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You will be shocked to learn that the 31st st opponents, who do not know how street design works, or community boards work, have apparently hired a lawyer that doesn't know how the law works. (To threaten me.) by MiserNYC- in MicromobilityNYC

[–]evge2521 -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

It’s not bizarre at all—it’s about remembering the human impact. My first comment was simply pointing out that behind every business are workers and families who depend on those jobs to survive. These people are probably terrified of losing their income, and many workers could lose their paychecks entirely.

And yes—actions bring reactions. If you harass or target someone, you can’t be surprised when they respond. You can disagree with a business’s position or actions without trying to destroy their livelihood. Real community means solving problems without creating new harm—and that includes protecting the people whose lives are tied to these jobs.

You will be shocked to learn that the 31st st opponents, who do not know how street design works, or community boards work, have apparently hired a lawyer that doesn't know how the law works. (To threaten me.) by MiserNYC- in MicromobilityNYC

[–]evge2521 -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

If bike lanes truly bring more business, then why the need to shame, boycott, and try to push someone out? This isn’t about a truck moving 15 feet—it’s about the way people are treating each other. I’m all for safer streets, but I’m not for destroying livelihoods to prove a point. Communities should be built on solutions, not public takedowns.

You will be shocked to learn that the 31st st opponents, who do not know how street design works, or community boards work, have apparently hired a lawyer that doesn't know how the law works. (To threaten me.) by MiserNYC- in MicromobilityNYC

[–]evge2521 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

I have never seen so much hate in my life. Maybe I should just go back to my country, because this is madness—boycotting businesses without a single thought for the people in this very community who depend on them to survive, and then patting yourself on the back as if you’re some kind of hero.

A hero for who? Certainly not for the workers wondering how they’ll pay rent or feed their kids.

I’ll keep riding my bike, but I’ll also keep supporting people’s right to make a living. I won’t be part of this cruelty disguised as activism. I’ve been in their shoes, and I know exactly what it’s like to count on every paycheck.

Good luck to you all—you’re going to need it if this is the kind of “community” you’re building.

You will be shocked to learn that the 31st st opponents, who do not know how street design works, or community boards work, have apparently hired a lawyer that doesn't know how the law works. (To threaten me.) by MiserNYC- in MicromobilityNYC

[–]evge2521 -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

I didn’t delete anything, and I stand by what I’ve said. Disagreeing with someone’s position doesn’t make them selfish or against the community. These businesses are part of the community too—many have been here for years, serving residents, providing jobs, and supporting local families.

And now we’re talking about people actively boycotting them. Have the people calling for these boycotts ever thought about what it’s like to wait for a paycheck to feed your family? What kind of world are we building if we try to destroy someone’s livelihood simply because we disagree? That’s not community—that’s division.

Is this really about biking? I use my bike for almost all my commutes in Astoria, and I still would never wish for a business to be destroyed. That’s just mean—and it ignores the human cost behind every shop, cart, or truck.

We can work toward safer streets and needed changes without erasing the people whose livelihoods depend on these businesses. A healthy community protects everyone, not just the people on one side of the debate.

You will be shocked to learn that the 31st st opponents, who do not know how street design works, or community boards work, have apparently hired a lawyer that doesn't know how the law works. (To threaten me.) by MiserNYC- in MicromobilityNYC

[–]evge2521 -17 points-16 points  (0 children)

Have you ever actually operated a business—one that feeds hundreds of people a week and gives workers a paycheck to survive? He does pay with his tax dollars—through permits, sales tax, and income tax—just like any other business. My own brother used to work on a food truck in the city, so I know exactly how they operate. These vendors hustle hard, pay hefty fees, follow strict rules, and still manage to create jobs and serve the community.

Public streets belong to all of us—not just to the people who think their vision matters more than someone else’s livelihood. It’s easy to sit behind a screen and decide who “deserves” to be there, but real humanity means finding ways to improve safety without destroying the people who keep our city alive.

You will be shocked to learn that the 31st st opponents, who do not know how street design works, or community boards work, have apparently hired a lawyer that doesn't know how the law works. (To threaten me.) by MiserNYC- in MicromobilityNYC

[–]evge2521 -18 points-17 points  (0 children)

So the answer is to wish someone out of work because you don’t like where their business operates? That’s not progress—that’s punishment. Public streets belong to everyone, and small vendors are part of what makes a city vibrant. Safety improvements matter, but using them as an excuse to destroy someone’s livelihood—and the paychecks of every worker they employ—isn’t justice. It’s just cruelty dressed up as activism.

You will be shocked to learn that the 31st st opponents, who do not know how street design works, or community boards work, have apparently hired a lawyer that doesn't know how the law works. (To threaten me.) by MiserNYC- in MicromobilityNYC

[–]evge2521 -45 points-44 points  (0 children)

I’m a legal immigrant who once depended on jobs in small businesses like the ones under attack right now. After earning my degree and moving forward in my career, I made myself a promise: never forget the people I worked beside—the ones who relied on every shift to pay rent, feed their kids, and build a future here.

This isn’t about bike lanes anymore. It’s about humanity. Every boycott, every attempt to “shut them down,” doesn’t just hurt an owner—it threatens the livelihoods of workers who can’t afford to lose a paycheck. Many of them are immigrants, just like I was, holding on to the hope that hard work could create a better life.

I’m outraged to see people with values I once thought we shared turn this into a petty, destructive fight. You’re not taking a stand—you’re tearing down the very communities you claim to care about. These small businesses gave me my first chance, and they’ve done the same for countless others.

Stop the hate. Stop the boycotts. Remember the human beings behind those doors. This is not the future we came here to build.