The New York City Economic Development Corporation and Phoenix Beverage. Liars.

Normally, there is nothing more annoying and disingenuous than whining about traffic by "Community Activists". It generally smacks of a NIMBY attitude and being anti-development in any form.

Nothing could be further from the truth for Phoenix Beverage and the Columbia Street Waterfront. Turns out that contrary to the statements of the New York City Economic Development Corporation and Phoenix Beverage, delivery trucks ARE being routed through neighborhood streets.

From the Brooklyn Paper: 

"“Why are they here?” asked resident Brian McCormick. “[The city] made a commitment around a year ago to use the internal truck route for truck movements between Piers 7 and 11. It was the lead issue — how Phoenix would affect the circulation of traffic!” 

It’s unclear why Phoenix trucks are using Columbia Street to shuttle beverages between Piers 7 and 11, given that there’s a perfectly good route inside the port."

Also from the Daily News: 

""The street's narrow and not at all suited for truck traffic," said Councilman Brad Lander (D-Red Hook). "Truck traffic is going to lead to accidents with cars. It runs the risk of accidents with pedestrians."

City officials promised before Phoenix moved onto the Red Hook waterfront last year that the company's container trucks would use roads inside the port instead of neighborhood streets. But they said that pledge didn't apply to the smaller delivery trucks now flooding Columbia St."

I served on the Community Board 6 Committee which reviewed the EDC/Phoenix Beverage proposal. There were a large portion of community members who were opposed to the idea from the start (I was not one of them). However, the main point that the EDC and it's representatives kept emphasizing time and again was that this would be economic development without adding truck traffic onto local streets because there was an internal circulation route which would be used to funnel trucks directly on and off the BQE's Atlantic Avenue exit.

Turns out, they're liars. While I'd like to blame Phoenix Beverage, this is square on the shoulders of the Economic Development Corporation. Is there nothing in Phoenix Beverage's lease which could be enforced? Which is worse? If the answer is yes, and they're not enforcing it, or if nothing was included in the lease? 

Someone has some 'splaining to do.