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

Sammy’s Law would let New York City drop speed limits to 20 mph on deadly streets. Council Member Gutierrez led the charge. Brooks-Powers joined. Streets scarred by crashes and deaths. Lower speeds mean fewer bodies broken. The city waits. Lives hang in the balance.

Sammy’s Law, debated by the NYC Council and State Legislature, seeks home rule for New York City to lower speed limits from 25 to 20 mph on dangerous streets. Council Member Jen Gutierrez carried the resolution; Selvena Brooks-Powers later signed on. The bill targets corridors like Bushwick Avenue, Laurelton Parkway, and East Gun Hill Road—sites of hundreds of crashes and dozens killed or maimed since 2019. The matter summary states: 'Because people are dying and being maimed on New York's most-dangerous 25-mile-per-hour streets.' Supporters, including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, cite the science: lower speeds mean less force, fewer deaths. Research shows 20 mph zones cut crashes by 60 percent. The bill does not mandate, but allows, lower limits where carnage is highest. The council’s action centers the lives of pedestrians and cyclists, demanding the city act before more are lost.

• MAP QUEST: See Exactly Why Sammy’s Law Would Be So Crucial for the Boroughs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-08

Mothers starve for Sammy’s Law. Hochul offers sympathy, not action. Heastie keeps the bill off the floor. The law would let New York City lower speed limits. Assembly support grows. Vulnerable road users wait. Streets stay deadly. Lawmakers stall. Lives hang in the balance.

Sammy’s Law, stalled in the New York State Assembly, would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph. On June 7, 2023, Governor Hochul expressed sympathy for hunger-striking mothers but refused to pressure Speaker Carl Heastie, who blocks the bill from a vote. The bill passed the Senate and has City Council and mayoral support. The matter summary: 'Hochul has previously expressed support for Sammy's Law, which would allow New York City to set its speed limits below 25 miles per hour.' Amy Cohen, a mother and advocate, demanded action, showing Heastie photos of victims. Seven new Assembly members, including Yudelka Tapia, Al Taylor, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, and Brian Cunningham, now back the bill, giving it majority support among NYC Assembly members. Still, the Speaker’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed to speeding drivers and systemic danger.

• Hunger Strike Day 2: Gov. Hochul is ‘Sympathetic,’ But Won’t Pressure Heastie on Sammy’s Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-07

Two mothers starve for justice. Their children killed by reckless drivers. They demand lawmakers let New York City set its own speed limits. The Assembly stalls. Grief and anger fill the halls. No more excuses. They want action. Now.

On June 6, 2023, two mothers began a hunger strike at the State Capitol, demanding action on Sammy’s Law. The bill, first introduced in 2020 by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and carried in the Assembly by Linda Rosenthal, would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph. The City Council backed the measure with a 'home rule' message last month. But Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has not brought it to a vote. The matter title: 'Sammy’s Law.' Amy Cohen, whose son Sammy was killed in 2013, and Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, whose son Bryan was killed in 2006, lead the protest. Mendieta-Cuapio says, 'We need to pass Sammy's Law today, no more excuses.' Lawmakers hide behind closed doors. The mothers refuse to let their children’s deaths be ignored.

• ‘Sammy’s Law’ Hunger Strike Begins at State Capitol, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-06

Two mothers starve for justice at the State Capitol. Their children were killed by reckless drivers. They demand lawmakers pass Sammy’s Law. The bill would let New York City set lower speed limits. Assembly leaders stall. Grief meets gridlock.

On June 6, 2023, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and advocates launched a hunger strike at the State Capitol for Sammy’s Law. The bill, introduced by Hoylman-Sigal and carried in the Assembly by Linda Rosenthal, would let New York City set speed limits below 25 mph. The official summary states it 'would authorize NYC to set speed limits below 25 mph but would not automatically change them.' Amy Cohen and Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, mothers whose children were killed by drivers, lead the protest. Despite majority City Council support and a home rule message, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refuses to bring the bill to a vote. Advocates accuse lawmakers of hiding and demand transparency. The hunger strike exposes the human cost of legislative inaction.

