Tonight: Community Traffic Safety Meeting

Concerned community members will gather tonight at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope to discuss traffic safety:

In the wake of the deaths of local children, Sammy Eckstein and Lucien Merryweather, we must come together to make our streets safer. We will discuss what actions the city is already taking, and then brainstorm our own list of safety measures that we think are necessary. We will begin strategizing around initiatives that we can start ourselves, and ways to put pressure on city leaders. Hosted by community members Daniel Hurewitz and Adam White.

For more information, contact saferstreetsNYC@gmail.com.

Leslie Albrecht at DNAInfo has more on tonight’s meeting:

“My hope is that…we’ll gather our energy in a way that will create pressure to really make these changes happen and really see results,” Hurewitz said.

Hurewitz said he doesn’t consider himself a traffic activist, but felt compelled to take action after the death of Cohen Eckstein, who was hit by a van at Prospect Park West and Third Street.

The father of two, who lives around the corner from where Cohen Eckstein was killed, said he was disappointed by the seemingly lukewarm response from city officials after Sammy’s mother pleaded for lower speed limits.

Hurewitz is hoping the Thursday meeting will mobilize more people to pressure lawmakers for changes.

“I want this to be a chance to brainstorm ideas so we can turn to our officials and articulate to them, ‘Hey here’s what we want,'” Hurewitz said. “I didn’t know Sammy, but I feel like he was one of our kids. I just feel like his story could be any of our stories.”

And here are two other dates you should put on your calendar if you’d like to get involved:

• Tuesday, November 26th, 7:30 PM, 78th Precinct Community Council meeting.
• Tuesday, December 3rd, 6:30 PM, Park Slope Street Safety Partnership’s Neighborhood Forum on Street Safety, Park Slope United Methodist Church.