Employees at J.P. Morgan Chase, where Caprice Bush and Sharon Rivers worked, described the two women as "amazing, beautiful, beautiful people."
According to co-workers, Rivers dressed in designer clothes and wore her hair in a stylish, colorful coiffure. Once you met her, they said, you would never forget her.
Bush was likewise admired for her sophistication and generosity traits, not only her co-workers, but her grandmother as well, will vouch for. "Success was inevitably hers," Caprices grandmother, Reverend Shirley Bush, said lovingly.
These young, vibrant women died on Queens Boulevard and 78th Avenue on July 10. The two were the latest victims of the infamous boulevard, bringing the total to 83 deaths in the past 10 years, not including the innumerable injuries.
They were memorialized in a vigil attended by nearly 300 people, including the victims family members, community activists, politicians and residents, on July 31, three weeks to the day the tragedy occurred. Half a memorial service, half a rally to urge politicians to improve safety on the boulevard, the ceremony involved prayers, songs and rousing speeches by Bushs mother, Sharon, Councilman John Liu, Assemblyman Michael Cohen and many others.
During the ceremony, Sharon Bush, dressed in a simple white suit with flourishes of purple her daughters favorite color riveted the crowd with her words.
"The Grand Central Parkway, do we cross that?" asked Bush, choking back tears. "There is only six lanes on it. This [Queens Boulevard] is twelve lanes, this is not a boulevard."
Ms. Bush held politicians accountable for the state of the boulevard and demanded they improve it. "I will donate my time to constantly being in your face at every meeting," said Bush. "Nobodys elses life should be taken by your negligence." She vowed to not let this issue die and called on voters to show their anger on election day at the politicians not in attendance at the ceremony.
"This is the Rubicon for all of us," exclaimed Estelle Chwat invigoratingly. She, along with her husband Norbert, chair the Forest Hills Action League and organized the vigil. "I want you to remember the politicians that did not show their faces today."
A plethora of politicians were in attendance at the vigil, including Assemblyman Cohen, State Senator Toby Stavisky, State Senator Ada Smith, Councilman Liu, Councilwoman Melinda Katz, Councilman Joe Addabbo, Councilman Leroy Comrie and, for a brief photo appearance, Congressman Anthony Wiener. Those not attending but invited were State Senator Malcolm Smith, Councilman David Weprin, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton. Most representatives who spoke at the service stated their commitment to improving Queens Boulevard and offered a few concrete solutions to the problem.
"The problem is twofold," said Cohen, who gave the most comprehensive steps for improvement on the boulevard. "Its a question of policy but also a question of willful negligence on the part of motorists."
The assemblyman re-stated the citys need for more red light cameras which photograph cars that run red lights and automatically issue the owner a ticket. According to studies done in California, the number of accidents on roads with the red light cameras decreased by 46%. Currently there are 50 red light cameras in New York. A bill has passed the State Senate to authorize 100 more, but the Assembly version, Bill 4806, sponsored by Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette, has stalled due to the "big brother" concerns of the Assemblys transportation committee chairperson, David Gantt. However, the bill, with provisions to protect motorists civil rights, is expected to pass in the next session, slated for September.
Cohen also said he has introduced Bill 772 to authorize speeding car cameras. Senator Stavisky introduced its counterpart, Bill 2126, in the Senate. Like the red light cameras, these would take pictures of speeding cars and issue tickets to the owners. However, the assemblyman said that both have stalled in legislation, again for "big brother" concerns, but he hopes to gain the support of New York City to get the bills passed in the January session.
"These are the only solutions in the short term," said Stavisky about the two camera bills in legislation. Stavisky related her own anxieties about crossing the boulevard, saying she almost took Councilman Lius hand. The senator said that more pedestrian fencing would also be helpful, but, she added, a long-term solution must address whether the road will be a highway or pedestrian-friendly road.
Councilman Liu, who chairs the Councils transportation committee, said he has had many discussions with Department of Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall about the boulevard. "Ms. Bush had it right when she said their deaths can not go in vain," said Liu.
The councilman stated that dangerous thoroughfares were an epidemic in all the boroughs and cited the Grand Concourse in the Bronx and Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn as examples. The debate over these roadways, Liu said, boiled down to whether they should be highways or residential roads. The councilman pledged to identify what the citys dangerous thoroughfares should become.
Cohen also stated the need for legislation that would keep risky drivers off the road. One State bill would eliminate the current eight-year automatic license renewal for senior citizens. Under current law, licenses last for eight years and motorists do not have to take eye tests during that time. The assemblyman is thinking of introducing a bill that would cut the automatic renewal period from eight years to four years for motorists 71 years or older. According to the assemblyman, 10 to 12 other states have these laws. Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan has a similar bill in legislation, but it would mandate that motorists 71 years or older take another road test which has made the bill unpopular. Costs for more testing of senior citizens also make these kinds of bills difficult to move.
Cohen has also thought of introducing a bill to bolster the Vehicle of Traffic law. This little-known law gives the commission of motor vehicles the right to revoke the license of a motorist with a medical condition that makes the person a risk on the road. Currently, anybody though generally its family members, police or medical professionals can inform the commission of their reservations about a motorist. The commission then has a medical review board consider whether to revoke the motorists license. Cohen may introduce a bill that clearly makes a list of medical conditions that should disqualify a driver or, at least, give pause. The bill would also compel a doctor to report a patients medical conditions that are risky for driving. Cohen, who states hes no traffic or medical expert, said he might consider a bill that would authorize the commission to come up with a better-utilized system.
Taking precautions against drivers with medical conditions rings true in this tragedy. The young women were killed during their lunch break while standing on a pedestrian median at Queens Boulevard and 78th Avenue when an SUV, hit by a Subaru car that ran a red light, tumbled four lanes and landed on them. The Subaru was driven by 63-year-old Valery Frumkin. Days after the accident, Frumkins wife told the papers that he suffered a neurological condition.
"She[Caprice Bush] stood where you told her to stand," said Sharon Bush directing her ire toward the authorities who set up the existing safety precautions. "She did everything you said."
The mother told the crowd that August 1 was her daughters 24th birthday. She requested that the crowd wear purple, in remembrance.
"When I go to the cemetery next year, I want to tell my child at least theres been change your life did mean something," said Ms. Bush tearfully.
