On Jan. 13, Dashane Santana was walking with friends after classes for the day at CASTLE Middle School. According to published reports, she dropped a bookbag, and went back to retrieve it. In the intersection at Clinton Street, a minivan struck and killed the 12 year old who lived in the Jacob Riis II Houses.
Now her grandmother, Teresa Pedroza, is hoping to have the north side of Delancey at Clinton co-named for Deshane — both as a way to recognize the girl and promote safety along the notoriously dangerous street.
Last week, Pedroza made her case in front of CB3's transportation committee. As DNAinfo reported, some committee members felt as if too many streets were being co-named. (One committee member suggested naming the incoming pedestrian plaza along the south side of Delancey Street between Norfolk and Clinton after Dashane instead of the intersection.)
Per BoweryBoogie: "What seemed like a no-brainer move met some opposition and red tape, as certain guidelines are not met. Such co-namings require the remembered to have served the community in some capacity for at least 15 years. Obviously, Dashane Santana is an exception (an unforeseen event) to these rules."
The committee tabled the issue, in part, because Pedroza didn't have enough signatures from residents in the immediate area.
On Tuesday night, Shawn Chittle spotted Pedroza (pictured above) collecting signatures on Delancey. There's also an online petition that people can sign here.
