Brooklyn Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced sweeping safety upgrades for Greenpoint's notorious McGuinness Boulevard, a move widely seen as a response to corruption allegations under his predecessor Eric Adams' administration.
As part of the plans, the boulevard will feature bike lanes on both sides, with dedicated parking and loading lanes for vehicles. The project aims to reduce congestion and make the street safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Mamdani's decision is likely a direct challenge to the earlier version of the plan watered down by Adams. The original proposal included removing vehicle lanes, installing protected bike lanes, and shortening pedestrian crossings – measures that had garnered broad support from local residents and advocacy groups.
However, those plans faced fierce opposition from some business owners and elected officials who argued they would harm local businesses and increase traffic congestion. It's unclear why Adams ultimately chose to scale back the plan, but prosecutors have alleged corruption played a role in the decision-making process.
Manhattan prosecutors charged Adams' chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin with accepting thousands of dollars in bribes from prominent film production company owners who were also involved in the project. The case is ongoing, and both parties have pleaded not guilty.
Mamdani's move to implement the upgraded safety plan marks a significant shift under his leadership. As a candidate for mayor, he had vowed to complete the original project if elected, and this decision seems to be a fulfillment of that promise.
The long-planned upgrades come after years of advocacy from local residents and street-safety advocates who have pushed for reforms aimed at reducing crashes and injuries on McGuinness Boulevard. The corridor has a history of serious accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, earning it notoriety as one of the city's most hazardous streets.
As part of the plans, the boulevard will feature bike lanes on both sides, with dedicated parking and loading lanes for vehicles. The project aims to reduce congestion and make the street safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Mamdani's decision is likely a direct challenge to the earlier version of the plan watered down by Adams. The original proposal included removing vehicle lanes, installing protected bike lanes, and shortening pedestrian crossings – measures that had garnered broad support from local residents and advocacy groups.
However, those plans faced fierce opposition from some business owners and elected officials who argued they would harm local businesses and increase traffic congestion. It's unclear why Adams ultimately chose to scale back the plan, but prosecutors have alleged corruption played a role in the decision-making process.
Manhattan prosecutors charged Adams' chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin with accepting thousands of dollars in bribes from prominent film production company owners who were also involved in the project. The case is ongoing, and both parties have pleaded not guilty.
Mamdani's move to implement the upgraded safety plan marks a significant shift under his leadership. As a candidate for mayor, he had vowed to complete the original project if elected, and this decision seems to be a fulfillment of that promise.
The long-planned upgrades come after years of advocacy from local residents and street-safety advocates who have pushed for reforms aimed at reducing crashes and injuries on McGuinness Boulevard. The corridor has a history of serious accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, earning it notoriety as one of the city's most hazardous streets.
what kind of politician does that lol anyway glad zohran mamdani is stepping up his game and actually doing something about it, bike lanes on both sides are a no brainer 
lets get those congestion numbers down. all these business owners complaining about losing parking spots are just worried they won't make enough cash if people start cycling more 
. anyone else think adams' admin was trying to squeeze out the local cyclists for some shady deal 
I mean, can we really trust that these safety upgrades aren't just a PR stunt to distract from the real issues? Like, what about the bike lanes on both sides? Isn't that gonna cause more congestion and make it harder for cars to get through? 
And dedicated parking and loading lanes? How's that gonna work out? They're just gonna push all the traffic onto surrounding streets. It's like they're just giving up already... 
! This upgrade to McGuinness Boulevard is super overdue, imo 
. those original plans were gonna make a HUGE difference in reducing congestion and making the street safer for everyone 
. it's wild that Adams watered them down because of 'pushback' from business owners... like, what's more important than people's lives? 
anyway, Mamdani is all about listening to the community and following through on his promises 
. this is the kind of leadership we need in NYC 
!
. It'll definitely help reduce congestion and make the street safer for everyone.
The fact that he's not backing down from the original plan, which was super popular with locals, is a major win. And let's be real, those corruption allegations against Eric Adams' admin are no joke 
. Can't wait to see this project come to life and make McGuinness Boulevard a safer, more enjoyable place for everyone! 
. It's like, we need to be addressing these issues instead of just talking about them, you know? And yeah, McGuinness Boulevard is a nightmare, but it seems like the business owners and politicians are just using it as an excuse to push their own interests. I mean, who benefits from keeping bike lanes and pedestrian crossings on one side, while taking it away from the other? It's all about lining their pockets, not making our streets safer 
eric adams' admin was all about talking the talk but not walking the walk 
now zohran mamdani is stepping up and delivering 
. He's showing some major leadership skills by taking on the safety upgrades for Greenpoint's McGuinness Boulevard. I mean, that corridor has seen its fair share of crazy accidents over the years, so it's about time something was done about it.
. I'm not buying it for one second. Corruption allegations aside, it's clear Mamdani wants to make a real difference in Greenpoint 
Mamdani is trying to do the right thing here and that's what matters. Those bike lanes might be a pain for some business owners, but think about all those people who get hurt on McGuinness Boulevard every year 
. Maybe we can learn from each other and find ways to balance progress with concerns 
.
. The fact that Adams' chief adviser got busted for corruption just adds fuel to the fire 
. But overall, this is a huge win for anyone who's ever been hurt or near-hurt on that crazy street 
.
. As for the corruption allegations, the ongoing prosecution of Ingrid Lewis-Martin raises questions about accountability and transparency in local politics 
. While it's still early days, Mamdani's decision marks an important shift towards prioritizing public safety and community input 
. And I love that Mamdani is pushing back against his predecessor's watered-down plan, it shows he's not afraid to take on the tough decisions. The fact that some business owners were opposed to the original plan is wild, like what did they have to lose? But I guess sometimes you gotta put profits over people... or in this case, profits over safety