Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Saskia Haegens, Member of the Public, on Daylighting and Street Safety
2:40:37
·
127 sec
Saskia Haegens, a resident of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, testified in support of Intro 1138, which proposes universal daylighting in New York City. They emphasized the need for safer streets and the effectiveness of daylighting as a proven method to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.
- Haegens highlighted that daylighting is already law in the rest of New York State and questioned why NYC doesn't have the same protection.
- They argued that universal daylighting would speed up street safety projects and eliminate the need for lengthy debates about individual intersections.
- Haegens shared their experience with a street project on Underhill Avenue, noting strong community support for safety treatments including curb extensions and bike parking.
Saskia Haegens
2:40:37
Thank you, Chair Brooks Powers, and thank you Council Member One for your leadership on daylighting.
2:40:42
My name is Saskia Hakans, and I'm speaking in support of Intro eleven thirty eight.
2:40:46
I live in Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, and I work in Manhattan, and I get around the city primarily walking and biking.
2:40:53
New York City streets are not safe.
2:40:55
The statistics on traffic injuries and fatalities are horrifying.
2:40:59
It doesn't have to be this way.
2:41:01
There are many tried and tested treatments to make our streets safer.
2:41:04
Daylighting is one of them, despite what DOT claims.
2:41:08
It happens to be the law in the rest of the state, and I have to wonder why we do not deserve the same.
2:41:13
Given that most crashes happen at intersections, given that daylighting is a proven effective method, and given that no one should run the risk of getting injured or killed while trying to cross the street, this should be a no brainer.
2:41:27
Another important reason to support universal daylighting, especially the universal aspect of it, is that all New Yorkers deserve safer streets.
2:41:37
Right now, getting street improvement projects done in this city is an excruciatingly slow and frustrating process.
2:41:45
We literally have to fight for every single corner, with projects often drawn out for years, slowed down by endless rounds of input, where vocal opponents get to derail life saving interventions.
2:41:57
This, when we know that these types of treatments are incredibly effective and popular.
2:42:03
I was involved with just such a project on Underhill Avenue where I live, probably the most surveyed street project in the history of the city.
2:42:12
But every single time the community was asked, well over 80% of people said they support treatments, including curb extensions and repurposing the space for bike parking and greenery.
2:42:24
Turns out that people actually like safe streets.
2:42:27
So here is your chance to greatly speed up street safety projects across the board, to not have to argue endlessly about every single intersection, and to implement a popular and proven method citywide to make the streets safer for all.
2:42:41
Please pass intro eleven thirty eight.
2:42:44
Thank you.