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Sneak Preview: Contested Streets

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Contested Streets: Breaking NYC Gridlock is the result of a creative partnership initiated by the New York based activists Transportation Alternatives and the film-makers Cicala Filmworks, who have collaborated to produce a full length documentary film that explores the rich diversity of New York

City street life before the introduction of automobiles -- and then goes on to show how New York can follow the example of other modern cities that have reclaimed their streets as vibrant public spaces.

Contested Streets features new footage of reclaimed streets in London, Paris and Copenhagen and interviews with New York and New Mobility savvy notables such as Ken Jackson, Mike Wallace, Bob Kiley, Majora Carter, Kathryn Wylde, Enrique Peñalosa, Jan Gehl, James Howard Kunstler, Eric Britton, and many more -- who help us to make our way through the morass of problems, resistances and opportunities that all our cities face.

Note: On June 27 New York's business leaders, elected officials and taste makers will convene at the Independent Film Center for the world premiere of the long-awaited documentary film Contested Streets: Breaking NYC Gridlock. Duration: 56 minutes.

This is an important and engaging film because it takes as its point of departure a specific place and their specific and pressing problems, anguishes and conflicting visions. Here it happens to be New York as the point of departure -- but with a little imagination it might be your city. Moreover, it is right on target with our deeply held belief that the only way to move toward more sustainable cities and sustainable lives is by using every tool and trick we can lay our hands on. So thanks TA and Cicala for showing the way with this engaging film.

We are pleased to share this five minute extract with you here by way of first introduction, and would like as well to welcome your comments and thoughts on it. If you are interested in obtaining copies of the DVD, we suggest you contact T.A. just below. We hope that you will share these powerful materials with concerned individuals and groups in your city, students at all levels of study, and, why not?, your own family and friends.

Click here to view a 5 minute trailer of the film.
To order a copy of the full feature on DVD.
And here to contact Cicali Filmworks with eventual comments or proposals.
And here to tell us what you think or propose.
The video uses QuickTime 7.0 If you don't have it already, you can click here for a free install. (Works on PC and Mac.)

(P.S. Now we want to make a film of our own. And I bet once you have had a good look you will too.)