1. I guess Vickie Paladino doesn't realize that the criminals she's thinking about aren't riding along the waterfront, admiring the view. Look at L.I.C., Greenpoint, Williamsburg, where the new Greenways have brought UP the quality of life, along with planned, and, yes, expensive, residential towers (affordable housing is planned, but as always, comes in last, after investors have been repaid).
2. People in poor neighborhoods don't want Greenways either! Why? Because they see them as gentrifiers! Well, it can't be both ways, can it? If Greenway gentrify neighborhoods, they can't be also bringing in crime, right? No, this is about people who don't want to get out of their cars, want to drive and park everywhere, live in single family homes and rarely mingle outside of work. But, here's the thing: Greenways are used by walkers, bikers, wheelchair users, old folks and park goers. Not a criminal in that bunch. They increase the value of the neighborhood, they don't reduce it.
Paladino is scared of migrants, of people who haven't been vetted at the border. I get it. A lot of think the border policies have been too lax, and even that bail reform etc. has gone too far. But she's wrong to think that Greenways are going to become populated by tent cities and criminals. That's just not how it works. I look forward to riding the new Greenways in her district, if I'm still young enough to do so by then, given the glacial pace of Greenway development in the city.
Two things:
1. I guess Vickie Paladino doesn't realize that the criminals she's thinking about aren't riding along the waterfront, admiring the view. Look at L.I.C., Greenpoint, Williamsburg, where the new Greenways have brought UP the quality of life, along with planned, and, yes, expensive, residential towers (affordable housing is planned, but as always, comes in last, after investors have been repaid).
2. People in poor neighborhoods don't want Greenways either! Why? Because they see them as gentrifiers! Well, it can't be both ways, can it? If Greenway gentrify neighborhoods, they can't be also bringing in crime, right? No, this is about people who don't want to get out of their cars, want to drive and park everywhere, live in single family homes and rarely mingle outside of work. But, here's the thing: Greenways are used by walkers, bikers, wheelchair users, old folks and park goers. Not a criminal in that bunch. They increase the value of the neighborhood, they don't reduce it.
Paladino is scared of migrants, of people who haven't been vetted at the border. I get it. A lot of think the border policies have been too lax, and even that bail reform etc. has gone too far. But she's wrong to think that Greenways are going to become populated by tent cities and criminals. That's just not how it works. I look forward to riding the new Greenways in her district, if I'm still young enough to do so by then, given the glacial pace of Greenway development in the city.