Walking out of the Bowery train station, on the corner of Delancey street and Bowery, I noticed a white bicycle that has been adorned with flowers. Naturally I assumed a cyclist lost their life nearby, that cyclist was Rasha Shamoon.

Rasha Shamoon was hit by an SVU on her way home to Greenpoint, in an attempt to cross the Williamsburg Bridge. She routinely road her bike and the attention to detail to being a safe cyclist was evident due to the visible reflective tape featured on her helmet. The accident caused her to go brain dead and she later died a few days later, on August 11, 2011, after being taken off life support. She was 31 years old. Rasha was not only a causious cyclist, but she was also a biology professor at LaGuardia Community College, in Long Island City. After understanding the bicycle memorial I had seen many times passing by the area, it now serves new meaning to me.

http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/02/14/driver-cleared-by-nypd-found-negligent-in-death-of-cyclist-rasha-shamoon/

This photo is of a young man named Matthew Wallace who was killed on September 29, 2013 by a metro north train. He was out drinking with a few friends until a later that night he was found on the tracks, dead. I found this photo on a bridge that goes from Yonkers to the Bronx right by a Metro north station. I’ve seen many of my friends traveling home intoxicated after a night of drinking and can attest to the fact that it is not something you want to do. It makes me feel as if that could have been anyone. I feel for the family and would hate to see anybody go through stress his family went through.

http://pix11.com/2014/01/07/parents-of-teen-killed-by-metro-north-train-demand-details-on-death/

In Woodhaven, Queens On the corner of 88 Avenue and 87^th Street there a street sign that says “Jimmy Young Place.” I personally used see this sign every single time my father took me to the park as a little girl. Many times I asked myself about this unfamiliar name, not realizing this this man was being honored in my very neighborhood.

James Young also known as Jimmy was a fire fighter that had lost his life serving the needs of other as a New York City fire fighter. Jimmy Young died on March 28, 1994, he entered a burning building in Manhattan where the danger of his job cost him his life instantly. He is honored in Woodhaven because that was his home. On the corner of 88 avenue and 87^th Street also remains the church he was baptized in. My only wish was to have known sooner what the meaning of this street served, it was lovely to have become familiar with it.

http://www.projectwoodhaven.com/2010/March/remembering-

jimmy-young.html

While walking around Williamsburg, Brooklyn on a rainy day I stumbled upon this bright red truck, on the corner of 14 street and Wythe Avenue. This not only caught my attention because of the color that took place in the middle of nowhere, but the candles and flowers that surrounded it. Instantly I needed to find out who this honored.

Ray Abeyta was a well-known beloved neighbor that lived in Brooklyn for many years. He was an artist that spent much of his time painting in a motorcycle shop, Works Engineering, which was just around the corner from where I found the truck. He was a legend; those in Brooklyn called him “The King of Brooklyn.” He was remembered to be a happy man that encouraged his spirits on others. He was known for opening some of Williamsburg’s well known spots, such as, Union Pool and Hotel Delmano, with the help of his wife at the time.

Ray Abeyta passed away in a motorcycle accident impacting a truck in Brooklyn on Sunday, November 30, 2014, at the age of 58. His life was celebrated with a parade that took place around Williamsburg. He was loved by many and his antic truck has been left arranged with flowers and candles in memory of him. This memorial left me speechless; it was a wonderful site to see. Though I did not know Ray Abeyta personally; I would have wanted to meet a great man, because of the happiness he felt in his life and left on many others.

http://bedfordandbowery.com/2014/12/farewell-to-ray-abeyta-williamsburg-royalty/

http://gothamist.com/2014/12/05/williamsburg_ray_abeyta.php#photo-1

In Brooklyn on Broadway and DeKalb Avenue I found an abandoned lot, my curiosity drove me to stick my head into this square cut out carving that was on the boarding that blocked off the lot to deny access to pedestrians. I was shocked to see that the back was of the building said “don’t tread o anyone RIP Eric Garner.” With the existing protest that has taken place in not only New York, but around the country this caused me to be to feel the unity that is shared amongst strangers in a common view. And we honor Eric Garner.

On July 17, 2014 Eric Garner was arrested for allegedly selling illegal cigarettes while being arrested he was placed into a chokehold by an officer. As he pleaded “I can’t breathe!” the officer did not loosen his grip. The chokehold performed by the officer is actually also not considered a method of restraint by the NYPD, causing the unfortunate even to not only have been unnecessary but prevented. Eric Garner died at the age of 43, leaving being a wife and six children. I do believe justice is vital, and as many continue in their visible protest some also quietly sort their thoughts out to the public.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/20/justice/ny-chokehold-death/