The McGuiness Boulevard redesign was finally implemented last fall after years of activism and the deaths of three people in 10 years — but also after City Hall changed course twice.

“Every elected official who — in Greenpoint — supported the plan, 10,000 neighbors signed a petition in support,” said Councilmember Lincoln Restler, whose district includes McGuinness Boulevard. 

“We held rally after rally, event after event, demanding this plan, and the Department of Transportation put forward a smart and thoughtful plan to make it happen. The mayor had supposedly supported it, and then Ingrid inserted herself.”

What You Need To Know

  • Several pedestrian deaths prompted the city to propose a redesign of McGuinness Boulevard in May 2023, which was scrapped by the Adams administraton less than two months later

  • Supporters knew at the time that Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a longtime confidant and top aide to Mayor Adams, was responsible for the turnaround on the redesign

  • Greenpoint elected officials and safe streets advocates say they aren’t shocked at the indictment but are dismayed people’s lives were put at risk for cash, clothing and a role in TV and movies

It was already known by elected officials that Ingrid Lewis-Martin, former chief adviser to Mayor Eric Adams, squashed the plan for one traffic lane in each direction, with pedestrian islands and a parking-protected bike lane in each direction.

The opposition included the owners of a nearby film production company, Broadway stages Gina and Tony Argento. The indictment against them unsealed Thursday alleges Lewis-Martin took bribes in cash, clothing and even a movie role from the Argentos to kill the safety upgrade.

“This is not an area where she has any policy or professional expertise. But she made very clear that she was stopping this project and, you know, we called it out at the time. We organized protests at City Hall,” Restler said. “I’m relieved that she will have to face accountability for prioritizing herself over the safety of the Greenpoint community.”

DOT came out with its proposal in May 2023, but by July of that year it was killed.

A compromise proposal then came out in October 2024, just days after investigators raided Lewis-Martin’s home and seized her electronic devices.

“It was the fact this involves like a part in a in a television program. But, you know, as sort of comic and absurd as some aspects of it is, ultimately, it’s incredibly sad that this street is much more dangerous than it needs to be,” Ben Furnas, executive director of safe street advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, said. “We’re talking about real New Yorkers’ lives. People have to live in that neighborhood, across that street.”

The indictment mentions the city Department of Transportation nine times. Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez would not comment on the matter when asked if he had anything to say.

“I’m focused on all the work that we have,” Rodriguez said. “I had hundreds of projects in front of me that I had to make decisions. I had to rely on the expertise I have at DOT.”

While there is one lane of traffic and two protected bike lanes now on McGuinness from Calyer to Meeker Streets, advocates say the northern section has still been left unsafe.

“This fight isn’t done. You know, there’s a chunk of McGuinness Boulevard that still is wider than the community wants it to be, than DOT had proposed it to be,” Furnas said.