Mayor Zohran Mamdani proposed banning cars from a dangerous stretch of Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, creating a pedestrian zone that would connect the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch to Prospect Park's northern entrance. The announcement last week sparked excitement at the Saturday farmers' market, where customers on foot, bikes and scooters lined up for flowers, produce and baked goods.

Local residents largely embraced the plan. Egya Appiah, who lives on the plaza with his children, said the changes would allow his kids to move around more freely without car danger. Steve Flack, a volunteer with safe-streets advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, called it a "victory lap" moment, hoping more people would appreciate the space.

The plaza became a vital community gathering spot in 2020 during pandemic socializing and protests after George Floyd's death. Some vendors expressed concerns about truck access to the market, though most remained optimistic about the pedestrian-focused redesign.