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Metro

NYS Assembly still undecided on ‘Sammy’s Law’ to lower NYC speed limit: ‘It’s outrageous’

By
Zach Williams
Published June 2, 2023
Updated June 2, 2023, 6:36 p.m. ET

ALBANY – Albany Democrats slammed the brakes on legislation that would reduce speed limits to 20 mph in New York — sparking outrage from the mom and driving force behind the bill.

“We are demanding that the Assembly bring the bill to a vote,” shouted Amy Cohen, whose 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein was killed in a 2013 traffic crash, told The Post. “

“It’s outrageous.”

A 2022 Emerson Poll of 525 registered voters found 68% of city residents personally support a 20-mile-per-hour limit in their own neighborhoods.

But support from the public, Mayor Eric Adams, and the City Council appear insufficient to get the Assembly to move on the bill before Albany Democrats leave the state Capitol for the year on June 8.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) said “yes” when asked by The Post Friday if he expects the bill he is carrying in his chamber will pass next week.

“I can’t control what happens in the other house but I know that members are considering it very seriously,” he said.

A smiling boy with braces looking at a camera with a dark background.
“Sammy’s Law” is named in memory of 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, who was killed in a 2013 traffic crash Courtesy of Amy Cohen

Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), who is sponsoring the bill in her chamber, did not respond to a request for comment on Friday regarding the apparent change in fortune for the proposal.

“I was at one of the first news conferences 10 years ago after Sammy was killed to speak about the need to make the streets safer for pedestrians,” she told the Post earlier this week. “People are pretty familiar with [the proposal] so I feel good about it.”

Opposition from outer-borough Democrats appears to be a key reason for the bill stalling in the Assembly.

Some of them piped up at a Democratic conference meeting held earlier this week about concerns with voter backlash considering some public fatigue with safe street initiatives and the impending congestion pricing plan to charge drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street, according to multiple sources.

Carl Heastie with a serious look while he stands in front of a white marble wall.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) has the influence to get a floor vote on the bill before lawmakers leave Albany for the year on June 8. Hans Pennink

Such discussions helped convince Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal (D-Queens) to change his mind about supporting the bill, especially given delays on other traffic safety efforts in his district like speed bumps near schools.

“I do not believe that this law will have the effect it desires. This law will simply allow New York City to increase its collection of speed camera fines,” he told The Post.

“This bill is about revenue, not public safety.”

Linda Rosenthal standing with a megaphone outside while holding a paper in her hands with a pointed finger.
Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal earlier this week expressed optimism about “Sammy’s Law” getting passed this year. Getty Images

Transportation Committee Chair Bill Magnarelli (D-Syracuse) blamed the New York City Council for dawdling on delivering a “home rule” message – a procedural step the Council failed to do last year – to formally request the Legislature act on the bill.

Magnarelli claimed it was far from clear whether the bill had the votes to pass his 26-member committee.

“My colleagues from New York City, many are in opposition to that lower speed limit in certain parts of the city and their neighborhoods and their communities. And I think that’s it. I mean – it’s just as simple as that,” he said.

And with one week left, the Syracuse Democrat noted he can no longer hold another committee meeting before June 8 to pass the bill though it could still reach the floor if Assembly leaders push it.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) did not respond to a request for comment.

Amy Cohen standing with a somber look inside New York City Hall with a photo of Sammy in her arms.
Amy Cohen said “It’s outrageous” the Assembly is stalling on passing the bill named in memory of her son Sammy. Natan Dvir

Bill supporters argue the bill ought to be a no-brainer considering research showing how even a small difference in speed limits – like 25 to 20 miles per hour – can dramatically boost survival rates among pedestrians hit by vehicles, ProPublica has previously reported.

Brad Hoylman-Sigal standing with a tilted head while blurry Dan Clark of NY Now on public television and Josh Solomon of the Times Union interview him.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said he expects “Sammy’s Law” will pass his chamber next week. AP

Albany Democrats have demonstrated many times before they can act quickly on locally-backed bills even when home rule messages arrive shortly before the June end of legislative sessions.

“Too many New Yorkers have been lost to traffic violence, and it only makes sense for our city to control its own speed limits,” a Council spokesperson said.

“The Council was proud to approve a home rule message on Sammy’s Law, along with those for several other bills, days after the State Legislature made the customary request with a new Assembly sponsor. We continue to work on home rule messages with our state partners, and hope this bill can be passed along with the various remaining pieces of legislation we support in the final days of session.”