• ‘Sammy’s Law’ Hunger Strike Begins at State Capitol, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-06-06

Families for Safe Streets rallied outside Speaker Heastie’s office. They demanded action on Sammy’s Law. The bill would let New York City set its own speed limits. Lawmakers dodged a vote. Grief and anger filled the air. The Assembly stayed silent.

On June 5, 2023, supporters of Sammy’s Law gathered outside Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s Bronx office. The bill, which would grant New York City local control over its speed limits, remains stalled in the Assembly. The rally, led by Families for Safe Streets, called out lawmakers for refusing to bring the measure to a vote. Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, a leading advocate, criticized the lack of transparency: 'We are demanding that the Speaker bring this to a vote.' Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz voiced strong support, but others, like Chantel Jackson, hesitated, citing constituent feedback. The bill’s matter summary states it would not mandate lower limits but allow the city to decide. The legislative process left families of crash victims frustrated and angry. The Assembly’s inaction keeps city streets dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Supporters of Sammy’s Law Rally Heastie and Share Frustrations About Assembly’s Inaction on Speed Limit Reduction, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-05

Advocates starved in Albany. The Assembly stalled Sammy’s Law. The bill would let New York City lower speed limits. Children die. Pedestrians bleed. Lawmakers delay. Support is broad. The Assembly blocks action. Hunger sharpens the call for safety and control.

On June 5, 2023, advocates began a hunger strike in Albany, demanding action on Sammy’s Law. The bill, named after Sammy Cohen Eckstein, would let New York City set its own speed limits, dropping them from 25 to 20 mph. The measure passed the Senate and has broad support, including from Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and a City Council supermajority. But the Assembly, led by Speaker Carl Heastie, has not brought it to a vote. Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets said, 'It shouldn’t be a deadly act to walk our streets.' Andrea Stewart-Cousins is mentioned in the advocacy. The bill’s summary states it would allow NYC to lower speed limits. Advocates demand transparency and urgency, citing lives lost and strong public support. The Assembly’s inaction blocks a proven, life-saving measure for vulnerable road users.

• Advocates set to go on hunger strike in Albany as State Assembly dithers on Sammy’s Law allowing NYC to lower speed limits, amny.com, Published 2023-06-05

A BMW motorcycle tore down East 229th. The rider lost control. He flew from the seat. Blood pooled. His words came broken. The street held him, silent and slipping. Unsafe speed left him battered and bleeding.

A 29-year-old man riding a BMW motorcycle crashed on East 229th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the motorcycle struck at speed, ejecting the rider. He suffered severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body. The report notes the rider was incoherent at the scene. The police list 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the crash. The data shows the rider was ejected from the motorcycle and left on the street, injured. No other vehicles or people were involved. The police report does not specify if safety equipment was used.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4633950 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Razor e-scooter struck a Honda SUV on Boston Road. Two riders flew from the scooter. A 28-year-old woman landed hard, her face torn open. Blood pooled as cars rolled by. Three SUV occupants also suffered injuries. Traffic control ignored.

A Razor e-scooter crashed into the side of a Honda SUV on Boston Road. Two people on the e-scooter were ejected. A 28-year-old woman, riding as a passenger, suffered severe facial lacerations and was thrown across the seat. According to the police report, 'A Razor e-scooter slammed into the side of a Honda SUV. A 28-year-old woman, unbelted, was thrown across the seat. Her face split open. She lay conscious, bleeding, as traffic rolled past.' Three SUV occupants, ages 20, 43, and 73, also reported injuries. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. No helmet or signal use is cited as a factor. The crash left multiple people hurt, with systemic failures at play.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4631072 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two years after legalization, New York has no test for cannabis-impaired driving. Lawmakers set a high bar for prosecution. Training lags. Speaker Carl Heastie warns against overreach. Meanwhile, vulnerable road users face rising risk from unchecked stoned drivers.

