Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Bestocracy

Pin it on Shelly!

By Aaron Naparstek | Sep 3, 2008 | 46 Comments

With New York City’s mostly uncontested primary elections less than a week away, attention turns to the 64th State Assembly district in Lower Manhattan, where New York Times-endorsed insurgent Paul Newell is running a long-shot campaign against Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Facing his first Democratic challenge since the coining of the word “cyberspace,” the decidedly […]

On the Campaign Trail, Silver Blames MTA for Pricing Debacle

By Brad Aaron | Aug 19, 2008 | 11 Comments

Finding himself with two opponents in next month’s Democratic primary, the Downtown Express reports that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is spending the summer knocking on doors and chatting with editorial boards. Apparently accepting the premise that Silver "supported" congestion pricing, the Express writes: This week, he repeated his reason for not bringing it to the […]

Why Is David Gantt Still Running the Assembly Transpo Committee?

By Ben Fried | Jul 24, 2008 | 9 Comments

The Times published a great reminder today about last month’s bus camera vote in the Assembly Transportation Committee, which weakened the city’s plans for Bus Rapid Transit. The editorial page wonders why David Gantt, who for years has obstructed life-saving, transit-enhancing traffic enforcement measures, is still in charge of the committee: Mr. Gantt is a […]

Auto Dealers, Parking Garages and, Well, Lots of Others Fund Shelly

By Aaron Naparstek | Jul 21, 2008 | 6 Comments

In case you missed it last week, New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is raising bucket-loads of campaign cash — lots more than his two opponents, Paul Newell and Luke Henry. Groups that opposed congestion pricing are, no surprise, among some of the most enthusiastic contributors. The Times reported: Like Mr. Paterson and Mr. […]

Transit Activist Gary Reilly in the Hunt for City Council Seat

By Brad Aaron | Jul 8, 2008 | 20 Comments

Gary Reilly, the Brooklynite whose petition drive for subway service improvements drew thousands of signatures last summer, is running to replace term-limited Bill de Blasio on the City Council. A Carroll Gardens resident and neighborhood blogger, Reilly has made transit the centerpiece of his campaign. "For me, investment in transportation infrastructure is the key to […]

How David Gantt Sent Bus Cameras to Defeat in Albany

By Ben Fried | Jun 27, 2008 | 25 Comments

After state lawmakers dealt a setback to the city's Bus Rapid Transit plans, Streetsblog looked into how Assembly transportation committee chairman David Gantt was able to bring down a bill that reportedly enjoyed majority support among his members and won approval in the New York City Council by a 40 to 7 vote.

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