Daniel Dromm in Queens, Corey Johnson in Manhattan
NEW YORK, NY, November 4, 2013 – Complete- and safe-streets political action committee StreetsPAC today announced its final two candidate endorsements ahead of tomorrow’s New York City general election, urging voters to re-elect Queens Councilman Daniel Dromm, and to choose Corey Johnson to fill the Manhattan Council seat currently held by Christine Quinn.
“Danny Dromm has been outspoken in his support for safer streets that better balance the needs of all users,” said Helen Ho, a StreetsPAC board member and Queens resident. “He was a driving force behind the 78th Street and Diversity Plazas, and he’s fully committed to expanding the bike lane network and bike share, not just in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, but citywide.”
“Corey Johnson will enter the City Council with the mindset of a transportation advocate,” said StreetsPAC board member Glenn McAnanama. “We were struck by the depth of his thinking regarding safe and complete streets, both in his questionnaire responses and our in-person interview. It’s clear that progressive transportation policies will be high on his agenda in the Council.”
Here’s additional background on today’s StreetsPAC endorsees:
Daniel Dromm, Council District 25, Queens (Incumbent) – Early in his first City Council term, Daniel Dromm led a march to Queens Community Board 3 to call for the creation of a summer-long play street on 78th Street. He hasn’t stopped marching for safer streets – at least figuratively – ever since. He worked with city agencies and the local community to make 78th Street a permanent public place, and championed Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, which has been embraced by the community and has spurred local economic development. Dromm was instrumental in the innovative community-based Jackson Heights Transportation Study, which gave thousands of residents the opportunity to participate in reshaping public space and improving traffic flow, expanding bike lanes, and reducing congestion. Named Streetsblog’s Elected Official of the Year for 2013, Dromm has advocated for CitiBike expansion and the reestablishment of LIRR service to Elmhurst. He plans to focus on transforming Northern Boulevard, Roosevelt Avenue and Broadway into complete streets during his second term.
Corey Johnson, Council District 3, Manhattan (Open Seat) – As the youngest Community Board chairperson in New York City, Corey Johnson has pushed to improve street safety throughout his district. He supports increased deployment of speed cameras, and is a strong advocate for better NYPD enforcement and stiffer penalties for dangerous drivers. Johnson has committed to address the intersection of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue, the most dangerous in Manhattan for pedestrians. He wants dedicated bus lanes on Dyer Avenue to channel commuter buses away from pedestrians, and on 11th Avenue to allow for creation of a new MTA bus route. Johnson also supports the creation of a separated east-west connector between the 8th Avenue bike path and Amsterdam Avenue in the 50s, as well as construction of a second 7-line subway station on the far West side.
To see a complete list of all the candidates endorsed by StreetsPAC for tomorrow’s election, please visit www.streetspac.org/meet_the_candidates.
About StreetsPAC: StreetsPAC is a political action committee dedicated to electing public officials who are committed to improving the safety, mobility and livability of New York City’s streets. StreetsPAC raises money to support the electoral campaigns of candidates who demonstrate dedication to complete streets, including the expansion of traffic-calming infrastructure, growth of the city’s Neighborhood Slow Zones initiative, creation of more pedestrian plazas, expansion of the city’s network of bike lanes, and better and more thorough crash investigations and enforcement of traffic laws.
StreetsPAC is registered with the New York State Board of Elections and the New York City Campaign Finance Board. To learn more about StreetsPAC, its mission and its board of directors, please visit www.streetspac.org.
