Heastie Stalls, Bronx Bleeds: Who Pays for His Inaction?

State lawmakers push Sammy’s Law after a deadly year. The bill gives New York City power to set its own speed limits. Advocates cite 257 lives lost to reckless drivers. Lower speeds mean fewer deaths. The fight continues in Albany.

Sammy’s Law, a state bill, would let New York City control its own speed limits. The measure stalled last year when Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie blocked a vote, despite support from Governor Hochul, the state Senate, Mayor Adams, and the City Council. Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, who sponsors the bill, rallied outside Heastie’s office, saying, 'Last year, 257 people were killed on New York City streets by reckless and speeding drivers. Each of these deaths was preventable.' Amy Cohen, whose son Sammy was killed in 2013, called for urgent action: 'We can’t wait any longer. People like Sammy, and so many others are dying on our streets.' Advocates point to a 36-percent drop in pedestrian deaths after the city lowered speed limits in 2014. The bill would not set new limits automatically, but would give the city the power to act.

• New Year, New Opportunity to Pass ‘Sammy’s Law’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-18

Two SUVs slammed together at East 222nd and Bronxwood. Metal twisted. A woman in the front seat took the blow. Blood ran from her head. Speed killed the silence. The night held its breath.

Two sport utility vehicles crashed at the corner of East 222nd Street and Bronxwood Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight when they collided. A 47-year-old woman, riding as a front passenger and wearing a seatbelt, suffered severe head lacerations. The report states, 'Speed too high. Signals missed.' The listed contributing factor is 'Unsafe Speed.' No driver or vehicle occupant errors beyond speed are noted in the data. The crash left the street quiet and the woman injured, her wounds a stark reminder of the force unleashed when drivers move too fast.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688839 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man on a GOTRAX e-scooter crashed on Givan Avenue. He struck something in the dark. Distraction listed. Ejected. Head and chest crushed. He died on the cold Bronx street. No helmet. The night swallowed him.

A 44-year-old man riding a GOTRAX e-scooter was killed late at night on Givan Avenue near Sexton Place in the Bronx. According to the police report, the rider 'struck something in the dark' and was ejected from the scooter. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The man suffered fatal head and chest injuries. No other vehicles or people were involved. The police report notes he was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the primary factor of distraction. The crash left him dead at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679918 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorscooter slammed into a box truck on Laconia Avenue. The rider, unlicensed and helmetless, was thrown beneath the truck. His chest was crushed. He died in the street. The crash left the scooter demolished and the truck damaged underneath.

A 27-year-old man riding a motorscooter collided with a southbound box truck on Laconia Avenue near East 214th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the rider was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet. He was ejected from the scooter and crushed beneath the truck’s undercarriage, suffering fatal chest injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The motorscooter was demolished in the crash. The box truck sustained damage to its undercarriage. The rider died at the scene. Helmet use is mentioned only as a detail after the driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671925 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Honda SUV struck a parked Mercedes on White Plains Road. Metal tore. The sedan driver, 27, was pinned, his arm crushed. The crash echoed southbound speed against stillness. Flesh yielded to steel. Sirens followed the violence.

A Honda SUV traveling south on White Plains Road crashed into a parked Mercedes sedan. The impact was severe. According to the police report, 'A Honda SUV slammed into a parked Mercedes. Metal screamed. The driver, 27, was trapped, his arm crushed inside the sedan.' The driver of the sedan suffered crush injuries to his arm and was conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. No other errors or helmet or signal issues are noted. The violence of the crash left the sedan's left side doors mangled and the SUV's front bumper damaged. The toll: one injured, steel twisted, danger unchecked.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666810 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Speed cameras now run all day, every day. Violations dropped 30 percent in one year. Streets once deadly saw sharp falls in speeding and injuries. Cameras outpaced cops, issuing millions of tickets. Still, cyclist injuries climb. The fight for safer streets continues.

This report details the outcome of New York City's 24/7 speed camera enforcement, launched August 1, 2022. The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a 30 percent drop in violations on enforced corridors. The matter summary states, 'Success: Drivers are Slowing Down on Streets with 24/7 Speed Cameras.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called the expanded enforcement 'a highly effective tool to keep New Yorkers safe.' Key corridors saw dramatic reductions: 96 percent on Houston Street, 74 percent on North Conduit Boulevard, 68 percent on Bruckner Boulevard. Injuries fell at high-crash sites—45 percent on Tremont Avenue, 33 percent on Kings Highway, 16 percent on Queens Boulevard, 19 percent on Hylan Boulevard. Automated cameras issued over 3.7 million tickets, dwarfing police efforts. Despite progress, cyclist injuries are on pace for a record high, and advocates now push for city control over speed limits.

