No More Blood on Pitkin: Hold Amato Accountable for Every Life Lost

A Toyota SUV turned left on Rockaway Beach Boulevard, metal striking a woman’s chest as she crossed with the signal. She fell hard, crushed and silent, the car untouched. The sea waited beyond, indifferent to blood on the street.

According to the police report, a Toyota SUV made a left turn at Rockaway Beach Boulevard and Beach 73rd Street in Queens. As the vehicle turned, it struck a 36-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. The report states, 'She crossed with the light. The Toyota turned left. Metal met chest. She dropped to the pavement. Crush injuries.' The pedestrian suffered severe chest injuries and fell to the ground. The SUV sustained no damage, and the report notes silence after the impact. The driver’s action—turning left while a pedestrian was lawfully in the crosswalk—created the deadly conflict. The police report lists the pedestrian’s action as 'Crossing With Signal,' underscoring that she had the right of way. No driver error is specified in the contributing factors, but the narrative and sequence of events center the danger of turning vehicles at intersections where pedestrians are present.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793676, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Reinvent Albany blasted a bill to exempt NYPD officers from Manhattan congestion tolls. The group called it unfair, a $22 million giveaway to a powerful few. They warned it would drain funds, raise tolls, and reward special interests over public safety.

On January 16, 2025, Reinvent Albany, a good government watchdog, issued a statement opposing a bill from Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato and Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. The bill seeks to exempt NYPD officers, even off-duty, from paying congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan’s central business district. Reinvent Albany called the measure 'contrary to notions of basic fairness' and a '$22 million handout' to a special interest. The Traffic Mobility Review Board had already rejected such exemptions. The group warned that multiple exemption bills could cost the public $100 million yearly and force higher tolls for everyone else. Neither Pheffer Amato nor Scarcella-Spanton commented. The watchdog urged lawmakers to serve the many, not the powerful few.

• Watchdog Group: No Congestion Pricing Toll Exemptions for Cops!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-16

Steel buckled on Cross Bay Boulevard. A Chevy SUV, driver inattentive, rammed a stopped Jeep. The Jeep’s driver, thirty-four, strapped in, crushed and stunned, hurt everywhere. The crash left pain and shock in its wake.

A 2010 Chevy SUV struck a stopped Jeep from behind near 125th on Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens, according to the police report. The report states that the Chevy SUV was 'going straight ahead' when it collided with the Jeep, which was 'stopped in traffic.' The impact crumpled steel and left the 34-year-old Jeep driver with crush injuries to his entire body. He was found in shock, still strapped in his seat. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash, underscoring the danger of inattentive driving. No evidence in the report suggests any error or contributing factor on the part of the injured Jeep driver. The collision highlights the risks posed by distracted drivers to everyone on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787298, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 71-year-old woman, turning east on Rockaway Freeway, crashed her Mazda. Distraction behind the wheel. The right front struck hard. Her leg split open. Blood ran. The airbag burst. She stayed awake in the sudden quiet.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old woman was driving a 2023 Mazda sedan eastbound on Rockaway Freeway near Beach 41st Street in Queens when she crashed while making a right turn. The report states the vehicle struck hard at the right front bumper, causing severe bleeding and a significant leg injury to the driver. The airbag deployed. The driver remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor leading to the crash. No other vehicles or persons were involved, and no victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors. The report underscores the consequences of driver distraction, which resulted in serious injury and a violent impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782665, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel met skull on Beach 116th. A sedan reversed. A 79-year-old man stepped from behind a parked car. He fell, head torn open, blood pooling on cold Queens pavement. The car showed no damage. The man stayed conscious, wounded and alone.

A 79-year-old pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations when a sedan reversed and struck him near Beach 116th Street, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the man 'stepped from behind a parked car.' The report states the sedan was 'backing unsafely,' directly citing this driver action as a contributing factor. The narrative details, 'Steel struck skull. He fell. Blood spread on the cold street.' Despite the impact, the vehicle showed 'no damage.' The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene, his 'head torn open.' The police report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a secondary factor, but the primary focus remains on the unsafe reversing maneuver by the driver. The collision underscores the lethal risk posed when drivers back unsafely, especially in areas with limited visibility.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785091, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan crashed into a parked SUV on Belt Parkway. Metal screamed. A 26-year-old man, belted and alone, suffered crushing injuries. The police report cites following too closely and driver inattention. The night swallowed the wreckage.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling westbound on Belt Parkway slammed into a parked SUV. The report states, 'A sedan slammed into a parked SUV. Metal tore. A 26-year-old man, belted and alone, crushed across the body.' The driver, a 26-year-old man, was injured and remained conscious after the crash, suffering injuries to his entire body. The police report explicitly lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV was stationary at the time of the collision, while the sedan was moving straight ahead. The impact crushed the sedan's front end and damaged the SUV's rear. No mention is made of any victim behavior contributing to the crash. The report centers on driver error and the dangers of inattention behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775496, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Metal slammed metal near Rockaway Boulevard. A parked sedan struck from behind. A 65-year-old woman trapped in the back seat, three others hurt. The midnight air rang with pain, the violence of speed and tailgating written in steel and bone.

