Some parents in Howard Beach are worried about getting their children to and from school in one piece.
Parents of children who attend P.S. 232 said the intersection between 153rd Avenue and 83rd Street — between the school and the Waldbaum’s across the street — is so “extremely dangerous” that they worry for their children’s safety as well as their own.
“The cars don’t stop. They just keep going. They don’t care if the kids are crossing,” said parent Cynthia Loureiro. “I don’t even cross on this corner. I go out of my way to the other corner. That’s how dangerous it is.”
There is no stop sign or traffic light at the intersection, but the NYPD posts a crossing guard there during the morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal.
“You have to fear for her life,” Loureiro said of the crossing guard. “That’s how bad the cars are.”
Parents also expressed frustration at the double — and sometimes even triple — parked cars on 83rd Street in front of the school. But even more frustrating and terrifying, according to parent Laura Vontoussaint, is what some parents do to avoid parking at all.
“The parents drop the kids off in the middle of the street. It just happened this morning [on Tuesday, September 20]. A lady opened up her doors at the yellow line and tried to let her child out in the middle of the intersection,” Vontoussaint said.
Despite rumors, the NYPD said they will not shut down 83rd Street during afternoon dismissals at 2:15 p.m.
“It has never been an accident-prone location,” said Kenneth Zorn, Community Affairs Officer for the 106th Precinct. “The numbers of accidents don’t match up to the complaints.”
Principal Lisa Josephson was unavailable for comment.
“You need a stop light. That’s the best thing for the safety of everyone– the kids, the parents and the crossing guard,” Vontoussaint said.
