Janette Sadik-Khan, NYC Transportation Commissioner and…Wacko Nutso?

The NYTimes has an in-depth article on New York City’s controversial transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan. New Yorkers are easily riled up about their transportation options – I myself have fallen prey to early morning subway rage. There is an ongoing three-way fight between cars, bikers, and pedestrians, and all are at times at fault. Cars park in bike lanes and blow through crosswalks; bikers ride the wrong way on a street or up on the sidewalk; pedestrians cross in the middle of the street and without the walk sign, scaring the bejeezus out of cars and bikes alike.

So Sadik-Khan’s policies that add bike lanes and pedestrian plazas quickly and sometimes with little community input are likely to stir up some intense feelings on both sides. And they’re bound to be controversial with citizens and politicians alike. But the reaction she’s provoked in some public figures is beyond what passes for a grumpy New Yorker.

Cindy Adams, a gossip columnist, calls her the “wacko nutso bike commissioner.” Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz showed up at a meeting by riding in on a tricycle and joking, “I’ve taken advantage of the D.O.T.’s newest bike lane.” Some critics call her “Chaka Khan” (which seems offensive, although mostly confusing). Even champion of women’s rights Rep. Anthony Weiner is serving up some harsh talk. He told Mayor Bloomberg that if elected mayor his first move would be to “tear out your [expletive] bike lanes.” (Knowing him, it’s pretty easy to fill in the Times’ censorship.) And instead of standing up for one of his administration, apparently Bloomberg’s response boiled down to “tell me about it.” The Times reports: “The mayor, some guests said, made it clear that Ms. Sadik-Khan was off on her own.” Even though he himself appointed her to the position.

Why the harsh talk, fellas? It’s probably not to serve a secret sexist agenda, but their own personal agendas. Although the majority of the city’s residents don’t own a car and some polls show very little opposition to the wacko’s bike lanes, the groups against them are moneyed (suburbanite commuters) and loud. But their reactions follow a familiar playbook. An aggressive, ambitious woman makes everyone uncomfortable because she’s working outside gender norms, and that makes her easy to attack.

Some people say she is “dismissive and confrontational”; the Times notes she is known for “a brusque, I-know-best style and a reluctance to compromise.” But she’s also known for being a “brilliant innovator,” a “sharp mind,” “visionary,” and she calls herself “passionate.” Even some of the criticisms thrown her way could come off well if they were of a man. “She couldn’t care less whether you like her or not,” a city official close to her said. “She has an absolute certainty that she’s correct,” said Lewis A. Fidler, a council member who’s clashed with her before – something that he claims isn’t “appropriate for government,” which makes me wonder how many inappropriate Congressmen we have. She’s not afraid to scream back at someone – even though she herself notes, “My guess is that every single transportation commissioner you’ll ever speak to has raised their voice on the phone.”

City politics can be rough and tumble, and with innovative policies some people are bound to be rubbed the wrong way. But she’s being villainized because she’s smart, aggressive and not interested in just playing nice. If this were Mr. Sadik-Khan, he would still likely enrage some constituents, businesses and colleagues. But would his aggressiveness gain him the title “wacko nutso?” Would he be isolated from the administration because he pushed new ideas?