Espaillat Sees Merit in Vision Zero Exemption
State Senator Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights/Upper West Side) indicated his support of a bill sponsored in the State Assembly by Walter Mosley and in the Senate by Martin Malave Dilan that would exempt Bus Operators from being arrested for violation of the "right of way" in an intersection. The remarks came at a dinner honoring Latin American achievement. TWU Local 100 has made passage of an amendment to the Vision Zero bill championed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio a priority after Bus Operator, acting with due care within intersections, were involved in serious accidents and faced summary arrest. Local 100 President John Samuelsen has called the law unfair for "criminalizing" Bus Operators who did nothing wrong and followed rules to the letter. The law does not address pedestrian behavior, traffic signals at dangerous intersections, and other warning devices which also have a necessary role in preventing accidents.