood Busway - Streetsblog New York City

A filthy private road underneath the elevated M tracks could become a gleaming bus-first corridor.

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 6d

In the MTA case, some of the impetus has been by the *agency* (not as much by lawmakers) to try to buy within NY State & encourage more investment there, especially upstate, to make funding via Albany more win-win and less of a painful debate

Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 6d

??? Yes??? National Democrats love these laws because they think it buys them votes. And then state Dems push for stuff like agencies buying from, e.g., factories in Plattsburgh for the same reason. This is a well established thing in transit…

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TransitCenter @transitcenter.bsky.social · 6d

This is a fantastic new resource to counter the argument that we shouldn’t invest more in transit, biking, and walking because “this is America - everyone drives.”

Nope, no they don’t.

www.nrdc.org/resources/wh...

Who Doesn’t Have a Car?

A new NRDC map shows car-free living and the factors affecting car usage in United States.

www.nrdc.org

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 6d

Trump admin attempts to cut transit funding for NY hurt biz in ”red” states as well

Reinvent Albany @reinventalbany.bsky.social · 6d

NEW Report: States that voted for Trump got billions from MTA Spending

Companies in red states by U.S. Senate seats received more than $3.5 billion in MTA payments over 14 years. States that voted for Trump in 2024 received nearly $7 billion from the MTA over this period.

buff.ly/Yxt4KZ6

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Second Ave. Sagas @2avesag.as · 7d

MTA Statement:

Statement From MTA Chief, Policy and External Relations John J. McCarthy on Federal Funding of Second Avenue Subway Phase 2

“The federal government wants to immediately ‘review’ our compliance with rules they told us about moments ago. We’re reviewing their tweets and press releases like everyone else. For now, it looks like they’re just inventing excuses to delay one of the most important infrastructure projects in America.”

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New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 8d

I'm suing to stop the Trump administration from withholding tens of millions of dollars in security funding for the MTA over New York's sanctuary policies.

These funds are meant to help the MTA prevent and respond to terrorist threats, cyberattacks, and other emergencies.

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🚇 Riders Alliance @ridersalliance.org · 9d

Riders Alliance endorses @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social for Mayor of New York City for our first-ever political endorsement! youtu.be/j_zuBKPzpuM

Riders Alliance endorses Zohran Mamdani for NYC Mayor

YouTube video by Riders Alliance

youtu.be

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Reposted by Jon Orcutt

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 8d

BUDGET ‘SQUEEZE’ AT PARKS — www.thecity.nyc/2025/02/26/c...

Prior Katie Honan story, reupped today, that revealed a woman now known to be a former romantic interest of Mayor Adams was working at City Hall on a salary funded using the Park’s Dept.

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Reposted by Jon Orcutt

Sam Bellamy @sambdesk.bsky.social · 9d

Samuel L. Jackson, with few choice words for Trump.
Watch the Snakes on Plane star take on the snake in the Oval Office.

(All Fight the Fire links and subscriptions are free.)

fightthefire.substack.com/p/samuel-l-j...

Samuel L. Jackson, with few choice words for Trump

Watch the Snakes on Plane star take on the snake in the Oval Office

fightthefire.substack.com

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Jon Orcutt @jonorcutt.bsky.social · 8d

Yes crypto guys are the best & brightest LOL

Chris Sommerfeldt @c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social · 8d

New: Crypto billionaire Brock Pierce, a longtime Eric Adams backer, is trying to convince the incumbent to get back in the mayoral race, telling me he hopes a $1.1M donation he made to a pro-Adams PAC last week will spur Adams to reverse his withdrawal. www.nydailynews.com/2025/09/30/b...

Brock Pierce lobbying Mayor Adams to get back in mayoral race with $1.1M super PAC donation

Pierce hopes the donation can be the starting point for an effort to convince Adams to re-launch his campaign and get back in the race.

www.nydailynews.com

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