By Gus Saltonstall
A co-chair of the Upper West Side Community Board 7’s Parks & Environment Committee abruptly resigned this week, citing her frustration over how the city and CB7 have handled a proposal for an electric-bike charging hub slated for the public plaza outside the subway station on Broadway between West 71st and 72nd streets.
Susan Schwartz announced her resignation in an email on November 29 to board chair Beverly Donohue. In the email, which Schwartz shared with West Side Rag, she said she decided to step down after the city’s Department of Parks & Recreation confirmed in October that it was planning to go ahead with the “deliverista hub” outside the West 72nd Street station, despite fierce opposition from Community Board 7 and the neighborhood.
Schwartz’s resignation letter noted that the department’s decision came after about 300 community residents attended a Valentine’s Day Parks & Recreation Committee meeting this year, in which 86 percent of them testified against the plan, with another 200 negative written comments submitted.
Opponents said the location was already crowded, with three subway lines, five bus lines, and a heavy pedestrian presence all converging at the plaza.
“I have been accused of caring about this so deeply simply because I live across the street, which is not the case,” Schwartz penned in her resignation. “I care because this intersection is already perilous for pedestrians, and the installation of an e-bike hub here will increase the risk for pedestrians above ground and possibly for those in the subway station below, as well.”
She added that when her CB7 committee called its public hearing on the issue, “the community attended and engaged with us and we have not been able to represent their interests effectively.”
The proposed hub is part of the “Street Deliverista Hubs” pilot program aiming to “transform existing city infrastructure, like vacant newsstands, into hubs that allow app-based delivery workers time to rest and recharge,” according to a statement from Mayor Eric Adams.
Schwartz’s resignation came a few weeks after she and her co-chair drafted a letter to send to Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue, reiterating the board’s opposition to the hub.
She was not given the green light by the board to send it, though. CB7 Board Chair Beverly Donohue told WSR in an email on Thursday that the letter was “basically a duplicate” of one sent by the board in April.
“Absent any new developments, a new letter did not seem warranted,” she added. “Our Board also passed a widely-circulated resolution opposing the 71st Street site for a hub while recognizing the urgent need for infrastructure to support the delivery workers on the Upper West Side.”
Donohue said she regretted Schwartz’s decision to resign, saying “She has made significant contributions to the Board as a member and co-chair over many years.”
In her resignation letter, Schwartz said that despite challenges, it had “been a pleasure and honor to serve on the board since April 2016.” The decision had not been easy, she said, “but I feel I am no longer effectively representing our community.”
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It’s very likely that 5 lane intersection,, called by many the Bowtie of Death, will be the scene of tragedies. What number of them will be necessary to stop yet another giveaway to the maniacs already allowed free rein over our sidewalks and crosswalks. It’s terrifying to be a pedestrian here now.
Why not mention what makes it dangerous? It’s not the bikes, it’s the cars.
Don’t be absurd. I don’t experience cars on the sidewalks. I don’t experience cars zooming the wrong way up one way streets. Rarely does a car run a red light, yet it’s almost all bikes that do. Rarely do cars explode into flames unless they are hit at high speed or purposely exploded. Please, stop. Just stop. BIKES HAVE MADE THIS CITY UNWALKABLE. WE ALL KNOW IT. STOP!
Ulrika,
I am a pedestrian.
On a daily basis see bicycles nearly hitting pedestrians. Citibikers the most egregious in ignoring traffic rules
The data tells another story. Over 200 New Yorkers killed this year, 40k Americans killed each year -by cars..
Ultika,
I am a native West Sider.
The expansion of bicycle use has made things really unpleasant for pedestrians.
I understand that you may have a different opinion.
And now it’s both! Good job, everyone. Way to make NYC somehow even less safe for everyone.
If that intersection is already so dangerous, what are we doing to make it safe?
Josh,
Years ago DOT instituted improvements to make the area less confusing – but that was before Trader Joe’s arrived.