• Success: Drivers are Slowing Down on Streets with 24/7 Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-28

Speed cameras now run all day in New York. Violations dropped 30 percent in a year. Streets once deadly see fewer crashes. But injuries still rise for cyclists. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie stands against city control of speed limits. The fight continues.

This policy outcome report, published August 28, 2023, covers the first year of 24/7 speed camera enforcement in New York City. The Department of Transportation reports a 30 percent drop in violations since cameras began operating around the clock on August 1, 2022. The report states, 'Success: Drivers are Slowing Down on Streets with 24/7 Speed Cameras.' Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is mentioned for opposing city control over speed limits, a move sought by Families for Safe Streets after continued traffic deaths and injuries. Key corridors saw sharp drops in speeding and injuries, but cyclist injuries remain high. The expanded camera program replaced limited weekday enforcement, shifting the burden from NYPD to automated systems. The data shows cameras work, but the fight for safer streets—especially for cyclists—remains unfinished.

• Success: Drivers are Slowing Down on Streets with 24/7 Speed Cameras, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-08-28

A car hit a woman standing off the road near East 221st Street. The front end struck her arm. Her skin split. Blood spilled. She stayed upright, conscious. The car showed no damage. She bore the wound.

A woman, age 49, was injured when a car struck her arm near 1178 East 221st Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, she was not in the roadway but standing off the road when the car, traveling straight ahead, hit her with its center front end. She suffered severe lacerations to her lower arm and hand but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The car showed no visible damage. No driver errors were specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV hit a sedan turning left at Burke and Colden. Metal slammed metal. A 69-year-old woman in the sedan’s front seat bled from the face. Sirens came slow. The street fell silent. Failure to yield cut flesh and quieted the block.

A crash at Burke Avenue and Colden Avenue in the Bronx left a 69-year-old woman injured. According to the police report, an SUV struck the side of a sedan as it turned left. The woman, a front-seat passenger in the sedan, suffered severe facial bleeding but remained conscious. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as contributing factors. The SUV’s front end hit the sedan’s left rear quarter panel. The injured woman wore a lap belt. No other injuries were reported. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644230 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to bring Sammy's Law to a vote. The bill would let New York City lower speed limits. Advocates fasted. Lawmakers argued. The Senate passed it. The Assembly did not. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain at risk.

Sammy's Law, a bill to grant New York City 'home rule' over its speed limits, failed in the Assembly on June 29, 2023. The Senate passed it, but Speaker Carl Heastie did not bring it to a vote in the Assembly, despite 60 co-sponsors and strong support from city lawmakers, Governor Hochul, and Mayor Adams. The bill, named for 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a speeding driver, would have allowed the city to lower most speed limits from 25 to 20 mph. Heastie cited concerns over e-bikes and speed bumps, saying, 'I'm not a dictator.' Advocates, including Sammy's mother Amy Cohen, condemned the move as 'Albany backroom politics at its worst.' The Department of Transportation called the bill vital for targeted street safety. Vulnerable road users remain exposed as the Assembly stalls action.

• 'I'm not a dictator': Assembly speaker reveals why NYC speed limit bill failed, gothamist.com, Published 2023-06-29

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to let lawmakers vote on Sammy’s Law. He dodged questions, blamed the city DOT, and ignored calls for lower speed limits. Neighbors and activists demanded action. Children remain at risk. The bill never reached the floor.

On June 23, 2023, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie blocked a vote on Sammy’s Law, a bill that would let New York City set its own speed limits. The bill, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a reckless driver in 2013, had majority support but stalled in the Assembly. Heastie’s office declined interviews and blamed the city Department of Transportation, claiming some members wanted more collaboration. The official statement read, 'Every community is different, and some members have significant concerns with moving forward with Sammy's Law at this time.' DOT countered that the law would give the city tools to protect lives. Neighbors and activists criticized Heastie’s inaction, warning that lives remain at risk while the city is denied the power to lower deadly speed limits.

• Heastie Retreat: Assembly Speaker Blows Off Reporter Seeking Comment on ‘Sammy’s Law’ — Then Blames DOT, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-23

Albany keeps the keys. The Assembly refused to vote on Sammy’s Law. The city stays locked out of lowering its own speed limits. Advocates rage. Another year, another failure. Streets remain fast. Vulnerable New Yorkers stay exposed.

