One week after nine-year-old Ibrihim Ahmed was struck and killed by Alexander Aponte, who was driving without a valid license, the City Council's Public Safety Committee is taking a step to strengthen the inadequate penalties in place to deter reckless driving. Readers will recall that Aponte got off with a charge of driving with a suspended license, which carries minimal fines and seldom results in any jail time.

The committee will hold a hearing Tuesday, January 13th on Resolution 145, which calls upon Albany "to address the legal loopholes that allow dangerous and deadly drivers to drive under the influence of drugs or to drive with a suspended or revoked license."

You can testify at the hearing, which begins at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.