"The pair was accused last summer of allegedly bribing Lewis-Martin to nix plans for the city Department of Transportation's (DOT) redesign of Brooklyn's McGuinness Boulevard, a busy corridor that runs past their business in Greenpoint. Tina and Tony Argento, and Broadway Stages, never opposed bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard, Ciafone said in an interview with amNewYork. What they wanted was, they did not want traffic to build up too much."
"Tina and Tony Argento, and Broadway Stages, never opposed bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard, Ciafone said in an interview with amNewYork. What they wanted was, they did not want traffic to build up too much. Heavy traffic on the street would increase air pollution, affect community business and make it difficult for emergency vehicles to navigate the road, Ciafone explained."
Mayor Mamdani visited Greenpoint to announce that the Department of Transportation will finish reconstruction of McGuinness Boulevard, which runs between Brooklyn and Queens, and to reinstate original pre-scandal design plans. Attorney John Ciafone, representing Broadway Stages owners Tony and Gina Argento, called the August 21, 2025 indictment on conspiracy and bribery charges a witch hunt. Prosecutors allege the Argentos offered Ingrid Lewis-Martin $2,500 and perks to convince then-mayor Eric Adams to soften the DOT redesign that would have added bike and traffic lanes. The Argentos deny opposing bike lanes and say their concern centered on traffic congestion, pollution, business impacts, and emergency access. A community petition opposing the original redesign has nearly 7,000 signatures.
Read at www.amny.com
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