The StreetsPAC Bump: Safe Streets Group Releases New Upstate Endorsements
A lot of street safety and transportation measures start at the state level, so, in 2024, StreetsPAC, the political action committee for the livable streets movement, started issuing a compilation of endorsements for candidates across the Empire State.
This year, StreetsPAC had more participation than ever before from candidates outside of New York City, which says a lot about the political clout of safe streets and transit issues, said the group’s executive director, Eric McClure.
“It’s clear that smart policies around street safety and public transit play well everywhere,” he said. “Especially when a thousand New Yorkers are dying annually in traffic crashes and gas is pushing $5 a gallon.”
StreetsPAC has endorsed seven candidates so far, covering major cities like Syracuse, Buffalo and Utica, and McClure said he expects to put out an even-larger slate during the even-more-competitive general election season.
The primary is slated for June 23, with early voting starting on June 13, so we’ve put together a list of all the candidates StreetsPAC thinks will help bring safer streets to the whole state. Some of these candidates hail from rural, car-ridden districts, but they all still have ideas for making cycling safer, revitalizing their downtowns with more biking and pedestrian infrastructure, and restricting dangerous drivers. (For the full StreetsPAC list, click here).
State Senate
Evan Menist (District 39; Dutchess, Orange & Putnam Counties): As a member of Poughkeepsie’s Common Council, Evan Menist worked to install new stop signs and other traffic calming measures in the city and worked with the Northern Dutchess NAACP to repeal Poughkeepsie’s bicycle registration law after learning that it was used to stop people of color disproportionately and to justify unlawful searches. He told StreetsPAC that now he’s pushing for the installation of speed cameras on busy, high density roadways in Poughkeepsie and is interested in restoring train service on abandoned rail corridors in his district.
Assembly
Jeannette Garcia (District 90; Yonkers): Jeannette Garcia told StreetsPAC that as a user of the city’s affordable bike-share system, she believes that Yonkers can bring more alternatives to driving to constituents.
StreetsPAC cited her interest in improving Metro-North service, expanding the Bee Line bus, and investing in protected bike lanes and share.
She also thinks that the state Department of Motor Vehicles should require defensive-driving education for license renewal.
Garcia is a labor organizer and immigration attorney.
Janet Tweed (District 102; Schoharie & Greene Counties): Janet Tweed knows her district is transit-starved and rural, she told StreetsPAC, but she is still advocating for complete-streets, inspired by her past bike-commuting experiences in Philadelphia and Chicago.
She wants to lower local speed limits to 25 mph and supports an Albany bill that would add a $25 car registration surcharge to fund upstate transit.
StreetsPAC said it had a good conversation with fellow candidate Thomas Boomhower, but Tweed’s experience lent her the advantage.
Sam Hodge (District 106; Columbia & Dutchess Counties): Sam Hodge was a junior prosecutor in the Bronx, and saw many repeat offenders in both DWI and suspended-license cases. Such cases informed his belief that the government needs more tools for holding dangerous drivers accountable.
He told StreetsPAC that he thinks that retesting drivers with repeated moving violations and requiring drivers to complete a safety module to renew their license could be a part of that.
Hodge is a former prosecutor and chair of the Columbia County Democratic Committee
Jon Lipe (District 119; Utica & Rome/Oneida County): StreetsPAC lauded Jon Lipe’s commitment to investing in public transit systems, expanding sidewalks, and, one day, creating a cycling network, in Rome and Utica, which he thinks could contribute to revitalizing those downtown areas.
He also told StreetsPAC that he’s open to mandating retesting for drivers with numerous moving violations.
Lipe is a former Legislative Assistant to former Rep. Anthony Brindisi, during the upstate congressman’s one term.
Maurice “Mo” Brown (District 129; Syracuse): Maurice Brown told StreetsPAC that he wants to increase funding for Centro — the region’s public-transit system — and make upgrades to the city’s bike infrastructure system. He told the group that he usually gets around on his e-bike and doesn’t support licensing for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, and that he’d like to expand the city’s scooter-share program.
His support for cyclists and his efforts to tear down I-81 and replace the highway with a street-grid plan granted him the endorsement from StreetsPAC.
Most important, Brown is running to unseat longtime Assembly Transportation Chair Bill Magnarelli, as Streetsblog previously reported.
Adam Bojak (District 149; Buffalo): Adam Bojak wants major improvements for Buffalo’s cycling infrastructure and more funding for an expansion of NFTA-Metro, which is responsible for operating the region’s buses and few rail options.
Bojak, who also has the Working Families Party line for November, told StreetsPAC that his focus will be on revitalizing Buffalo’s downtown and hopes to do so as a part of the Assembly’s transportation and housing committees.
Bojak is a member of the Buffalo chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. He is a lawyer.
Early voting for the Democratic primary will begin on June 13, with Election Day on June 23. For information about early voting, click here. To find your Election Day polling place, click here.
Read More:
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
