Lancaster OUT at DOB

Well, this is tremendous news.

Facing pressure from City Hall and growing criticism for a spike in fatal construction accidents, Buildings Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster resigned on Tuesday, becoming the first commissioner to leave the Bloomberg administration under a cloud of public controversy.

We can only hope that this resignation engenders the same kind of sea change as the replacement of Iris Weinshall with Jeanette Sadik-Khan at DOT. The person at the top sets the tone for the whole organization. Of course, you need the Mayor's support . . . but Bloomberg has shown big changes before, and perhaps this signals positive change coming at DOB.

And here I am, and many others across the city I'm sure, preparing testimony for the Assembly Hearing on DOB's shortcomings and a passel of bills by Assemblymen Brennan, Lentol, and Hevesi to reform DOB. I think Lancaster was smart to get out of dodge before being ripped a new one publicly on Thursday morning.

We can and must do better. Let's start, Mayor Bloomberg, with having a panel that includes interests besides developers and the building trades vet the next DOB commissioner.

Previously at FirstandCourt: Scarano - Lancaster Scandal

Public Place Layout

Brownstoner has all the details in a very comprehensive rundown of the winning bid.

All things considered, and especially given some of the alternatives I saw, this looks pretty good.

Image courtesy of Brownstoner. Check out their post.

34th Street BRT - A Good First Step

Second Avenue Sagas (and Streetsblog, yesterday posted the entire pdf deck) have the details on a coordinated effort between DOT and the MTA to bring about better mass transit service across town. With the (for now at least) death of congestion pricing, the City is looking at alternative means of reducing congestion in Manhattan.

One way to reduce congestion is by making the transit system a more attractive option. The bus system will be a great deal more popular when people can get on a cross-town bus and actually move faster than if they had walked. Connect these dedicated bus lanes with major rail hubs and ferry service, and we're getting a lot closer to comprehensive mass transit service.

And that's something we'll need to get people out of their cars.

Frustration: Internet and Albany

Posting has been light as I've been choked off from internet access for much of the day and been working long hours. The Blackberry is a lifeline but only for keeping up (on delay) through RSS feeds.

So today was a roller coaster of disappointment, interspersed with peaks of hope before plunging once again into despair. I speak, of course, of congestion pricing. Streetsblog covered the unfolding events heavily throughout the day, and at times it looked like a deal might be pulled out. But it was not to be.

At least, for now. CP has been declared dead before, so we'll see. We'll see what alternatives are offered, because we are looking at a disaster for transit funding if we don't identify a replacement revenue stream, stat.

I commend Joan Millman for her last minute support of congestion pricing. I know Joan, and I know that her office wrestled mightily with this issue and sought the best solution for our district. And I say, thank you for listening and ultimately making the right call.

Ben Kabak reacts to this inexcusable failure of Albany over at Second Avenue Sagas.

The ball is in your court Mr. Silver. The city needs tens of billions of dollars in new transit infrastructure investment. This plan has died on your doorstep. Now it's up to you to FIND THE MONEY.

Congestion Pricing Passes City Council

A battle won! I am frankly disappointed with where Bill deBlasio ended up on this issue (voted no), though David Yassky, Tish James, Simcha Felder and Domenic Recchia deserve kudos for their votes. And you really have to admire the way that Speaker Christine Quinn wrangled the votes; I am truly impressed with her whip ability.

The war remains. We still need to get this measure passed at the state level. Contact your Assembly and Senate delegations . . . we still have a fight on our hands.

Remember: you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Be civil and rational when stating your case. I know that my own Assemblymember, Joan Millman, has had concerns about aspects of the congestion pricing program. I am still hopeful that she can come to support this very necessary measure.

Gov. Siegelman Freed!

This is fantastic news. Don Siegelman, former governor of Alabama, was railroaded in a political prosecution orchestrated by the Bush administration. See my previous posts on this subject.

But first, see the full story at Harper's, TPM, and Emptywheel's digs. You'll see some concern trolls out there, who will warn you under their breath not to get to excited defending Siegelman, he's dirty. At first, I was wary myself. But after a lot of reading on the subject let me tell you: that's a crock.

This is the most clear case of political prosecution I've seen, and it is absolutely shocking that the GOP was so brazen. There's a lot of fireworks to come on this, and I suspect some of the prosecution team and/or the trial court judge will see the inside of a prison before we're through.

Murder in Carroll Gardens

Holy cow. CBS news reported last night guy was stabbed to death in his basement apartment at 326 Carroll Street.

CBS News Video

The Gowanus Lounge has more details, via the Times and Channel 7. Here's a snippet:

The Times provided this detail:

...Sanjeev Seekoomar, 34, was found on Tuesday morning stabbed to death in his basement apartment at 326 Carroll Street in Carroll Gardens, the police said. The door to the apartment was pushed in and the apartment ransacked, indicating a possible burglary or robbery, but motive was being investigated, the police said.

The Daily News adds the details that the victims throat was slashed and that he may have been killed by a possible sex partner. The Post opines that the victim may have known the killer.

Horrible.