In the wake of a recent hit-and-run tragedy in Sunset Park, Brooklyn that took the lives of two pedestrians, community members and advocates are stepping up calls for street safety improvements on Third Avenue. According to Gothamist, residents are demanding action on a dangerous two-mile stretch where, since 2018, 80 residents have been killed or seriously injured.
Yesterday rally, Councilmember Alexa Aviles emphasized the urgency for safety measures, stating, "We need New York City and New York state to be part of the solution here." A street redesign that could make the area safer has been approved by the local community board but has yet to be implemented by Mayor Eric Adams' administration. Residents are now to pressuring have this critical redesign moved forward, as per the community's plea for improved safety for their families and particularly the school children in the area. A City Hall spokesperson said the Department of Transportation is gathering community feedback to help determine what steps to take next, as per Gothamist.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes voiced his frustration at the city's inaction, especially in light of the recent fatalities of 80-year-old Kex Un Chen and 59-year-old Faqiu Lin on July 11. Gounardes pointedly criticized the city's tepid response, "We should all be offended. Angry. Insulted. That the response from our city to two deaths blocks away from here is a sign that says: ‘be careful,’" he told Gothamist.
The call to action extends beyond local residents to include advocacy groups such as Transportation Alternatives, whose Communications Director Alexa Sledge pointed out the failures in public safety and infrastructure, "We can hear the endless din of really, really large trucks, all kinds of cars, treating this neighborhood street as a highway," Sledge told CBS News. This sentiment encapsulates the broader frustration felt by the community as they await significant changes that are long overdue.
In response to this and other incidents, City Hall released a statement assuring their commitment to enhancing safety and accessibility for all New Yorkers. "The Adams administration is committed to enhancing safety and accessibility throughout the city so that all New Yorkers — whether they're walking, biking, or driving — can move through their neighborhoods safely," the city said, in hopes to reassure those affected by the traffic concerns. However, with the redesign still on pause, residents like Jane Martin-Lavaud, a member of Families for Safe Streets, express more personal concerns. Still grieving the loss of her 24-year-old daughter to a car accident twelve years ago, Martin-Lavaud underscores the emotional toll: "Who wants to have police at the door? Who wants to get that phone call? Who wants to have to go and show up at the city morgue and identify their child in a body bag?" she shared in an interview with CBS News.
