"Ariola drove several loops on Freedom Drive - the roadway that had long been off-limits to cars only to be reopened for car use late last year - then stared down the activists from the front seat of her climate-controlled Lincoln Corsair, which has been nabbed 38 times by city speed- and red-light cameras since 2017, according to city records."
"The safety advocates were chanting "car free Freedom Drive" as Ariola waited impatiently for them to cross the street, and even advanced her car in the direction of the children. Later, she posted a gloating Instagram story celebrating the "freedom" to drive inside what had previously been safe space, complete with the accompaniment of the Rascal Flatts' song, "Life is a Highway.""
Queens Council Member Joann Ariola drove several loops on Freedom Drive, a roadway recently reopened to cars, and stared at activists from her climate-controlled Lincoln Corsair. City records show the vehicle has been captured by speed- and red-light cameras 38 times since 2017. Ariola was filmed idling and advancing toward about 75 pro-park community members, many children, who marched from P.S. 66 to Giovanelli Playground. Protesters chanted "car free Freedom Drive" while Ariola impatiently waited, and she later posted an Instagram story celebrating the "freedom" to drive there with Rascal Flatts' "Life is a Highway." A protest leader called the actions antagonistic and childish; Ariola did not respond to messages. Under an Adams administration compromise, the Parks Department made the roadway available to drivers.
Read at Streetsblog
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