Day: November 20, 2024

THE CITY Department of Small Business Services on Monday announced a new Cypress Hills Fulton Business Improvement District along Fulton.

The post Copy of City announces new Cypress Hills BID appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

Губернатор Кэти Хоукул сегодня объявила, что общий набор студентов в Городской университет Нью-Йорка увеличивается второй год подряд, включая увеличение числа студентов в общественных колледжах университета […]

Губернатор использует дополнительные ресурсы для сдерживания крупнейшего лесного пожара в Нью-Йорке с 2008 года; Пожар теперь локализован на 90 процентов Более 400 пожарных частей, в […]

As the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge approaches its 60th anniversary on Nov. 21, the monumental feat of engineering remains an integral piece of New York City’s infrastructure.

Once the longest suspension bridge in the world, and now the 13th-longest globally, the bridge handles over 200,000 vehicles every day and plays a crucial role in connecting Brooklyn and Staten Island.

To better understand the iconic structure, Brooklyn Paper spoke with experts from WSP, the firm behind the bridge’s original design and ongoing maintenance and preservation.

“This bridge is not merely a crossing; it’s a major lifeline that holds up 1.4 million tons of concrete and 143,000 miles of cable wire,” said Jonathan Morey, senior bridge engineer at WSP. “It truly represents the ingenuity of its time and the continuous advancements in engineering that keep it operational today.”

The bridge was initially proposed to connect Staten Island with the rest of the boroughs.

According to Stuart Rankin, a professional engineer and senior vice president of the National Bridges and Structures Practice at WSP, Staten Island was effectively cut off from the rest of the city before the bridge’s opening in 1964. 

“You can’t even imagine the inconvenience it caused,” Rankin said. “The only way to traverse to Manhattan was by ferry, which limited both mobility and economic growth for Staten Island.”

The connection was first proposed as a tunnel with a rail connection to the other boroughs. However, shortly after construction began, the then government prohibited rail travel through the tunnel. This cut off any potential funding from the freight rails, effectively cutting the tunnel construction budget.

Now preparing to build a bridge, the engineers realized they were addressing more than just a transportation hurdle, but also the socio-economic effects the bridge would have. The ability to easily access other boroughs transformed Staten Island from an isolated locale into a thriving hub for residents and businesses. 

“The construction of the bridge really gave Staten Island the opportunity to become a residential arm of New York City, showing the significant impact it has had on the economic development of the area,” Rankin said.

The bridge, named after European explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, opened in 1964 with just the upper deck. Within a few years, congestion became a pressing concern. Six years later, in 1969, the lower deck opened to traffic. 

“The bridge’s design anticipated this growth, and as engineers, we’re proud that we could pave the way for such rapid evolution,” Morey said. 

Today, the bridge has 13 lanes, seven on the upper deck and six on the lower, and has become known for more than just carrying cars. It serves as the iconic starting point for the New York City Marathon, which saw more than 50,000 runners this year, and marks the end of the Five Boro Bike Tour. Most years, endangered peregrine falcons nest atop the structure. 

And the bridge continues to evolve. 

WSP constantly evaluates ways to maintain the structure, factoring in elements of climate change and car developments. Ongoing upkeep includes physical repairs, corrosion cleaning, repainting, and engineering studies. The team also stays abreast of new technological advancements to see how to better support the Verrazzano- Narrows Bridge.

Most recently, they implemented cable dehumidification to preserve the suspension cables. 

“This bridge has to last through all kinds of conditions — Mother Nature, corrosion and urban stressors,” Morey said. “By injecting dry air into the cables, we can significantly reduce the moisture that leads to corrosion.”

Such methods are vital for ensuring the bridge remains safe and functional for generations.

The engineers at WSP said they learned unique lessons learned from working on the Verrazzano. 

“Everything is massive,” Rankin said. “But that also signifies the resolve of those engineers back in the day, who built the world’s largest suspension bridge using relatively rudimentary tools and equipment.”

On the future of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Rankin posed a critical question. 

“Can we picture a future where the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is no longer needed?” he said. “Given what it means to the communities, it’s hard to envision that day.”

As the anniversary approaches, WSP is opening its vault of historic photographs documenting the bridge’s construction and evolution over the past 60 years.

“We’re excited to share this curated selection with the public,” Morey said. “It’s essential to recognize not just the bridge’s significance but also its rich history.”

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a beacon of ingenuity and perseverance in a city that thrives on progress and connectivity, he said. It holds a particular symbolism for Morey.  

“Don’t give up and keep trying,” he said.

Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch will take the reins of the NYPD Monday as the city’s new top cop, Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday.

Tisch will succeed interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon, who took the position back in September following the resignation of Edward Caban, who stepped down amid scandal. She will not only be the second female top cop in the city’s history, but also the fourth different police commissioner in Mayor Adams’ first term.

“To ensure New Yorkers have the ability to thrive in our city, we need a strong, battle-tested leader who will continue to drive down crime and ensure New Yorkers are safe and feel safe, and I cannot think of a leader more up to the task than Commissioner Jessica Tisch,” Adams said during a Nov. 20 press conference at City Hall. “As one of the most successful managers in our administration, I am confident that Commissioner Tisch will effectively lead the greatest police department in the world and continue to deliver the safety and peace of mind New Yorkers deserve.”

