StreetsPAC Issues New Round of Albany Endorsements

With a week to go before the November 4 election, StreetsPAC has issued a new round of endorsements for candidates for state legislature. NYC’s livable streets political action committee endorsed State Assembly and Senate incumbents from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

“The incumbents we’re endorsing today have been dedicated advocates for making streets safer statewide, whether newcomers to Albany, like first-term State Senator Brad Hoylman, or longtime veterans of state government, like Assemblyman Joe Lentol,” said StreetsPAC board member Elizabeth Hamby in a press release. “State laws have a huge effect on what happens on the streets in cities and towns across New York, from Buffalo to Montauk, so we consider it a critical part of StreetsPAC’s mission to make sure these standard-bearers for safety are re-elected.”

StreetsPAC supports Brad Hoylman in Senate District 27, which includes parts of Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Midtown, and the Upper West Side. Hoylman backed new state laws lowering the NYC speed limit and increasing the size of the city speed camera program, and he directed the New York State DMV to cease improperly penalizing cyclists for traffic tickets. Hoylman supports complete street designs for Fifth and Sixth Avenues, StreetsPAC says, and the Move NY toll reform plan. Hoylman “has expressed interest in introducing legislation that would make it easier for law enforcement to secure cell phone records after vehicular crashes,” according to StreetsPAC. Frank J. Scala is challenging Hoylman for the District 27 seat.

Greenpoint and Williamsburg rep Joe Lentol is the StreetsPAC pick in Assembly District 50. “Joe Lentol is the second most senior member of the Assembly, and as chair of the Codes Committee, he drafted and passed legislation that increased penalties for driving without a license or with a suspended license,” says the StreetsPAC press release. “He is committed to improving the suspended/unlicensed driver laws, by uncoupling license suspensions from non-driving infractions and simultaneously increasing penalties for driving without a license and beefing up suspensions for dangerous driving.” StreetsPAC notes Lentol’s role in securing a protected bike lane for the Pulaski Bridge, and says he will work on removing Albany restrictions on city speed cameras. William Davidson is running against Lentol.

In Senate District 33 — covering the West Bronx, Kingsbridge, University Heights, and Tremont — StreetsPAC likes Gustavo Rivera for another term. StreetsPAC calls Rivera a “strong supporter of Webster Avenue Select Bus Service” who “believes there should be a real lock” to ensure state transit revenues are spent on transit. Rivera wants to make the West Bronx bike-friendly, StreetsPAC says, and would like traffic-calming and complete streets measures applied to the Grand Concourse. Steven Stern and Jose Padilla Jr. will also be on the District 33 ballot.

StreetsPAC endorsed Upper West Side and Hell’s Kitchen incumbent Linda Rosenthal in Assembly District 67. Rosenthal has sponsored legislation to increase penalties against repeat reckless drivers, says StreetsPAC, “as well as legislation regarding the misguided ‘rule of two’ that would hold drivers accountable for their actions in crashes that injure or kill.” A supporter of congestion pricing, Rosenthal “intends to endorse” the Move NY toll reform proposal, according to StreetsPAC, and will work to make Amsterdam Avenue safer. Rosenthal is running unopposed.

“Vision Zero can’t be achieved without the state legislature being a full partner,” said board member Ken Coughlin in the StreetsPAC press release. “We know we can count on today’s endorsees to continue to push for life-saving changes, like eliminating restrictions on speed cameras and changing laws to make it easier to prosecute dangerous drivers. We look forward to seeing them all re-elected next Tuesday.”