On April 24, 2023, an editorial criticized New York’s lack of a reliable standard for cannabis-impaired driving. The piece, referencing Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (District 83), states: 'With no reliable standard, pot-impaired drivers a growing road hazard.' Lawmakers created a 'substantially impaired' threshold for DUI-cannabis, making lesser impairment only a traffic infraction. Drug recognition expert training has not kept pace with the rise in stoned drivers. Speaker Heastie cautioned against legislative 'overreach,' but the editorial argues leaders have failed to act. No committee or bill number is cited; this is a public statement, not legislation. The absence of clear enforcement standards leaves pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers exposed to drivers whose impairment goes unchecked.

• With no reliable standard, pot-impaired drivers a growing road hazard, nypost.com, Published 2023-04-24

A motorcycle sped down Boston Road. It hit an SUV turning left. The unlicensed rider flew off. His leg was torn away. He lay awake on the asphalt. The bike lay in pieces beside him. Unsafe speed shattered the street.

A violent crash erupted on Boston Road near East 212th Street in the Bronx. A motorcycle, driven by an unlicensed man, struck an SUV making a left turn. According to the police report, 'A speeding motorcycle slammed into an SUV turning left. The unlicensed rider flew through the air. His leg was torn off.' The rider suffered an amputation and remained conscious on the ground. No injuries were reported for the SUV driver. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The motorcycle was demolished. The SUV sustained front-end damage. The crash exposes the deadly risk of unsafe speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620580 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams sidestepped backing Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City set its own speed limits. As cyclist deaths mount, other council members press for action. Adams cites other priorities. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. Streets stay deadly.

On April 12, 2023, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams declined to support Sammy’s Law, a state bill allowing New York City to control its speed limits. The bill, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a reckless driver in 2013, has stalled in Albany despite mounting pressure. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez introduced a resolution urging passage, co-sponsored by Shahana Hanif and Lincoln Restler. Adams, however, said, 'We’re going to let the state do what the state does in response to Sammy’s Law,' and focused on other budget priorities. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called for pairing lower speed limits with street redesigns in neglected neighborhoods. As children and cyclists die in record numbers, the council’s inaction leaves vulnerable New Yorkers at risk. The law would not lower limits automatically, but grant the city authority to act.

• Speaker Adams Still Won’t Come Out in Support of Sammy’s Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-12

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie blocks a bill to expand bus and bike lane camera enforcement. Riders lose. Cars win. The Assembly stalls, ignoring data and advocates. Bus stops stay clogged. Vulnerable road users face more danger. The city waits.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and the state Assembly opposed a bill to expand bus-mounted and on-street enforcement cameras targeting drivers who block bus stops, no stopping zones, and bike lanes. The bill, supported by Governor Hochul and the state Senate, aimed to improve bus speeds and reliability. The Assembly declined to expand the program, citing a preference to keep policy out of the budget process. Heastie's spokesman, Mike Whyland, said, 'We generally did not include policy in our proposal.' Transit advocates and MTA officials argued that expanded enforcement would benefit riders and make buses more attractive. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance criticized the Assembly, saying, 'If the state budget ignores the financial impact of slow buses on riders and our families... the people's house will have failed actual people.' The bill remains stalled, leaving bus riders and vulnerable road users exposed.

• Why Won’t Carl Heastie Back Expanded Camera Enforcement to Take On Bus Stop Blockers?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-24

A Ford SUV struck a 72-year-old man outside the crosswalk on East 233rd Street. The left bumper hit his head. He fell, unconscious, blood pooling on cold pavement. The street stood silent. No driver errors listed. The man was gravely hurt.

A Ford SUV hit a 72-year-old man outside the crosswalk on East 233rd Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, 'The left bumper hit his head. He lay unconscious on cold pavement, blood pooling, the gray street silent around him.' The pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as a factor. The crash left a vulnerable road user severely injured, with the impact focused on the left front bumper of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607633 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A woman, 52, stepped from a car on Edenwald Avenue. An SUV kept moving. The driver did not see her. The vehicle struck her leg. Blood pooled on the street. The driver failed to yield. The SUV showed no damage.