Tisch previously held several civilian posts in the Police Department but was never a uniformed cop. Adams appointed her as sanitation commissioner at the start of his tenure in 2022, and Tisch’s stewardship at the agency made her one of the scandal-scarred administration’s more stable leaders.

Following Caban’s resignation, Tisch’s name had been floated on a short list of potential long-term replacements.

“It is now my privilege to lead you, and I am looking forward to coming home,” Tisch said at a Nov. 20 press conference at City Hall. “Mayor Adams has been very clear that the priorities are supporting you as a fight crime and disorder, keeping you safe and bringing the department into the next century. “To New Yorkers, I hear you loud and clear. The mission is to keep you safe, to make you feel safe, and to improve your quality of life, to restore dignity and work every street, every neighborhood, every borough in the city.”

Tisch’s first day as NYPD commissioner will be Monday, Nov. 25.

This is a developing story; check with amNY.com for additional updates.

Two Trees Management is opening Williamsburg’s first waterfront ice-skating rink in Domino Park, along with other holiday programming.

The post Domino Park opens ice skating rink in time for holiday season appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

NYC will become the first city in the nation to implement congestion pricing next year. Is it an impactful way to improve air quality in the city while funding critical transit upgrades? Or is it an unnecessary money-grabbing move that will put yet another major dent in the wallets of New Yorkers?

Opinions on the historic move run the gamut. And amNewYork Metro has launched a poll to hear yours. 

But first, the facts: The Big Apple will ring in 2025 with the start of the controversial tolling plan just after midnight on Jan. 5. Approved by the MTA board on Monday, Nov. 18, the program will charge cars and trucks $9 for driving into Manhattan below 60th Street — known as the Congestion Relief Zone — starting in the new year.

The toll will not apply to vehicles using the FDR Drive, West Side Highway and Hugh L. Carey (Brooklyn Battery) Tunnel connecting to West Street.

While some New Yorkers consider congestion pricing a wonderful holiday season gift for the Big Apple, others have expressed ongoing disdain that the government would charge residents to travel within their own city.

Environmental and transportation advocates have praised congestion pricing throughout its on-again, off-again ordeal on the New York city and state political table.

“Congestion pricing is a major win for all New Yorkers, setting a national example on how to reduce pollution, invest in mass transit, and improve human health,” said Bill Ulfelder, The Nature Conservancy’s New York executive director. “Congestion pricing improves air quality for all and invests in vital infrastructure that all New Yorkers depend on. We commend Governor Hochul for implementing congestion pricing in New York City.”

But on the flip side, many New Yorkers, especially those from Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, vehemently fought against the “cash grab,” which will start at $9 and continue with the originally approved $15 rate by 2031. Officials said that rates are expected to remain the same through 2027.

“Gov. Hochul’s cash-grabbing congestion pricing scheme has been ultimately revived in favor of her and the MTA rather than protecting the pockets of hard-working New Yorkers who commute to work daily,“ said Assembly Member Michael Tannousis, who represents parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island.

An outspoken opponent of congestion pricing, Tannousis had, throughout the 2024 election, called the traffic proposal a political move from NYS Gov. Kathy Hochul, who halted the plan in June.

Although Hochul justified the pause by saying congestion pricing was an unfair burden for New Yorkers, given the city’s high inflation and other affordability issues, Tannousis saw it as something different.

“Ironically, this final decision comes as a political move from Hochul and Albany Democrats before President Trump, a major opponent of the plan, takes office,” he said. “New York’s unaffordability crisis only gets worse while Hochul ignores the issues that damage our state the most. I call on the Trump Administration to audit the MTA and put a final halt on this unfeasible and senseless plan.” 

What do YOU think of congestion pricing in NYC?

Politics aside, amNewYork Metro wants to hear from you — the more than 8 million New Yorkers who rely on city streets and public transit to navigate our bustling city.

First, we want to know if you support the plan. Take our poll and tell us how you feel. We’ll report back next week with the results.

We’ll conduct more polls throughout the plan’s initial launch to give New Yorkers a chance to voice their opinions.

Learn more about congestion pricing on the MTA’s website at congestionreliefzone.mta.info.

Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday he would reinstate the last of five NYPD academy classes that he suspended last year due to budget strains related to the migrant crisis.

Hizzoner announced the restoration as part of his November update to the $112 billion Fiscal Year 2025 budget agreed upon by his budget team and the City Council. The reversal means that 1,600 more NYPD cadets will join the force in 2025, bringing the force’s total headcount to 34,000.

The update increased the total FY 2025 budget to $115 billion, though the Mayor’s office notes that the spending plan remains balanced.

The five suspended academy classes, four of which the mayor had already restored earlier this year, were part of a wave of dramatic spending reductions he enacted to balance the city budget amid massive projected spending on the migrant influx.

But Adams has since reversed many of those trims, declaring they were no longer necessary due to better-than-expected tax revenues and a plan to reduce spending on caring for new arrivals.

The budget that the council passed earlier this year restored funding to most of the vital areas that city lawmakers and advocates had pushed to make whole. Those include the city’s three public library systems, cultural institutions, parks, and early childhood education programs.

This is a developing story; check with amNY.com later for updates.