Superheroes Needed

I snapped this picture of a Pedestrian Safety Manager standing guard on West Houston Street and Varick Street on Tuesday afternoon.  It’s actually kind of amazing that he’s all that stands between a clear intersection and total gridlock.

The intersection just one block north of here at the odd-angled confluence of traffic from 7th Avenue South, Clarkson Street and Carmine Street is completely impassable by pedestrians.

So why is there no pedestrian safety manager stationed there?  It’s because it’s just outside of the purview of the Hudson Square Connection, which admirably sponsors these superhero-like sentries to protect pedestrians from drivers bound for the Holland Tunnel.  I emailed CB2 leadership about the mess at the end of 7th Avenue South last month but have received no response.