"Why can't we just pay with our cellphones like you can in so many other places? Why can't you just tap and go as you get on every single entrance of the bus?" said City Councilman Ben Kallos of Manhattan.
Plans for a major overhaul of Second Avenue on the Upper East Side were revealed Wednesday at a community board meeting.
They include a protected bike lane, a parking lane, a bus lane and three travel lanes.
The redesigned street will look much like Second Avenue currently does above 105th street.
The proposed bike lane changes drew mixed opinions.
"I think it's great we're finally going to get our street back on Second Avenue. We're going to get more parking back on Second Avenue, and all the bikes going the wrong way on First Avenue will finally have a place to go," said City Councilman Ben Kallos of Manhattan.
When cars are moved because of things like parades or movie shoots, drivers often have no clue where their vehicles are, and now one city lawmaker is looking to change that.
Manhattan Councilman Ben Kallos is pushing a bill that would require the city Transportation Department to notify 311 and put information about relocated cars on its website.
Drivers would then be able to visit the website or call the city's helpline to find their cars.
That's the way it currently works when a car is towed to an impound lot for a normal parking restriction.
Kallos tells the Daily News he decided to introduce the bill after his disabled mother's car was towed several blocks from her home, and was covered in tickets once she found it.
A new study finds that the plan for an Upper East Side waste transfer station would triple its current costs to the city.
The Independent Budget Office's study says it currently costs $93 a ton to drive trash from Manhattan to New Jersey and Yonkers.
It indicates the transfer station would bring that cost to $278 per ton.
The total cost over the next 20 years would increase from $253 million to $632 million, which is actually a more expensive estimate than the budget office made two years ago when it looked at the issue.
City Councilman Ben Kallos, who requested the report, hopes the numbers will encourage Mayor Bill de Blasio to end the plan for the transfer station, which has drawn several protests over the months.
Happy Meals will need to become healthier meals if one city councilman gets his way.
Manhattan Councilman Ben Kallos plans to introduce a bill requiring strict new health standards on fast food kids meals that offer free items like toys.
The legislation would ban fast food restaurants from including the freebies if the meals exceed 500 calories and more than 600 milligrams of sodium.
Restaurants would also be forced to include at least half a cup of fruit or vegetables, or a serving of whole-grain products in kids meals.
First-time offenders would face a fine of $200 to $500.
A third offense could cost as much as $2,500.
