Broad bipartisan support and a nearly 100-hour hunger strike weren’t enough to get a vote in the state Assembly on a bill allowing New York City to set its speed limits.
This week, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie concluded the legislative session without bringing the bill, known as Sammy’s Law, to the floor.
Amy Cohen, a co-founder of the advocacy group Families For Safe Streets, was among those on hunger strike outside the Assembly chamber. The bill is named for her 12-year-old son, Sammy Cohen Eckstein, who was killed by a speeding driver in Brooklyn in 2013. On Thursday, she spoke with WNYC’s Michael Hill about her disappointment.
The transcript of their discussion below has been lightly edited for clarity.
Michael Hill: It’s been yet another deadly year on the streets in New York City. In just the last six months, traffic killed at least 41 pedestrians and 18 cyclists. Another 44 people died on motorcycles or other vehicles. The site StreetsBlog points out Heastie’s own district has seen an average of nearly three and a half crashes per day this year. What do you think happened?
Amy Cohen: It is, to me, incredibly frustrating and unconscionable that the Assembly adjourned without bringing Sammy’s Law for a vote.
It had widespread support. Every single national traffic safety organization from across the country weighed in in support. As did organizations like Consumer Reports, [public workers union] DC 37, AARP, healthcare providers. A super majority in the City Council, the state Senate passed it 55 to seven.
How could the Assembly adjourn and Speaker Heastie not bring this simple, proven, lifesaving popular measure for a vote?
Some opponents of this bill have said they think it’s just an excuse to issue more speeding tickets. That it would have limited effectiveness against people already willing to break the law and speed. How do you respond to that?
Everyone can get to their destination two minutes later to save a life. You only get a ticket if you go 10…
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