Memorial Arrives on Delancey One Year After Dashane Santana’s Death
This image has been archived or removed.
[Photo: JB]Exactly one year ago, thirteen-year-old Dashane Santana lost her life while crossing the intersection at Clinton and Delancey. The tragedy ultimately proved a watershed moment that spurred the DOT and local politicians to finally address safety issues along the thoroughfare. Since her death, numerous yet necessary changes were implemented, including longer crossing times at most crosswalks, extended sidewalks, and traffic pattern updates (e.g. no left turn from southbound Delancey).
Sometime yesterday, loved ones placed a streetside memorial in the newly-renovated median. A lengthy poem is flanked by candles, flowers, and notes scrawled with Sharpies.
Meanwhile, co-naming of this part of Delancey for Dashane Santana was pitched by the family and later approved by Community Board 3. The signage has yet to arrive.
This image has been archived or removed.
[Photo: JB]Below is the text of the poem:
for dashane
that day was everything you weren’t
broken
tragic
filled with heartache
that day will stay with us forever
but we will not remember that day because
you were much greaterwe
cried through the nights
the weekend
wept with our homerooms
the 01’s, 02’s, 03’s
brok down when your folder was there but
you weren’twe
sang and spoke
in your honor
your mom came in
we tried to be strong for her
but we wept when we saw her
that day she became part of our family
a union birthed out of love for youso we planted a tree
and put your perfect face next to it
we walk past it every day
at 8am with our bacon egg and cheese
at 3pm with our backpacks full of homework
our hearts heavya new year came
“happy new year”
wasn’t as happy
because you weren’t in itbut we will
remember you
celebrate you
and god knows we will
miss you
every
single
daygod mommy called you moody
i called you Q-tip head
for that wild hair you never wanted braided
when the math got too hard you’d
fro it out
and take a breakyou were
precious
sassy
spiritedwe all
adored you
looked up to you
to the goodness
the enthusiasm
the spunk
the vitality
the appetite for life
inside you
the fire
the fire we wished we hadyou gave us fragments of it
ignited us to
teach better
learn more
laugh
we laughed a lot
but mostly to love each other
you’re still compelling us to do thatthat day was everything you weren’t
but we will not remember that day because
you were much greaterwe will
remember you
celebrate you
and god knows we will
miss you
every
single
day
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