OpEd Calls on NYC Council to Pass Universal Daylighting Intro Bill 1138

A Reader’s Plea After a Preventable Loss

A recent OpEd submitted by a Brooklyn local and published on NYC Newswire describes their memory of walking to school for the first time—an experience, the writer notes, that 7-year-old Kamari Hughes will never have.

Kamari was tragically killed by an NYPD tow truck operator on October 26, 2023, while heading to school. The author calls this a “preventable tragedy” and contends that New York City already has the resources to prevent these types of crashes but has yet to fully implement them.

Echoing the voices of safe streets supporters, the writer urges City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to bring Intro 1138, a vital traffic safety bill, to a vote prior to the end of her term—without allowing the legislation to be weakened.

Understanding “Daylighting” and Its Importance

The OpEd focuses on “Daylighting”, a method of improving intersection safety by removing parked cars from street corners.

Simply put, daylighting involves:

• No parking or standing vehicles directly beside the crosswalk.
• Leaving the corner clear, or adding safety features (such as planters, racks, or posts).
• This cleared space helps both drivers and pedestrians see each other more easily at intersections.

Supporters say that losing just one parking spot per intersection can greatly increase visibility and lower accident rates—whether you’re escorting your child to school, cycling, or simply driving through.

The OpEd provides examples from other cities:

• San Francisco saw a decrease in collisions after daylighting measures went in place at crossings.
• In Hoboken, the city experienced a 30% drop in pedestrian injuries and credits daylighting as a key to maintaining zero traffic fatalities for over eight years.

The piece argues New York City should adopt these policies citywide, instead of limiting them to pilot zones or waiting until after tragedies.

Explaining Intro 1138 in Simple Terms

Intro 1138 is a proposed law in the City Council to mandate daylighting throughout all five boroughs.

Key provisions include:

• No parking or standing within 20 feet of crosswalks
  Drivers cannot leave vehicles at the very edge of the intersection. This 20-foot clearance would help ensure visibility for everyone crossing.
• Comprehensive public outreach
  The City would carry out education campaigns so drivers, pedestrians, and business owners are aware of the rules and their significance.
• A commitment to daylight at least 1,000 intersections annually
  The bill amends city code calling for the Department of Transportation to physically install daylighting structures (like posts or planters) at no fewer than 1,000 crossings each year—shifting from one-off projects to an ongoing citywide effort.

If adopted, most provisions would begin 180 days after the law is signed, though some aspects take effect immediately or slightly later.

Support for the Bill

Intro 1138, with its formal title:

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, enjoys broad support from City Hall officials.

The list of sponsors includes Council Members Julie Won, Erik Bottcher, Tiffany Cabán, Selvena Brooks-Powers, Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler, Shekar Krishnan, Christopher Marte, Shahana Hanif, Carmen De La Rosa Abreu, Sandy Nurse, Rita Joseph, Keith Powers, Alexa Avilés, Chi Ossé, Justin Brannan, Carmen De La Rosa, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Pierina Sanchez, Oswald Feliz, Julie Menin, Diana Ayala, Darlene Mealy, Amanda Farías, Gale Brewer, Lynn Schulman, Susan Zhuang Morano and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, along with the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens Borough Presidents.

Advocates Believe NYC Lags on Street Safety

The OpEd observes that Universal Daylighting is law throughout New York State, except New York City, due to a local exemption. This, advocates say, leads to safer streets in some areas, but leaves lower-income and communities of color at higher risk.

The reader criticizes the tendency to install safety upgrades only in response to fatalities or severe injuries, and only after lengthy advocacy—often facing opposition from those who prioritize parking over safety.

They insist it’s unacceptable to tell mourning families that action can only follow tragedy, when proven solutions already exist.

A Plea to Speaker Adams and the Council

The OpEd’s plea comes down to three points:

• Advance Intro 1138 for a Council vote.
• Ensure a veto-proof majority.
• Do not allow amendments that would sacrifice safety for parking availability.

To the author and fellow advocates, Universal Daylighting represents not just good planning, but a citywide promise to avoid more tragedies like Kamari’s. Keeping sidewalks clear at corners and implementing daylighting on a large scale, they argue, will help guarantee safer journeys for children and all New Yorkers.

Subscribe to NYCPolitics.com for more updates and political news on NYC.