Critics Of 5th Ave Busway Delay Have 'Memory Problems': De Blasio

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Mayor Bill de Blasio reacted angrily on Thursday when he was criticized for delaying the 5th Avenue busway proposal, accusing a constituent of trafficking in conspiracy theories and suffering from a "memory problem."

The tense exchange occurred Friday morning during the mayor's weekly call-in segment on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show. The issue was raised by a caller named Samir, days after Streetsblog broke the news that the long-delayed busway was being pushed back until "after the holidays" — in other words, until after de Blasio leaves office.

"You came into office vowing to take on the tale of two cities, you launched Vision Zero," Samir told the mayor. "We face a climate crisis. We faced the deadliest year on our streets since you took office, more than 220 individuals killed in crashes. Why are you siding with wealthy real estate developers and turning your back on everyday bus and bike riders who need their fast commutes and safety on our streets?"

The caller's accusation stemmed from a New York Times report that the busway was delayed at the behest of Steven Roth, a powerful real estate developer, who personally pressured de Blasio to reconsider the plan in a meeting last month.

In response, de Blasio pointed to the other busways his administration has implemented, chalking up the focus on Fifth Avenue to a "memory problem some people have."

The delays on Fifth Avenue, he vowed, would be "very temporary," intended to avoid disrupting tourist activity during the holidays. (The mayor may not have the power to make such a guarantee, critics immediately noted, since he will not be in office after Dec. 31.)

"You can ask whatever you want, you can say whatever you want, but I really wish for folks who believe in these type of approaches — rather than start with, bluntly, a conspiracy theory — start with the fact that we have moved this agenda profoundly, and it's going to keep growing," de Blasio said, adding that the busway was "100 percent happening."

My question on @BrianLehrer's #AskTheMayor this morning.

Love being called a conspiracy theorist on the radio by @NYCMayor. pic.twitter.com/tbnDMSWEf0
— Samir (@lavingiasa) November 5, 2021

A Fifth Avenue busway between 57th and 34th streets was first promised by de Blasio last summer as a way to speed up transit on the crammed corridor. But it never materialized last year; nor did work begin this past August, when the Department of Transportation said construction was almost underway.

Though it had the backing of its local community board, the busway has faced opposition from business groups like the Fifth Avenue Association, whose leader said the loss of car lanes would harm the avenue's luxury retailers and "threaten Midtown's and New York City's economic recovery."

Amid the opposition, the city watered down the busway proposal this summer to allow for more private car traffic.

The plan also calls for protected bike lanes, improving safety on an avenue that ranked as the most-traveled Manhattan corridor without a protected lane. About 1,800 cyclists passed through Fifth Avenue at 51st Street each day before the pandemic, according to DOT data.

Previous coverage:

• City Delays 5th Avenue Busway & Bike Lanes, Infuriating Advocates
• Bike Lane, Pedestrian Fixes Coming To 5th Ave — But No Busway Yet
• Midtown Pols, Advocates Rally For 5th Avenue Busway
• Midtown's Fifth Avenue Gets 23-Block Busway, Mayor Says