Eric Allen Conner
@eaconner.bsky.social
Better Blocks New Jersey | Father to one eggshell plaintiff and one tortfeasor | M&A Lawyer
Interested mostly in posting about Jersey City, transit-oriented development, urban fiscal policy, and Star Trek.
Interested mostly in posting about Jersey City, transit-oriented development, urban fiscal policy, and Star Trek.
Pinned
Eric Allen Conner
@eaconner.bsky.social
· May 21
@3underscores.bsky.social and I are launching
@betterblocksnj.bsky.social — a new political advocacy group focused on working with elected leaders and candidates starting in Jersey City to:
🏘️ Build more housing
🚆 Improve mass transit
🚸 Make our streets safer
🌳 Protect our public parks
1/
@betterblocksnj.bsky.social — a new political advocacy group focused on working with elected leaders and candidates starting in Jersey City to:
🏘️ Build more housing
🚆 Improve mass transit
🚸 Make our streets safer
🌳 Protect our public parks
1/
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
This is astounding given the number of ambulances I saw on the road last night. Passing a law to ensure more people die.
New Jersey state legislators want to ban Waymo for at least 5 years. www.nj.com/news/2025/11...
New legislation threatens to hit the brakes on bringing driverless cars to N.J.
Disability advocates are pushing back against a New Jersey bill that would delay driverless cars in the state for five years, even as 25 other states already allow them.
www.nj.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
This is astounding given the number of ambulances I saw on the road last night. Passing a law to ensure more people die.
The key is to be honest with the electorate about the costs and not promising that someone else will pay for affordable housing.
Funded inclusionary zoning is good!
Good news: New data suggest that Portland's inclusionary zoning program is finally working as intended, after being fully funded in 2024 www.sightline.org/2025/11/25/p...
November 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The key is to be honest with the electorate about the costs and not promising that someone else will pay for affordable housing.
Isn’t Cuomo the one who said he himself was “Italian” to justify his predatory behavior?
So here's Andrew Cuomo reacting to Maria Bartiromo wondering if Mamdani will "change the look of New York" and have Muslim women "completely covered up," telling her that Mamdani "doesn't understand New York culture" because he has "dual citizenship" and "he's a citizen of Uganda."
October 29, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Isn’t Cuomo the one who said he himself was “Italian” to justify his predatory behavior?
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
Read our Voter Guide to the Hoboken Mayoral election.
Our choice for a December runoff would be Ruben Ramos who has the best housing policy in the race and Emily Jabbour who is strongest on Vision Zero, transit alternatives, and street redesigns.
Our choice for a December runoff would be Ruben Ramos who has the best housing policy in the race and Emily Jabbour who is strongest on Vision Zero, transit alternatives, and street redesigns.
The Hoboken Mayoral Candidates Voter Guide
November 4, 2025 is election day. Hoboken voters will go to the polls to elect a new governor, mayor, at-large city council candidates, and members of the board of education. This voter guide focuses only on the candidates running for mayor. If no…
November 4, 2025 is election day. Hoboken voters will go to the polls to elect a new governor, mayor, at-large city council candidates, and members of the board of education. This voter guide focuses only on the candidates running for mayor. If no…
The Hoboken Mayoral Candidates Voter Guide
November 4, 2025 is election day. Hoboken voters will go to the polls to elect a new governor, mayor, at-large city council candidates, and members of the board of education. This voter guide focuses only on the candidates running for mayor. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote on November 4, then a run-off election will be held in December.
betterblocksnj.org
October 29, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Read our Voter Guide to the Hoboken Mayoral election.
Our choice for a December runoff would be Ruben Ramos who has the best housing policy in the race and Emily Jabbour who is strongest on Vision Zero, transit alternatives, and street redesigns.
Our choice for a December runoff would be Ruben Ramos who has the best housing policy in the race and Emily Jabbour who is strongest on Vision Zero, transit alternatives, and street redesigns.
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
We did the math on Solomon’s affordable housing plan so you don’t have to.
Unfortunately, it provides very little affordability or housing for homeowners and renters alike and could raise property 22% by forcing the city to subsidize all new development.
Unfortunately, it provides very little affordability or housing for homeowners and renters alike and could raise property 22% by forcing the city to subsidize all new development.
October 28, 2025 at 1:39 AM
We did the math on Solomon’s affordable housing plan so you don’t have to.
Unfortunately, it provides very little affordability or housing for homeowners and renters alike and could raise property 22% by forcing the city to subsidize all new development.
Unfortunately, it provides very little affordability or housing for homeowners and renters alike and could raise property 22% by forcing the city to subsidize all new development.
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
Better Blocks NJ endorses Bill O'Dea for mayor of Jersey City.
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/10/16/the-jersey-city-mayoral-voter-guide/
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/10/16/the-jersey-city-mayoral-voter-guide/
October 16, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Better Blocks NJ endorses Bill O'Dea for mayor of Jersey City.
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/10/16/the-jersey-city-mayoral-voter-guide/
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/10/16/the-jersey-city-mayoral-voter-guide/
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
While we work on our voter guide and potential endorsements, we want to hear what voters thought of the candidates' answers to the Better Blocks questionnaire.