Sammy’s Law, blocked again. The bill—named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a van at age 12—would let New York City set its own speed limits, dropping the default to 20 mph and some streets to 10 mph. The Senate passed it 55-7, but the Assembly ended its June 22, 2023 session without a vote. Assembly sponsor Linda Rosenthal said, 'We just can't be deterred.' Senate sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal called the failure 'heartbreaking.' Speaker Carl Heastie refused to bring it to the floor. Advocates say the city’s hands are tied while deaths and injuries mount. The Council and Mayor Adams support the bill. For the third year, Albany blocks local control. Streets stay dangerous. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Sammy’s Law advocates angry after push to give NYC power over its speed limit fails in Assembly, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-22

Albany killed Sammy’s Law. Speaker Carl Heastie refused a vote. Advocates starved outside. The Senate passed it. The Assembly did nothing. Streets stay fast. Pedestrians and cyclists stay exposed. Politics won. Vulnerable New Yorkers lost.

Sammy’s Law, a bill to let New York City set its own speed limits, died in the Assembly on June 22, 2023. The Senate passed it 55–7. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, District 83, ended the session without a floor vote. The bill’s summary: 'allowing New York City to set its speed limits.' Amy Cohen, mother of a crash victim, led a hunger strike. She called the process 'Albany backroom politics at its worst.' Heastie told her, 'I am only one vote.' Despite broad support, Heastie’s inaction blocked the bill. No change. Streets remain deadly for those outside a car.

• Mother of crash victim on failure of NYC speed limit bill: 'Albany backroom politics at its worst', gothamist.com, Published 2023-06-22

The Assembly stalls. The Senate moved. New York City waits. Carl Heastie once backed lower speed limits. Now, his chamber blocks the bill. Streets stay deadly. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. The call is clear: let the city slow cars. Save lives.

On June 20, 2023, an editorial called on the New York State Assembly to pass legislation allowing New York City to lower its speed limit—a measure known as Sammy’s Law. The bill, referenced in the editorial as 'allowing the five boroughs to reduce the speed limit,' has already passed the Senate but remains stalled in the Assembly. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (District 83, Bronx) is mentioned as an early sponsor of bills to lower the city’s speed limit to 25 mph and expand red light cameras. Despite his past support, the Assembly has not brought the bill to a vote. The editorial urges Heastie and the Assembly to match the Senate’s action. No formal safety analyst note is present, but the editorial centers the deadly impact of inaction on vulnerable road users, citing the story of Sammy Eckstein, killed by a driver. The message: delay costs lives.

• The state Assembly must match the Senate and let NYC lower its speed limit, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-20

Sammy’s Law hit a wall in Albany. The bill would let New York City set its own speed limits. It passed the Senate but died in the Assembly. Advocates and families mourn another delay. Streets stay fast. Vulnerable lives remain at risk.

Sammy’s Law, a bill to let New York City set and lower its speed limits, stalled in the Assembly on June 19, 2023. The bill passed the state Senate but did not reach a vote in the Assembly, blocked by Speaker Carl Heastie and opposition from outerborough members. The City Council, including Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez, supported the measure with a home rule message. The bill’s summary: 'allow New York City to set speed limits as low as 10 mph on some streets and 20 mph citywide.' Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal sponsored the bill in the Assembly. Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams both backed it. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal called it 'common sense.' Advocates, including Amy Cohen, mother of the bill’s namesake, vow to keep fighting. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill’s failure leaves city streets unchanged and vulnerable road users exposed.

• Sammy’s Law bill to let NYC set speed limit falters, supporters hoping special Assembly session will finally push it through, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-19

The Assembly returned to Albany. Lawmakers eyed unfinished business. Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City lower speed limits to 20 mph, met pushback. Outer boroughs resisted. Families called for action. Speaker Heastie held the gavel. Streets stayed dangerous.

On June 19, 2023, the New York State Assembly reconvened in Albany to address unfinished legislative business. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (District 83) led the session. The agenda included several items, among them 'Sammy’s Law,' a proposal to allow New York City to set 20 mph speed limits on some streets. The matter summary notes: 'A backlash to traffic safety initiatives—particularly in the outer boroughs—is also driving resistance against the proposed 'Sammy’s Law' to allow for a 20 m.p.h. speed limit on some New York City streets.' Amy Cohen, whose son was killed in a crash, urged lawmakers to act, asking, 'How many more families are going to have to suffer before the Assembly takes this preventable crisis seriously?' Despite claims of enough votes, resistance remained strong. Heastie did not bring the bill to a floor vote. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided.

