Sen. Schumer, Families for Safe Streets Members, Los Deliveristas Unidos, Next City Council Members Honor 2021 Crash Victims at World Day of Remembrance, Commit to Vision Zero Expansion
1,800 compostable pots, each recognizing someone killed since Vision Zero began, arranged in "Seeds for Safe Streets" Memorial
Mayor-elect Adams commits to establish new memorial grove in NYC for victims of traffic violence
Incoming City Council members sign pledge committing to Seven Steps for Safe Streets
Secretary Buttigieg of USDOT releases new video marking World Day of Remembrance
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer
NEW YORK — Senator Chuck Schumer, future City Council members, representatives of Borough President Eric Adams, Los Deliveristas Unidos, and Transportation Alternatives joined Families for Safe Streets Members at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Sunday to memorialize the 241 people killed in traffic violence this year in New York City.
Sunday’s World Day of Remembrance event, hosted by the Brooklyn Borough President’s office, included a special “Seeds for Safe Streets” memorial, a temporary, living memorial consisting of 1,800 compostable pots each with the name of someone killed — one for each person killed since Vision Zero began in 2014. The event was held in coordination with the international World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
At the event, a representative for Mayor-elect Adams announced his commitment to establish a first-of-its-kind memorial grove in honor of the victims of traffic violence in New York City. The grove will be located in a park or greenspace within the city, and will be developed in consultation with advocates and the loved ones of victims.
Families for Safe Streets members also led new members of the City Council in signing a seven-point pledge committing to expanding and improving upon Vision Zero safety measures in the coming years.
The pledge reads:
I pledge to join crash victims in the fight to make New York City’s streets safe. I fully support Vision Zero and pledge to:
Scale up Vision Zero infrastructure that has proven to save lives
Build “self-enforcing” streets that encourage safe driving
Convert 25 percent of space for cars into space for people, #NYC25x25
Work to reduce the number of cars in New York City
Correct inequities in traffic-related harm to make our streets healthy and fair
Prioritize bus service to improve the safety and efficiency of our streets.
Grow access to cycling and micromobility to reduce car trips
2021 is on track to be the deadliest year for traffic violence since Vision Zero began in 2014. With at least 241 fatalities so far — including 12 delivery cyclists who were killed on the job — there have been more deaths at this point in the year than any other year in the de Blasio-era. There have been more hit and runs in the first nine months of 2021 than in all of 2018, 2019, and 2020. Brooklyn is experiencing traffic violence at an especially devastating rate. There have been nearly twice as many fatalities, 82 to date in 2021, in Brooklyn this year compared to the same point in 2016. In October 2021 alone, Brooklyn had 30 traffic fatalities, 50 percent higher than average.
“I’ve now had to live more than two long years without my beautiful mother. Two years without a, ‘good luck at school. I will see you when you get home.’ Two years without any parents. I’m now a teenager without the most important person in my life,” said 15-year-old Families for Safe Streets Member Ana Karen Porras, who served as an emcee for the event. “Our next mayor and City Council must get Vision Zero back on track. We have the solutions. It’s time they are fully implemented so no child ever has to lose a parent to traffic violence again.”
"The rise of New York City traffic deaths in 2021 is tragic and preventable. That's why I fought so hard to include billions of dollars for street safety in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. I look forward to working with advocates and communities across New York to make sure this money is spent in a way that saves lives," said Senator Chuck Schumer.
"On World Day of Remembrance, we pay tribute to those who have been killed by the epidemic of traffic violence here in New York City and throughout the world. As New York contends with a surge in traffic fatalities, let us recommit ourselves to making our streets safer for all and ending the heartbreak that has stricken too many families across the five boroughs," said Mayor-Elect Eric Adams.
“Just in 2021, we have lost 12 Deliveristas while making a food delivery. Essential Workers and hardworking individuals came to this country to fulfill a dream but lost their lives in NYC streets. Our city and every individual are responsible for caring for and protecting essential workers like app delivery workers. Los Deliveristas Unidos & Workers Justice Project will continue to fight and better the working conditions of app delivery workers in NYC.” said Hildalyn Colon Hernandez, Director of Policy & Strategic Partnerships for Los Deliveristas/WJP.
