Advocates and Elected Officials React to Vision Zero "Report Card"
Advocates and elected officials outside of City Hall on January 20th, 2016, demonstrating the need for more Vision Zero funding
New York City's "Vision Zero" plan of having zero traffic fatalities by 2024 is working, but according to Transportation Alternatives' 2015 "report card", more funding is needed.
For the family of Josbel Rivera, justice has not been swift. The 23-year-old was killed in a hit-and-run accident in 2011. Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez recalls struggling to convict the driver because of lax hit-and-run legislation. He says, "We need more from Albany, in order for us to prosecute those irresponsible and criminal drivers."
Transportation Alternatives says toughening laws on things like hit-and-run incidents will help Mayor de Blasio reach his Vision Zero goal. But Councilmember Ben Kallos says that also requires more funding. Kallos adds, "We are not going to hit our goal of Vision Zero, and the reality is, we can invest dollars into saving lives. And a life is priceless."
Advocates are waiting for the city's budget to pass to see how much money can be allocated for their cause.
