Transportation Alternatives poll finds majority
of motorists favor street safety improvements
BY MARK HALLUM
A new poll from Transportation
Alternatives shows that the majority
of New Yorkers — including
motorists — are in favor of improvements
to streets space including protected bike
lanes, bus lanes and wider sidewalks.
Even in exchange for fewer parking
spots, the poll claims, with 61% of respondents
being motorists themselves.
The organization commissioned Siena
College Research Institute to complete the
poll of 805 registered voters in New York
City from November to December 2020.
“While the majority of our city’s streets
are devoted to moving and parking vehicles,
the majority of New Yorkers want streets
that prioritize people,” said Danny Harris,
Transportation Alternatives executive
director. “City streets must become fairer,
healthier, safer, and put people fi rst as we
recover from the pandemic. With this latest
polling, it’s clear that candidates running
with bold plans to reimagine New York
City’s streetscape will have public opinion
on their side.”
The poll showed that the majority of
Bicyclist glide down the Seventh Avenue protected bike lane
in the West Village.
voters in all fi ve boroughs, 68%, supported
new protected bike lanes in their community
and 56% were willing to sacrifi ce
parking space for bus lanes, according to
Transportation Alternatives.
Up to 64% of respondents said outdoor
dining was a valuable use of curbside while
56% said the same for bike share stations
in their neighborhood. Transportation
Alternatives also said that 63% of those
FILE PHOTO/MARK HALLUM
polled were in favor of Open Streets with
76% of these respondents being under the
age of 35.
“Safer and more inclusive streets aren’t
just good policy, they’re good politics.
Candidates who want to come out on top
in this year’s elections would be wise to
join the growing majority of New York
City voters who embrace a vision of a city
that isn’t dominated by cars and traffi c,”
said Eric McClure, executive director of
StreetsPAC.
Households that own a car held a supermajority
in the poll of about 84% and
nearly each category was a majority of
either having a household income below
$50,000 and under 35, according to Transportation
Alternatives.
“We must continue working towards a
more sustainable, pedestrians and cyclistfriendly
City,” said Councilman Ydanis
Rodriguez, chairman of the Transportation
Committee. “The data is clear, the majority
of New Yorkers support adding additional
bike and bus lanes as well as green spaces
to our City’s streets even if that means less
parking for vehicles.”
The poll results have a margin of error
of about +/- 3.9 percentage points and
was conducted using a stratifi ed dualframe
probability sample of landline and
cell phone numbers which was ultimately
weighted to refl ect known population patterns.
The data was also adjusted by age,
race, ethnicity, gender, party affi liation
and borough to ensure it represented a
wide range of New Yorkers, according to
Transportation Alternatives.
Manhattan man busted for role in Capitol coup
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
As of Jan. 27, federal agents have arrested
at least six New York City
residents in the wake of the Jan. 6
Capitol coup attempt that sought to stop
the peaceful transition of power from one
president to another.
The arrested suspects include Samuel
Fisher, an Upper East Side man whom,
federal prosecutors sasid, seemed enthused
by the attack even though it caused violent
destruction and the loss of life.
Fisher, who also goes by his online alias
of Brad Holiday, was picked up on the Upper
East Side on Jan. 20 for his alleged role in
the Capitol attack.
An investigation into his social media
activity found that he went to Washington
prepared for combat, and seemed to brag
about the assault on American democracy
afterward.
Prosecutors said that Fisher, who works
as an online dating coach and has a website
filled with anti-government conspiracy
theory rants, brought “multiple fi rearms and
a bulletproof vest” with him to the Capitol
coup attempt on Jan. 6.
In the days leading up to the attack, according
to the criminal complaint fi led by
PHOTOS COURTESY U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Samuel Fisher (aka Brad Holiday) of the Upper East Side was photographed
taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021 coup attempt on the U.S. Capitol and arrested by
federal agents on Jan. 20, 2021.
the U.S. Attorney’s Offi ce for the District of
Columbia, Fisher made a number of statements
on Facebook indicating that he would
be there along with “a million” so-called
“patriots,” and armed for a standoff.
On Dec. 31, he allegedly wrote that “they
cant arrest us all man” (sic) and “i’d exercise
my 2A legal rights there” (sic). The 2A is a
coded reference to the Second Amendment,
which ensures the right to bear arms.
On Jan. 3, Fisher allegedly wrote that
“real patriots will fall upon the capital in
protest” and that he “just booked my room”
in Washington. Between Jan. 5 and 6, Fisher
acknowledged being in DC in Facebook
posts.
Before the Jan. 6 assault, Fisher posted a
photo of an assault rifl e and a handgun that
he allegedly brought with him, then wrote,
“I’m going to the parking garage super
early… leaving s**t in there maybe except
pistol… “and if it kicks off I got a vest and
my rifl e.”
On his website, Fisher allegedly published
on Jan. 5 a post saying he was in Washington,
DC for the so-called “Stop the Steal” rally
and outlined a violent scenario for Jan. 6.
“If there are over 1 million patriots that
show up tomorrow for trumps (sic) 11 am
speech. At 1 when congress certifi es the
election (sic)… Trump just needs to fi re the
bat signal… deputize patriots… and then the
pain comes. 1 Million Pissed off men with
guns… bad idea (sic). We aren’t looking to
fi ght or hurt anyone… but the odds that
this is going to be solved any other way…
is next to nothing,” Fisher allegedly wrote
in the post.
The following day, Jan. 7, Fisher allegedly
wrote on Facebook that he was there, “it was
awesome…” and that “people died… but if
was f***ing great if you ask me… i got tear
gassed and pepper sprayed (sic)… seeing
cops literally run … was the coolest thing
ive ever seen in my life.”
Upon arresting Fisher on Jan. 20, federal
agents recovered several fi rearms and a bulletproof
vest in his possession, according to
Law and Crime. He’s currently being held
without bail.
14 January 28, 2021 Schneps Media