Letters to the editor

Volume 1, Number 49 | The Weekly Newspaper of Chelsea | Aug. 24 - 30, 2007

Letters to the editor

That One Mistake Remains

To The Editor:
Crossing West 16th Street at the east side of Ninth Avenue remains an especially life-threatening enterprise. Since my Letter to the Editor, and the July 26 e-mail sent by Jay Marcus, co-chairperson of Community Board 4’s Transportation Committee, to the relevant Department of Transportation representative, the yellow light has been added to the red and green lights that were in use at that intersection, but no left-turn arrow has been put into use. There is no white turn arrow painted on the newly repaved surface, either. (I hate to be the one to state this, but some drivers won’t notice the three signs on posts on the sidewalk, under the trees.) A rickety arrow was sketched there during the repaving, but it hasn’t been painted for real.

The yellow light accomplishes little or nothing to reduce the danger for people crossing 16th Street, uptown or downtown. The problem that was pointed out, and that remains unaddressed, is that drivers heading downtown on Ninth Avenue turn left onto 16th St. when, and only when, walkers are crossing the street. In addition, a confusing sign directs bicyclists heading downtown on Ninth Avenue to be in the left lane (where motor vehicles are not to go) below 16th St. This means that the bicyclists must cross the path of the turning cars, taxis and trucks.

(It seems worth noting that though that side of Ninth Avenue, below 16th St., is posted “No Standing” during many daylight hours, it is parked up, on any weekday, with vehicles that are parked or standing (except maybe for a moderate zone near the fire hydrant) all along the block. Probably those vehicles were driven into that lane from above 16th St.)

I am aware that traffic planners usually seem to put much more thought and effort into minimizing the possibility of “crashes” between motor vehicles than they put into minimizing the chances that a person walking or riding a bicycle will be hit or “run over” by a motor vehicle. Please, DOT people: Put in a special time period, with a left-turn arrow, for drivers turning left onto 16th St., separate from the time for people who are not driving to cross 16th St. Don’t make us wait until a passel of Chelsea residents, a herd of international tourists or a gaggle of young club-goers are splattered while crossing at that corner.

It will be too late to fix this mistake when one or more additional innocent people have been killed there because of your inaction. Then you no longer will be able to claim innocence.

Kathy Casey

Pedicabs worth the ride

To The Editor:
Re “On the Record: Weighing in on the City Council’s pedicab legislation” (Aug. 17)

Your “On the Record” about the City Council’s pedicab legislation was worth the ride. The recent protest by Pedicab drivers makes sense for those who oppose recent legislation passed by the New York City Council. This legislation limiting the number of pedicabs was bad news for those who support a cleaner environment, free enterprise and transportation alternatives. Pedicabs are a nonpolluting form of public transportation powered by people, not polluting fossil fuels. It represents a pure free market service with no government subsidy. Consumers are afforded another mode of choice versus walking, taking a bus, taxi, subway or driving. The excuse that pedicabs contribute to traffic congestion is absurd. Several hundred pedicabs are outnumbered by thousands of other vehicles including taxis, limousines, automobiles and FedEx and UPS delivery trucks, which take up far more space. Pedicabs provide a great form of exercise and gainful employment for their drivers. These people are our neighbors and pay taxes just like you and me. Consumers, including tourists, continue to patronize this service on a voluntary basis.

Everyone should read future NYC Campaign Finance Board filings by NYC Councilmembers. (Just log on to www.nyccfb and see for yourself.) It will be interesting reading to see if there was any political quid-pro-quo for those who voted to limit pedicabs and by fortunate coincidence received campaign contributions from the taxi industry. Doesn’t the New York City Council and Department of Consumer Affairs both have more important issues to deal with than putting a small group of brave entrepreneurs out of business?

Larry Penner

Tallmer strikes out on Rose

To The Editor:
In “Jock soc 101: Rise of performance and fall of valor” (talking point, Aug. 10) Jerry Tallmer makes several valid points regarding the ingestion of stuff into our own bodies. And he is right on that regard. When 75 percent of Olympic athletes say they would take something even if they knew it would kill them within five years, it should come as no surprise that others in professional sport would do likewise to gain any competitive edge. And in baseball, while Bonds and others may have taken something to give them an edge, at the time, there were no rules regarding it.

When it comes to Rose, however, the rule was and is very clear. It’s on signs in every locker room in the majors. It says, “No betting on games.” Every player and manager knows it. Rose knew it. He broke the single cardinal rule that keeps whatever integrity the game still has despite the current commissioner. No, Pete doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame.

Tim Mocarski

‘This is Chinatown’

To The Editor:
Re “Trying to corral Chinatown’s booming cowboy buses” (news article, Aug. 10):

As a resident of East Broadway and a frequent user of the Chinatown buses, I worry that the proposed move to South St., far away from the heart of Chinatown, will cause these companies to fail for lack of business. Not only will the bus companies and countless travelers suffer, but there are many businesses on East Broadway that count on the large foot traffic passing through daily. Large numbers of Chinatown residents, who are barely struggling to get by now, would be thrown out of work. These include the ticket sellers, the restaurants, bakeries, fruit vendors, etc.

I say, so what if there is congestion? This is Chinatown. Congestion in a small area of East Broadway is a small price to pay to protect the livelihoods of Chinese workers and the convenience of thousands of travelers.

Rima Finzi-Strauss

E-mail letters, not longer than 350 words in length, to news@chelseanow.com or fax to 212-229-2790 or mail to Chelsea Now, Letters to the Editor, 145 Sixth Ave., ground floor, NY, NY 10013. Please include phone number for confirmation purposes. The Villager reserves the right to edit letters for space, grammar, clarity and libel.