FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 24, 2026

New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes, State Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, and Council Member Lincoln Restler issued the following statement in response to the Mamdani Administration’s announcement of a plan to rehabilitate the BQE.

“We are encouraged that the Mamdani Administration has listened to our community's call to rehab—rather than replace—the BQE Triple Cantilever while maintaining only two lanes of traffic in each direction and the existing footprint of the structure. This approach opens the possibility for future transformational change that communities up and down the BQE corridor have long advocated for. 

“Over the past four years, the Adams administration unwisely pursued destructive, unpopular proposals that chipped away at our community’s trust. As a result of that inaction, we are now in a position where further delay is not an option. 

“This announcement is the beginning of a multi-year approval process, and we have many outstanding questions. We are concerned about such an invasive and disruptive construction approach, and are worried about the damaging impact of temporary highways in our dense neighborhood. We hope the Mamdani administration will engage transparently and robustly with our community to collaboratively revise this proposal, improve air quality in surrounding neighborhoods, and explore new connections to Brooklyn Bridge Park. 

“Our hope is that this rehabilitation project will be an interim step that allows us to plan for a post-BQE future and create a real timeframe to finally retire this Robert Moses relic.” 

Press Contact:

Billy Richling

Communications Director

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

billy@senatorgounardes.nyc

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