PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Santis Cardillo, Community Activist
5:50:18
·
145 sec
Santis Cardillo, a long-time cyclist and community activist, testified in support of Priscilla Lowe and advocated for the licensing, registration, and insurance of motorized bikes. He shared his personal experience as a victim of a hit-and-run e-bike incident and criticized the NYPD's lack of enforcement of existing laws.
- Emphasized the need for political and social pressure on NYPD to enforce traffic laws
- Highlighted the concept of "police discretion" in law enforcement
- Expressed frustration with the handling of his own hit-and-run case and the economic impact on victims
Santis Cardillo
5:50:18
Madam chair, members of the council who are still here, members of the public, my name is Santis Cardillo.
5:50:25
I have been using a bicycle as transportations on the streets of New York since 1981 when I immigrated immigrated here, and I speak today in support of Priscilla Lowe.
5:50:35
I am a community activist also, and, advocating amongst other issues, that bikes with motors of any kind be matriculated, insured, and licensed, as should their drivers.
5:50:48
I believe these provisions are already in the law, but they are not applied.
5:50:51
Those of you who interact administratively with the NYPD may be familiar with the institution, as they call it, of court, police discretion.
5:50:59
I learned of it at the Citizens Police Academy, which I attended at the request of my local precinct in order to improve community relations.
5:51:07
It means that the police department, a petro man at large, can choose if and which laws to apply at any given moment.
5:51:16
Political, social and cultural pressure must be brought on the NYPD to sensitize them to the importance of the enforcement of Priscilla and all traffic laws regarding public safety.
5:51:28
Like Priscilla, unexpectedly, I became the victim of a hit and run e bike criminal some weeks ago.
5:51:34
The 6th precinct has a photograph of the perpetrator, here he is, who operates in the area.
5:51:40
If the NYPD had dedicated a billionth of the resources they produce to capture Luigi Mangione, the offender would be in custody.
5:51:49
Instead, I am left to nurse a broken hip without any compensation.
5:51:53
If economic development is a factor in the attitude institutions adopt towards e bike, so must be the economic damage they cause to citizens left destitute and without recourses by the institutions.
5:52:06
A police department, I must add, that reacts with statistics and lip service, as did the commissioner this morning, to community concerns, trumpeting how many summonses they have issued to, quote, bikes without distinction between the easy marks that mostly noxious slide cyclists without a motor make, and the man is that more motorbikes are Sir,
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
5:52:26
we I'm sorry.
5:52:27
Thank you.
Santis Cardillo
5:52:27
Please ask me questions.
5:52:29
I have lots more to say.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
5:52:30
No.
5:52:30
You can submit that.
5:52:31
Thank you.
5:52:32
Council member Holden, you have a question?
5:52:34
Can you make it quick, please?
Robert F. Holden
5:52:38
Jason, you're you're a member of, community board
Santis Cardillo
5:52:40
sante.
5:52:41
Oh, no.
5:52:42
Sorry.
5:52:42
Me or him?
Ydanis Rodriguez
5:52:43
Him.