TJ has generated a lot of traffic,
Also due to TJ, the City forced the M5 bus stop to move from Broadway to 72nd which is unfair to bus riders
Actually, the West 71st and 72nd Street Block Associations are working with the Dept. of Traffic and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal’s office to make this area safer, including ideas for traffic calming and curb extensions (making shorter crossing distances. Of course our work also includes being sure that the proposed station is relocated to a safer location with fewer pedestrians. We are working vigorously on this and cannot understand why anyone would not recognize immediately that this is a dangerous location for such a project. The West 71st Street Block Association has suggested several other safer locations and we are also exploring legal options to keep our community safe.
thanks for this info. how can we participate?
There’s already a hub at 70th and Amsterdam. Can’t miss it. May as well make it official, make Grub Hub pay for it and support the guys who keep us fed in our warm comfy houses.
STOP – stop ordering.
Be the change yourself.
Walk to the restaurant and pick up your own food)
After having multiple friends and myself hit by delivery bikes…. I refuse to support this way of delivery.
Or just try cooking at home. You’ll be surprised how good you’ill get at it and how much you’ll save. And maybe safer.
It’s really very simple if people take action by simply not ordering food to be delivered! You are making billion dollar delivery services richer while they abuse their workers by giving them low wages, No charging stations, No bathrooms, No safe lithium batteries for their bikes, No insurance coverage and then expect the city to pick up the slack.
I never use delivery services by choice. I walk to local restaurants and markets and interact with my community. When others do the same we will make our streets and sidewalks safe again.
Delivery workers now are paid nearly $18/hr. plus tips. It will rise to nearly $20/hr. plus tips in 2025. Hardly “low wages”
https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/workers/workersrights/Delivery-Workers.page
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/nyc-minimum-wage-delivery-drivers-upheld-by-appeals-court-2023-12-01/
i am amazed at the inability of our decision
makers to neglect the fact that 72nd Street
IS the most dangerous corner in Manhattan
with hi levels of injuries snd deaths
How can they ignore this!!!???
And NOW they are approving this charging station which will be a disaster!!
God help us.
Marie, The data contradicts your assertion. While 72nd is a dangerous intersection, there are many more dangerous intersections across NYC. Please delete your false assertions. Thanks.
See here for actual data: https://crashmapper.org/#/?cfat=true&cinj=false&endDate=2023-11&geo=citywide&identifier=&lat=40.79353864997009&lng=-73.87945175170898&lngLats=%255B%255D&mfat=true&minj=false&noInjFat=false&pfat=true&pinj=false&startDate=2013-11&vbicycle=true&vbusvan=true&vcar=true&vmotorcycle=true&vother=true&vscooter=true&vsuv=true&vtruck=true&zoom=12
You can show us all the papers you want, we live here, it is dangerous, I avoid it, I never feel safe crossing the street, or just walking there. He doesn’t need to delate anything.
Ah, the “data” again. Gathered by who? Interpreted by who? Every time there’s a problem, there’s a convenient “data” to gaslight you.
Because “data” is SO much less dependable than your intuitions & pre-conceived notions…
That makes me feel so much better that there are even more dangerous intersections in NYC.
Thank you Ms. Schwartz for doing this. The community boards are meant to filter some local opinion into decisions and they are being roundly ignored.
I think the community board system is a hackey way for local politicians to pretend they are listening to “the community” but in this case the bureaucrats seem intent on pleasing everyone who doesn’t actually spend time in that corner.
Relocate it. Put it at 72nd and RSD. Or 72nd and Columbus. Or 70th and Amsterdam. Literally out my window is a better place than this busy intersection.
Or, you know, given that our budget gap is widening, maybe let’s not build it.
Community boards are used as political cover.
Just this picture alone illustrates what a terrible idea a delivery bike charging hub in this particular spot would be.
What happens in rain and snow? Where are the bathrooms ? This should be under the highway or in riverside park.
Exactly -so many other safer locations. Come on New York, let’s try harder
Agreed. But let’s let the Park be the Park. There’s trouble enough there already w/ bicycles, scooters, & e-Bikes.
This is a bad idea, an intrusion on precious public space that is already congested.
