Tragically, this past Saturday, Jack Mikulciner, a 99-year-old Holocaust survivor who lived in our district was hit by a speeding car while he was on his way to synagogue and died shortly thereafter. 

l am heartbroken and enraged that Mr. Mikulincer survived the worst atrocity in human history only to be mowed down by a reckless driver just by crossing the street. The driver who hit Mr. Mikulincer is in the top 1% of all reckless drivers in our city, racking up ten speed-camera and four red-light camera tickets in recent years. 

This tragedy, like so many crashes on our streets, was completely preventable. Last year was the deadliest on record for traffic violence in NYC in nearly a decade. In the first month of 2022, there have been 12 pedestrian deaths, continuing this deadly trend. That’s why I am fighting to pass the Crash Victims Rights and Safety Act and get it to the Governor’s desk as soon as possible. 

The Crash Victims Rights and Safety Act would redesign unsafe streets, allow New York City to control its own speed limits, reform how we license drivers by incorporating pedestrian and cyclist safety, and provide support to those personally impacted. But we can’t just stop there. Mayor Adams recently announced a plan to improve 1,000 intersections across the city where 79% percent of all pedestrian injuries occur. And we need to get smarter about how we hold the most reckless drivers accountable by passing my bill to renew and reform the speed-camera program. 

From my very first day in Albany, I’ve made street safety a top priority. No parent, senior, or pedestrian of any age should live in fear of crossing the street. We still have more work to do and I won’t stop fighting until we realize the full promise of a Vision Zero world. 

Thanks, as always, for supporting this life-saving work,