Candidates rarely talk about Parks and Streets, even though those are the most used infrastructure for their constituents. We reached out to the primary candidates of State Senate District 11, which covers areas from Astoria to Floral Park.

The two major candidates running for the District 11 primary are:

Toby’s team did not respond to our questions. Andrew’s answers are listed below in full.

Parks

1) Which park in your district is most neglected — and what’s your plan to fix it?

Andrew Engel: I think in our district we are lucky to have as many parks as we do, all of which are fairly well maintained by the Parks Department. I recently passed by Major Mark Park in Jamaica, one of the rare green spaces in Jamaica, and it seemed beaten down with liquor bottles everywhere. If elected I would work with the Parks Department and Sanitation to ensure the park is being regularly cleaned and getting the necessary TLC to ensure it remains a great green space for my constituents in Jamaica. This goes for every park in my district though — they are incredibly valuable spaces for my communities and will ensure they are always maintained to the highest standards. I would also love to see more programming featured in our parks to bring our neighbors together for fun events.

2) New York loses green space every year to private development or public-private partnerships. What deal (across any part of the State) would you have voted against?

Andrew Engel: Probably all of them. Green spaces are vital in communities because of the mental and physical health benefits they provide, from reducing stress, anxiety and depression to reducing urban heat during dangerous heat waves. 

Transportation

3) As cars and trucks get heavier, pedestrians are at greater risk. What specific rules would you put in place to better protect our neighbors as they walk through the district?

Andrew Engel: We need to deploy a plethora of safety improvements to keep our pedestrians safe. That means daylighting crosswalks, using sneckdowns to alter road size and raising crosswalks. These measures will help slow cars down and make pedestrians more visible at night. We must also ensure our bike infrastructure is protected wherever possible. 

4) Everyone gets older and eventually looses the capabilities to drive. What will you do to better support our elderly (in addition to our children and disabled) that do not have the capabilities to use their car to get around the neighborhood?

Andrew Engel: We need more funding for access-a-ride, and a complete overhaul of how it schedules pick ups to ensure it is meeting the needs of our elderly and disabled. I would also like to work with the applicable agencies to see how we can expand access-a-ride’s range. Right now, the limited operational range makes it difficult for people to see doctors or families in Nassau county with how the designated drop-off points work. I also believe we need to make buses fast and free and generally expand services. I would love to see the subway get extensions further into this part of Queens as well.

5) School streets are incredibly dangerous during drop-off and pick-up when many parents prioritize the convince of their own child over the safety of another. What would you do to better protect our kids?

Andrew Engel: I would look at data and talk with the DOT to see if there are methods they have employed across schools within the city to slow traffic and generally make it safer for children. I think creating one way streets around schools, raising crosswalks and deploying daylighting can also make for safe dropoffs. Additionally, I would look to secure more funding for crossing guards. 

New York Politics

6) Name a public figure or institution you’ve openly challenged. What happened and would you do it again?

Andrew Engel: I openly challenge people like Vickie Paladino, Governor Hochul and other elected officials on social media, whether it be over bigoted comments or policy disagreements. I have always been unafraid to challenge those in power. Additionally, I have routinely challenged institutions; most recently I have called for St. John’s University to start honoring the American Association of University Professors after they dropped recognition of the union after 50+ years. 

7) What’s one important policy that you feel is unpopular in your district and how would you convince your voters it’s the right thing to do?

Andrew Engel: It’s hard to pick just one but the first thing that came to mind was bike lanes. I’ve heard countless times how people think bike lanes will destroy all parking and close entire streets, something obviously not true. Having more bike lanes in the district will give people another alternative for getting around and provide a safer way for those that already do bike to get around. It will help reduce car congestion, keep people safe, and is a great way to exercise! I think it’s a no brainer and that we just need to educate people more that bike lanes aren’t going to significantly impact car-users and the roadways. Housing is another area where a lot of people dislike the idea of building more, but we desperately need more of all forms of housing and we can do it in a smart way that doesn’t harm the “character” of neighborhoods.

Endorsement

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