Crossing West Street
To the editor:
As a result of the death of pedestrian Marilyn Feng on February 13, 2009, our community was reminded of the unusually short time traffic light intervals to cross treacherous West Street.
In response, the Department of Transportation increased the timing so one could cross without running a sprint. Recently, again owing to community concerns, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation provided a $1.2 million grant to station crossing guards at the intersections at Chambers Street and southward on weekdays during normal business hours only, and not inclusive of weekends.
Without notifying the community, the D.O.T. has once again restored the short time intervals to those in effect in February 2009. All you have to do is watch those hard-working guards urging people to walk faster as the lights quickly change.
Did anyone responsible for restoring the shorter intervals know that we do not have 24/7 guards? And why was this done without public notification and input? Let’s hope that C.B. 1 and our local representatives take to task those responsible, and restore intervals that allow all to safely WALK across West Street.
John Brindisi
Battery Park City
Misinformation needs correcting
To the editor:
Re: “Downtown small biz sector gets boost from Camelot” (news article Dec. 7)
I want to correct misinformation in profiling publicist Christina Cozzi and Camelot. The article cites Cozzi’s claims that some proceeds of her October event were given to the Hive at 55.
Unfortunately, despite Cozzi’s publicity blitz avowing the event was rooted in philanthropic intentions, not a single dime was subsequently given to the Hive. We should point out: we never approached Cozzi to ask for the event or to be a recipient, and we appreciated her desire to help this worthy, non-profit operation. And, the Hive even purchased a ticket so its director could attend Cozzi’s event for a speaking program that was then abruptly cancelled during the event. Cozzi’s subsequent demands that the Alliance and the Hive divert their efforts to substantially promote her event were unrealistic and scattershot.
It’s a shame. While we support entrepreneurial endeavors, the entire experience developed into a bait-and-switch. It’s an unfortunate irony that she claims the event was a resounding success yet inevitably stiffed its publicized beneficiary.
Jeff Simmons
Vice President for Communications, Alliance for Downtown New York
