The Battle for Times Square—Why It Matters, Even Outside New York

Janette Sadik-Khan, New York City Transportation Commissioner under de Blasio's predecessor, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, "gets invited to talk about that work a lot, because a lot of cities around the U.S. want to do what New York did—despite the resistance of the auto-centric status quo," writes Sarah Goodyear for CityLab.

They want to give street space that has been dominated by cars back to people on foot or on bikes. They want public plazas with tables and chairs where people can eat lunch and chat and live their lives. New York’s efforts have become a national model.

"But now, allegedly because of some topless women who get tips by posing for pictures covered only in body paint and some rogue costumed characters, Mayor Bill de Blasio and his police chef, Bill Bratton, are talking about taking the plazas out, or at least re-evaluating them," she adds.

What’s chilling about de Blasio’s and Bratton’s treatment of the situation in Times Square is that it betrays a profound lack of understanding of just how important public space is for people in a dense urban environment such as New York.

Goodyear briefly describes the history of the landmark creation of the Times Square plaza, dating back to Sadik-Khan's 2009 vision, and includes excerpts from an eye-catching array of media coverage, both supporting (New York Daily News) and opposing (New York magazine, The New York Times, Times Square Alliance via POLITICO New York) the conversion of the plaza back to its original form since de Blasio's August 20 announcement.

The battle to reclaim street space from the auto goes far beyond Times Square. Consider signing a petition or two linked in a Streetsblog article if you feel strongly.