Frank Morano discusses some of the hottest topics and gives his opinion. Frank talks about the traffic cameras in NYC and then Frank talks about state senator Zellnor Myrie's effort to get the school Chancellor to register students to vote. Frank talks about RFK Jr. fighting his residence status in NYC and then Frank talks about the way NYers are always criticizing the Mayor whoever the Mayor happens to be at the time.
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The other side of midnight. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] Local spot flags. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] Good. Morrow, everyone. This is the other side of midnight on 77 WABC. I'm Frank Moreno. I want to talk to you about something that's becoming an increasing burden on motorists in our city, traffic cameras. If you live in a borough outside of Manhattan or if you drive in boroughs outside of Manhattan, you know what I'm talking about. And if you're already tired of speed cameras, brace yourselves because there's another device on the horizon, poised to slip its hands into your pockets. Stop sign cameras. These devices aren't in New York City just yet, but could it shock you? Would it shock you to see them here someday? I suspect not. And I suspect they will be here sooner rather than later. A recent report by Channel 2 News highlighted the use of stop sign cameras in Saddle Rock, a village in Nassau County. If you roll through a stop sign there, you could get slapped with a $60 ticket. And these cameras are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Some residents have questioned the legality of these cameras, noting that the program didn't go through the state legislature before being implemented. Others have called the regulation "Too Rigid," suggesting that there could be some flexibility for-- And of course, there's the familiar argument that it's all just a money grab. Much like the debate we've had about speed cameras and red light cameras, et cetera, et cetera. Local officials defend the cameras, arguing that police have higher priorities than chasing down stop sign violators. But here's the crux of the issue. How much do these revenue-generating devices actually improve safety? In New York City, despite all of our efforts, we're not getting any closer to the Vision Zero goal of zero road deaths. In fact, it's getting worse. According to transportation alternatives, the first six months of 2024 have been the deadliest on city roads since Vision Zero was implemented in 2014. Now, I'm not unsympathetic to the issue of better traffic enforcement. My stepmother was hit by a speeding driver running through a stop sign a few years ago. She almost died. I know firsthand the pain and devastation such incidents can cause, but we need more enforcement and more cops on the street, not more money-making traps. Maybe it's time to reassess our strategies here. The focus on speed hasn't yielded the desired results. Perhaps we need to tackle the issue of distracted driving with greater zeal. In the meantime, the network of speed cameras continues to expand, including in highway work zones where state police sometimes poses workers to catch violators. The reality is, authorities know that some drivers will never obey every law to the letter. So why not make money off of them? New Yorkers deserve better. We need solutions that genuinely improve safety, not just fill city coffers. Beam me up. To be continued. [MUSIC PLAYING] The other side at midnight. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] Local spotlines. Good morning, everyone. This is the other side of midnight on 77W ABC. I'm Frank Moreno. Thank you for listening. Today, I want to talk to you about state-centered Zehlner Myrie's latest grandstanding effort, urging school's chancellor, David Banks, to ramp up efforts to register public school students to vote. Now, let's be clear. This isn't about increasing civic engagement or fostering a sense of duty among our youth. This is a blatant attempt by a politician running for higher office-- in Myrie's case, he's running for mayor-- to grab headlines and pander to voters. It's already incredibly easy to register to vote in New York state. In fact, it's easier than it's ever been in the history of our state. You can register online, something you couldn't do. When I was trying to register to vote, you can register at the DMV. You can register by mail. If you want to vote in person, you have 10 days to do so. If you prefer to stay home, you can vote by mail with no excuses. And if you make a mistake while voting by mail, you can cure your ballot afterwards. And the system is designed to make voting accessible to everyone. Senator Myrie, in his letter to Chancellor Banks, claims this effort is about ensuring young people are equipped with the tools they need to register and participate in our democracy. He's joined by 23 state senators and three assembly members in his plea. They want the Department of Education to hand out voter registration forms and hold registration drives in high schools. Here's the reality. If there's a problem with voter turnout in this city or in this state, it's not because of a lack of awareness or difficulty in registering. It's due to voter apathy and cynicism. People are disengaged because they don't believe their vote makes a difference. They're tired of politicians who make grand promises and deliver little. And I wish we could focus a little bit more on what children are actually supposed to be learning in schools rather than trying to use them as attempts to grandstand. There are 67,000, 12th grader citywide. Yes, we can pre-register 16 and 17-year-olds to vote, and that's fine. But let's not pretend that handing out forms in schools is going to magically boost voter turnout. The issue is deeper and requires more substantive solutions than a politician's publicity stunt. New Yorkers deserve genuine efforts to address the root causes of voter apathy. I begged you repeatedly, join me at the charter revision commission hearings and make your voice heard on how city government should