Page 14 - The Indiane EYE 070723

COMMUNITY OP-ED JULY 07, 2023 | The Indian Eye 14

Risky Business Kills.

We Can Stop It

quences of which can be deadly and
life-altering.
The NYPD is doing all it can to
reverse this dangerous trend. Our
precinct Youth Coordination Offi-
cers and Neighborhood Coordina-
tion officers have focused on visit-
ing the homes of young people who
have been known to engage in sub-
way surfing. As of last month, they
carried out 69 such visits, speaking
with the kids or their parents and
guardians in 44 of those instances.
Their message is clear: To reinforce
the fact that such reckless behavior
ERIC ADAMS can have devastating consequences
– and inspire copycat behavior that
ast week, our city witnessed puts other young people at risk.
two tragedies that could have
We are also warning of the
Lbeen prevented: A deadly The consequences of social media and other addictive online content are tragic and real, and dangers of subway surfing through
fire at an e-bike shop and a subway public service announcements. Last
surfing attempt that resulted in the those who host and financially profit from that content must be held responsible (File photo)
death of a 14-year-old boy and seri- month I joined Norma Nazario, a
mother who lost her young son
ous injury for another young person. teries. Use only the charger and a restaurant. Zackery in a subway surfing incident,
Our hearts go out to the families battery made specifically for your Lithium-ion battery fires can
of those who were lost or injured in device. Keep batteries away from start quickly and spread instantly. to record a PSA on this dangerous
trend. Zackery was already a talent-
these tragedies. This pain is real, be- heat sources like radiators and exit The FDNY needs every New Yorker ed athlete and music fan, and he was
cause each of us know – that could paths and doorways. If a battery is to be on the lookout for dangerous
have been me. That could have been damaged, stop using it. Do not store conditions and to report them. looking to join the Marines. But as
a result of a viral social media trend,
my child. We must turn that pain batteries near the exit of a room or he lost his life riding on top of a sub-
into purpose and do all we can to apartment. And never, never leave The same principle applies way. We want to keep other young
keep our city safe – and that means batteries unattended when charging, New Yorkers from taking these risks.
taking action to reduce the risks of especially overnight. to the deadly fad of subway The consequences of social me-
these accidents. And if you observe unsafe or surfing. This is not a game or dia and other addictive online con-
Last week, we announced a dangerous conditions at an E-bike
massive new education and enforce- shop, your building, or elsewhere in a sport – subway surfing kills. tent are tragic and real, and those
who host and financially profit from
ment campaign that will reach out to the community, call 311 and report it. From 2021 to 2022, there was that content must be held responsi-
E-bike shops and riders all over the The FDNY is ramping up re- ble. I am calling on TikTok and other
city. While most of the micro-mobil- sponse time and increasing enforce- a 366% increase in people rid-
ity devices in our city are safe, there ment. Effective immediately, all 311 ing outside the subway, and we platforms to ban these videos imme-
diately, and I urge parents to discuss
are some that do not meet safety calls regarding questionable activity the dangers of subway surfing with
standards and contain uncertified at bike repair shops or any other must push back in every way
lithium-ion batteries. These faulty location where batteries are being possible, especially when it their children, even if you think they
would never engage in such behavior.
devices are causing fires and explo- charged will get a response from the Living in a city means looking
sions, putting New Yorkers and our local fire company within 12 hours, comes to social media.
first responders in danger. instead of the 72 hours currently re- out for each other and our children
and taking steps to keep each other
We need New Yorkers to be quired. Our young people are spend-
aware of how to safely charge the Examples of questionable ac- ing far too many hours each day on safe. Public safety involves every one
of us. The FDNY and the NYPD
lithium-ion batteries that power tivity include: large numbers of bat- social media and other related plat- are doing everything we can to re-
these vehicles, and what to do if they teries being charged close together, forms, and they are being exposed to verse these dangerous trends, and I
observe unsafe conditions in their mazes of extension cords, the sale dangerous content that encourages urge all New Yorkers to do their part
building or on their block. of batteries that appear to be re- illegal activity, crime, and risky be- to reduce risky behavior that too of-
First and foremost, purchase furbished, and informal charging havior. This kind of content includes
only legal, nationally recognized centers that do not appear to be viral videos that make young people ten leads to tragedy.
safety certified e-bikes and e-scoot- properly licensed businesses – in- try dangerous things like subway Eric Adams is
ers. Never use refurbished bat- cluding garages or the basement of surfing and stealing cars – the conse- the Mayor of New York City, NY

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