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. 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 all of the […]
House Debating Climate and Energy 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 […]
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 […]
Introducing Streetsblog Capitol Hill
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We are excited to announce the official launch of Streetsblog Capitol Hill. With major transportation, climate and energy legislation coming before Congress in the next year or two we felt that it was critical to have a talented journalist down in Washington D.C. covering the issues on a daily basis. With the financial support of […]
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 […]
Should I Wear a Helmet Today?
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The Naparstek boys riding last year’s Summer Streets event… wearing helmets. Sarah’s "Too Much Emphasis on Safety" post yesterday brings up the question in the headline above. A Canadian Broadcasting TV crew doing a documentary on biking is filming me as I take my two sons to school on our Dutch cargo bike today. While […]
Welcome Elana Schor, Streetsblog’s New National Reporter
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As you may have noticed, we’ve got a new reporter here at Streetsblog, Elana Schor. Elana will be covering this year’s big federal transportation story down in Washington D.C. with an eye towards helping transit advocates and livable streets activists gain a better understanding of what has typically been a very inside-the-Beltway, highway-oriented process. 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. U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, made his morning commute to New York City on the LaGuardia shuttle. "Not a bad way to come," he told the ABNY crowd, before adding, "Train or […]
Talking Traffic Justice With Manhattan DA Candidate Leslie Crocker Snyder
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Streetsblog Editor-in-Chief Aaron Naparstek sat down with Manhattan DA candidate Leslie Cocker Snyder to ask her how she would bring criminal charges more conistently for vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault, and negligence in cases where motorists mow down pedestrians and cyclists. Given the recent pedestrian fatality in the Sunset where a driver killed a woman in […]
We’re Hiring: Cover the Capitol for Streetsblog
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With major transportation, climate, and energy legislation coming before Congress in 2009 and 2010, Streetsblog is seeking a talented journalist to cover Capitol Hill. We’re looking for a reporter/blogger who can help bring outside-the-Beltway readers inside the legislative process, scoop the mainstream press, and make Streetsblog Capitol Hill an engaging and entertaining must-read. Our ideal […]
Change is Coming to Streetsblog and the Livable Streets Network
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I just want to give all of you regular readers a heads up that you’ll soon be seeing some design and branding changes implemented on Streetsblog and the Livable Streets Network web sites. Over the last few months we’ve created Streetsblog San Francisco, the Streetsblog.net national blog network and an entirely new program called Livable […]
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 […]