Let us know who your choice for mayor and council would be in this quick survey.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Let us know who your choice for mayor and council would be in this quick survey.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Who's the Best Candidate on the Block?
We want to hear from voters who rely on Better Blocks to learn about policy and inform their decisions on election day in Jersey City.
Based on the candidate responses given to the Better Blocks can...
docs.google.com
October 11, 2025 at 10:10 PM
While we work on our voter guide and potential endorsements, we want to hear what voters thought of the candidates' answers to the Better Blocks questionnaire.
Let us know who your choice for mayor and council would be in this quick survey.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Let us know who your choice for mayor and council would be in this quick survey.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
How long until the regime starts throwing people out of helicopters into the Atlantic?
September 18, 2025 at 7:05 AM
How long until the regime starts throwing people out of helicopters into the Atlantic?
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
We sent our mayoral and council survey to the candidates running for office in Jersey City.
Questions focus on housing, transit, street safety, and public parks. Candidate answers will inform any endorsements we make.
Take the survey and think about how you would respond!
Questions focus on housing, transit, street safety, and public parks. Candidate answers will inform any endorsements we make.
Take the survey and think about how you would respond!
Candidate Surveys for Jersey City Mayoral and City Council Elections
Better Blocks New Jersey sent this candidate questionnaire to all the candidates running for mayor and city council. We…
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/09/17/candidate-surveys-for-jersey-city-mayoral-and-city-council-elections/
Better Blocks New Jersey sent this candidate questionnaire to all the candidates running for mayor and city council. We…
https://betterblocksnj.org/2025/09/17/candidate-surveys-for-jersey-city-mayoral-and-city-council-elections/
September 17, 2025 at 2:40 PM
We sent our mayoral and council survey to the candidates running for office in Jersey City.
Questions focus on housing, transit, street safety, and public parks. Candidate answers will inform any endorsements we make.
Take the survey and think about how you would respond!
Questions focus on housing, transit, street safety, and public parks. Candidate answers will inform any endorsements we make.
Take the survey and think about how you would respond!
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
I’m going to be going back to the tape of that Zoning Board meeting because there were some spicy moments. I never thought a debate over the definition of Accessory could be so riveting.
September 12, 2025 at 3:53 AM
I’m going to be going back to the tape of that Zoning Board meeting because there were some spicy moments. I never thought a debate over the definition of Accessory could be so riveting.
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
We should be building this stuff in NJ. Traffic is awful, trains are overcapacity and poor air quality is making us sick. @mikiesherrill.bsky.social we’re just wasting lots and lots of money demolishing an expressway and rebuilding it just to add a lane - which will just make traffic worse!
September 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
We should be building this stuff in NJ. Traffic is awful, trains are overcapacity and poor air quality is making us sick. @mikiesherrill.bsky.social we’re just wasting lots and lots of money demolishing an expressway and rebuilding it just to add a lane - which will just make traffic worse!
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
San Francisco went BRT (dedicated bus lane) and changing how riders enter and exit the bus (ie, not at the curb) and things are better for buses and car drivers.
September 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
San Francisco went BRT (dedicated bus lane) and changing how riders enter and exit the bus (ie, not at the curb) and things are better for buses and car drivers.
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
Bus Lanes benefit everyone.
Sign the petition to support bus lanes in Jersey City.
Sign the petition to support bus lanes in Jersey City.
September 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Bus Lanes benefit everyone.
Sign the petition to support bus lanes in Jersey City.
Sign the petition to support bus lanes in Jersey City.
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
Perhaps the Port Authority has a hearing problem because they don't seem to be listening to rider frustrations on PATH service levels, frequent disruptions, and demand for direct airport service.
PATH leadership needs to get out of the board room and onto the platform to hear from riders.
PATH leadership needs to get out of the board room and onto the platform to hear from riders.
September 9, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Perhaps the Port Authority has a hearing problem because they don't seem to be listening to rider frustrations on PATH service levels, frequent disruptions, and demand for direct airport service.
PATH leadership needs to get out of the board room and onto the platform to hear from riders.
PATH leadership needs to get out of the board room and onto the platform to hear from riders.
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
I've been a big supporter of Josh Shapiro up to this point, but raiding SEPTA capex will completely change that. This is a complete capitulation that will put SEPTA if not the entire Phila region into a transit death spiral.
September 8, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I've been a big supporter of Josh Shapiro up to this point, but raiding SEPTA capex will completely change that. This is a complete capitulation that will put SEPTA if not the entire Phila region into a transit death spiral.
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
The Jersey City Department of Infrastructure presented a plan for dedicated bus lanes designed to speed up transit and make streets safer for tens of thousands of residents.
Many misconceptions around the plan swirled in the wake of a community meeting.
We clear those up.
Many misconceptions around the plan swirled in the wake of a community meeting.
We clear those up.
September 5, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The Jersey City Department of Infrastructure presented a plan for dedicated bus lanes designed to speed up transit and make streets safer for tens of thousands of residents.
Many misconceptions around the plan swirled in the wake of a community meeting.
