Carl Heastie
Streetsblog Basics
Has Congestion Pricing’s Moment Finally Arrived in Albany?
Legislators realize they have to come up with money for transit — or else face the wrath of their constituents.
March 11, 2019
While Cuomo Sits on the Sidelines, the Assembly’s Joke of a Congestion Pricing Plan Fills the Vacuum
Carl Heastie's Democratic conference has a plan designed to relieve elected officials from sweating out a tough decision.
March 14, 2018
On Transit and Street Safety, Albany Laid a Goose Egg in 2017
Back in February we asked safe streets and transit advocates what they wanted to see state legislators get done in 2017. The session has now come and gone, and lawmakers have delivered on none of those initiatives. Here's our recap of Albany's 2017 so far. Read it and weep.
June 26, 2017
Tougher Penalties for Unlicensed Drivers Who Hurt and Kill People Now in Carl Heastie’s Hands
A bill to make it a felony to cause injury or death while driving without a valid license has passed the State Senate. Assembly Speaker Heastie can get it to Governor Cuomo's desk.
June 6, 2017
Cuomo Can Save Lives by Unshackling NYC’s Speed Camera Program
In addition to lifting the cap on cameras, Cuomo and state lawmakers should end arbitrary restrictions on location and hours of operation, which make the cameras less effective than they could be.
January 27, 2017
Albany Leaders Fail to Act on Speed Cameras as Session Comes to a Close
As Albany wraps up its legislative session today, Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders are taking no action to protect New Yorkers from a leading cause of death on city streets -- speeding drivers. A bill to expand the number of speed cameras in the city from 140 to 200 and loosen restrictions on how they can be used is not in the final package that Cuomo is negotiating with the leaders of the Assembly and State Senate.
June 17, 2016
Van Bramer + 24 Council Members Call on Albany to Allow More Speed Cams
City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, 24 of his colleagues, and Public Advocate Letitia James are calling on the state legislature to expand NYC's life-saving automated speed enforcement program.
May 26, 2016
David Gantt Remains Transportation Chair, But It’s Carl Heastie’s Assembly
Surprising no one, the leadership of Carl Heastie's Assembly looks just about identical to Sheldon Silver's. After publicly voting in Heastie to succeed Silver as speaker on Tuesday, Assembly Dems announced top posts and committee chair positions yesterday. There were few changes to speak of, and as expected Rochester rep David Gantt will remain chair of the Assembly transportation committee.
February 5, 2015
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: Good on Street Safety, Iffy on Transit
For the first time in two decades, the New York State Assembly has a new speaker. Assembly Democrats elected Carl Heastie of the Bronx to succeed longtime speaker Sheldon Silver, a week after Silver was indicted on federal corruption charges.
February 3, 2015
Twenty-One NYC Reps Back Brodsky’s Student Fare Falsehood
On Friday we noted that Assembly Member Richard Brodsky's latest anti-transit argument -- that "the actual cost of free and discounted student fares is close to zero" -- doesn't hold water. A letter from Brodsky addressed to MTA CEO Jay Walder calls for reinstating student MetroCards, laying blame for the program's potential elimination at the MTA's feet while neglecting to mention Albany's leading role in reducing funds for student transport.
February 22, 2010