About 70 people, including area legislators, union officials, and bus company employees attended the rally in support of “Angelie’s Law,” a measure seeking to mandate more oversight of the jitney and commuter bus trade, on Friday, Nov. 15 at 56th Street and Boulevard East in West New York, site of the tragic death of an 8-month-old in July.
Angelie’s Law is the legislation spurred by the July 30 incident in which a commuter bus driver knocked over a pole, sending it onto and killing the infant, Angelie Paredes, in her stroller. The vehicle’s operator was allegedly texting at the time of the incident.
The event was sponsored by the Amalgamated Transit Union New Jersey State Joint Council.
Attending were Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, D-32, of Secaucus, a sponsor of the legislation, Mayor Felix Roque of West New York, and Amalgamated Transit Union State Business Agent Ray Greaves, also a Bayonne councilman.
“We’re here with a heavy heart at Donnelly Park,” said Greaves. “We must make sure this never happens again.”
“We need to ensure the safety of the residents,” said Mayor Roque. “This was a human tragedy, which we have to avoid at all costs.”
“This is an ongoing issue, which we have to get our arms around,” said Prieto. “I guarantee we’ll get regulations in place, to make everybody safe.” –Joseph Passantino
Rally held in support of ‘Angelie’s Law’