Seems hard to recognize and admit that increasingly we are living in an autocracy in New York. Tax paying citizens have zero say in how our communities are run. But now to add insult to injury is the fact that decisions are made by City Hall and their favorite monied lobbyists to make our streets and sidewalks hazards for all who live here and walk them. This goes beyond arbitrary decision-making to a seeming penchant for endangering lives. Whether it be the explosion of wholly unregulated e-vehicles, and mopeds which are terrorizing our communities daily or the placement of “charging stations” in the absolute worse locations, these actions are creating human danger zones. The first job of government is to keep its citizens safe! Not so in this city.
I admire Ms. Schwartz for her courage and advocacy. Being on a community board which this Mayor and others are trying mightily to make pointless is not a good use of one’s time. We need to fight for our communities with action. We need to fight the lobbyists. Taxation without representation is tyranny.
Indeed. Why does NYC need speeding unlicensed vehicles to deliver food? No other city allows this mess. Instead of fixing that mistake we now have to provide charging stations
I think we need to have a protest at Mayor Adams office, with plenty of elected officials there, this is a very dangerous plan, with huge community opposition and the added aspect of danger of electrical fires due to charging can incapacitate people and trains in the major subway hub below and endanger lives
Thank you Ms. Schwartz. Obviously no one is paying attention to the wishes of the community – or, for that matter, to how dangerous this intersection is, and that adding this hub to it will make it even more dangerous. As it is, the bicyclists endanger us every day – they do not obey traffic signals, and feel free to ride on the sidewalks. Who is profiting from this proposal? It is certainly not the citizens of this area!
Yes, thank you Ms. Schwartz. Add this awful dangerous eyesore to an already decimated neighborhood. Once convenient, clean and safe with useful stores and pleasurable walks now nothing but empty store fronts and homeless. Why is every shelter and even 3 can recycle machines dumped on the UWS in the 70’s. WHO is profiting from this? Exactly who and why? Its no wonder locations remain empty for years. Why can’t the UWS get something fine and decent like the West village or the UES. And Btw, we could use a real new stand with magazines and actual newspapers. Or art installations or just plantings. This cannot go forward. We should see to that.
I agree, but the era of newsstands selling printed matter is quickly becoming a thing of the past. At best, they are merely lottery stands.
At a time when local residents cross our intersections in fear of reckless motor and e bike operators they come up with this!!!! I’m sorry but this is emblematic of a total decline of the UWS.
I would be delighted to welcome a charging hub at this site for all electronic vehicles PROVIDED that vehicle owners commit in writing that they will obey all relevant traffic rules, including stopping at red lights and observing all regulations about interacting with pedestrians. And further, that they will display a license on the rear of their vehicle with full personal identification that is readable by traffic cameras. They would need to register their vehicle and sign in with this personal information in order to access the charger.
Outrage needs to be directed to Mayor Adams and the lobby group (TransAlt) who think that motorized bikes are the answer to environmental problems. New York used to be one of the best walking cities in the world. Not anymore. All pedestrians are at risk as soon as they step onto the sidewalk where an e-bike can be riding along, oblivious to everyone in their path. Simply crossing the street with the light, in a pedestrian crosswalk, has become a hazard as most of these feckless vehicle drivers run red lights and ride in the wrong direction. And yet the mayor has done Nothing but encourage the proliferation of more e-bikes in places that are now a hazard: In the parks, they are now allowed not only on the roadways once given to regular bicycles, but also on pedestrian paths; in subways and buses where their battery fires pose a real danger to all public transit riders. And the final outrage is why we the taxpayers should be footing the bill for charging stations that will help private businesses who should be providing these services to their employees, whether they are official employees of a company or contracted workers.
Where was Gale Brewer during all of this? What input did she provide? Does she approve or oppose this project? What role does the City Council play in this project?
Gale Brewer despite the pleas of masses of her own constituents has refused to support the Bob Holden Bill asking for the licensing and registration of e-vehicles. Shaun Abreu has done the same. It seems they are more concerned about the big donations from the no regulation no matter what biker lobby Trans Alt filling their coffers. Brewer said-but what will happen to all the folks who want food deliveries?? Really?? What’s a life worth Gale and Shaun? Even the police are getting hit now. The actions of UWS council members are shameful.
