The communities of Manhattan's PS 3 Charrette School demand the reinstatement of our school use street permit for Bedford Street in the West Village of Manhattan. Pedestrian deaths in the city have surged 58% so far this year. Therefore revoking our permit to use Bedford Street during school hours was a reckless decision that puts students, staff, families, caregivers and pedestrians directly in harm's way. 

Last school year PS 3 utilized a one block length of Bedford Street, during school hours, as a tool of health and safety, and it was a success! However, this school year the NYC Department of Transportation revoked the permit, without notice or ability to appeal. The consequence of that decision is the crowding of hundreds of people onto a slim sidewalk while cars, vans and trucks speed by. Our school population is large and our elementary students are young people! Complicating matters, where our school is located, at the corner of Bedford Street with Grove Street, is also the location of the "Friends" tv show building. This remains a popular tourist destination attracting large groups of people even in the pandemic. The skinny sidewalks here cannot accomodate all of these people let alone our school's population. We are especially at risk these days as the NYC DOT's own data shows a rise in motor vehicles striking pedestrians.

PS 3 is located in Lower Manhattan and an anchor of the community. (For example, our school became a safe haven during the September 11 attacks.) However the school building is a vertical campus and has no outdoor space at the ground level. Therefore in the pandemic we need to share the public streets, the only space available, during school hours. School use street use permits are effective tool for social distancing and health and safety. The public streets provide an adequate space for our large school population, and are a low-cost solution to issues created by the pandemic. In fact, school use street permits have been supported by elected officials including Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Councilmember Brad Lander, as well as Manhattan's Community Board 2. The factors that led to the school's Bedford Street permit being revoked are not transparent, but surely are based on outdated guidelines; guidelines that do not reflect the conditions of the pandemic; and guidelines that do not reflect the current situation of the extreme rise of pedestrian deaths in New York City. NYC DOT is required to undertake pedestrian safety action planning. These pedestrian safety requirements have to take into account the current fact that city public schools need outdoor spaces, including city streets, to operate safely in the ongoing pandemic. Not a single school use street permit should have ever been revoked this year.

Removing PS 3 Charrette School's ability to use Bedford Street safely during school hours was a reckless decision, and sets up a VERY dangerous situation for all pedestrians here, and especially our school's elementary-aged students, school staff and families. We demand the immediate reinstatement of the PS 3 Charrette school use street permit (a/k/a outdoor learning permit) for the one block of Bedford Street during the school year.

Respectfully,

The PS 3 Parent Action Committee On Behalf Of Our School Communities