From the POV of some tabloid columnists, the recent reworking of the city's streets is the DOT's Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark—an ill-conceived waste of time and money designed for the tourists—not the poor working man driving their SUVs. And DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan is their Julie Taymor: a myopic power-drunk "psycho" who is simply biking too close to the sun. The Post, in particular, has been withering in their assessment of the innovative commissioner (even calling her "Sadist-Khan), but the Times has also just published a fascinating, in-depth report on Sadik-Khan's polarizing tenure. It's chock full of money quotes, like this one from Councilmember Letitia James, a self-described friend of Sadik-Khan: "Other than Brownstone Brooklyn and parts of Manhattan, she is pretty much despised by my colleagues."
Friends like these, eh Jan? Well at least Mayor Bloomberg still believes, and he's had just about enough of the Sadik-Khan bashing. On his weekly radio show today, Bloomberg commented on the Post's dogged criticism of Sadik-Khan and her changes, particularly in response to the proposed 34th Street Transitway, which will debut without the block-long pedestrian plaza that was originally intended. "This woman can't catch a break," Bloomberg said, then, noting a Post editorial criticizing the plan, told his DOT chief: "Don't let anyone beat you down." Oh, don't worry Bloomberg, sadists are actually into that.
But there's just no pleasing some tabloids. Despite killing the feared pedestrian plaza between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, the Post, in an unsigned editorial, warns readers that "other mischief remains... There is no doubt that any significant traffic manipulation will create a permanent nightmare for nearby side streets." The Post doesn't offer any facts to support its certainty, but it goes without saying that the rag has never been reality-based.
The DOT is still studying the area and working with local community groups and merchants, and a new proposal will be introduced on the 14th. Crain's reports, "Transportation officials met with community members more than 50 times over three years and had developed a block-by-block analysis of curbside activity. About 33,000 people use the buses along 34th Street, but it is sometimes faster to walk. The buses travel an average 4.5 miles per hour." Sadik-Khan wants to bring express bus service to the street; the Post wants her head on a stick: "It's time that Janette Sadik-Khan's little kingdom was toppled. New York needs its streets back."
Other reports suggest that the DOT's reversal had less to do with the Post and a lot more to do with feedback from local businesses, particularly Macy's. Building owners, tenants and retailers worried the plaza would block deliveries, and Macy's Senior vice president Ed Goldberg seemed most concerned about the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. "Obviously anything that we do that is an obstruction, be it sidewalk or street, is of concern to us,” Goldberg told Transportation Nation. "It’s about our one big magic day of the year during the parade." Well, say what you want about Sadik-Khan; at least you can't accuse her of hating magic!
