(RightIsRight.co) – New York City’s latest progressive and liberal move has raised eyebrows as Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council have effectively given the green light to chaos on the streets by decriminalizing jaywalking.
The controversial decision allows pedestrians to cross streets outside of crosswalks or against traffic lights, effectively legalizing a dangerous practice that has been banned since 1958.
This reckless move comes despite the fact that approximately 200 people have been killed while jaywalking in NYC over the past five years.
Moreover, the City Council passed the legislation, and it became law after Mayor Eric Adams failed to take action, neither signing nor vetoing it within 30 days.
Supporters of the new law claim it addresses racial disparities in enforcement, citing that over 90% of jaywalking tickets in NYC were issued to Black and Latino individuals.
However, this statistic raises questions about the real underlying issues in these communities that lead to such behavior rather than justifying its legalization.
“It’s part of a broader decriminalization of everything,” Republican Minority Leader of the NY City Council Joseph Borelli said.
GOP Councilwomen Vickie Paladino and Joann Ariola have also expressed valid concerns that this change will only increase pedestrian danger and chaos on New York City’s already congested streets.
The law’s proponents, including Democrat Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, argued that jaywalking laws are not keeping people safer and are discriminatorily enforced.
Nevertheless, this reasoning ignores the fundamental purpose of traffic laws, which is to maintain order and protect all road users, including pedestrians themselves.
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, who sponsored the law, claims it will allow police to focus on more important issues.
At the same time, the Legal Aid Society’s support for the law, claiming it ends the use of jaywalking as a pretext for police stops, especially against people of color, reveals the true agenda behind this move.
While the NYPD claims they will continue efforts to improve traffic safety and prevent collisions, the decriminalization of jaywalking undoubtedly makes their job more difficult.
This law sends a dangerous message that personal convenience trumps collective safety and respect for traffic regulations.
As this misguided law goes into effect in roughly 120 days, New Yorkers should brace themselves for increased chaos on their streets.
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