City Council Survey (District 50): James M. Pocchia

Political Party:
Democratic Party

http://pocchiaforcitycouncil.org

Candidate Submitted Biography:

James M. Pocchia has been a Staten Island resident for forty years, almost his entire life. His father is a retired New York City Corrections Captain and his mother is a retired school administrator and homemaker. James graduated St. Patrick's Grammar School, Monsignor Farrell High School, New York University and Brooklyn Law School. He has been a practicing attorney for 18 years. James was raised in the Oakwood section of the district and today lives in Richmondtown with his wife, MaryKim DeMonaco-Pocchia, also an attorney with a private practice here on Staten Island, and their six year old son, James, Jr. After working for several law firms, in 2001 James opened his own law practice here on Staten Island and continues to serve his community today. Over the years, James has been a youth baseball and basketball coach and civic activist. James is a member of the Richmondtown/Clarke Avenue Civic Association and is the Vice Chairperson of the Joint Mid Island Civic Association and also their legal counsel.

City Council Survey (District 50): James M. Pocchia

Question 1:
What is the most important transportation need in your district? As a Council Member, how would you work to address this need?

While I believe that there are several very important transportation needs in my district, I beleive that one of the most important is to develop rapid transit rather than mass transit. I believe that the day has come for The City of New York to consider a subway running from Staten Island to Brooklyn. Imagine the possibilities for Staten Island commuters if they could ride one train to get from Staten Island to Brooklyn and gain access to the rapid transit system for the entire City. While supporting this larger scale capital project, I would also work to improve our existing transportation system by supporting the north shore rail line. In addition, we must improve our infrastructure by repairing the crumbling roads that have been ignored for far too long.


Question 2:
The intersection of Hylan Blvd and New Dorp Lane is one of the most dangerous in your district, where 0 people died and 34 people were injured between 1995-2005 (NYS DOT). As a City Council member, what traffic enforcement policies or physical changes to the intersection infrastructure would you support to make this intersection safer for everyone who uses it (pedestrians, cyclists and drivers)?

I would support considering the feasibility of installing pedestrian cross over bridges at that particular intersection.


Question 3:
According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles' most currently available data, in 2007 speeding was a contributing factor in over 3,000 motor vehicle crashes in New York City. Furthermore, the same data showed that the top human contributing factor to the 264 fatal crashes in New York City during 2007 was also speeding. Given these figures, what measures, if any, do you support to redress this problem? Finally, do you believe that New York City’s current speed limits are safe?

I do believe that the current speed limits are safe. The problem is driver observance. Too many drivers simply ignore speed limits, especially on local roads which dominate Staten Island. I would like to see a part of our regular driver's education course introduced to high school juniors and seniors as part of our regular curriculum. In addition, certain roads that are amenable to speed bumps should have same installed. In addition, there are many additional streets where speed limits can be painted directly on the roads as a reminder to drivers of the speed limit.


Question 4:
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's website reports: "In New York City, obesity is epidemic: more than half of adult New Yorkers are overweight (34%) or obese (22%). Data show that obesity begins early in life: nearly half of all elementary school children and Head Start children are not a healthy weight. In New York City, 1 in 5 kindergarten students, and 1 in 4 Head Start children, is obese." Do you believe that increasing walking and biking in New York City would improve public health? If yes, how would you work to increase walking and biking in your district?

I do believe that increasing walking and biking would improve public health. In my district, I would advocate a program to introduce our young students to the advantages of walking and biking as part of the regular curriculum and also introduce special community events that allow our young children to participate where there is an emphasis on walking and biking.


Question 5:
Road pricing, including such measures as non-stop tolling, fees based on vehicle miles travelled or entry into a highly congested zone, has been the source of much discussion in New York City and other major metropolitan areas. London famously uses a congestion charge to fund its transit system, Oregon recently piloted a program to replace the gas tax with a fee for miles driven and Seattle recently studied how road pricing could be introduced on a regional basis. Seattle's study, “Traffic Choices Study" (http://psrc.org/projects/trafficchoices/index.htm), found that introducing new tolls on major corridors during peak traffic hours influenced drivers’ behavior and projected that a region-wide road pricing scheme could significantly reduce vehicular traffic congestion. Do you think that introducing a road pricing strategy would change New Yorkers’ travel choices? Do you think that this would be an effective way for the City to reduce backups on high-traffic roadways like the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the Gowanus Expressway or the Long Island Expressway? Finally, do you believe there are additional benefits in the surrounding neighborhoods which could be realized from the reduction of vehicular congestion on these routes?

In New York City, I do not believe that a road pricing strategy would change many New Yorkers' travel choices. As a result, I do not think this would be an effective way to reduce traffic. I believe that such plans could result in yet another tax, in effect, on the working middle class of New YOrk City. We need to find other more innovative methods for reducing traffic becuase such reduction would naturally benefit surrounding neighborhoods with a reduction in noise and pollution.


Question 6:
Do you believe that reducing residential parking requirements as set forth within NYC zoning regulations would affect neighborhood traffic congestion, and if so, in what way?

I do not know whether or not reducing residential parking requirements in NYC zoning regulations would affect traffic congestion. The only way to determine the effect would be to commence a pilot program in a limited area and measure the results. Without such a study, I believe that it is just a guess as to whether or not there will be an effect.


Question 7:
The NYC Department of Transportation's Public Plaza Program, Pedestrian Street Program and Summer Streets events are intended to diversify the use of public space and provide more places for New Yorkers to recreate and socialize. Do you support the temporary or permanent repurposing of street space for pedestrians and cyclists?

I do support the temporary (where appropriate) and permanent (where appropriate) repurposing of street space for the safe use by pedestrians and cyclists.


Question 8:
The City recently released plans for Bus Rapid Transit and expressed interest in bringing a bike share program to New York City. Do you think these new projects would enhance the city's transportation network? Please explain.

I do not know enough about these programs at this time to comment. I will endeavor to learn more about the programs.


Submitted by james pocchia on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 18:14.
Submitted by james pocchia on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 17:54.
Submitted by james pocchia on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 18:14.