The City Council’s vote on a proposed package to cut the number of horse-drawn carriages in the city by more than half was nixed today after the Teamsters union, which represents the carriage drivers, backed out of the deal. In a statement, Mayor Bill de Blasio criticized the Teamsters for pulling out of the agreement. Although the support for the motion exists in the council, it will not go forward without an agreement from all parties, Mr. de Blasio said. (Observer)
Following the the MTA’s proposal to shut down the L Train for a year, panic has ensued. But what exactly will happen to the 350,000 daily L riders? Those in Williamsburg could be given new transport by bus, Skyway or ferry across the East River, but most proposals are unclear at this time. Meanwhile other residents displaced by the potential closure would likely be able to utilize other routes, such as the M, J, Z and G trains. Currently, the MTA lacks sufficient ferry capacity to erect either a small boat or large boat route across the river, so any plan to equip such a system would require retrofitting new ferries quickly. A bus route could be hard-pressed to serve the thousands of Williamsburg-based commuters in the area, particularly due to the comparatively low capacity of the MTA’s articulated busses. (New York)
A “pro-rape” meet-up scheduled to take place in Washington Square Park has been called off following threats of counter-protests, largely from New York University students. Organized by “men’s rights activist” Roosh V, the rally’s participants had planned to meet on Saturday, but after NYU officials alerted police that their students might protest the event, the 6th Precinct announced plans to ramp up its policing efforts, causing Roosh V to cancel the rally altogether. Among other groups promising to disrupt the meet-up was a women’s boxing team. Published pieces on Roosh V’s blog include titles such as “I am a Rapist,” “When No Means Yes” and “All Public Rape Allegations Are False.” (DNAinfo)
The days of trolley dodgers may be back if Mr. de Blasio gets his way. The mayor has floated a proposal for a $2.5 billion trolley system along the East River between Sunset Park and Astoria. The trolley, which would be substantially cheaper than a new subway line, would move at 12 mph and run roughly 16 miles, including stops in Williamsburg, DUMBO and Greenpoint. All Brooklyn Dodgers and Tennessee Williams jokes aside, the plan has generated controversy and ridicule on social media and in the press, with many alleging that simply biking between Sunset Park and Astoria would take substantially less time. (Brokelyn)
Metropolitan Opera principal conductor Fabio Luisi will leave his podium for at least two seasons to pursue other ventures in music, as well as his own personal passion: fragrance design. Mr. Luisi, who creates scents in a Central Park-adjacent studio, was once assumed to be the natural successor to the Met’s music director, James Levine, who will likely stand down in the near future, but instead he will work with opera companies in Europe and take a leave from the Met. (New York Times)
