Street Redesign Advocate Zohran Mamdani Promises to Intervene, DA Accuses Adams Advisor of Bribe Solicitation

In a move to prioritise safety and sustainable transportation, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor, has announced his intention to proceed with street redesigns that were halted by the current administration.

If elected in November, Mamdani plans to restore an overhaul to McGuiness Boulevard, a busy street in Brooklyn, which was approved by the city transportation department and local community board more than two years ago. The original plan for McGuiness Boulevard included eliminating traffic lanes along the entire street to make way for a bike lane. However, the city department only added bike lanes to the street after months of delays in 2023, but did not eliminate any traffic lanes along the northern section of the street.

Mamdani's plans for McGuiness Boulevard mirror his intentions for Tremont Avenue in the Bronx, another street slated for a similar treatment. Last week, it was first reported by Streetsblog that Tremont Avenue was slated for a redesign, but the project was walked back by the Adams administration.

The controversy surrounding these street redesigns involves allegations of bribery and influence peddling. Prosecutors allege that Mayor Adams' former senior adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, accepted $12,500 in bribes and favors from Broadway Stages, a Greenpoint-based production company, to reduce the scope of the Greenpoint street redesign. The Greenpoint street redesign is at the centre of this alleged bribery scandal.

Mamdani questions the value placed on the safety of New Yorkers in light of this scandal. He intends to make decisions with safety as the imperative and, if he wins the election, will allow the transportation department to follow through on the original plan for the entire street.

Meanwhile, Mamdani also plans to proceed with bus lane projects on Fordham Road and Tremont Avenue, which were halted by the Adams administration. The project to redesign Fordham Road began in early 2017 but was abandoned in late 2018 following protests from groups like the New York Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo.

The spokesperson for the mayor's office did not comment on Mamdani's plans for McGuiness Boulevard or Tremont Avenue. However, Mamdani maintains that working people must be safe regardless of their mode of transportation.

As the mayoral race heats up, Mamdani's commitment to safety and sustainable transportation is clear. His focus on revisiting stalled street redesigns, particularly in light of the alleged bribery scandal, could be a defining factor in his campaign.

Street Redesign Advocate Zohran Mamdani Promises to Intervene, DA Accuses Adams Advisor of Bribe Solicitation