Safe Streets JC and Bike JC hosted a vigil this evening for Eli Bender, 6, a resident who was fatally struck by a UPS struck while bicycling with his father near the intersection of 6th Street and Jersey Avenue Friday afternoon.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
” … I’m grateful to see you all here today, I don’t have many words for this unspeakable tragedy. My fingers were shaking and my heart was beating wildly as I tried to write this, so please bear with me,” began Safe Streets JC President Talya Schwartz.
” … Today I feel we’ve failed Eli and his family. I wish I could stand here and promise it won’t ever happen again, but I can’t, I don’t feel that way. We have been here before, seeing all of you here does give me hope that we are together, perhaps we will become stronger.”
The driver in the incident that claimed Bender’s life remained at the scene and he was not been charged, as HCV first reported. The Jersey City Police Department is still investigating the incident.
“There are no words, no good words, no words, since hearing the unspeakable news from our friends, one phrase goes out of order: it’s out of order,” expressed Rabbi Leana Moritt, of Jersey City’s Temple Beth-El.
She also lead the crowd of dozens in people in prayer as they mourned the loss of their young neighbor in the midst of the rain, which didn’t seem to deter many people from attending.
Meghan Dolby Rossik, a friend of the Bender family, noted that “our hearts are broken, but our bonds are strong” as she recalled what a special child Eli was.
“As we try to process this loss, I think back to the last time that I saw Eli, with the kids laughing and playing at a barbecue in a backyard, a trip to Liberty Science Center with ridiculously large safety glasses that both kids wore to conduct a banana DNA experiment: And that’s while we’ll never forget your smile Eli,” she explained.
Lena Shamoun, who taught Eli at the Hamilton Park Montessori School, was joined by two of her colleagues, Evelyn Barbadales and Jing Perez, as she read a letter to her former student, reflecting on his love for cats and cinnamon sticks, his sense of humor, artistic skills, and much more.
” … We often discussed with each other how honored we were to have the opportunity to learn from you: We knew that you were bound for greatness. And that one day that the world would be touched by your talents and we’d get to say that we knew who you were when you a budding babe,” she said fondly.
Additionally, Bike JC Trustee Tom Kane and Safe Streets JC Trustee Jimmy Lee both said that now is the time to take action, ensuring that plans for Vision Zero improvements are seen through while traffic enforcement is amped up.
“The most important thing is not to accept this as a freak accident. Do not accept the status quo. Do not accept single-cause explanations. Do not accept victim blaming, do not ask or burden six years olds with what they should be doing better to make our streets safe and make them mistake proof,” Lee asserted.
” … We need to move the next stage of Vision Zero where we harden infrastructure with concrete planters, rain gardens, big rocks and prioritize both infrastructure and enforcement – not pitting them off against each other.”
