January 14: Our thoughts after the Bronx fire, and more news
Our hearts break for the families and community devastated by the fire in the Bronx last weekend. We send our deepest condolences to all those whose lives are forever changed by the destruction.
If you are able to, please support those impacted. A list of GoFundMe pages for individual families can be found on this Google Doc and the Gambian Youth Organization is raising money for all families too.
We would also encourage you to read a new Washington Post op-ed by our head writer and senior strategist, Jessie Singer. Many have labeled this event “an accident.” We in the traffic safety community are all too familiar with this problematic attribution. Too often, the word “accident” shifts the blame away from the very leaders and systems that are supposed to ensure our safety.
Three Things To Know
1️⃣ Older New Yorkers deserve safe streets. We’ve partnered with AARP NY to call for redesigned, safe streets as part of AARP’s new policy book for New York City lawmakers. Watch the video and read the report.
2️⃣ Come work with us! As the fight for safe streets and open spaces continues, our team is growing. We’re currently hiring a Development Coordinator, Families for Safe Streets Upstate Organizer, Manhattan Organizer, and a Senior Director for People & Operations.
3️⃣ Here’s what we’re reading this week. In the news:
More data confirms: Car-free streets are safer streets, reports Streetsblog.
The safe systems approach emphasizes street design over armed enforcement to make streets safe. Read the Urbanist to how Seattle is rethinking the role of enforcement in achieving Vision Zero.
On the Brian Lehrer Show, Council Member Carlina Rivera championed permanent Open Streets as one of her key policy focuses.
While the MTA studies the potential Interborough Express, one Staten Island Advance op-ed argues Gov. Hochul should revive Staten Island’s old North Shore Line.
Two Things to Do
1️⃣ Winterproof your bike for the cold. As temperatures dip below freezing, there’s no time like now to make sure your bike is ready to ride in the cold. BikeRadar has advice on getting your bike winter-ready and Gothamist has a guide to biking in the city during the winter.
2️⃣ Provide feedback for the 31st Avenue Open Street. The 31st Avenue Open Street Collective is conducting a community survey to better understand how the public and community use the 31st Ave Open Street and how to best use this corridor in the future. Please fill it out and share to support the strength of this project in the coming years!
One Action To Take Now
Learn more and join your local community board. Your local community board advises the city on everything from housing development to street safety improvements. Find your community board and learn how you can have a say in decision-making in your neighborhood.
Brooklyn — Deadline is Feb. 18.
Queens — Deadline is Feb. 16.
Manhattan — Deadline is March 1.
Staten Island — Applications are accepted year-round.
The Bronx — No applications are available yet.
Stay safe and well,
Jacob and the TA team
Header image credit: NYC Mayor’s Office