Gun & Traffic Violence Threaten Queens Youth & Families

Queens residents joined a town hall on the twin epidemics of youth traffic violence and gun violence. State Senator John Liu joined the Queens community town hall to imagine a city and state without traffic violence or gun violence.

“The issues here are not ones of quality of life, but of life-and-death. Too many lives are lost - including those of young children - because our laws do not protect them. There are a number of bills in Albany, whether it’s Sammy’s Law, or the .05 law, that would save lives,” said State Senator John Liu.

In New York State, an average of 63 children and teens are killed by guns every year – and in 2022, 68 young New Yorkers were killed in traffic crashes.

“I’m prepared and excited about the power and potential this awesome coalition has to bring the twin crises of youth gun violence and car crashes to the attention of the public and elected officials so we can unite and find real solutions to save lives” said Charles Fisher, Founder, Hip Hop Summit Youth Council.

The town hall was organized by Families for Safe Streets, Transportation Alternatives, Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council, Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, Good Shepherd Services, Eastern Queens Greenway, Local 372, Fresh Meadows Tenant Association, CIDNY, Vision Zero Youth Council, Power 105.1, Elmhurst Hospital, FIA Foundation, New York Coalition for Transportation Safety, .05 Saves Lives Coalition, Chinese American Planning Council, Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence, Kids and Car Safety, and Drive Rehab

“Ten years have passed since my daughter Ally's death from traffic violence and children are still seriously injured & dying daily in crashes,” said Families for Safe Streets co-founder Amy Tam. “Our community must unite and declare, ‘Enough is enough.’ We have the means to put an end to traffic violence - like passing Sammy’s Law in the state budget - and there are many policies that would prevent gun violence from claiming the lives of our young people, too. It's imperative we bring the community together to talk about ways to keep our youth safe.”

Traffic deaths and injuries are a major, preventable public health problem, and many communities in Queens bear a particular burden. For example, Queens Community Board 4 experienced a 125% increase in fatalities per 10,000 residents on average in the last five years. More than one in three State Assembly districts with above-average traffic fatality rates are in Queens (D31, D37, D25, D40, D35, D23, D24, D29, D34, D26). Moreover, since Vision Zero was adopted in NYC, two of the top three State Senate districts with the most fatalities are in Queens (D10 and D16).

"Safety is a priority for all walks of life, whether it be gun violence or traffic violence. These twin factors rip apart the fabric of our youths' future. I believe education is the key factor of lessening the combative behavior when it comes to guns and traffic Violence. Intervention and preventative measures are pertinent," said Shaun D. Francois, President of Local 372.

On average, crashes kill three New Yorkers daily and seriously injure hundreds more with life-long consequences. Crashes are the leading cause of injury related death, second leading cause of injury related hospitalizations and third leading cause for injury related emergency department visits in New York. In New York State traffic fatalities increased 20% during the initial years of the pandemic and continue to be above pre-pandemic levels. However, the underlying conditions that cause crashes have long pre-dated this crisis. Compounding the suffering and loss, this crisis costs the New York State economy at least $15 billion annually in combined costs from hospitalization, emergency response, legal expenses, lost wages, and lost economic activity.

“The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) believes that all New Yorkers are entitled to safe and accessible public spaces and transportation options. Traffic accidents and gun violence are two of the most harmful issues facing New York City youth today and we must work to ensure that our city is safe and accessible for all. The effects of gun violence and traffic accidents can cause unwanted debilitating conditions and further change the life trajectory for youth who are impacted by traffic accidents and gun violence,” said Sharon McLennon Wier, executive director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled.

Lower speed limits in New York City, authorized by the State Legislature in 2014, contributed to a 36% decline in pedestrians killed in the City and the lowest traffic fatalities, in 2018, in history since record-keeping began in 1910. By authorizing speed limits lower than 25 miles per hour, New York City would join other dense U.S. cities such as Washington, DC, Portland, OR, Boulder, CO Seattle, WA, and Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN – all of whom found it to be an effective tool to rein in speeding.

“It is shameful that we are the only high income country where more young people are dying at gunpoint or on roads than from any other cause. Each crisis has a solution. This is inexcusable. When will we give our children the safety they deserve?” said Natalie Draisin, Director of the North American Office and United Nations Representative at FIA Foundation.

State Assembly District 25 in Queens, New York, has the 7th highest rate of traffic fatalities of any district in New York City.

"Gun and traffic violence is killing 63 children every year in New York. Because of this danger, parents don't want their children riding bicycles or walking in the streets. Our government can do more to protect our families and the Flushing Chamber joins with our community to support reforms like Sammy's Law, which would authorize New York City to lower speed limits on residential streets," stated John Choe, Executive Director of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce. "Assembly District 25, where we are meeting today, has the 7th highest rate of traffic fatalities of any district in New York City. Where is Assemblywoman Nily Rozic? Why is she not supporting Sammy's Law?"

USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg has urged municipalities to lower their speed limits as part of a Safe System approach, because safe speeds are a key evidence-based tool to address the epidemic of traffic violence. And just across the river in Hoboken, they have gone seven years without a traffic death, citing their speed management strategies as a key pillar of success.

“A lower limit DWI law is an evidenced based proven countermeasure with a broad deterrent effect that will save lives in New York by deterring people from driving at high, as well as low BAC levels. It’s not about drinking. It’s about separating drinking from driving,” said Thomas M. Louizou, Co-founder, .05 Saves Lives Coalition.

“In the awful contest between fatalities caused by motor vehicles and guns, everyone loses. DriveRehab passionately supports efforts to eradicate all gun and traffic violence,” said Rosamond Gianutsos, Founder of DriverRehab.

Despite previous setbacks, community advocates are rallying to enact Sammy's Law this year in the New York State Legislature. Passage of this legislation would allow New York City to establish speed limits below twenty miles per hour and prevent further traffic violence in our neighborhoods.

“As we gather to address the epidemic of gun violence, we send a powerful message: enough is enough. It’s time for action, for change, and for a safer tomorrow,” said Kim Kyoungran at NYC Health and Hospitals.