To: Carlos Menchaca, The New York State House, The New York State Senate, and Governor Andrew Cuomo
Children's lives are at risk! Safe sidewalks now!
PS 172 is next to Speedway Gas Station (833 Fourth Avenue). Kids are at risk since the sidewalks aren’t marked. Trucks and cars are constantly driving and reversing on the sidewalks. We need the sidewalks to be marked and protected so our children can get to school without being hit by a car/truck.
Why is this important?
The Speedway Gas Station (833 fourth avenue between 30th and 31st) is right next to PS 172. The sidewalk is not marked. There is no border/boundary between the sidewalk and the station. As a result, cars are constantly driving and reversing on the sidewalks.
Although this issue has been going on for years, the danger has heightened because the other gas station in the neighborhood (Mobil) closed.
We have emailed Carlos Menchaca, DOT, the precinct, the community board 7, and other local officials. There is no plan and worse—and worse: there is no immediate stop gap, especially at the start of school and the end of school.
We asked for barricades, police officers, cones, or other temporary measures while we explore bollards, side walk paint and other permanent solutions. But we can’t even get a meeting with the DOT and local officials. We just get excuses.
This is urgent, and the lack of action is appalling. We ask that a temporary stop-gap be put in place immediately. In addition, we want a meeting with the DOT and other decision makers (with a definitive plan with deadlines/benchmarks) to happen.
We are frustrated because there have been several calls and emails but no action. We need less talk and more action. Kids lives are at risk!