What? Brewer said that regulating e-vehicles will stop food deliveries? Say it ain’t so. That makes no sense. We can have food deliveries AND responsible e-vehicle riding.
But then, a bunch of commentators on here liked Maria Danzilo, liked Diane di Stasio, and we know their campaigns didn’t accomplish anything. Abreu ran unopposed .
We say X “should be done” but not-X keeps happening.
Community boards are advisory. CB7 gave its advice, which was by no means unanimous, and city officials considered it and ultimately made a different decision. If a board member can’t deal with that, they shouldn’t be on the board. We elect representatives to make wise decisions, not to simply follow the dictates of the loudest voices.
When has CB7 ever been able to change what the city wants to do to us? Never! That is why it’s a charade.
The Community Board and the public overwhelmingly opposed this location for this dangerous purpose, and for good reasons. Here are some facts the West 71st Street Block Association has shared in our many statements and letters on this matter: “The current proposed location is at the intersection of two avenues, three subway lines, and five bus lines. There is also a single unprotected bike lane that only begins one block south of the intersection. This area already poses serious danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike and we need to take measures to protect everyone. Not only is the physical location a complex “bowtie” intersection of three major roads – Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue, and West 72nd Street – but also designated as a Senior Pedestrian Zone by NYC’s DOT and visited by approximately 40,000 passengers in daily transit.”
It simply defies common sense to choose this location, particularly when several other safer locations have been proposed by our group and others.
Ms. Schwartz rightly wanted to her continue her advocacy to protect the people of this area and see this project relocated. She is to be commended for her many years of dedication to the public good, which I am sure she will continue.
It defies common sense that the public should pay for these charging stations. Any stations serving the employees of delivery companies should be paid for by the companies themselves. They have the money, for goodness sakes.
I understand the frustration. The City should be forcing the billionaire owners of these apps to provide facilities for their employees and yes they are employees. I am tired of taxpayers being forced to subsidize billionaires who abuses their workers and don’t pay taxes!
On a related matter, I want to remind everyone that this is the same administration that wants to destroy the protections provided by zoning regulations so that billionaire developments can destroy every more of our city and put up more housing for billionaires .
When will the City realize safety of our streets and pedestrians is much more important than delivery bikes/delivery services. duh???!!
Get rid of all types of bikes on our streets
immediately. Mayor? Where are you?
What a nightmare. 72nd Street, south-end subway exit has FOUR crosswalks feeding into it. It’s already over crowded due to it being the narrowest crosswalk of island. To make matters worse, the entire “subway island” where this bike stations will be installed, is protected by a metal fence surrounding the entire island. Your only entrances are already packed. Add bicycles to this you are looking at a gridlock of people.
Students already jam pack that park at the end of the school day….
Susan you will be missed. It’s a difficult frustrating fight to bring sanity to City departments, especially Parks and Transportation. They seem to think they are the all knowing and do as they please despite public opinion and logic..
Susan please reconsider we need more sanity in this city. You can help more by being with us than on the sidelines.
Ms Schwartz represents the sencebility of most UWS residents even if one is not is eye view of the sight. It is ridiculous to make that highly used area, already dangerous to all users, a place for delivery vehicles recharging. Makes it clear our city leaders have little concern for city residents. Who benefits? Receivers of campaign donators? Private concerns who will prepare and run the site? I wonder who benefits?
I am sorry Community Board 7 is loosing an effective, insightful volunteer. And that means UWS residents loose.
Not only that but they have to get there and on that island. They will not be following rules and likely will come at it the wrong way and at high speed adding more danger to the intersection. How much you want to bet they will try to get on at 72nd street and go along the narrow passageway/sidewalk next to the subway station on either side putting pedestrians in danger.
The City bureaucracy is sure they know best and doesn’t care a bit what the Board or us residents think. Big surprise.
More evidence that CB7 and all Community Boards are showpieces; they have no power but give residents a place to think they’re making a difference. Would be better off paying closer attention to what the City Council and its subcommittees are doing; that’s where the power and budgets are.
