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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by John Heaney, Board Member of 31st Avenue Open Streets Collective
2:09:03
·
141 sec
John Heaney, a board member of the 31st Avenue Open Streets Collective, testifies in support of Intro 1138, which calls for universal daylighting in New York City. He shares personal experiences and community initiatives related to street safety in Astoria, Queens.
- Highlights the tragic death of a 7-year-old girl that sparked a citywide movement for universal daylighting
- Mentions that 21 community boards have signed on for universal daylighting in their districts
- Describes a community outreach campaign that gathered nearly 150 responses about unsafe street crossings due to lack of visibility
John Heaney
2:09:03
How's it going, everyone?
2:09:05
My name is John Heaney.
2:09:06
I'm from the city.
2:09:07
I've lived in Astoria for about eight years now.
2:09:10
Currently, I serve on the board of the thirty first Avenue Open Streets Collective.
2:09:14
It's an all volunteer organization, runs from April through December, and we see firsthand what Safer Streets can bring to our community.
2:09:23
We see that with free programming, seating open to all.
2:09:27
I'm testifying here in support of Centimeters Wong's intro 11:38.
2:09:33
Sorry.
2:09:33
I'm not used to speaking in front of people.
2:09:36
Daylighting hits particularly home close to home for our district.
2:09:40
In 2023, it was Queens Community Board one representing Astoria, Woodside, East Elmhurst that sparked a citywide movement when it passed the first ever resolution calling for universal daylighting.
2:09:53
It came after the tragic death of seven year old Dolmah de Dutt, who died crossing Newton Road at 40 Fifth Street when a driver failed to yield at a stop sign, just didn't see her.
2:10:05
It still bothers me today, so I'm sorry.
2:10:08
Since then, 21 community boards have signed on for universal daylighting in their districts.
2:10:14
And a red light and a curb extension was put in in that intersection, thankfully.
2:10:19
That advocacy that influenced the Western Queen Street Safety Plan from our elected officials includes universal daylighting.
2:10:28
It also encourages the NYC DOT to implement daylighting along commercial select commercial corridors in Astoria like Broadway, which has instantly made street level safety feel better for all.
2:10:40
That's pedestrians, cyclists, drivers.
2:10:43
Earlier this year, our organization led a robust outreach campaign via social media and flyering to gather suggestions from our neighbors for where they would like to see daylighting implemented in our community.
2:10:55
It spurred up almost 150 responses with detailed descriptions of specific locations where residents of all backgrounds, parents, children, couples, older New Yorkers, so many more, they felt unsafe crossing the street due to a lack of visibility.
2:11:11
Each submission tells a different story and calls on the city to do better.
2:11:16
This is a slam dunk, no brainer bill that will save lives across all of the city.
2:11:22
Please pass intro intro 11:38.
2:11:24
Thank you.