In less than 48 hours last week our East New York community suffered a tragic, immeasurable and avoidable loss.
At about 6:45 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 25, Patience Heaven Albert, 10, and her brother Marzae Albert, 15, were crossing at Wortman Avenue and Crescent Street, when she was hit by a yellow bus killing her and injuring her brother.
Then at about 8:15 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, Payson Lott, 7, and his mother were hit by an SUV at the intersection of Blake Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, killing Payson and injuring his mother. Thursday’s incident marked the sixth pedestrian death in the city in a week, and the 22nd this year.
The frequency of vehicular accidents in our community, and the ineptitude of the Department of Transportation (DOT) at directly addressing the needs of the communities it’s supposed to protect, is unacceptable but not surprising. For decades, East New York’s voice has been disregarded and dismissed in housing, education, and transportation. The two heartbreaking deaths of Patience and Payson this past week are emblematic of systemic issues that ensure that the focus of improvements is not in communities with the lowest area median income.
The DOT has “streamlined” their process whereby residents “Report a Problem” to DOT through a web-only based system. (https://www1.nyc.gov/html/
The system is unnecessarily complicated, inaccessible, and in the event that your submission results in action, it’ll take years to implement. As the DOT website notes: “The federal standards for traffic control devices can be found in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which is published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The MUTCD establishes criteria known as “warrants” which are used to determine if a new traffic signal is appropriate.
The latest edition of the MUTCD, published in 2009, sets forth nine warrants” (https://www1.nyc.gov/html/
DOT has numerous tools at their disposal to calm traffic; traffic signals and stop signs require that drivers slow down and comply – unfortunately, signs can be ignored, especially if there isn’t visible enforcement by the police, crossing guard or red light camera. Self-enforcing measures (speed humps, curb extensions) force drivers to speed regulate.
East New York has become the test neighborhood for de Blasio’s mandatory inclusionary “affordable housing” program projected to bring 19,000 new residents to the community and the basement conversion program. So why not empower the community to lead and test a new, first-participatory and actionable traffic safety mitigation program?
DOT must commit to immediately coming to our community, and conducting a listening session of our transportation issues, as well as a resident-led streets census with a short implementation timeline.
Our community will not stand for one more accident. From increased funding for crossing guards (and a desperately needed pay increase) to prioritizing traffic mitigation in school zones, around senior centers and residences, to conducting streets census’ in communities disproportionately impacted by vehicular incidents. No tool should be off the table when talking about ensuring that our streets are safe!
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Wilfredo Florentino is a life-long Brooklynite, U.S. Army Veteran, and Community Advocate. He has served as Transportation Committee Chair of Brooklyn Community Board 5 since 2014. Wilfredo is a candidate for New York City Council in the 42nd District and lives in East New York with his husband, daughter and dog.
