‘New Yorkers Will Die Because the Assembly Refused to Act’: Statement from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets after Sammy’s Law Failed to Get a Vote this Session

Sammy’s Law would allow New York City to set its own speed limits.

Speaker Heastie refused to call a vote on Sammy’s Law despite majority support in the State Assembly.

ALBANY, NY — Today, the State Assembly ended its legislative session for 2023 without ever calling a vote on Sammy’s Law, legislation that would allow New York City to set its own speed limits. 

Sammy’s Law passed in the State Senate, 55 to 7, and the New York City Council approved a home rule message with supermajority support. In the State Assembly, Sammy’s Law had bipartisan support, with two-thirds of the body supporting the bill – yet Speaker Heastie refused to call a vote on it in the Assembly. 

Sammy’s Law is named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old boy killed by a reckless driver in Brooklyn in 2013, just a few blocks from his home. Since his tragic and preventable death, more than 2,242 people, including more than 100 children, have been killed in traffic violence across New York City. Speeding is a leading factor in four of five crashes that kill people in cars. 

Since Sammy’s Law was first introduced in the State Senate on January 20th, 97 people, including five children, have been killed in traffic violence across New York City. 

Statement from Amy Cohen, mother of Sammy and co-founder of Families for Safe Streets:

“Ever since my son Sammy was killed ten years ago, I’ve traveled to Albany countless times to beg legislators to care about children like mine before they’re killed. I’ve shown them photos of my son, recounted some of my family’s worst, darkest days, and asked them to take simple steps to protect our most vulnerable New Yorkers from preventable deaths.

“Sammy’s Law – legislation that would allow New York City to set its own speed limits – is extremely popular. It’s supported by the majority of New Yorkers and the majority of the State Assembly, and it should have passed weeks ago. As the Assembly failed to move, Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, the mother of another child who was killed by a reckless driver, and I went on hunger strike to demand the bill be taken seriously and protect New Yorkers from losing loved ones to preventable crashes. Instead, we’ve been ignored, dismissed, and disrespected.

“Sammy’s Law isn’t just popular in New York State. Laws like this have been passed and are currently saving lives across the country — and now, New York remains firmly behind. Leaving Albany without passing Sammy’s Law is a statewide and national embarrassment for the Assembly. 

“No one else should die. Unfortunately – thanks to the State Assembly – they will.”

Statement from Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives: 

“Make no mistake: New Yorkers will die because the State Assembly refused to act. 

“Today, the State Assembly failed New Yorkers and put 8.8 million people at risk of injury and death from traffic violence. Speaker Heastie’s home borough, the Bronx, is home to a disproportionate amount of traffic fatalities and serious injuries – the Bronx is home to 16.8% of NYC’s population, but 21% of all serious injuries and 22% of all fatalities in 2022. 

“Sammy’s Law, which would allow New York City to set its own speed limits, had support from the mayor, the governor, a supermajority of City Council members, the NYC DOT commissioner, four Borough Presidents and the majority of New York City Assemblymembers. Citywide, more than 30% of New Yorkers have been injured in a crash – and those numbers are higher for Black, older, or poorer New Yorkers. Tragically, neglecting Sammy’s Law ensures those numbers will increase. 

“Failing to call the vote on Sammy’s Law is a slap in the face to the countless New Yorkers devastated by traffic violence in our city, including Amy Cohen and Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio. Reckless drivers killed both Amy and Fabiola’s sons when they were only children. Amy and Fabiola went on hunger strike for nearly 100 hours with a simple demand: call the vote on Sammy’s Law, and protect other families from suffering like they have.

“Thank you to Families for Safe Streets members, partners, and those elected leaders across New York who fought tirelessly with us for this common sense, essential, and lifesaving legislation. We will not rest until every New Yorker can walk, bike, and drive without fear of death or serious injury.”