Aaron Naparstek
AARON NAPARSTEK is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Streetsblog. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Naparsteks journalism, advocacy and community organizing work has been instrumental in growing the bicycle network, removing motor vehicles from parks, and developing new public plazas, car-free streets and life-saving traffic-calming measures across all five boroughs. Naparstek is the author of "Honku: The Zen Antidote for Road Rage" (Villard, 2003), a book of humorous haiku poetry inspired by the endless motorist sociopathy observed from his apartment window. Prior to launching Streetsblog, Naparstek worked as an interactive media producer, pioneering some of the Web's first music web sites, online communities, live webcasts and social networking services. Naparstek is currently in Cambridge with his wife and two young sons where he is enjoying a Loeb Fellowship at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. He has a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Naparstek is a co-founder of the Park Slope Neighbors community group and the Grand Army Plaza Coalition. You can find more of his work here: http://www.naparstek.com.
Recent Posts
Union Street Becomes a “Secret Garden”
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Matt Jones at the Secret Garden from hoovesontheturf on Vimeo. I was getting ready to put out the recycling one Wednesday evening a few weeks back when I heard what I thought sounded like someone playing a Bonnie Prince Billy album out in front of my house. Climate change notwithstanding, February is early for the […]
Schluffing or Dorklocross?
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Poor Robert Sullivan. All he seeks is a city free of intermodal conflict. Yet, the coiner of the term "schluffing" seems only to have managed to fire up angry mobs of pitchfork-wielding commenters with his biking etiquette piece in last Sunday’s Times. Now Bike Snob NYC, a well-regarded blog among fixed-gear fetishists and owners of […]
The Four Stooges
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OK, we have a winner of yesterday’s photo caption contest. Democratic State Senators Hiram Monserrate, Carl Kruger, Pedro Espada, Jr. and Ruben Diaz, Sr. will henceforth be known as "The Fare Hike Four." While we’re at it, we figure if the State Senate is going to treat New York City’s transit riders like clowns and […]
The State Senate’s MTA Financing Plan Doesn’t Add Up
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Here’s one little problem with the Kruger, Diaz, Espada, Monserrate MTA financing plan: They got the math wrong. The State Senators (for convenience sake, let just refer to them "The Fare Hike Four" from now on) say they can satisfy the MTA’s short-term financing needs with a four percent fare and toll hike and a […]
Kruger: MTA Funding Plan Will Be “So Outside the Box.”
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Liz Benjamin at Daily Politics and Jimmy Vielkind at Politicker have some updates on the MTA funding discussions in Albany. When asked about the MTA situation today, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Carl Kruger told Liz that his opposition to tolls on the East and Harlem River bridges has not softened but a new plan is […]
Talking Traffic Justice With Leslie Crocker Snyder
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With Manhattan's 89-year-old District Attorney Robert Morgenthau finally stepping down, this year's campaign to succeed him is a great opportunity to make sure the next DA is committed to doing a better job of protecting New Yorkers from reckless and negligent drivers. Streetsblog met with Manhattan District Attorney candidate Leslie Crocker Snyder to learn more about where she stands when it comes to traffic justice.
We’re Hiring: Cover the Capitol for Streetsblog
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With major transportation, climate, and energy legislation coming before Congress in 2009 and 2010, Streetsblog is seeking a talented journalist to cover Capitol Hill. We’re looking for a reporter/blogger who can help bring outside-the-Beltway readers inside the legislative process, scoop the mainstream press, and make Streetsblog Capitol Hill an engaging and entertaining must-read. Our ideal […]
MTA Funding and Bike-Ped Relations on Brian Lehrer
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Starting at 10 a.m. on WNYC 93.9 FM, the Brian Lehrer Show, they’re talking about MTA funding and cyclist-pedestrian relations. I’m listening now to a caller from Mamaroneck complain about the idea of putting toll booths on the East River bridges. Lord help us.
Next American City Invites You to Their Spring Party, Thursday
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The good people over at Next American City have extended an invitation to Streetsblog readers to the launch party for their Spring issue this coming Thursday. Seth Pinsky from the New York City Economic Development Corporation will be their guest of honor. It might be a great opportunity to ask him why his agency so […]
More Detail on NYC’s Car-Free Broadway Plan
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For more detail on New York City’s plan to turn Broadway into pedestrian-priority street from Columbus Circle to Madison Square, here is the Department of Transportation’s presentation: View more presentations from naparstek. (tags: new york)
Bloomberg Puts Forward a Bold, Transformative New Vision for Broadway
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Before and After: A rendering of a car-free Broadway at 7th Ave., Times Square, looking north. Download a larger image. New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan unveiled plans to pedestrianize a large swath of Broadway in Midtown Manhattan at a small briefing in City Hall this morning. Intended to improve motor vehicle traffic flow, […]
Welcome to Our New Design
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If you are a regular visitor then you’ve probably noticed that we made some design changes yesterday afternoon. The transition went off without a hitch thanks to The Open Planning Project’s Anil Makhijani, Andy Cochran and Rob Marianski. I just wanted to take a moment to walk you through the new design and provide another […]