It’s starting to feel as though the city places projects on the UWS that would be unacceptable in other parts of Manhattan. Why not establish a big charging hub on the Upper East Side, perhaps at Gracie Mansion?
Downtown folks say that projects are put there that wouldn’t be tolerated on the UES or UWS.
An utter and complete disregard for the safety of pedestrians and subway commuters, already at risk at the Bowtie of Death.
Why not have Grub Hub etc. pay for the renovation of an empty storefront and make a bathroom and waiting room inside for the delivery people and treat them like human beings so they don’t have to sit under scaffolding and freeze. Why not have them license and insure all their vehicles. And make it in a more out of the way area that does not endanger pedestrians.
Susan Schwartz is correct. The upper west side has already downgraded due to homeless encampments etc. the proposed hub location is already congested and e-bike riders are a dangerous bunch. Please don’t burden us with a deliverista charging station!
How many fires – causing homelessness and even death – have we read of in just the past year with regard to the re-charging of these lithium-ion batteries? At least a dozen, maybe more. The City “promises” that only the newer batteries will be recharged. But given the City’s history of incompetence and corruption, I, for one, am not willing to take that chance.
Can you imagine if just one of the batteries catches fire? With a dozen or more in close proximity, that fire could become a real conflagration. And not only would this be a danger to all the people crossing at 71st Street, and all the people going in and out of that side of the head house, but it would create a cloud of acrid, poisonous smoke that could travel quite a distance, affecting dozens, maybe hundreds of people, including getting into stores and the windows of residential buildings.
Is this a chance that ANYONE wants to take?
And then there is the lesser, but no less annoying, matter of handing over public property to private interests (the delivery companies) – without compensation to the City.
Don’t blame the Community Board; blame the City – which is ignoring the Community Board that is supposed to represent the interest of the constituents in its area. And here, the CB is trying to do the right thing, while the City basically blows them off, Wanna bet the Mayor and big money interests are behind this willingness to ignore the people’s voice, and put UWS residents in danger?
By the way, this is much the same reason I resigned from CB7 many years ago; because I saw that City agencies (and some elected officials) were ignoring the clear voice of their constituents.
This is the problem with the entire CB system: it is, and always has been, strictly “advisory.” So the City and its agencies can feel free to ignore “the people” any time they want, no matter the potential perils or dangers.
Bravo, Ian. You forgot to mention the fire hazard this poses to the people coming in and out of the subway! It’s really a potential death trap. If I had the dough, I would institute a class action lawsuit over these proposed hubs with tax payer money. Dirty dangerous, expensive, grifters all. Tomorrow, December 6 is Councilmember Holden’s rally at City Hall. EVERYONE SHOULD BE THERE. 11:45 A.M.
Under which mayor did you feel CB did have a say?
The City was supposed to create the first charging rest area at a news stand by City Hall.
But no work has been done there
I lived one block from that location. It’s already overcrowded, chaotic, and notable for crime and drug-dealing, which isn’t treated like a crime these days. Going forward with the bike-charging station and ignoring residents’ rational opposition is outrageous and depressing. She ne great city!?!
I find it comical we have to pretend we give a sh*t about delivery people and build them a grand “deliverista hub”. They deliver food and I tip them well, that’s where it ends, it doesn’t mean we should roll out the red carpet for them. Those delivery apps should be the ones supporting them. They hire and pay them.
Where is the uproar for a specialized spot Uber drivers can relax and take a break? Where is the uproar for a specialized spot taxi drivers can relax and take a break? Where is the uproar for a specialized spot the garbage truck drivers can relax and take a break? Are we not thankful for their services? Why is it only food delivery people we are so concerned about? How about the people who write parking tickets all day? They’re on their feet all day. We should build them a little area in Verdi park with lazy boys so they can relax and put their feet up once in awhile.
Instead, lets build a “deliverista hub” for the bikers that do not follow any laws and speed, ride on sidewalks, go wrong way on the streets and smoke weed all day? Enough is enough. We don’t owe delivery people a single thing except a tip and a thanks. If they don’t like the parameters of their job, they can get in touch with their employer and complain like the rest of us do. It’s not the citizens and city’s job to give away public areas to enrich the lives of workers working for a private company.
