DOT Representative Tells Poplar Street Residents it Remains Committed to “Temporary” Promenade Destruction; a Heights Resident Responds

If you have been paying attention you would know, its just my prediction. My hope is for the tunnel as that would be the best solution for the neighborhood and Brooklyn at large.

BTW, tunnel is a better solution, but perhaps only aesthetically. The problem is the exhaust gasses still have to go somewhere. They generally use giant ventilation fans to pump the gasses out of the tunnel. Guess where it all goes…On top of it, before drilling a tunnel they would have to do the geological feasibility studies to determine if it is even plausible to drill on the site. Also don’t forget the area is in the flood zone, etc, etc,etc..

A much better solution (which I already mentioned before) is to legislate and invest into e-vehicles infrastructure and renewable energy sources. This will help the BH folks and the rest on the planet.

The technology is there, the infrastructure is lagging. In NYS we have emission standards and requirements (that is one thing is checked during annual vehicle inspections), if the legislators lower the allowable level of emission then the next logical step would be EVs and the buildup of the infrastructure. Re-channel the energy from fighting DOT to speeding up the process of adapting EV technology.

Really? Acquiesce?

I think even before the “me-too” movement, it became outre to say, “Just give in and try to enjoy it!”

The comparison is apt, I think – if fairly uncouth. The DOT plans come as close to raping our community as makes no difference.

“Acquiesce” certainly implies that you (and others who share this bizarre mindframe) fall into one of 3 categories:

a) you like the DOT plan (or think it’s better, however that’s calculated, than any alternative that’s been raised;
b) you are apathetic – i.e., “sooner or later, I’d really have to write a $100 check, and there’s no way on earth I care that much.”
c) you think that it’s a done deal, and you don’t want to “waste any effort” fighting what you deem to be a losing battle.

Obviously, none of those work for me. There IS a better proposal – actually 2 of them, but the B.I.G. plan is almost as bold AND doable as the Brooklyn Bridge was in its day.

And since the DOT alternative is worse than bad, it *will* be litigated, and it goes so far beyond the 2 that the BHA lost – “now my photos won’t show the ENTIRE Brooklyn Bridge” and “BBP has enough future revenue to make 2 new buildings not fiscally necessary” – that some hack judge won’t be able to bury and then dismiss the BHA objections.

And this doesn’t even get to the fact that no influential politician will give DOT “clerks” the cover they would need to have a fighting chance.

The opposition does not include Robert Moses, and this is not 1950. Obviously, others may differ, but I’d bet my Brooklyn Heights ranch that the Promenade never morphs into a highway.

And which plan will make that (trucks on H&H; gasp!) least likely to happen? Just curious.

Maybe, we’re not that far apart. I found Mr. Stringer’s plan that would have kept trucks on the BQE and sent cars (as if it were possible) “through the Heights” via Henry and Hicks to be misguided. The only “plan” that runs the risk you cite is “shut it down”/let the BQE “fail,” but I think you’re safe. You may find the odd – REALLY odd – poster who hates cars & trucks that much, but the powers that be don’t waste much time on “flat earthers.”

You haven’t done your homework son. Any plan that relies on a lane by lane approach for all or part of the work will likely cause massive traffic back-ups. Both the BHA and the BIG/BQP plans will require lane by lane closures. Where do you think those displaced cars will go?

Not going to happen and it wouldn’t make much of a difference on the truck traffic. The toll on the Goethals Bridge is collected inbound to NYC if you tolled the VNB both ways it would mean drivers approaching from the west would be hit twice for steep tolls in just a few miles. That’s not justifiable. Trucks carrying tens of thousands of dollars of goods are not going to be thwarted by an extra toll, the cost would just be added to the bottom line and you and me will wind up paying it.
The people who would suffer the most, the working class commuters and small trade businesses that have little choice. Just another ridiculous, backhanded tax.

Arch – I hope you give thanks every day that the almighty made you omniscient. Too bad, s/he didn’t give you even a smidgen of humility or self-awareness.

Tanvi is a nasty lady who is behind this idiotic options. hee disdain for the community and thin skin was obvious at the first town hall

Um I don’t know what meeting you were at but at the initial town hall, of all the folks on the panel, she was the rudest and most argumentative. More importantly, how much are they paying you to constantly shill for their robert moses level incompetence or do you just naturally relate to it? When actual qualified architects tell me this is dumb and there is a better alternative, I’m going to take their word for it.

Guessing that part of your shill engagement is skipping the very recent a better way town hall where two architecture firms presented way more intelligent and sustainable solutions to this robert moses retread your employers are proposing

Arch my dad has more years than you in construction. He thinks the DOT suggestions are idiocy. I will go with his option and I am done discussing this with you. You have earned your DOT check for the week,

What note do I need to say to a simple minded shill who sees no may past a challenge than a robert moses solution proposed by some incompetent t idiots. My time is better spent talking to more forward thinking less curmudgeonly people.

I know I’m really late to the game here, but I live on Poplar Street and had no idea that DOT was holding a meeting. Does anyone know how invites were distributed and why DOT was meeting specifically with Poplar Street residents? Thanks!