Tonette Rivera testifies about being hit by an e-bike while pregnant

Hello, everyone.

My name is Tonette Rivera.

This is currently my first time in a council meeting.

I used to be an employee with the city.

I used to work for NYC 311 to be specific.

Moving forward, let's talk about my experience.

I was 20 weeks pregnant.

I was hit by a motorist off one of these bikes.

And what's crazy is the gentleman looked like these young men right here behind me.

So moving forward, I was hit while I was 20 weeks pregnant with my son.

I was admitted into the hospital, and I was forced to have my son at 28 weeks prematurely.

Okay?

They made me stay in the hospital for that time being due to that hit, that impact.

So what I'm saying is I'm a natural, like, born in New York all my life.

Almost 40 years old, I never not once got hit by a vehicle, by a car, okay?

I grew up around cars.

I grew up in cars.

I'm currently a driver.

Everyone is coming up here.

The only thing that I see is everyone pointing fingers at infrastructure, pointing fingers at the corporations and giving these people jobs.

But y'all didn't say what happened with the drivers.

They're the ones who are in charge of those devices.

I'm a driver.

If I get tickets, I have to pay.

If I get in trouble, I have to do defensive driving courses.

I have to go to court.

So, I mean, what's wrong with passing the Priscilla law?

What's wrong with making sure that they register those vehicles?

They get insurance.

So now when they do hit pedestrians, it can be covered.

At the same time, the young man that hit me, he didn't know no English.

He didn't have an answer for me.

And he just got up and he just got on his bike and went about his way.

But yet, I'm in the hospital and then my baby had to sit in the NICU for the next three more months before he could come home.

So moving forward, I think we should put the blame onto the drivers.

They need to be taught to be more responsible.

The speed limit needs to be dropped down.

Thank you.

And I'll say that immigrants get the job done.

Next.

Your time is up.

Stop it.

Your time is up.

Stop it.

I've been working hard all my life in this city.

You are out of order.

Please mute her mic.

I've been doing this done too.

And please escort her out.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Please escort her out.

Thank you.

You're out of order.

We both have a right to free speech.

Next.

Next.