"The results are clear and dramatic," said Councilman Brad Lander, whose office produced the report. "More than half of B61's don't arrive on time during rush hour, that's unacceptable and is failing riders." The report, entitled "Next Bus Please" harnessed a gang of volunteers to gather the information during the three month period of July to September this year, surveying the peak hours.

A bus failing to arrive on schedule may not be like a unique occurrence, but for riders of the B61, the problems are particularly acute. Last summer four bus routes in Red Hook were closed, with the only consolation being the extension of the B61, and you don't have to be a mathematician to work out what a longer route, plus fewer of buses, equates to.

"There is a lack of transportation for the people of Red Hook, these people are taxpayers and they deserve to be treated like everyone else", Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez said through shivering teeth—waiting for the bus on a cold day like today is no pleasure. Those that rely on the B61 route are currently faced with two public transport options to commute to the city either, wait on a bus or use the $5 Ikea Water Taxi. With the recent closure of Smith Street subway station, matters have only grown worse.

Some of the suggestions listed in the report are to add more peak hour services; after this happens apply a limited-stop service to help riders get to their subway connections faster; and equip B61 buses with the M.T.A.'s Bus Time, a pilot program that uses GPS to provide real-time tracking of buses, so riders know when the bus will be arriving..

"Next we give this to the transit authority and sit down with them and see what we can do to fix this" said Mr. Lander.

"These recommendations are not pie in the sky, they've been applied on other routes and have shown to help the 2.4 million riders in this city," Paul Steely White of Transportation Alternatives said.

As the representatives and advocates spoke, behind them not one bus arrived, no doubt a scenario that was in the minds of the organizers when they planned to hold the conference at the stop.

Some of those in wait were regular users of the route. Angel Martinez told how he seems to be "waiting all the time", and how quickly the bus fills up when it does come. "It's frustrating, because sometimes you got to wait for the next one because it's so full," he said.

Rob Esposito takes the B61 in from Bensonhurst to go and take care of his aging uncle, he told The Observer. "You'll have grey hair by the time the next one comes," he said.

Just as the Observer was about to leave the stop at Forth and Ninth avenues, the irony of all ironies occurred: Two buses came at once.

sduffey@observer.com

According to several sources, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez is backing Jesus Gonzalez, a community organizer with Make the Road New York who also has the support of the Working Families Party. Velazquez has a longtime rivalry with Brooklyn Democratic leader Vito Lopez. Rafael Espinal, who is the chief-of-staff to Council member Erik Dilan--a longtime Lopez ally--is also in the race.

Meanwhile, the third candidate in the race, Deidra Towns--daughter of Congressman Ed Towns--has hired longtime Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf to manage her campaign.

No date for the special election has been set, but allies of Towns and Gonzalez are pushing for it to be held during the Democratic primary in September. Espinal is believed to have the inside track with the Kings County executive committee, and holding the election during the September primary will allow Towns and Gonzalez the chance to position onto the ballot.

"We need more regulations," said Velazquez, on the steps of City Hall.

Schumer said the need to look at the entire discount tour bus industry is long overdue.

"The industry has grown dramatically and it looks, on preliminary inspection, that the regulations haven't caught up with the growth of the industry," said Schumer.

Both described the discount tour bus industry as a vital part of the local economy.

I asked if either would recommend people avoid this mode of transportation until a more thorough review was complete.

"I would leave that, again, to the authorities and the NTSB," said Schumer.

The investigations are "going to be good for the industry," said Velazauez, who added, "once people know safety and soundness is in place, I would take one of those buses myself."

UPDATE: A reader notes Assembly Speaker Silver, State Senator Squadron and Councilwoman Chin proposed legislation last month to better regulate the industry. From a February 4 press release:

"The proposed legislation would authorize New York City to pass a local law to regulate intercity passenger buses through a permit system, which would include assigning pick-up/drop-off locations, providing for community board and MTA input and regulating enforcement. Permits could be issued for up to three years, and holders would pay the city an annual fee. "

The three are Lincoln Restler, Katie Zidar, and Esteban Duran.

"I am humbled and honored to have the support of Brooklyn's most beloved elected official," said Restler. "Congresswoman Velazquez is a progressive lion, who is a fiercely independent and devoted advocate for Brooklyn."

The move does not come as too much of a surprise, since Velazquez has been a longtime adversary of Vito Lopez, the Kings County Democratic Chairman, and all three are running to oust Lopez as chairman and reform the county party.

Duran, who is running against Lopez,  won a spot on the ballot after spending most of the week in court fending off efforts by Lopez to knock him off the ballot.

This also goes to show what we have been saying all along--that some of the fiercest battles this election season will involve the way-down ballot district leader fights in Brooklyn.

Read the full-release here:

BROOKLYN, NY - Today, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez welcomes a new era of progressive leadership in announcing her enthusiastic support of Lincoln Restler and Kate Zidar's insurgent campaigns for Democratic State Committee in the 50th Assembly District.

"Lincoln Restler is a fighter who represents the next generation of Brooklyn leadership.  I commend his commitment to social justice and enthusiastically endorse Lincoln Restler for Democratic State Committee," said Congresswoman Velazquez.

The Congresswoman also praised Kate's dedication to the community, saying, "Kate Zidar has a deep understanding of the environmental issues facing our neighborhoods. She will be a smart, innovative and effective advocate on the State Committee."

