Posted on 08/22/2025
Dear Neighbors,
Last year, our community experienced a heartbreaking loss when sixth-grader Derick Serrano, a student at George Washington Carver Middle School, was struck and killed at the intersection of Vernon and Wadsworth avenues while walking home from school.
No words can ease the pain for Derick’s family, friends, school community and neighbors, but together we can act to help prevent future tragedies. This week, I committed $385,000 in District 9 discretionary funds toward the installation of a full traffic signal at Vernon and Wadsworth. Construction will begin this fall and is expected to be completed by June 2026.
This new signal is part of my Office’s broader commitment to neighborhood safety. Over the past year, we’ve installed speed humps, lowered speed limits to 15 mph around dozens of schools, and added more than 50 crossing guards at key intersections. These steps reflect our ongoing pledge to protect children and families as they travel to and from school.
While nothing can truly heal the pain of losing Derick, installing this signal is a step toward making sure our children are safe and that their journeys to and from school are protected.
Click the image above for a message about the project.
In solidarity,
