Families for Safe Streets, State Senator Gianaris, Council Member Won and the family of Jael Zhinin to Honor Children Killed in Crashes, Demand Action from Mayor Adams
2024 is on track to be the second-deadliest year for children since Vision Zero began in 2014.
On Labor Day weekend, eight New Yorkers were killed in crashes.
QUEENS, NY — Today, Families for Safe Streets, State Senator Michael Gianaris, and Council Member Julie Won joined with Maria Sumba, the mother of 16-year-old Jael Zhinin, who was killed in June in a horrific crash that seriously injured her 8-year-old sister Leslie, to demand Mayor Adams take immediate action to prevent traffic violence and protect children. The demands are:
Immediate implementation of Sammy’s Law, which would lower speed limits to 20 mph, to the fullest extent possible.
Full implementation of the NYC Streets Plan, which the Adams administration has fallen far behind on.
Passage of the life-saving crosswalk scramble bill (S2515A/A5001) in Albany, which stops all vehicle traffic and allows pedestrians to cross in every direction.
Fourteen children have been killed this year by traffic violence, and New York City is on track to have the second-deadliest year for children since Vision Zero began in 2014. Urgent action is needed from the Adams administration to prevent crashes and protect New York’s children — especially after a deadly Labor Day weekend saw eight people killed in crashes across the city.
“No parent should ever face the unimaginable pain of losing their daughter to preventable traffic violence, while watching their other daughter fight for her life. Words from our leaders are just not enough, we need real action to protect our children from this violence,” said Maria Sumba, mother of 16-year-old Jael Zhinin and 8 year-old Leslie Zhinin and member of Families for Safe Streets. “Nobody should go through what we have gone through — and nobody else would have to if Mayor Adams took action today to implement Sammy’s Law to lower speed limits and fully-implement life-saving street redesigns that the NYC Streets Plan requires.”
“Mayor Adams has the tools to end the crisis of traffic violence on our streets. Through Sammy’s Law and the NYC Streets Plan, he has a mandate to create streets that are safe for both the youngest and oldest New Yorkers,” said Elizabeth Adams, Interim Co-Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “More than a million students are back in school now, and no child should have to go back to school amid such a grave threat to their safety. Mayor Adams and our city’s leaders must act now.”
Sammy’s Law was signed into law in May, finally giving New York City the power to set 20 mph speed limits and 10 mph on streets receiving safety redesigns. This summer, DOT announced the first set of streets to receive lower, safer speed limits. Implementation is set to begin this month and continue into next year — but Mayor Adams can take action today by significantly expanding the number of streets on his list to include more neighborhoods and on all streets where possible.
“As we start another school year, we must reflect on the tragedy the Zhinin family has endured last June,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “School safety isn’t just about what happens in the school building, but also about making sure our children can travel safely to and from school. We must do more to safeguard pedestrians throughout the city, including the implementation of Sammy’s Law and other traffic mitigation efforts, because these are all preventable deaths.”
“14 children, including Jael Zhinin, have been killed in crashes this year; that is unacceptable. No one should have to bury their child because of a preventable death. The City must implement universal daylighting to protect children and other pedestrians crossing the street,” said Council Member Julie Won. “There have been four serious injuries and one death at this intersection since 2022. I will continue fighting for DOT to install the necessary traffic calming measures to prevent any more deaths.”
“New York City is heading in the wrong direction on street safety — with this year being on course as the second-deadliest year for children,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “Vehicles kill more people in New York City than guns and maim thousands more. Jael Zhinin should be attending high school right now, but instead her family is mourning, praying for her sister Leslie’s recovery, and joining street safety advocates who lost loved ones to vehicle violence. Together with Families for Safe Streets, Transportation Alternatives, and Council Member Julie Won, we demand that New York City double down on its commitment to safer streets for all.”
“Losing a child to traffic violence is heartbreaking. No family deserves to live through that. That is why we need to continue in our efforts to increase safety in our streets by implementing Sammy’s Law immediately and continuing to work on redesigning problematic streets in our neighborhoods,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “We must recommit to keeping our families safe.”
“As the children of New York embark on another year of school, and we mourn the tragic loss of life from the recent traffic violence in our city, we must recognize the need to keep our streets safe. Together, we need to work to create a future where no family has to endure the tragedy of preventable traffic accidents. We need the implementation of the NYC Streets Plan and Sammy’s Law,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez.