• NY Assembly returning to Albany to deal with unfinished business including Seneca Nation gaming issue, nypost.com, Published 2023-06-19

Sammy’s Law, which lets New York City set its own speed limits, sits idle. Speaker Carl Heastie refuses to bring it to a vote. The Senate passed it. The governor, mayor, and council back it. Families mourn. Lawmakers dodge responsibility. Streets stay deadly.

Sammy’s Law, Assembly Bill to grant New York City control over its speed limits, remains stalled. On June 16, 2023, Speaker Carl Heastie kept it off the legislative agenda, despite Senate passage and support from Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and the City Council. The bill’s matter summary: 'the years-long effort to earn New York City the power to set its own speed limits.' Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal sponsors the bill, but Heastie’s inaction blocks a vote. Activists, including Families for Safe Streets, protested with a die-in at Heastie’s office. Gary Eckstein, father of Sammy Cohen Eckstein, spoke of the pain caused by legislative failure. The legislature’s refusal to act leaves vulnerable road users exposed, as lawmakers avoid accountability and delay a measure with broad support.

• Cycle of Rage Update: Speaker Heastie Has Not Put Speed Limit Bill on Next Week’s Agenda, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-16

Assembly Speaker Heastie blocked a vote on Sammy's Law. The bill would let New York City set its own speed limits. The Senate passed it. Families for Safe Streets staged a hunger strike. The Assembly will return. Lives hang in the balance.

On June 10, 2023, the New York State Assembly failed to vote on Sammy's Law, a bill that would allow New York City to set its own speed limits. The bill, supported by Gov. Hochul, Mayor Adams, and the City Council, had already passed the Senate 55-7. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to bring it to a vote, despite majority support in the Assembly. Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets, condemned Heastie, saying, 'There’s only one roadblock: Speaker Carl Heastie refusing to call a vote on a popular, life-saving bill.' Activists warned that more preventable deaths will follow if the Assembly does not act. The Assembly is expected to reconvene later in the month to address unfinished business, possibly including Sammy's Law.

• BREAKING: Assembly Fails to Pass Bill to Allow NYC to Set Speed Limits, But Will Return Later This Month, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-10

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s state car triggered speed cameras 12 times in Bronx school zones. He blames staff. Meanwhile, he blocks a vote on Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City lower speed limits. Streets stay deadly. Lawmakers stall. Pedestrians pay.

Assembly Bill 'Sammy’s Law' remains stalled in the New York State Assembly. Speaker Carl Heastie (District 83) has not called a floor vote as of June 9, 2023, despite the bill passing the State Senate. The bill, championed by advocates, would let New York City set 20-mile-per-hour speed limits on some streets. The matter summary states, 'Heastie has not called a floor vote on Sammy’s Law, which would allow New York City to set a 20-mile-per-hour speed limit on some streets.' Heastie’s state vehicle was caught speeding 12 times in school zones. He claims staffers were driving. Transportation Chair Bill Magnarelli suggested the bill’s fate might have changed if the City Council had acted sooner, a claim the Council disputes. Heastie’s spokesman said, 'He reminded them that the reason we passed the speed-camera legislation was to ensure the safety of students and the public, and that these violations are unacceptable.' No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• Wasn’t me! Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s car triggers speed camera 12 times – blames staffers, nypost.com, Published 2023-06-09

On day three, two mothers who lost children to reckless drivers faced threats of removal from Albany. Invited by Assembly Member Carroll, they were barred as 'lobbyists.' Sammy's Law, which would let New York City set speed limits, remains stalled. Grief meets bureaucracy.

On June 8, 2023, advocates staged a hunger strike in Albany to protest the Assembly's inaction on Sammy's Law. The bill would allow New York City to control its own speed limits. Despite support from Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, the City Council, and the state Senate, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has not brought the bill to a vote. The matter summary states: 'On day three of a hunger strike... two mothers, Amy Cohen and Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, who lost children to reckless drivers, were labeled as lobbyists and threatened with removal from the Capitol.' Assembly Member Bobby Carroll invited the mothers, but they were told to stay outside. Cohen said, 'It’s outrageous that we couldn't be recognized.' Mendieta-Cuapio called the hunger strike necessary. The protest highlights the personal cost of advocacy and the political barriers blocking action on street safety.

• Day 3: These Hunger Strikers aren’t Paid Lobbyists — But Albany Can’t Tell the Difference, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-08