be reformed. And unfortunately, most of you chose not to show up. We need leaders who inspire trust and engagement and voters who want to participate, not politicians who resort to gimmicks to stay in the news cycle. In the end, this isn't about helping our youth or strengthening our democracy. It's about a politician looking to score easy points in an election year. Beam me up. To be continued. The other side of midnight. ♪ Seven new seventies I've heard of you ♪ ♪ And you've seen me ♪ ♪ Your local spotlight ♪ Well, the good news for those of us that are New York independents is that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is in New York. The bad news is he's here to fight this absurd lawsuit that is challenging his residency and his place on New York's ballot. This isn't about Kennedy, who you know I'm for. It's about an alarming trend of trying to deny voters the right to choose their candidates. It's about wasting a candidate's time and resources on frivolous lawsuits. And it's about keeping RFK off the campaign trail because quite frankly, his message resonates with people. Kennedy is in court defending his New York residency against allegations that he actually lives in Los Angeles. The lawsuit brought by Clear Choice Pack claims he falsely listed a New York address on his nominating petition. This kind of tactic isn't just unfair. It is a blatant attempt to undermine democracy. Let's be real. It doesn't matter what state RFK lives in as long as he lives in the US. He has a much stronger claim to being a New Yorker than Dick Cheney did of being a Wyoming resident back in 2000. RFK led a New York-based environmental group for decades. His father was a New York Senator and he's been connected to this state since he was 10 years old. I may even seek to file a friend of the court brief in this case because it's especially important that he make the ballot in New York. Now forget about the fact that he submitted more signatures to get on the ballot than any candidate in a history of anything in New York state. But if he gets more than 130,000 votes, a new party will be created for two years, a party I'd like to be involved in. This isn't just about one election. It's about giving New Yorkers more choices and a new voice in politics. And this PAC, which is basically just run by a bunch of Democratic Party operatives and elites, is trying to deny my voice, my choice, and the votes and choices of New Yorkers that wanna be involved in a new party. New York's ballot access laws are already among the most stringent in the country. Kennedy has enough signatures to qualify in 42 states, but his campaign is facing challenges and lawsuits in various states. This isn't a coincidence. It's a coordinated effort to drain his resources and keep him off the ballot. Voters should be allowed to hear Kennedy's message and decide for themselves if he deserves their vote. This lawsuit is a distraction and a waste of time. It's designed to keep RFK from campaigning effectively because as opponents know that when he gets in front of people, they respond to his message. New Yorkers deserve better than these underhanded tactics. We need a fair and open political process where every candidate has a chance to make their case to the voters. Let's focus on the real issues and let the voters decide. Beam me up. To be continued. The other side at midnight. ♪ 77 and I told you that ♪ ♪ You say me ♪ Local spotlights. Today, I want to delve into a pastime as old as New York City itself, ragging on the mayor. It's practically a sport here and Mayor Adams is the latest to find himself in the crosshairs. With poll numbers indicating a disgruntled electorate, Adams critics are certainly having a field day, but let's be real, this is New York. We've always got something to complain about and it's usually the mayor. Right now, there are three announced democratic challengers, Brad Lander, Zellner Myrie and Scott Stringer. Each one is promising they can manage the city better than Adams. It's reminiscent of 1989 when Ed Koch faced a primary challenge and ultimately lost to David Dinkins. But historically, when it comes down to comparing the incumbent to the alternatives, rather than what your ideal of a mayor should be, New Yorkers often end up sticking with the devil they know. Let's start with Brad Lander. The city controller is the self-proclaimed, progressive policy wonk with ties to AOC. He's promising affordability and improved quality of life and he's got the highest name recognition among the challengers, but as Adams aptly put it, Lander might just be the loudest person in the city. Then we have Zellner Myrie, who I spoke about earlier, a state senator who's aiming to appeal to a wide swath of New Yorkers with his focus on practical needs like clean streets and safe subways. His challenge, nobody knows who he is. I don't know how he's going to raise the money necessary for a city-wide run. And last but not least, let's not forget Scott Stringer, a veteran of city government with a wealth of experience and management know-how, but he's dragging the baggage of past allegations, which I think he got a raw deal on just for the record, and that's a heavy load in a race like this. Despite all the criticisms and controversies surrounding Mayor Adams, the sad reality is that he just might be the best candidate in the field so far, as critical as I've been of Adams. When you start comparing him to the declared alternatives, rather than an idealized version of what a mayor should be, you see why incumbents often get reelected. Adams has money, he's touting job growth, declining crime, and he's got the bully pulpit to make his case. So while it's always fun to bash the mayor, and Adams has certainly given us plenty of material, we need to look at the big picture. New Yorkers want a leader who can get the job done, and so far, Adams' opponents haven't proven they can do better. The race is on, and it's going to be one heck of a battle, but for now, it looks like the mayor we love to hate might just be sticking around a little while longer. Beam me up! To be continued.
