'Sean Bell Way' Street Gets The Nod

By Alicia Cruz
Senior writer
theblackurbantimes.com

The parents of Sean Bell are a step closer to having a Jamaica, New York street block renamed in honor of their son. Many of you recall the horrible shooting that ended the life of Sean Bell after his bachelor party on Nov. 25, 2006.
Community Board 12 voted 30 to 2, with five abstentions, in favor of the controversial name change Wednesday, drawing cheers from dozens of Sean Bell supporters.
His family's wish to rename a portion of Liverpool St. "Sean Bell Way" now needs approval from the City Council. But some aren't happy about the idea.
"It's the beginning of some kind of justice for us," said Bell's mother, Valerie Bell, 53.

Sean Bell's fiancée, Nicole Paultre Bell, 24, who was to marry Bell the day he was murdered, said she too was pleased. "Tonight proves that Sean's death wasn't in vain," she said of the vote.
The community board had been slated to consider the proposal last month but postponed it pending a letter of support from local City Councilman Thomas White (D-Jamaica).
In 2008, the detectives involved with the shooting went on trial. On April 25, 2008, they were acquitted on all counts. Testimony during the trial suggested Bell was drunk and used his car to ram into the police van on the scene and led to the shooting.