Aaron Naparstek
AARON NAPARSTEK is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Streetsblog. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Naparsteks journalism, advocacy and community organizing work has been instrumental in growing the bicycle network, removing motor vehicles from parks, and developing new public plazas, car-free streets and life-saving traffic-calming measures across all five boroughs. Naparstek is the author of "Honku: The Zen Antidote for Road Rage" (Villard, 2003), a book of humorous haiku poetry inspired by the endless motorist sociopathy observed from his apartment window. Prior to launching Streetsblog, Naparstek worked as an interactive media producer, pioneering some of the Web's first music web sites, online communities, live webcasts and social networking services. Naparstek is currently in Cambridge with his wife and two young sons where he is enjoying a Loeb Fellowship at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. He has a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Naparstek is a co-founder of the Park Slope Neighbors community group and the Grand Army Plaza Coalition. You can find more of his work here: http://www.naparstek.com.
Recent Posts
Naparstek Steps Down as Editor-in-Chief of Streetsblog
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Aaron Naparstek in his ‘Livable Streets Power Broker’ pose. (Photo: N. Whitaker) This will be difficult news for those of you who are already reeling from Oprah’s retirement, Simon Cowell’s abandonment of "American Idol" and Sewell Chan‘s departure from City Room, but here it is: I am leaving my job as editor-in-chief of Streetsblog. For […]
The House is Debating its Climate Legislation Right Now
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Kate Sheppard from Grist is Tweeting the heck out of the climate bill debate on the floor of the House of Representatives today (218 votes and counting). Barbara Boxer, who is working on the Senate version of this bill, yesterday reminded sustainable transport advocates that this is probably going to be their only chance in […]
Live Webcast: Environment & Public Works Committee Hearing
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Watching Ray LaHood’s testimony to the Senate EPW committee, Elana Schor tweets that the fat lady is singing for the House of Representatives’ effort to get the transportation reauthorization done quickly. And there are lots of other fireworks as well. You can follow all of the action live on the committee’s web site, right now, […]
Tweeting Live from the Congress for the New Urbanism in Denver
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OK. I’ve finally succumbed to Twitter and I’m using it to keep track of interesting quotes, observations and tidbits at the 17th annual Congress for the New Urbanism conference in Denver. There’s a lot of great stuff happening here and plenty of interesting people. I’m not sure how much of that I can convey in […]
The Crossroads of the World Goes Car-Free
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I’ve lived in New York City for just about twenty years now but yesterday was my first trip to Times Square. Sure, I’ve been to Times Square before. Plenty of times. But until yesterday Times Square had never ever been a destination for me. Rather, it had always been a place to avoid or, if […]
LaHood to Streetsblog: No, I’m Not Changing the Name of My Blog
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Photo: Danny Bright I’ll add a few more impressions to Bobby Cuza’s report on yesterday’s ABNY breakfast with federal transportation secretary Ray LaHood. But before I get to that: How beautiful a morning was it for a bike commute? I met T.A. executive director Paul White for a 7:00 a.m. coffee at Gorilla on Fifth […]
Will Barbara Boxer Stand Up for Sustainable Transportation?
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Behind the scenes, we’re hearing a lot of sustainable transportation advocates sounding alarms over California Senator Barbara Boxer these days. As chair of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works committee, Boxer is going to play a critical role in this year’s federal transportation funding effort. Environmentalists want to see transportation policies and funding formulas that […]
Stimulus + Mass Transit = Opportunity
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I generally avoid cable news like the plague but I’ve been tuning in lately hoping to find some interesting discussion of the federal stimulus bill. Despite my low expectations of the medium I’ve been amazed by the inanity, the lack of substance and the incredible amount of Republican demagoguery being allowed to make it onto […]
The Last Thing This Nation Needs
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I hate to nitpick at an outstanding and historic speech but it’s January 21 and time to start talking about the stimulus bill, so, well, I’ll let James Howard Kunstler do the nitpicking… “We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars…” — Barack Obama’s inaugural address.“The last thing […]
Same.gov: A Transportation Secretary Who’s Hard to Believe In
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On Monday, Obama announced his "green dream team." Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wasn’t there. We’ve been calling around to Congressional staffers, advocates and insiders to get a better sense of what Obama’s appointment of Ray LaHood as transportation secretary means for those pushing for sustainable transport, smart growth, livable streets. While no one is giving […]
Done Deal: Obama Picks LaHood as Transpo Secretary
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The Washington Post says it’s official.
Dingell Wanes as Waxman Takes Over Energy and Commerce
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One of the major, Eisenhower-era obstacles to fuel efficiency, automaker reform and meaningful climate change legislation is finally out of the way. The Democratic caucus has ousted Michigan Rep. John Dingell as chair of the House Energy and Commerce committee. He’ll be replaced by California Rep. Henry Waxman. Amen. Grist, TPM and Politico have the […]