Traffic & Transit
Family Holds Vigil For 19th NYC Cyclist To Die In 2019
Jose Alzorriz' friends and family gathered on Coney Island Avenue Wednesday night to mourn the Park Slope man and demand safer streets.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — New Yorkers gathered to mourn the 19th cyclist to die in a city street this year at the intersection where a teen driver ran a red light and triggered a crash that claimed Jose Alzorriz' life.
Alzorriz' friends and family rallied on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue L at 6 p.m. Wednesday night, just three days a 2019 Dodge Charger sped through the intersection and slammed into the SUV that fatally struck the 52-year-old Park Slope man.
This evening, we held a vigil to honor the memory of Jose Alzorriz and to call for safe streets & accountability. In her powerful remarks, Amanda Hanna-Mcleer, daughter of Jose’s partner, told us to ask for more than what we think is possible. Only then can we create change. pic.twitter.com/CR0F7hQhmV
— Andrew Gounardes (@agounardes) August 14, 2019
Video of the crash and news that the 18-year-old Dodge driver would not immediately face charges spurred outrage among the cycling community, which noted Alzorriz was the 19th cyclist to die in a crash in New York City this year.
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But his friends and neighbors remember Alzorriz as a dedicated triathlete, a skilled translator and a journalist who contributed to the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News.
Tonight a rainbow showed up as @bradlander made some remarks at a vigil regarding the loss of Jose Alzorriz. Jose marks the 19th cyclist #bikenyc killed in NYC this year. Thank u @agounardes for discussing legislation that is being worked on. Praying for the family . pic.twitter.com/XrtzldD9dJ
— Hercules E. Reid (@hercules_reid) August 15, 2019
Jose Alzorriz didnt deserve to die like this and we demand justice. I am confident that our elected officials will work together to solve this crisis. Thank you @agounardes @bradlander @BPEricAdams @JumaaneWilliams #VisionZero #bikenyc pic.twitter.com/qBib0yIwmd
— Cal DeJesus (@FLYINGCHOPSTIK) August 15, 2019
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and state Senator Andrew Gounardes — who is reportedly pursuing legislation to increase sentencing for recklessly dangerous drivers — both attended the vigil and ask for safer streets.
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Our streets should not be adorned with memorials and ghost bikes, but rather the lives of people like Jose Alzorriz who we’ve lost unnecessarily, far too soon. This city needs to do more to make our streets work for everyone, including Coney Island Avenue. Safety must come first. pic.twitter.com/VAS6TsnA74
— Eric Adams (@BPEricAdams) August 14, 2019
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