78th AVENUE AT QUEENS BOULEVARD TO BE RENAMED SHARON MICHELE RIVERS & CAPRICE ANTOINETTE BUSH WAY

New York, NY July 5, 2007 - On Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at 1:00pm, New York City and State politicians, council members and other government officials, community activists, family and friends will gather together on Queens Boulevard and 78th Avenue to commemorate the loss and lives of Caprice Antoinette Bush and Sharon Michele Rivers, who were killed four years ago in a horrific accident, on July 10th, 2003.

After a long process, and many years of fighting for change, Sharon Bush (Caprice's mother) received notice that a bill introduced by Council Member Melinda Katz, had been approved in November of 2006, to co-name 78th Avenue between Queens Boulevard and Kew Forest Lane, Sharon Michele Rivers & Caprice Antoinette Bush Way.

Caprice and Sharon, two very promising young ladies, were close friends and employees of JP Morgan Chase Bank returning from their lunch break when their lives were suddenly brought to a tragic end. Valeri Frumkin, the driver of a Subaru Forrester was traveling south on 78th Avenue when he ran a red light, after passing out behind the wheel. As a 2003 BMW sports utility vehicle traveled west on Queens Boulevard, the two cars collided, sending the sports utility vehicle airborne and flying ten feet onto the median, landing on top of the two women
while they stood on the median. Caprice Antoinette Bush, 23 years old of South Jamaica, died instantly and Sharon Michele Rivers, 34 of the South Bronx, suffered critical injuries and died the following day at Jamaica Hospital.

Since the death of her daughter in 2003, Sharon Bush has been an activist and politically involved in making sure that no one else continues to become a victim of the "Boulevard of Death." The mother of four says, "No one should have to lose a child this way but this is not just about my child. This is about everyone because whether you realize it or not, we are all affected when something like this occurs. There is no ADA-compliant ramp located on that same median and if a person in a wheelchair was to come across, that person would have to go around the median to cross a 12-lane street! Also, in court and according to the law, if you plan to do something, it is considered premeditated. Queens Boulevard was planned and New York City has admitted to planning and engineering this Boulevard wrong. So, in my mind, this is premeditated murder. They planned this road, they continue to let people to use it and die. Is that not premeditated murder?"

Sharon Bush is currently fighting for Queens Boulevard to be classified as a thruway because she says "…no where in the state and city of New York is there a 12-lane pedestrian crossing." In a heartfelt letter written to the office of Charles Schumer she writes, "This Boulevard has several veins of traffic feeding into it. This traffic makes its way through to the 59th Street Bridge. This makes it a THRUWAY. With 12 lanes for pedestrians to cross to compete against all of the directional traffic, there are good numbers to support that the pedestrian doesn't always win. Statistically, no one knows the real number of deaths this Boulevard has claimed. Personally I can tell you, it can happen in the most unexpected way."

Sharon Bush has written many letters and continues to meet with many politicians, council members, and government officials in her relentless fight to save lives. Sharon Bush has written a letter, among many, to the Office of the New York City Comptroller – William Thompson, Jr. specifically requesting the projected costs that each government office would incur to reengineer Queens Boulevard for pedestrian safety. Other elected officials Sharon Bush has contacted in order to ensure that this "Killer Highway" no longer claims the lives of innocent bystanders, include:
State Senator Eric Adams, Senator Malcolm Smith, Council Member Bill De'Blasio, Council Member John Liu, Council Member Eric Gioia, Speaker Council Member Christine Quinn, Council Member Melinda Katz, State Assembly Member Nick Perry, State Assembly Member William Scarborough, Senator Charles Schumer, Congressman Gregory Meeks, and Councilman Leroy Comrie.
Sharon Bush refuses to allow her daughter's death to be in vain. "My daughter's life will not be in vain and will not be considered collateral damage, as New York City has considered every other death."

Caprice Antoinette Bush (August 1, 1979 – July 10, 2003) was born and raised in Jamaica, Queens, and had an intense love for her family, friends, life and the Lord. She donated as much as she could to such charities as The Lighthouse and St. Jude Children's Foundation. Caprice was very pro-active in her community and knew that one of her greatest weapons in the fight for change was her right to vote. She participated in voter registration drives with ACORN Housing. Her keen eye for style led her to the High School of Fashion Industries where she honed her skills as a fashion designer. The future fashion mogul designed her own dresses and hoped to someday launch a self-titled couture line. A poet's poet, Caprice Antoinette is one of the strongest unheard voices of her time. A dream deferred but not broken, her collection of poetry, This Angel Has Wings, will be published in the near future.

Sharon Michele Rivers (April 19, 1969 – July 11, 2003) was a young woman who epitomized the words New Yorker. Born in the Bronx, she was a product of the New York City School System graduating from one of its specialized schools, The High School of Fashion Industries. She held different positions in her short life, from Alexander's Department Store to an Assistant Property Manager for Phipps Houses Association. Sharon's last place of employment was at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. Sharon also enjoyed museums, on and off Broadway plays and neighborhood street festivals and fairs.
All public and media are invited to attend the dedication of Sharon Michele Rivers & Caprice Antoinette Bush Way on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at 1:00pm on the south side of Queens Boulevard at 78th Avenue in Kew Gardens.

If traveling by subway, take the E or F train to Union Turnpike. If traveling by bus, take the Q60 to 78th Avenue and Queens Boulevard.

For more information on how you can join the fight to make a difference and save lives on Queens Boulevard, please visit www.myspace.com/JodiCapriceandSharon or email ChangeQueensBlvd@yahoo.com

You can also contact the Forest Hills Action League at P.O. Box 750653, Forest Hills, New York 11375.

Together, we can make a difference.