Susan Schwartz had represented the community extremely well and fairly for many years and it is a travesty for her to be forced to resign. The Chair’s unwillingness to send a letter reinforcing the Board’s position AFTER it became clear the earlier letter was being disregarded seems politically motivated and should be reviewed.
Susa Schwartz also did an excellent job reviewing governance issues at CB7 including trying to revise the conflicts of interest policy and she faced tremendous opposition from members who opposed these changes . Most of the opposition came from those with transportation lobbying connections.
Community Boards should reflect the voices of the community even if those voices disagree with the council member or borough president . A serious review of the community board structure and process for selecting members and leadership needs to be undertaken.
She was one of the few ppl on the board that I felt had common sense, no conflicts, no biases, and honestly, a genuine care for all kinds of people.
Once again no rules matter without enforcement and the cops are too lazy to even get out of their cars. It’s terrifying to cross the street on a white walk signal now anywhere in the city without looking both ways in the gaps between the cars on both sides and the double yellow as scooters zoom through red lights. Police do nothing. Shame on uws cops and govt. shame on you!
No one wants this. Just make the area a relaxing park to sit.
Everyone reading this needs to write to Gov Hochul, Rep Nadler, Sen Gillabrand, Sen Schumer to voice strong OPPOSITION to this plan. We should also plan a local protest. UWS residents do not want it and do not need it.
Politicians need to start looking after the people they represent, not special interest groups.
Do a quick search for these individual offices and send an email.
I for the first time in my life voted for a republican since Gale Brewer did nothing to stop this, and I will continue to do so, because this plan will result in injuries and fatalities to local residents and family members. It is completely unnecessary. The delivery drivers are on e-bikes, so there is absolutely no reason to it cannot be in a more safe location a few blocks or avenues away.
Envision that with this hub, a battery explodes or there is a need for an urgent subway evacuation. This would be an absolute disaster.
Best,
Greg
I feel like resigning as well, and I’m not even on CB7. The charade and parade of opinions and posturing belies a corrupt, undemocratic and very ideological system that pretends to care what people want (residents) but has already made decisions on their behalf, to promote the interests of non-residents. It is a sick system and it’s high time Gale Brewer and Mark Levine shot back at the city agencies for their overreach, control, and corruption.
It’s funny how distorted people’s sense of reality and safety on the UWS is. First of all, since that news stand closed ages ago, that little triangle of space has been essentially useless, and it is never crowded. In addition, according to city records not a single pedestrian has been killed within multiple blocks of there in every direction over the past decade. Why not use it as a public e-bike charging spot? You don’t have to be a delivery person to use it. Seems like a good use of the space to me. Putting benches there for people to sit on instead of a charging station (which likely will have benches anyway) makes no sense. There are far nicer places to go and sit, like Verdi square one block away.
It’s clear you have never been there or you would realize this place gets VERY congested with pedestrians and narrows to tight triangle at that end of the island. You have people coming uptown to get on the train that cross there and then walk up to the subway and people getting off the subway who are walking downtown at the self same point. All we need is e bikes zipping along the same small space.
Please be accurate. It is not 72nd street that is dangerous. It is crossing 71st street that is dangerous..To be safe, I cross at72nd street or 70th street.
I’m with Greg. We should be able to unite in numbers the politicians might listen to. Old-fashioned street corner petitions? Although probably impossible, wouldn’t it be cool if there were a week of no one on the UWS ordering food delivery? to bring this to the economic attention of restaurants, and get some publicity?
I support the deliveristas, and they deserve a place to rest and recharge their batteries, however, that it is not the place in the UWS, that is a dangerous intersection for everyone. Why the city is setting this up for failure? Are you telling us that there is not another place in the UWS for this? Ridiculous.
Tell me you’re a hardcore NIMBY without telling me you’re a hardcode NIMBY 😆
Nothing like reading anecdotal statements from people who witness bike accidents everyday.
I’m so happy the city is showing some solidarity with delivery workers and not the petty bourgeois that seemingly is against delivery drivers but use them anyway