Statement on Mayor Adams State Budget Testimony from Amy Cohen, Families for Safe Streets Co-Founder and Campaign Lead of NYS Safe Streets Coalition

Adams: I would urge the state to transfer home rule to New York City…empowering cities to control speed limits on their streets 

Sammy’s Law, sponsored by Senator Hoylman and Assemblymember Gottfried, would give New York City power to set lower, safer speed limits on streets within the five boroughs

ALBANY, NY — After New York City Mayor Eric Adams submitted testimony on the 2022 Executive Budget Proposal, in which he said, “I would urge the state to transfer home rule to New York City…empowering cities to control speed limits on their streets,” Amy Cohen, Families for Safe Streets Co-Founder and mother of Sammy Cohen Eckstein, who was killed by a reckless driver in Brooklyn in 2013, released the following statement:

“Lower speed limits save lives. Sammy’s Law, named after my son who was killed in a crash, will save lives so no additional family will need to suffer. Thank you Mayor Adams for supporting our efforts to give New York City home rule powers that would allow safer speed limits in the five boroughs.”

“2021 was the deadliest year on New York City streets since 2013. Speeding is a major factor in about 80 percent of all fatal car crashes in New York City. Lowering the speed limit would change these tragic outcomes: Fatal crashes decrease 17 percent for every one mile-per-hour reduction in driving speed. Passing the entire Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, which includes Sammy’s Law, is a key way to get Vision Zero back on track. It is time to lift the limits that Albany places on local governments to set safer speed limits on their streets.” 

“Sammy’s Law is also popular. Polling has found that 72 percent of New York City voters believe the City should have the authority to set its own speed limits, including majorities of voters in all five boroughs.”

“The NYS Senate has already advanced Sammy’s Law out of the Transportation Committee. Before both houses is another measure in the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act, by Senator May and Assemblymember Paulin, which would let other New York cities lower their speed limits too. We need both houses to pass all measures in the Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act this year, including Sammy’s Law, and we look forward to partnering with the Adams Administration, Governor Hochul, and legislative leaders to get this done and save lives.”

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About the NYS Safe Streets Coalition: The New York State Safe Streets Coalition is comprised of dozens of organizations across NYS and is led by Families for Safe Streets, Albany Bicycle Coalition, Bike Walk Tomkins, GObike Buffalo, National Safety Council, New York Bicycling Coalition, Open Plans, Parks & Trails NY, Reconnect Rochester, Rochester Bicycling Club, Slow Roll Syracuse, Transportation Alternatives, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, and Walkable Albany.