Sammy's Law, Congestion Pricing, and Vision Zero Cities
We are now one step closer to allowing New York City to control its own speed limits.
During Governor Hochul's State of the State yesterday, she announced her support for passing Sammy's Law in the state budget. This is a crucial step toward a safer New York City, but we need to make sure that the law is included in the final budget.
Right now, Albany controls New York City’s speed limits. This means that even if a street is known to be dangerous, the city has limited power to make it safer by reducing its speed limit. Passing Sammy's Law would give New York City the authority to make these necessary changes and improve the safety of its residents.
Governor Hochul's announcement builds on the momentum from last year when Sammy's Law was overwhelmingly passed by the State Senate. Amy Cohen and Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio's 100-hour hunger strike was instrumental in advocating for the passage of Sammy's Law.
We need your support again. Let's get Sammy’s Law passed. Send a message in support to your lawmakers today.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
Congestion pricing is proven to reduce air pollution. In Sweden, congestion pricing significantly decreased asthma cases in young children by almost 47%. Why? Traffic decreased, which meant less air pollution from cars and fewer asthma cases among children. Congestion pricing will reduce traffic and lead to cleaner air. It’s clear: reducing cars is key to better air.
Submit your panel submission for Vision Zero Cities 2024. We’re planning the 11th annual Vision Zero Cities conference this October and we’re now accepting panel submissions to lead bold and forward-thinking conversations that will help make Vision Zero a reality. We are seeking presentations on various issues, including street design, city planning, advocacy, social justice, sustainable transportation, community organization, and more! Submit by March 1 and join us this October!
In the news. Here's what we're reading this week:
New minimum wage standards leads to safer streets, Streetsblog reports.
Gov. Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway along 125th Street to West Harlem, Gothamist reports.
Governor Hochul announces the next phase of the Interborough Express light rail project amNY reports.
TWO THINGS TO DO
Share your thoughts on BQE North's future! The North Brooklyn Parks Alliance will present DOT’s proposals for short and long-term improvements to the BQE This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reverse the damages caused by this highway. Join the Alliance tonight at Bushwick Inlet Park Building (86 Kent Ave) from 6-8 p.m. to leave a comment. No RSVP is required, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Join us for the 12th Tour de Staten Island! This scenic ride will take you through Staten Island's most breathtaking sights and scenes. Register now for our spring bike tour and secure our best price. Ticket prices increase Friday at 11:30 p.m. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity — learn more and sign up now!
ONE ACTION TO TAKE NOW
Tell Mayor Adams: Daylight every intersection. There’s an easy way to make our intersections safer for everyone using them. Daylighting — the process of repurposing the parking spots closest to an intersection to increase visibility — is state law, but the City of New York is allowed to override this. Sign our petition today and demand that Mayor Adams and your council member take immediate action to daylight every intersection in our city. We cannot afford to wait any longer.