"I am humbled and honored to have the support of Brooklyn's most beloved elected official," said Restler. "Congresswoman Velazquez is a progressive lion, who is a fiercely independent and devoted advocate for Brooklyn. I look forward to working with her to increase transparency, accountability, and participation in our local Democratic Party."

 

Lincoln Restler's  grassroots campaign for State Committeeman in the 50th AD has garnered unprecedented support; Restler out-raised his opponent 3 to 1, bringing in over $55,000 to date, and has picked up a diverse array of endorsements: NYC Council Members Letitia James; Diana Reyna; Jumaane Williams; State Committeepersons Jo Anne Simon; Alan Fleishman, Joanne Seminara; Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn; New Kings Democrats.

Described by the Daily News' Errol Louis as part of the "young insurgent candidates" of the Obama Generation, Lincoln Restler is running for State Committeeman (also known as District Leader) to clean up the borough's Democratic party, which has seen three of the past four party bosses indicted on corruption charges. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Lincoln is a strong neighborhood advocate, active across the 50th AD as an elected officer of Community Board 2, a board member of the Pratt Area Community Council, the Fort Greene Association, and Brooklyn for Peace. Lincoln is also a founding member of Brooklyn Vanguard - a group focused on increasing engagement and support of the Brooklyn Public Library. As a Program Officer at an anti-poverty initiative at the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, Lincoln develops basic bank accounts for moderate income New Yorkers. Lincoln will bring his expertise and commitment to his native borough to fight for more open space, affordable housing, and transparency in Democratic Party operations.

Kate Zidar is an Environmental Planner and community advocate who is running for State Committee to give her neighbors a real voice within the local Democratic Party.  In addition to being a professor at Pratt Institute, a board member of the Newtown Creek Alliance, and the founder of the North Brooklyn Compost Project, Kate works with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to advocate for green infrastructure opportunities within the agency, and to design, build and maintain gardens and an urban ecology curriculum in collaboration with public housing youth, residents and staff.  Professionally, Kate coordinates the Stormwater Infrastructure Matters (S.W.I.M.) Coalition, a citywide organization of public, private and non-profit partners dedicated to ensuring swimmable, fishable waters around New York City.  Kate believes that true sustainability comes through community empowerment, good governance and long-view investment, and looks forward to applying those principals in her work with the Brooklyn Democratic Party.

For more information on Lincoln and Kate's candidacies, please visit LincolnRestler.org and KateZidar.org.

The script (in translation) goes:

Sean Coffey remembers what it was like to struggle.  His dad out looking for work.  His mom doing her best raising him and his seven brothers and sisters.  His parents were immigrants; new Americans looking for an opportunity to earn a living and raise a family.  His father lost his job more than once, but he never lost hope.  He and Sean's mom were the reason Sean went to the US Naval Academy and served over twenty years as a naval officer.  They were the reason Sean became a federal prosecutor who fought drug gangs and they were the reason Sean took on Wall Street fat cats who stole millions from small investors. 

 

Now, as he travels across New York to become your attorney general, Sean sees his parents in the people who want an attorney general to protect immigrants, take on Wall Street, and stop the culture of corruption in Albany.  Our community needs strong leadership that understands our priorities-that's the kind of leadership that Sean Coffey has shown over a lifetime of public service and that's the kind of leadership he'll show as our next Attorney General.

The campaign did not release details about the size of the ad buy. You can listen for yourself here

Shelton and others, including Rep. Charlie Rangel and Nydia Velazquez, spoke at a rally on the City Hall steps to "celebrate" the passage of the controversial bill. With Rangel and Velazquez looking on, Shelton said he wanted to thank the congressional members who voted for the bill, "and to the judas from Staten Island, we won't forget."

Rangel, trying to assuage the situation, said he thought Judas, after repenting, became a saint. [Not sure about that.]

Later at the press conference, I asked Shelton what can McMahon do to win back his support.

"I don't know what he could do to change what he did to the working people of New York City and the United States."

A reader sent in this photograph of a Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at a house party in Boerum Hill this weekend [location fixed].

Attendees, according to the reader, included Representative Nydia Velazquez, Assemblyman Jim Brennan, and District Leaders Jo Anne Simon and Alan Fleishman.

Economic anxiety nationwide, plus voter dissatisfaction with Albany is “making it very difficult for the governor to get the bull by the horns.”

Valezaquez, speaking to me outside City Hall yesterday, said, “This is a guy, who is a leader, and yet has done a lot of proposals that were perceived by many unions as being, you know, taking it to corporate America. So, I can understand his reaction. I do understand that in terms of race relations, we still have a long way to go.”

When I asked her if she’s ready now to support him for election, Velazquez demurred, saying, “I’m a Democrat.”

When I suggested he may not be the only Democrat to seek that office, she said, “I don’t hear, or I don’t see any other candidates running.”

I asked if she'd like to see another candidate running.

“I would like to see the state getting into the business of doing the work on behalf of the voters,” she said, neatly.

Vance and Velazquez were joined by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum on the steps of City Hall, surrounded by supporters carrying “Women for Vance” signs.

It was a clear shot at rival Leslie Crocker Snyder, the only woman in the race, and at one point a supporter of the death penalty.

When asked about not supporting the only woman in the race, Velazquez, who represents parts of the Lower East Side, Brooklyn and Queens, said, “Mr. Vance has everything that I’ve been looking for in the next DA of Manhattan. And as I’ve stressed, the death penalty, for me, is fundamental.”