Brooklyn Groups Rally Against Ballot Measure, Demand Halt to Street Redesigns

A coalition of 11 Brooklyn community groups is rallying against Proposal 3, a charter amendment appearing on the Nov. 3 ballot that critics argue will make it more difficult for residents to influence street redesign projects. The groups, led by Brooklyn for All of Us and Our Communities Count, plan to hold a rally outside Barclays Center on Saturday.

Organizers state their opposition is not to safer streets, but to decisions being made about their communities without meaningful participation from residents and business owners. The ballot measure, supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of Transportation (DOT), is intended to streamline the process for street projects. According to the DOT, Proposal 3 would prevent technical errors from halting construction and allow the agency to initiate certain projects before presenting them to local officials and community boards.

The coalition contends that the DOT's plans disregard the needs of families, small businesses, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. They are calling for a halt to previously approved bike boulevard projects on Bergen and Dean streets, as well as Lafayette and DeKalb avenues. Additionally, they oppose Mayor Mamdani's new "Fast Bus Lanes" initiative, a joint DOT-MTA plan that critics say largely eliminates bus stops to expedite bus travel.

A spokesperson for the DOT asserted that the administration aims to deliver "high-quality, affordable transportation" and expressed a desire to work with the community to ensure projects meet local needs. However, the rallying groups emphasized their primary objective is to ensure their voices are heard in decisions affecting their neighborhoods.

"Our streets belong to everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, bus riders, motorists, seniors, families, and local merchants. Every voice deserves to be heard before permanent changes are made," organizers stated in a press release.