Weisbrod named Planning czar WEISBROD, continued from p. 10
Lindsay. However, during his subsequent career, he has never really been associated with affordable housing — though that will obviously be his primary focus now. “I’m a little surprised to see myself up here,” Weisbrod said, at the press conference. Indeed, de Blasio noted that Weisbrod had appeared set on not returning to government. Yet he noted de Blasio’s “extraordinary powers of persuasion.” “I welcome this opportunity to help shape New York City’s destiny and especially to help address the challenge of meeting Mayor de Blasio’s ambitious goal of creating and preserving 200,000 units of affordable housing,” he said. He added he’s looking forward to working with Deputy Mayor Glen on jobs creation, and also hopes “to solidify and enhance New York City’s status as the greatest city in the world and the epicenter of culture and commerce.
‘Carl’s tenure and temperament make him uniquely qualified.’ Douglas Durst
“I’ve devoted most of my career to revitalizing New York City neighborhoods — Times Square, Lower Manhattan and Hudson Square — and I’m excited about doing that in neighborhoods throughout the city,” Weisbrod said. “In the neighborhoods I’ve worked in, I have learned the importance of being part of the neighborhood and not just an emissary from the city,” he noted. “I am committed to having City Planning staff deeply embedded and empowered in the neighborhoods we serve. I learned a long time ago that New York City’s greatest strengths are its neighborhoods and the rich diversity of our residents.” Weisbrod, however, noted it won’t be possible to have “embedded planners” for every single neighborhood. In his State of the City address this week, de Blasio, again touched on his housing plan, this time addressing “the real estate industry.” “Let me be clear,” he said. “We want to work with the real estate industry to build. We must build more to achieve our vision. But the people’s interests will be accounted for in every real estate deal made with the city. “In total, we pledge to preserve or construct nearly 200,000 units of affordable housing — enough to house between
TheVillager.com
With reporting by Josh Rogers
PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
400,000 and 500,000 New Yorkers — to help working people by literally putting a roof over their heads.” Local leaders had high praise for Weisbrod. Tobi Bergman, chairperson of Community Board 2’s Land Use Committee, said an important job for the Planning honcho will be to work out the new air rights transfer provision for Hudson River Park. “I think everyone knows he has a track record of achievement,” Bergman said. “What I like most about him is that when you disagree with him, as will happen, a conversation begins. He looks for common ground. “It’s a big plus that he arrives fully educated about the importance of Hudson River Park for Manhattan’s Lower West Side and about the crisis the park faces unless long-term revenue sources are secured,” Bergman added. “Using air rights from the park will require either a rezoning or a General Project Plan from the state. Either way, City Planning will be involved.” Rich Caccappolo, C.B. 2 Parks Committee chairperson, who has been active on Hudson River Park issues, said, “I think Carl is a great choice for the position — the best choice I could think of for such a critically important role in this new administration. I don’t know of anyone with more extensive experience. I’ve always been impressed by him and enjoyed my interactions with him because he listens and he is honest, and though he generally knows more than everyone else in a discussion, I’ve never seen Carl use his advantage inappropriately.” Madelyn Wils, the president of the Hudson River Park Trust, called Weisbrod “effective” and a “steady hand.” “Carl is one of the most thoughtful and smartest people I know,” she said. “Our careers intersected multiple times and ways over the last 25 years. The city of New York will be in great hands as he assumes his new position as chairperson of City Planning. One of Carl’s many great gifts is his ability to be effective — a critical talent in any business or endeavor. I look forward to working with him and experiencing his steady hand of leadership.” Douglas Durst, who is both a top developer and a longtime Hudson River Park activist, also gave highest praise to Weisbrod. “Carl Weisbrod is an excellent choice to lead the City Planning Commission,” Durst told The Villager. “I had the good fortune to serve under him on Mayor de Blasio’s transition team. Carl’s tenure and temperament, both in and outside of government, make him uniquely qualified to implement the mayor’s vision of building the housing that our city desperately needs.”
A stolen truck and cross-town bus collided and both smashed into the southeast corner of 14th St. and Seventh Ave. Wednesday morning.
Bus driver is killed in collision with stolen truck on W. 14th St. BY TEQUILA MINSKY
I
n a deadly traffic accident that killed an M.T.A. bus driver and left several others injured on Wednesday, around 5:30 a.m., a stolen truck crashed into a 14th St. cross-town bus at Seventh Ave., sending both vehicles careening into the intersection’s southeast corner. The vehicles smashed into a scaffold, and two parked cars and a cab were also struck. According to the police report, E.M.S. medics responded to the scene and declared the bus’s operator, William Pena, 49, of Hillside, N.J., dead on arrival. A 17-year veteran driver of the cross-town route, Pena was married and had a teenage daughter. Two pedestrians at the location were removed to local hospitals in stable condition. Three passengers on the bus were also injured, as was 15-year food vendor Ashraf Marei, who, enclosed inside his food cart, suffered minor injuries after a cab clipped his cart and boiling water spilled on him. He was treated at Beth Israel. A person on a three-wheeled scooter who was struck by the truck prior to the collision with the bus was removed to Bel-
levue Hospital in stable condition. The stolen orange box truck’s sides were marked “18 Rabbits Granola.” The driver — identified by the Daily News as Dominic Whilby, 22, of Georgia — was removed to Bellevue Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. According to the police report, around 5:30 a.m., officers responded to a 911 call for a burglary at 347 W. 16th St. Upon arrival, they were informed by an employee that an unidentified male had entered the employee’s delivery truck and driven away from the location. Officers conducted a canvass of the area for the vehicle and discovered it had been involved in the collision at 14th St. and Seventh Ave. with an eastbound M14D bus. The bus was an articulated, or doublelong, model. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending against Whilby. The accident snarled morning rush hour at and around the intersection. Vehicular traffic was rerouted, while pedestrians were prevented from crossing the intersection in any direction. Especially inconvenienced were the many workers trying to find a way to cross the street and enter the building that the bus and truck struck, as well at students who attend Star Career Academy, which is located in the building. February 13, 2014
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