We clear those up.
Many misconceptions around the plan swirled in the wake of a community meeting.
We clear those up.
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
ICYMI: Community meetings are often unrepresentative of community opinion at large, favoring those with the time, ability, and personal motivation to attend.
Governing solely based on such feedback results in decisions that make housing more expensive and our streets less safe.
Governing solely based on such feedback results in decisions that make housing more expensive and our streets less safe.
August 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
ICYMI: Community meetings are often unrepresentative of community opinion at large, favoring those with the time, ability, and personal motivation to attend.
Governing solely based on such feedback results in decisions that make housing more expensive and our streets less safe.
Governing solely based on such feedback results in decisions that make housing more expensive and our streets less safe.
The biggest issue with governance by deference to community meetings is that attendance is often unrepresentative of the whole community.
My wife and I can’t attend many of these meetings because we’re working or making dinner for our kids when they're held.
betterblocksnj.org/2025/08/26/w...
My wife and I can’t attend many of these meetings because we’re working or making dinner for our kids when they're held.
betterblocksnj.org/2025/08/26/w...
August 27, 2025 at 1:23 AM
The biggest issue with governance by deference to community meetings is that attendance is often unrepresentative of the whole community.
My wife and I can’t attend many of these meetings because we’re working or making dinner for our kids when they're held.
betterblocksnj.org/2025/08/26/w...
My wife and I can’t attend many of these meetings because we’re working or making dinner for our kids when they're held.
betterblocksnj.org/2025/08/26/w...
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
Analyzing raw ridership is useful but ignores service levels; so I charted transit rides per service hour & discovered JC has the most productive US rail line, NJ should expand HBLR & run it more instead of building highways!
Also I knew Denver’s LRT was ineffective but still surprised it’s last
Also I knew Denver’s LRT was ineffective but still surprised it’s last
August 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Analyzing raw ridership is useful but ignores service levels; so I charted transit rides per service hour & discovered JC has the most productive US rail line, NJ should expand HBLR & run it more instead of building highways!
Also I knew Denver’s LRT was ineffective but still surprised it’s last
Also I knew Denver’s LRT was ineffective but still surprised it’s last
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
Hear me out here - by killing the open street on Vanderbilt, it became less of a destination and the neighborhood can't support restaurants like that if it's not a destination
Prospect Heights became a true restaurant row thanks to the strength of spots like Olmsted, Faun and LaLou. But a spate of closings and skyrocketing rents have many wondering whether the street’s best days are in its past.
Is Vanderbilt Avenue Cursed?
Prospect Heights became a true restaurant row thanks to the strength of spots like Olmsted, Faun and LaLou. But a spate of closings and skyrocketing rents have many wondering whether the street’s best days are in its past.
www.grubstreet.com
August 6, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Hear me out here - by killing the open street on Vanderbilt, it became less of a destination and the neighborhood can't support restaurants like that if it's not a destination
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
'We keep buying trains that are, by design, less reliable than the trains the MTA buys" is not a good defense! In fact, it's a bad defense! www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
NJ Transit Is NYC’s Least Reliable Commuter Rail — By a Long Shot
An analysis of real-time train data shows its passengers face major service disruptions at six times the rate of riders on other NYC commuter railways.
www.bloomberg.com
August 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
'We keep buying trains that are, by design, less reliable than the trains the MTA buys" is not a good defense! In fact, it's a bad defense! www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
“An analysis of real-time train data shows that it is less reliable than its New York and Connecticut counterparts — Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) — and riders face significant service disruptions at six times the rate of other commuters.” www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
NJ Transit Is NYC’s Least Reliable Commuter Rail — By a Long Shot
An analysis of real-time train data shows its passengers face major service disruptions at six times the rate of riders on other NYC commuter railways.
www.bloomberg.com
August 19, 2025 at 12:15 PM
“An analysis of real-time train data shows that it is less reliable than its New York and Connecticut counterparts — Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) — and riders face significant service disruptions at six times the rate of other commuters.” www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
Good to see Brennan and Bhalla calling for hearings and professional board appointees.
Three fires, a derailment, and a $31 million failed infrastructure project have turned the 2025 commute between New Jersey and New York into a nightmare.
Why PATH train riders are living through a ‘Summer of Hell’
Three fires, a derailment, and a $31 million failed infrastructure project have turned the 2025 commute between New Jersey and New York into a nightmare.
www.nj.com
August 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Good to see Brennan and Bhalla calling for hearings and professional board appointees.
Reposted by Eric Allen Conner
New piece by Henry Zhu on the dangerously overcrowded conditions on PATH during weekend events:
betterblocksnj.org/2025/07/31/p...
betterblocksnj.org/2025/07/31/p...
PATH Needs Improvement for Concerts and Sports Events in NJ
Overcrowding and delays mar events at PATH station in Harrison. Urgent calls for improved transit service to support local growth and safety.
betterblocksnj.org
July 31, 2025 at 9:40 PM
New piece by Henry Zhu on the dangerously overcrowded conditions on PATH during weekend events:
betterblocksnj.org/2025/07/31/p...
betterblocksnj.org/2025/07/31/p...