The 2023 session of the New York State Assembly has ended, and ‘Sammy’s Law’ did not even get a vote. It’s a bill allowing New York City to dictate city street speed limits, and its failure to even be presented outraged advocates.
The law’s name honors Sammy, a young boy who was struck and killed by a reckless driver close to his Brooklyn home in 2013.
Sammy’s mother, Amy Cohen, along with the organization “Families for Safe Streets” held a hunger strike in Albany in the hopes of convincing Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to take action, but it did not work. The bill had already amassed a majority in the State Senate.
“It was unconscionable that they adjourned without passing the bill,” Cohen said. “It is outrageous and it is Albany backroom politics, you know, at its worst.”
“It passed the senate 55 to 7. It had a super majority from the City Council. The governor wanted it. The mayor, the 4 borough presidents, several district attorneys, the comptroller, and a majority of the New York State Assembly,” she added.
With the power to set its own speed limits, New York City could lower the current 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour wherever necessary. Last month, Governor Hochul expressed her support for Sammy’s Law, but Heastie did not budge.
“On the final day, he just kept saying ‘I am just one vote.’ I’m sorry, you’re the leader of the assembly, and it is your decision whether or not to bring the bills for a vote,” Cohen said.
It is believed that some Assembly members from the outer boroughs are fearful of voter backlash if it would take them nominally longer to drive in the city. Cohen and others will have to hold out hope for 2024.
