Page 7 - QT Edition #2 01-08-26

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 7

Traffic Deaths Reach All-Time Low: New York Ends NYS Senator John Liu Statement On
Year With Fewest Fatalities Ever Recorded Appointment Of Kamar Samuels as
NYC’s Next School Chancellor
Sharpest Declines in Outer Bor-
oughs, Fatalities Down Across forward with clear leadership that
Travel Modes leaves students, families, and edu-
Traffic Deaths are Down 31 Per- cators confident about their future
cent Since Vision Zero Launched while contending with looming
in 2014 threats to education and outright
sabotage from the White House.
The New York City Depart- “Kamar has also demonstrated
ment of Transportation recently a commitment to complying with
announced that New York City state law that lowers NYC class
ended 2025 with the fewest traffic sizes to state and national norms,
deaths ever recorded, dating back recognizing that it will require
to when record-keeping began in a robust capital plan to fully ac-
1910. There were 205 recorded count for the construction of new
traffic deaths in 2025, a 19 per- school space alongside the hiring
cent decline from 253 fatalities of new teachers. Armed with the
last year, and one fewer than the state’s record increases in the bud-
previous safest year on record in get for NYC public schools, these
2018, when 206 people were killed improvements are now funded
in traffic crashes. Overall, traffic responsibilities of the new ad-
deaths are down 31 percent since percent decline in traffic deaths, 3,031 in 2024 to 2,947 in 2025. ministration that must be fulfilled
the launch of Vision Zero in 2014. down from 54 fatalities in 2024 to • Child fatalities are near record State Senator John Liu, chair- so that all kids can receive the
The historic decline reflects 33 fatalities in 2025; lows, with 6 such fatalities re- person of the Senate Committee sound, basic education to which
continued progress under Vi- • Queens experienced a 23 corded in 2025, down 63 percent on NYC Education, stated the they are constitutionally entitled.
sion Zero, including large-scale percent decline in traffic deaths, from 16 recorded 2024. following about the appoint- This imperative, along with the
street safety redesigns; additional down from 74 in 2024 to 57 in NYC DOT has cited a variety ment of Kamar Samuels as the impending June 30 expiration
space for pedestrians, cyclists, 2025; of Vision Zero initiatives that next Chancellor of NYC Public of the system of school gover-
and buses; and expanded traffic • Manhattan experienced an 11 have been among the keys to the Schools. nance based on mayoral control,
enforcement initiatives, including percent decline in traffic deaths, progress in reducing fatalities in requires that the new chancellor
heightened crackdowns on ghost down from 44 in 2024 to 39 in 2025. Those efforts include the “Hearty congratulations to hit the ground running, which I’m
vehicles and dangerous driving 2025; dramatic expansion of protected Kamar Samuels on taking the confident he will.
behaviors over the past year. • Brooklyn experienced a 9 bike lanes and newly pedestrian- helm of the nation’s largest school “While education took a
“No New Yorker should lose percent decline in traffic deaths, ized space—with more than 100 system, a tremendous responsibil- backseat to NYC’s affordability
their life while walking, driving, down from 69 in 2024 to 63 in miles of protected bike lanes built ity at this moment in time that crisis during this past mayoral
or biking in our city,” said Deputy 2025; and nearly 2 million square feet of will require a practiced hand and campaign, the two topics are
Mayor of Operations Julia Kerson. • And Staten Island remained pedestrian space installed since steadfast commitment to steering intricately intertwined, with the
“Vision Zero has shown that the roughly flat, from 12 fatalities in the implementation of the city’s the ship straight. Kamar inherits consequences of each showing up
choices we make—how we design 2024 to 13 in 2025. NYC Streets Plan. Protected bike a system that has been capably every day in our classrooms and
our streets and how we enforce • Every major travel mode lanes have been shown to reduce led by Chancellor Aviles-Ramos, in our homes. Looking forward
traffic laws—save lives. Last year experienced a decline in traffic deaths and serious injuries for all who admirably kept our schools to rolling up sleeves and work-
was the safest year on record, with deaths in 2025, including among road users by 18.1 percent. stable amid a city administration ing together to make sure our
the fewest traffic deaths since re- pedestrians, cyclists, and motor The agency also believes efforts rocked by instability and con- schools are on track to provide
cords began in 1910. But one life vehicle occupants to expand automated enforcement, troversy. For the sake of NYC’s the best education possible for all
lost is one too many. That’s why • Leading the decline was the alongside targeted police enforce- nearly one million public school- students in New York City Public
the Mamdani administration will sharp drop in deaths among driv- ment, have helped spur substantial children, it is imperative to move Schools.”
double down on street redesigns, ers and occupants of motor vehi- declines in fatalities of motor
protected bike lanes, and protected cles by 40 percent, and motorcycle vehicle occupants and motorized
bus lanes that make our streets users, by 32 percent. two-wheeled devices, particularly
safer and better for everyone.” • Pedestrian fatalities remain at over the past four years following
NYC DOT cited the following among the lowest levels ever and the COVID-19 pandemic. With
highlights: have also declined 9 percent, from this expanded enforcement, fatali-
• Through December 31, 2025, 122 pedestrian deaths in 2024 to ties involving the city’s most reck-
the overall number of traffic fatali- 111 in 2025. less drivers—including those who
ties is at 205, a 19 percent decline • In addition to fatalities, total are not properly licensed, involved
from the 253 fatalities recorded traffic injuries and serious traffic in hit-and-runs, or had three or
in 2024. injuries trended down in 2025. more prior convictions—dropped
• Outer boroughs experienced While injury data is still being considerably. Those initiatives
the sharpest declines in traf- processed for the full year, as of include:
fic deaths, with the Bronx and December 15, total injuries are Speed Cameras – Speed
Queens seeing the greatest safety down 7.7 percent, from 51,540 in cameras have been shown to
improvements: 2024, to 47,557 in 2025. Serious
• The Bronx experienced a 39 injuries are down 2.8 percent from (Continued on page 8)
Congressman Gregory Meeks Statement Following

Venezuela Briefing
and other officials on the Trump same logic Vladimir Putin uses
administration’s military action to justify domination over his
in Venezuela: neighbors.
“I heard nothing yesterday to “Nicolas Maduro is an il-
dispel my very serious concerns legitimate leader. But we are a
about the Trump administra- country of laws, and this presi-
tion’s attempted regime-change dent’s blatant disregard for both
and nation-building exercise in domestic and international law is
Venezuela, nor leads me to trust reckless and dangerous. Rather
that Trump and his administra- than addressing the Republican
tion are truly operating in the best health care crisis and lowering
interests of the American people. costs for the American people,
“Donald Trump used U.S. this administration is committing
military force to invade a sover- billions in taxpayer dollars to an
eign nation without authorization open-ended foreign conflict.
from Congress. He did so not to “Critical questions remain
address an imminent threat to on what happens next. Congress
Representative Gregory W. the United States, nor to advance is not a spectator in matters of
Meeks, Ranking Member of the a democratic transition in Ven- war. I will continue pressing for
House Foreign Affairs Commit- ezuela. Instead, the administra- public hearings, transparency and
tee, issued a statement following tion is embracing a dangerous meaningful oversight to reassert
yesterday’s briefing with Secre- worldview in which the United Congress’s constitutional role and
tary of State Marco Rubio, Sec- States can run roughshod over prevent further escalation and
retary of Defense Pete Hegseth, our hemisphere, mirroring the instability.”