A bipartisan group of Brooklyn elected officials is demanding that the New York City Department of Transportation immediately halt the implementation of a controversial bike network expansion in Brooklyn Community Board 14, arguing that the project was advanced without the legally required notice and public process.

In a sharply worded letter dated July 21, Councilmember Simcha Felder, Assemblymembers Simcha Eichenstein and Kalman Yeger, and Councilmember Inna Vernikov called on DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn to “cease and desist” from moving forward with the project south of Avenue H.

The lawmakers contend that the bike lane expansion is being carried out despite widespread opposition from residents and local officials and accuse the department of implementing the project “in the dead of night” without proper notification.

“We write as a group of bipartisan, duly elected New York City and New York State elected officials to demand that the Department of Transportation cease and desist the implementation of the Bike Network expansion within Brooklyn Community Board 14 (CB14), south of Avenue H,” the letter states.

The officials acknowledge that the proposal had previously received approval under two earlier mayoral administrations but argue that the current implementation violates Section 19-101.2 of the New York City Administrative Code because required notifications were not provided.

“Despite our and our constituents’ overwhelming opposition to this project, opposition assented to by two prior Mayoral administrations, we believe the Department’s implementation of this project in the dead of night—without proper notification—violates section 19-101.2 of the New York City Administrative Code,” they wrote.

According to the letter, none of the elected officials’ offices received advance notice before work on the project began. They also allege that the DOT failed to honor Community Board 14’s request to meet with the community within the timeframe required by law.

“Failure to follow the requirements of this section include but are not limited to the notification requirements to City & State elected officials. To the best of our knowledge our respective offices did not receive notification in advance of the implementation of this project. Additionally, upon information and belief, there was a Departmental failure to honor CB14’s request to meet with the community within the time prescribed by the Administrative Code,” the letter states.

The lawmakers argue that bypassing the required procedures undermines both the authority of local elected officials and the community board.

“Lawlessness is not how an agency is intended to operate. Continuing this project would be an attempt to usurp the rights of the Community Board, City Councilmembers, and State representatives that the Administrative Code establishes,” they wrote.

The letter concludes by urging the DOT to stop the project immediately, characterizing the agency’s actions as an attack on representative government.

“To wit, this is not governance but an attempt to undermine representative democracy. We demand the DOT end this project with all deliberate speed.”

Copies of the letter were also sent to the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the New York City Law Department.

The Department of Transportation has not yet publicly responded to the lawmakers’ allegations.

{Matzav.com}