Costa Constantinides
Sept. 27, 2019. By Shane O’Brien
The New York City Council passed a bill on Wednesday introduced by Council Member Costa Constantinides that aims to ease congestion in the city by having city agencies make deliveries at night.
The bill, one of a series passed Wednesday as part of Climate Week, will force city agencies located south of 60th Street in Manhattan and in congested areas of Brooklyn and Queens to assess whether they can take deliveries overnight and during off-peak hours.
City agencies have six months after the bill becomes law to determine those sites where they could make deliveries. The bill is expected to be signed into law in October.
Constantinides argues that it would take a significant amount of trucks off the roads during busy daytime hours and reduce congestion in New York. The Council Member said that congestion caused by idling trucks is a big contributor of pollution.
The council passed other bills sponsored by Constantinides Wednesday.
One bill requires the installation of renewable energy storage in municipal buildings where feasible. Another bill requires the city to install solar panels in municipal buildings wherever possible by April 2021.
Constantinides said that the new laws would help the city reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 per cent from their 2005 levels by 2050.
“We, as a City government, must lead by example here. The bills we passed today [Wednesday], in recognition of Climate Week, pave the way to a brighter [future] by requiring overnight deliveries to City buildings wherever possible, as well as making it easier to store renewable energy,” said Constantinides.
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5 Comments
Ah yes our demoratic councilmen. Who built Astoria again?? It wasn’t Greeks right? Like u said to pander for votes on Steinway street. How about addressing the uptick in crime and QOL? A councilman who neglects his elderly constituents in need of help
All city councilpersons or any elected official should be banned from driving into NYC, take away free parking at City Hall and revoke their parking placards- let them use public transportation. This includes past councilpersons who miraculously still can park with a placard where ever they please.
Clueless Costa-what about the homeless encampments on Steinway street? What about the rise in crime in Astoria? What about the increase in store vacancies along Steinway street and now Broadway? What about the raving lunatics operating illegal mopeds riding on sidewalks, through traffic lights and speeding in the wrong direction? What about the graffiti?
Why is everyone giving you a thumbs down because you’re asking questions that would improve quality of life and safety if they get properly addressed? I’m in agreement with looking at environmental issues but can our “local” council person also look at local issues. My opinion on off peak deliveries are that it works for large companies that have multiple shifts and multiple employees. How does a mom and pop place with maybe 1-2 workers if lucky deal with deliveries at odd times?
I’m not saying these measures wouldn’t help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but where does he get 80% from? This is only targeting municipal trucks and buildings. Seems like a gross exaggeration to me.