Families for Safe Streets Co-Founder Amy Cohen
“One death on our streets is too many. To lose 241 people so far in 2021 is devastating. These are our neighbors, our friends, and our loved ones — taken from us too soon,” said Amy Cohen, Co-Founder of Families for Safe Streets. “We must remember and cherish the memories of our loved ones. We are here to support one another together in community. And we also must act. Traffic violence is preventable. Nobody should live with the pain that comes with losing a loved one to traffic violence. We’re grateful for the elected officials that have joined us in signing our seven-point pledge. By following through on your commitment to invest in Vision Zero, we can save lives and end the epidemic of traffic violence once and for all.”
“Amid a record-breaking year for traffic violence, we come together to honor those we have lost and to call upon New York City’s next leaders to immediately scale life-saving Vision Zero infrastructure,” Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris said. “We are encouraged that so many of our city’s future leaders have signed our pledge, and we look forward to working with them on turning our Seven Steps to Save Our Streets and NYC25x25 platforms into legislation and action without delay.”
“2021 has been a tragic year of traffic deaths. Today I stand with my colleagues to honor the lives that have been tragically lost and pledge to channel that memory into effective policy that makes our streets safer. I strongly support the seven-point pledge and look forward to working with my future colleagues on the Council to create a more robust Vision Zero and to prevent these devastating casualties from traffic violence,” said District 5 Council Member-elect Julie Menin.
“Safe streets are an essential element to building a livable community. Unfortunately we still have a lot of work to do so that Northern Manhattan and our city achieve the goals of safe streets. “Just this summer in Washington Heights a woman was killed and three others, including two young children, were injured after they were struck by a hit and run. We cannot accept more tragedies on our streets and in honor of this sad memorial I pledge to join crash victims in the fight to make New York City’s streets safe,” said New York State Assembly Member and District 10 City Council Member-elect Carmen De La Rosa. “As Councilmember-elect I fully support Vision Zero and pledge to fight for these important policies at City Hall and in the district.”
"Converting space currently occupied by cars into a safe space for people will not only make our communities physically safer, but will give more agency and green space to NYC families. In my district, the Southeast Bronx, we are surrounded by major highways and parkways that cause increases in asthma and other health problems due to the massive air pollution. On this Remembrance Day, I remember the 241 traffic victims we have lost, as well as those still suffering from the effects of too many cars on the road. I look forward to working on creating legislation based on Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets’ Seven Steps to Save Our Streets platform for the safety and comfort of the people with my colleagues in the City Council,” said District 18 Council Member-elect Amanda Farías.
"It is within our power to prevent traffic deaths and car violence," said District 25 Council Member-elect Shekar Krishnan. "Together with Families for Safe Streets and Transportation Alternatives, I fully support investing in and improving Vision Zero to make sure our streets are safe for our seniors and children, and are fundamentally for people not cars."
“The proliferation of preventable deaths on our streets must stop now,” said District 33 Council Member-elect Lincoln Restler. “I am committed to doing everything we can to make our streets safe for all. We can best honor the legacies of those we have lost by putting Vision Zero on steroids and implementing comprehensive designs for safe streets.”
“New Yorkers deserve streets that put the safety of people first. It’s in our DNA to navigate and enjoy our city in diverse ways, and no one should live in fear stepping outside their home,” said District 34 Council Member-elect Jennifer Gutiérrez.
"Every person we lose to traffic violence is a tragedy. I'm holding the family and friends of those who have been killed this year — and every year — in my thoughts. We have the power to implement life-saving policy measures to prevent these deaths and make our streets safer for all families. It's critical that we act now. I'm in full support of the goals of Vision Zero and look forward to delivering safer streets, better access to public transportation and cycling, and action to address longstanding inequities in our communities,” said District 35 Council Member-elect Crystal Hudson.
“In a city as walkable and mobile as New York, it’s abhorrent that pedestrians cannot feel comfortable traveling. Walking should never be associated with fear. We, as elected officials of NYC, need to take a stand against this violence with preventative measures. NYC and it’s people deserve safer streets,” said District 36 Council Member-elect Chi Ossé.
"Our city's streets should be a space where all of our communities feel safe. They should be a public good that our friends and family feel comfortable using to get to work or come home. We all rely on our streets, and it is our responsibility to ensure we do everything in our power to prevent any more traffic-related deaths. One death is too many. Today, we remember and honor community members, neighbors, friends, and family who we've lost, but we must not let this moment pass without action. We must commit ourselves to improving our city's wellbeing and making our streets safer and more friendly to ALL New Yorkers,” said District 37 Council member-elect Sandy Nurse.
