Monday Headlines: Drunk Jerks Beware Edition
Chaos can have beautiful side effects.
Buffalo civic leaders still reeling from July 4 violence on Chippewa Street have been positing solutions, but there is no need to wait on one fix: Making it car-free.
The popular entertainment district roadway was closed to vehicle traffic over the weekend and parking lots were closed after Mayor Sean Ryan called the area a “drinking fight club” on Thursday.
The tactic has been attempted before, with officials believing the lack of traffic makes emergency response times faster and reduces the risk of injuries and fatalities as a result of drunk driving to and from the area. And Chippewa Street is no stranger to drunk bozos putting whole sidewalks at risk.
It isn’t a fleeting concern either, with the Buffalo Common Council considering further steps, like ID checkpoints and vehicle barriers. As WGRZ reported, Ryan took the streets himself Saturday to evaluate safety with his own eyes.
Elsewhere in the Empire State:
- A bike and pedestrian path in Amityville will link residents to the nearby LIRR station. (Newsday)
- Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is trying to court the Jewish vote during his longshot Republican bid for governor. (Newsday)
- Reformist members of the Brooklyn Democratic Party say they have the votes to oust Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn (D-Brooklyn) as chair. (The City Reporter)
- The game of car theft cat and mouse between thieves and NYPD officers is evolving. (Gothamist)
- Walking can be dangerous in ways you’ve never envisioned. Con Edison is being sued after a woman fell to her death in an open manhole. (NY1)
- Political leaders are worried that insurgent socialist victories can mean diluted representation for communities of color. (The New York Times)
- The MTA sees a temporary G train shutdown as a necessary evil amid upgrades. (The Daily News)
- A missing man was found near the Wingdale Metro-North station. (Mid Hudson News)
- Traffic patterns are changing in Albany’s Washington Park to make life safer for pedestrians. (WAMC)
- Assembly Member and recent congressional primary winner Micah Lasher (D-Manhattan) is sticking with controversial political consultant Morris Katz. (City & State)
- The owners of the Buffalo Bills are helping fill Gov. Hochul’s campaign coffers. (WSKG)
- Democrats in New York aren’t resting on their laurels heading into November. (The Times Union)
- Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon is calling his approval of legislation that limits how long he can serve a clerical error, but Democratic county legislators disagree. (State of Politics)
- GoBike Buffalo took over Interstate 190 and the Skyway on Sunday. (The Buffalo News)
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