Loading Zone Letters Were Sent to Residents. Lobbyists Keep Winning in Bay Ridge!
Community Board 10 sent out this letter to residents on blocks where commercial loading zones will be installed.
Residents want to know what they can do to stop these locations from taking 52 -62 parking spots from 31 locations in the neighborhood. Some of these loading zones are just one spot – most are two. (Info From Video at 1:00 – Question asked by Dean)
Justin Brannan wrote in a private group that he is working with CB 10 on that. That is incorrect. CB 10 did not have a vote on this.
CB 10 was given “the topic” to discuss to make it look like the community was “onboard.” Many members were adamantly against these commercial loading zones in the community. CB 10 was not given the right to vote on these loading zones. We don’t think there is anything that can be done.
Here’s What We Know for Sure:
1) Councilman Justin Brannan voted in favor of the Loading Zones in NYC Council. (See the bill here) Brannan never shared this bill on social media or in his newsletter.
2) Brannan was lobbied for these loading zones by Red Apple Group (Gristedes Grocery Store). If you don’t like these loading zones in the community, vote him out.
You can see the lobbyist information here by searching for the Client: Red Apple Group. Lobbying Target : Justin Brannan
3) Community Board 10 had a meeting where people were told they could mark where loading zones should be. People were told these would be “neighborhood” loading zones, but they are commercial loading zones. (See meeting on video)
4) We do not know if Community Board 10 knew Brannan was lobbied for this. We wrote to CB 10 about another lobbying issue, but we didn’t hear back from them. We were concerned because this article said a man was able to meet with CB 10 and that’s how the school location was put in the community. The community should know any time there is a lobbyist is involved in decisions.
5) Bike enthusiasts may not have realized that they were owned by a billionaire’s lobbyist. They marked areas where they wanted loading zones due to traffic.
6) CB 11 were told that there were 111 loading zones citywide. Bay Ridge is getting 31 loading zones. Originally there were supposed to be 24 loading zones in Bay Ridge.
7) How were these loading zones chosen? It was very strange because a study was not done. People marked a map where they thought a loading zone could be, so * ONE * person could have marked the map for a loading zone on your block and and now there will be a loading zone there.
8) Who is advocating for our community? It looks like just lobbyists! Communities should try new programs and see if they work. Trying 3-5 loading zone locations would have been considered reasonable – not thirty-one. Show that the loading zones work in helping with traffic and then add more if they do.
9) The addition of these loading zones will feel like a movie is being filmed every day.
10) Someone on social media said: “At 6:00 pm, there will be a lot of parking spots in the neighborhood. That’s a lot of people sitting in their cars waiting for spots.
11) Since decisions for this community are being made by lobbyists – CB 10 should reveal the lobbyists whenever one is involved. Disclosure should be required.
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Hugs,
marlene
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