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Author Topic: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification  (Read 2355 times)

Offline abcdefghijk

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Re: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification
« Reply #15 on: April 27, 2021, 01:08:13 PM »
Interesting. On NPR, they spoke about OPEN STREETS.

Jackson Heights 34th Ave got a shining, magnificent mention.

In Greenpoint, it appears the division is between younger and older folks.

Where the younger folks are far more pro-open streets.

And the older folks less so.

Fascinating. The future is beckoning.
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Offline StevenGrey

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Re: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification
« Reply #16 on: April 27, 2021, 03:53:38 PM »
Quote from: abcdefghijk on April 27, 2021, 01:08:13 PM
In Greenpoint, it appears the division is between younger and older folks.
Where the younger folks are far more pro-open streets.
And the older folks less so.

If you were less mobile--elderly or handicapped--or cared for someone who is, you'd be more understanding. As someone who has shuttled both of my parents to and from doctor's appointments using my own car or relying upon the city's Access-a-Ride program, closing entire avenues to car traffic creates an additional headache for caretakers requiring access to homes or offices along these proposed "open street" routes. I feel for those who live along these streets with elderly parents, those with disabilities, or special needs children.
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Offline abcdefghijk

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Re: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification
« Reply #17 on: April 27, 2021, 07:23:37 PM »
Quote from: StevenGrey on April 27, 2021, 03:53:38 PM
Quote from: abcdefghijk on April 27, 2021, 01:08:13 PM
In Greenpoint, it appears the division is between younger and older folks.
Where the younger folks are far more pro-open streets.
And the older folks less so.

If you were less mobile--elderly or handicapped--or cared for someone who is, you'd be more understanding. As someone who has shuttled both of my parents to and from doctor's appointments using my own car or relying upon the city's Access-a-Ride program, closing entire avenues to car traffic creates an additional headache for caretakers requiring access to homes or offices along these proposed "open street" routes. I feel for those who live along these streets with elderly parents, those with disabilities, or special needs children.

Cars can still enter these streets to pick up the elderly/disabled folk.

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Offline itsit

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Re: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification
« Reply #18 on: April 28, 2021, 08:52:25 AM »
 Wow, I heard this segment about Open Streets on the Brian Lehrer show differently. A number of people sounded young but they were definitely on BOTH sides of the argument. There was even a sentiment very vocally expressed by one caller who explained that the lack of compromise was a real issue there. The one caller from JH sounded like an infomercial for 34th Ave Open Streets and did not mention any of the issues mentioned such as the difficulty of the moving the heavy barriers for some people and the inconsistent use of the street or the fact that our Open Streets is 4 to 5x longer than any other one in the city. As Jessica Ramos has said, if there is true compromise here we should all come away a little bit unhappy.
  On the other hand, I don't think we've had people trashing the barriers...and that comment about seeds of the Proud Boys from Greenpoint. Scary!
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Offline abcdefghijk

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Re: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification
« Reply #19 on: April 29, 2021, 11:59:51 AM »
Quote from: itsit on April 28, 2021, 08:52:25 AM
Wow, I heard this segment about Open Streets on the Brian Lehrer show differently. A number of people sounded young but they were definitely on BOTH sides of the argument. There was even a sentiment very vocally expressed by one caller who explained that the lack of compromise was a real issue there. The one caller from JH sounded like an infomercial for 34th Ave Open Streets and did not mention any of the issues mentioned such as the difficulty of the moving the heavy barriers for some people and the inconsistent use of the street or the fact that our Open Streets is 4 to 5x longer than any other one in the city. As Jessica Ramos has said, if there is true compromise here we should all come away a little bit unhappy.
  On the other hand, I don't think we've had people trashing the barriers...and that comment about seeds of the Proud Boys from Greenpoint. Scary!

I listen to the data that is given.

Over 70% of younger folk are pro-Open Streets.
Over 60% of older folk are pro-Open Streets.

I am not swayed by overly emotional folks pushing their own agendas and causes. (Pro and Con this issue)

The Math numbers count. They predict the future.



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Offline itsit

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Re: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification
« Reply #20 on: April 29, 2021, 12:36:09 PM »
 Sorry but if you give the NPR segment a close listen, this is not the conclusion that they come to. In fact, younger voices were hissing mad against! Good futures are well planned with lots of data and take time. Many of these elements are not present in the hasty COVID times 34th Ave Open Streets in its current state. Let's compromise, collect data, take our time and see what best serves the whole community-all segments, walking, riding, multi-modal, varied ages, incomes, professions, schools, small businesses, delivery mania and many more issues- as it all needs consideration for this to be a good local project in Jackson Heights.
 No rushing please!
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Offline abcdefghijk

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Re: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification
« Reply #21 on: April 29, 2021, 12:41:56 PM »
Quote from: itsit on April 29, 2021, 12:36:09 PM
Sorry but if you give the NPR segment a close listen, this is not the conclusion that they come to. In fact, younger voices were hissing mad against! Good futures are well planned with lots of data and take time. Many of these elements are not present in the hasty COVID times 34th Ave Open Streets in its current state. Let's compromise, collect data, take our time and see what best serves the whole community-all segments, walking, riding, multi-modal, varied ages, incomes, professions, schools, small businesses, delivery mania and many more issues- as it all needs consideration for this to be a good local project in Jackson Heights.
 No rushing please!

I repeat. I am not swayed by overly emotional folks pushing their own agendas and causes. (Pro and Con this issue)

The Math numbers count. They predict the future.

Over 70% of younger folk are pro-Open Streets.
Over 60% of older folk are pro-Open Streets.

Just like people can pretend the numbers of votes for Biden (the Math) was wrong, they also question the Math when the Math doesn't suit their own agendas.


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Offline petegart

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Re: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification
« Reply #22 on: April 29, 2021, 07:36:55 PM »
The Open-Streets program, here in JH’s did not require any permanent or structural road changes.  I am hoping that things can continue as they have have during the once-in-a-lifetime experience of the Covid Pandemic.
If it turns out that people return to their offices and/or the utilization dwindles down to a point where it’s time to revisit - I have hopes that things can be reevaluated at that time.
Right now everyone is exhausted by the stresses of the pandemic, so this recent decision to extend and continue open-streets is not surprising. 
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Offline CaptainFlannel

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Re: Suggestion for 34th Ave Open Street modification
« Reply #23 on: April 30, 2021, 07:49:21 AM »
Quote
if there is true compromise here we should all come away a little bit unhappy.

Many advocates of OS will walk away unhappy if 34th Avenue doesn't end up being a full-on park with no car traffic, and the likelihood of that happening is nil because of garages and driveways (and the need for emergency access to buildings), so there will definitely be compromise by that definition.

I'm a driver and actually share some of their concerns/worries about loss of parking spaces, but it's just hard to stand with a group calling for compromise who mainly seem to want to shut the whole program down. From watching the most vocal ones online, it largely seems like they have the impression that if they don't get what they want, they have not been listened to.

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