Rx for pedestrian crossings
Re “Design Innovation Key to Vision Zero Goals” (news, Jan. 29, 2015):
To The Editor:
As a pedestrian, I fear for my life crossing with the light. A taxi hit me a few years ago — not seriously, but a few of my neighbors were not so lucky.
I believe that all pedestrian crossings should be simultaneous, i.e., no cars in the intersection. I was watching an intersection in Tokyo last week on TV and saw only pedestrians crossing, while traffic awaited their turn to proceed.
With all the snow, ice and slush these past few weeks adding to the challenge of crossing the street (not to mention getting on and off buses), I wonder what ever happened to the safety of pedestrians — especially here in the Big Apple. With all the new islands for safe bike lanes (which we need), this winter’s storms have made maneuvering to cross the street a more dangerous undertaking.
K. Dupuy
Hooray for Jay
Re “Jay Stockman Reflects on 40 Years of Activism and Service” (feature, Jan. 29, 2015):
To The Editor:
At least three cheers for Jay Stockman, maybe more! I have seen Jay just about everywhere — at meetings, at demonstrations, at political events —for longer than I like to remember.
As someone who has been at almost everything since Tom Duane’s original run for city office (a long time ago), I saw Jay Stockman. He was everywhere!
Okay, three hundred cheers for Jay. Everyone in our community should see him as an example of what we should all strive to be.
Thanks, Jay.
Gloria Sukenick
Real B&B’s versus Airbnb
To The Editor:
Most cities and towns have legal allowance and regulation for real B&B’s, which are not hotels, nor are they fly-by-night-rent-my-apartment situations. They have specific zoning and regulations tailored to their size and kind of business.
New York’s short-term rental law was a blunt instrument that damaged and made an endangered species of a well-respected and well-used product in the city. One element of the city said they have been okay with B&B’s — they happily collected lodging taxes from them — while another element of the city said they were out of bounds.
An amendment to the law should be put into effect that supports the existence of B&B’s — which utilize the entirety of a small building, thus avoiding disturbing any residential tenants — while separately regulating the Airbnb’s.
B&B’s are a preferred experience all over the world. Historic homes and buildings have been preserved and opened to the public through these legitimate, small businesses.
This isn’t the sharing economy. This isn’t Uber or Airbnb. This is a decades-old industry with 17,000-plus properties around the United States alone.
Think of food trucks. They are legitimate, have specific laws and have boundaries within which to play. B&B’s are like them. Legit. Lawful. Appreciated by the public.
Imagine if anyone could sell hot dogs out of the back of their Honda. That’s the equivalent of the short-term rental problem the law was trying to quash.
Fix the law!
Jay Karen
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