A 52-year-old woman was injured on Edenwald Avenue near Murdock Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, she was stepping down from a vehicle when a Nissan SUV, traveling straight, struck her. The woman suffered severe lacerations to her leg and remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The SUV showed no damage, and the driver did not stop. The woman was not at an intersection when hit. No mention of helmet or signaling as factors. The crash left blood on the street and a torn leg, underscoring the danger faced by pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612601 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 60-year-old man crossed East Gun Hill Road at night. Two SUVs hit him in quick succession. His head struck hard. His body broke. He died at the intersection. The street stayed silent. The city lost another pedestrian.

A 60-year-old man was killed while crossing East Gun Hill Road near White Plains Road in the Bronx. According to the police report, the man was crossing against the signal when two SUVs, both traveling west, struck him in turn. The report states, 'Head shattered. Organs crushed. He lay still at the intersection. He died where he fell.' The only contributing factor listed in the data is 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' No driver errors or additional contributing factors are noted in the report. The drivers of both SUVs were licensed and remained at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575019 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck hit a man on a bike. His head split open. Blood pooled on the curb. The truck sped off. The street stayed silent. Drugs and distraction fueled the crash. The cyclist was left broken in the Bronx dawn.

A box truck struck a 35-year-old man riding a bike near 3957 Provost Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered a severe head injury and was ejected from his bike. The driver of the box truck continued straight ahead and did not remain at the scene. The report lists 'Drugs (illegal)' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, which is noted in the report, but only after the driver’s errors. The crash left the cyclist injured and the street marked by blood. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557787 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A young woman rode south on Baychester. A distracted driver hit her from behind. Her arm split open. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious. Her bike broke. The street did not forgive.

A 24-year-old woman riding a bike south on Baychester Avenue near Needham Avenue in the Bronx was struck from behind and suffered severe lacerations to her arm. According to the police report, 'The driver was distracted.' The crash left the cyclist conscious but injured, with blood on the roadway and her bike damaged. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were cited. The data does not specify the involvement of helmets or signals. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted driving to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4550352 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car sped down East Gun Hill Road. It hit a 19-year-old man walking with traffic. He bled on the asphalt, semiconscious, pain everywhere. The car’s front end took him down. The street did not stop.

A 19-year-old pedestrian was struck and severely injured by a car on East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx. According to the police report, the car was traveling west at an unsafe speed when its front end hit the man, who was walking along the roadway with traffic. The impact left him semiconscious and bleeding, with injuries across his entire body. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The driver’s actions—speeding and aggression—created the danger. No helmet or signaling issues were cited for the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540385 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams heads to Albany. He pushes for round-the-clock speed cameras and mayoral control of schools. Lawmakers stall. Streets stay dangerous at night. Advocates say limited camera hours fuel reckless driving. Albany debates, but time runs out. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On May 13, 2022, Mayor Adams traveled to Albany to press lawmakers on his legislative priorities. The push included extending mayoral control of New York City’s public schools and, crucially, allowing speed cameras to operate 24/7. The matter summary states: 'Topping the list for Adams is extending mayoral control of the city’s public schools and allowing speed cameras on city streets to operate 24/7.' State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie were key figures in these talks. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez also lobbied for expanded speed camera authority. Despite Adams’s efforts, lawmakers showed little appetite for granting 'home rule'—the power for the city to control camera placement and hours. Advocates warn that restricting camera hours to weekdays, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., leaves streets deadly at night. The legislative session neared its end with no breakthrough, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYC Mayor Adams heading to Albany next week for last ditch legislative push, nydailynews.com, Published 2022-05-13

A 51-year-old woman crossed Bouck Avenue in a marked crosswalk. An SUV turned left and hit her head with its bumper. She collapsed, unconscious, and died on the pavement. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed silent.

A 51-year-old woman was killed while crossing Bouck Avenue near Burke Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, she was in a marked crosswalk when a westbound SUV turned left and struck her head with its front bumper. She suffered internal injuries and died at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 32-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. No other injuries were reported. The woman was crossing with no signal present, but the police report centers the driver's failure to yield as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4523147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04