Another Pedestrian Seriously Injured in Greenburgh Hit & Run

The topic du jour in the Town of Greenburgh lately seems to be about pedestrians being struck by cars throughout the Town. Sure, there are other hot topics, but another pedestrian was struck near the Hartsdale four corners area last weekend. This elderly gentleman sustained serious injuries with what we were told included a possible fractured skull. Using video evidence, police saw the victim walk on Central Avenue and turn onto East Hartsdale Avenue, where he walked past the crosswalk and was hit in the middle of the left turning lane, police said. The car didn't stop, according to police. Greenburgh police located the car, a 2018 Honda CRV that was driven by an 87-year-old Hartsdale man. No charges have been filed.

This is significant not only because someone was struck and seriously injured by a car, but that it was another hit and run accident as well. While it's a bad thing that has happened, it seems that more and more of the accidents are hit and runs, with drivers not staying at the scene. We also seem to have lost common sense when it comes to either walking in or crossing the streets. In fact, on Saturday afternoon two staffers mentioned that they were waiting at a traffic light in Hartsdale when a young millennial couple walked from between two cars to cross the street roughly 20 feet from the raised crosswalk. The guy was looking at his girlfriend and she was texting on her cell phone. Both were oblivious to their surroundings. Situational awareness: missing. Accident waiting to happen: probable.

In the Saturday local daily paper, there was a headline for an article stating that "Greenburgh Strives to Improve Pedestrian Safety After Series of Serious Accidents." Interesting perspective describing that the Town residents and officials are exasperated and grasping for solutions. And yet, at every turn, the same points are highlighted with the same non-solution solutions. Truth be told, part of the blame falls squarely in Mr Feiner and his Town Board's lap. After all, they have been allowing all kinds of construction and development to happen throughout the Town for both residential and business structures, inherently increasing traffic without redeveloping the infrastructure to handle the increased traffic, flooding, water usage and power needs. The excuse given at every project's hearings is that the traffic study doesn't prove that changes are necessary, only that it'll be a minimal increase in traffic, etc. Flooding is reduced to catch-basin usage. No one ever discusses what happens when they're full.

The Fulton Park Civic Association has been requesting sidewalks on Old Kensico Road, commonly referred to as Old Kensico Speedway, but Mr Feiner chose to place the burden of the request onto one resident and seek to have him seemingly offend his neighbors. While that backfired for Mr Feiner, Fulton Park is still without a sidewalk and two people were seriously injured when they were recently struck by cars on it. At least one was a hit and run with the young man driving leaving the scene only to be arrested by police about two weeks later. The same community had complained to the police department for not enforcing the speed limits on Old Kensico Speedway. This is a heavily walked roadway with minimal lighting. They were told unofficially by several officers that the police department were no longer doing traffic enforcement in various neighborhoods. 

A traffic enforcement expert we spoke to explained that during his police department career, speed always played a factor in accidents involving pedestrians. Given the speed we see many drivers operating their vehicles, including distracted drivers, van, truck and tractor trailer drivers with limited visibility, it's almost surprising we don't have even more accidents. But some of this is not the fault of the drivers as pedestrians dart out from between cars, don't cross at the crosswalk or traffic lights and others simply ignore it all and just arrogantly walk into traffic expecting the vehicles to just stop for them since "pedestrians have the right of way." It's a recipe for disaster.

So who is responsible for everyone's safety? Frankly, everyone. Some say it's the police department, fire department and EMS organizations. We respectfully disagree. First and foremost, it is up to everyone but this time it's the Town administrations responsibility. Had they been governing in a responsible manner for all these years, many of the roadways might have been adjusted and configured to better handle traffic. We've watched Mr Feiner urinate away funds to appease the Hartsdale community into believing he is sincerely looking out for their well-being. In the meantime, unless there is a grant or efforts by others to acquire sidewalks, not much is originating from Town Hall. We have a triple A bond rating and rates are currently as low as ever. NOW is the time to start taking advantage of that bond rating!

Next, we believe it is the Police Department responsibility. Under Chief McNerney's short tenure, he wasn't allowed to hire police officers as Mr Feiner played Russian Roulette with the Edgemont Incorporation, stating he might not be able to afford those officers should the incorporation go through and the tax revenue needed to pay for them suddenly disappear. As an appointee to the Police Chiefs position, he's beholden to Mr Feiner for his job. While we understand and disagree with this approach, you cannot operate based on "what ifs". The first thing is to hire the cops you need and the second thing is start enforcing the laws. Those include speeding, commercial traffic going through residential neighborhoods and jaywalking to mention a few. We don't believe this falls on the fire or EMS agencies as their role is reactive by the nature of what they do. But I'm sure they would all be willing to participate if asked.

One thing Mr Feiner stated is correct when he said, "I think education is probably the most important thing." In general, yes. The easy part is getting to the kids in school as they are in a captive environment and this information can be distributed and hopefully shared at home with family members. It's those not in school that will be the toughest to reach. Plus, since Greenburgh is a sanctuary Town, many of those in the shadows are not easily reachable and yet are part of the crowd they need to reach as many regularly walk to and from their destinations.

By our count, we're up to 10 pedestrians struck by automobiles within the Town. We can keep pointing fingers but the fact is there has been an increased traffic buildup for years without much done to alleviate it except for politicians to urge using buses, bikes and walking. Therein is the rub. The same stale (lack of) ideas and finger-pointing continues to take place. Since the minimal public reelected Mr Feiner and he helped get us into this dangerous situation, we're guessing that many find these odds acceptable. We don't. It needs to change. Once it does, we'll see A Better Greenburgh.