Dangerous Intersections

By Dan Rivoli

In March, the Upper East Side was called the best place for retirees. But new statistics from the Department of Transportation say the neighborhood has the most dangerous intersections for seniors in the city.

In a list of 50 intersections with the most accidents involving senior pedestrians between 2004 and 2008, the Upper East Side clocked in nine locations. Of that group, First Avenue and East 57th Street had the most crashes (seven accidents and six injuries). Read more

Transit Group Tackles Most Dangerous Streets

A transit advocacy group has identified the five most dangerous intersections on the East Side—and is aiming to halve the number of vehicle crashes that result in pedestrian and cyclist injuries or death each year.

Transportation Alternatives, a non-profit that promotes walking, biking and public transit in New York City, is organizing an “East Side Streets Coalition” that will host a series of community forums. The goal is to determine what the city can do to make the Upper East Side a less hazardous place for pedestrians and cyclists, and to compile an “East Side Action Plan” of recommendations to be released this fall. Read more

DEADLY CROSSING GETS IMPROVEMENTS

The Department of Transportation is reconfiguring the intersection at East 57th Street and First Avenue, which has already claimed two lives.
The large intersection, which is near the 59th Street Bridge, has been a community scourge for years.
“This is a long time coming,” said Jay Litwin, president of the 17th Precinct Community Council. “At almost all of our meetings, something is said about that intersection.”
On First Avenue between East 56th and 57th streets, the Department of Transportation will add two left-turn lanes that will be regulated by a left-turn signal, and new street markings will be painted after the road is repaved. The department is also changing the crossing signal so that pedestrians and left-turning cars will not be on the street at the same time. The changes are expected to be complete by the end of the summer.
“I believe that these changes will save lives,” said Council Member Jessica Lappin, in a statement. We will now have a safer, more efficient intersection.”
Lappin, along with a host of other East Side elected officials, including Rep. Carolyn Maloney, State Sen. Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Jonathan Bing, helped push for the change.

EVICTING DANGEROUS NYCHA TENANTS

In the wake of a recent pit-bull attack on police officers investigating a complaint, elected officials are advising tenants in the Stanley Isaacs Houses how they can voice their viewpoints during the eviction of a problematic resident.
Tenant Milagros Martinez, the pit bull’s owner, released the dog when cops knocked on her door in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) complex on July 8. She already had two eviction notices because of failure to pay rent and having an unregistered dog. However, Martinez was allowed to return to her home after a court ruled that she could pay rent with money provided by the Human Resources Administration.
“We have contacted the city’s Human Resources Administration to request information about assistance given by the agency to the tenant who let the dog loose,” said Assembly Member Jonathan Bing said during Community Board 8’s July 15 full board meeting.
Officials are trying to determine whether the administration was aware of Martinez’s criminal records and the eviction proceedings against her.
“Hard-working, law-abiding NYCHA tenants feel that the law is protecting the troublemaker tenants over them,” said Council Member Dan Garodnick in a statement. “Many believe that they will get sent a 10-day legal notice the moment they are a day late on their rent, while known problem tenants, conducting illegal activity, are allowed to stay indefinitely.”
On July 13, both Bing and Garodnick attended a meeting convened by residents of the Isaacs Houses, on First Avenue between 91st and 93rd streets, to discuss the incident.
Meanwhile, tenants are getting organized to make sure that those residents who face eviction proceedings and have criminal records are removed from the hosing complex. Garodnick is helping tenants draft a letter to submit to the court to allow them to participate in the case against Martinez. Bing is working with the Housing Authority to figure out a way to expedite the eviction process for potentially dangerous tenants. He is also reintroducing a bill that would forbid persons with criminal records to own dogs that are considered dangerous.