According to the police report, two sedans were parked near 110-00 Rockaway Blvd in Queens when one was struck from behind just before midnight. The impact crushed the rear of the vehicle, injuring four occupants. A 65-year-old woman in the back seat suffered crush injuries, along with three others. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for both drivers and a front passenger, underscoring driver error as the primary cause. The narrative details, 'One struck from behind. Metal folded. A 65-year-old woman crushed in the back seat. Three others hurt.' No victim behaviors are cited as contributing factors. The crash exposes the persistent danger of reckless driving, even when vehicles are stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775515, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Ford pickup swung left on 107th Avenue. Its right bumper caught a 64-year-old woman crossing. Blood spilled from her head. The truck stood unmarked. She stayed conscious. The street fell silent, danger written in metal and flesh.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck made a left turn on 107th Avenue near 88th Street in Queens. The truck’s right front bumper struck a 64-year-old woman who was crossing the street. She suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The report notes the vehicle was an 'Oversized Vehicle,' listing this as a contributing factor. The pickup showed no visible damage after the collision. The pedestrian was not in a marked crosswalk or at a signal, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor—driver error and the oversized nature of the vehicle are explicitly highlighted. The incident underscores the lethal risk oversized vehicles pose to vulnerable road users in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772092, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A BMW SUV veered to change lanes on Belt Parkway. Steel screamed. The SUV slammed a sedan’s rear. The SUV driver, 25, died crushed inside. Airbag bloomed, useless. Speed and sudden movement left carnage and silence behind.

According to the police report, a BMW SUV traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway attempted a lane change at high speed. The SUV struck the rear of a sedan, causing catastrophic damage. The report details that the SUV's driver, a 25-year-old man, was killed in the crash, his body crushed inward despite the deployment of the airbag and use of a lap belt. The sedan, an Acura, was traveling straight ahead when it was hit. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor, highlighting the systemic danger of excessive speed during lane changes. No contributing factors are attributed to the sedan’s driver. The violence of the impact underscores the lethal consequences when speed and abrupt maneuvers combine on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769296, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Two SUVs slammed together on Beach Channel Drive, glare burning through the windshield. A woman, 47, was pinned and crushed behind the wheel, her body shattered but her mind alert. Metal and sunlight conspired to trap her in agony.

According to the police report, two station wagons/SUVs collided at Beach Channel Drive and Beach 140th Street in Queens. The crash occurred in blinding sunlight, with 'glare' cited as a contributing factor. One SUV was making a left turn while the other traveled straight ahead. The report describes how a 47-year-old woman, driving one of the vehicles, was crushed behind the wheel, suffering injuries to her entire body. She remained conscious as she was trapped by the wreckage. The police report states that both drivers were licensed and that the blinding sun played a direct role in the collision. No specific driver error beyond the environmental condition of glare is listed in the official data. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the vulnerability of those inside the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4761743, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A sedan slammed into a parked car on Cross Bay Boulevard. Metal buckled. In the back seat, a 52-year-old woman’s spine folded under the force. She wore her belt. The street did not forgive. The city’s danger pressed in.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Cross Bay Boulevard near 135th Avenue struck a parked sedan from behind. The impact targeted the left rear quarter panel of the stationary vehicle. Inside, a 52-year-old woman, belted in the back seat, suffered severe crush injuries to her back. The report states the collision occurred at 14:38 in Queens. Police cite 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, placing the onus on the driver who failed to maintain a safe distance. No victim behavior is listed as a contributing factor. The narrative underscores the violence of the impact: 'Two tons of steel kissed too close. Her spine folded.' This crash highlights the persistent threat posed by driver inattention and systemic risk on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756020, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Ford pickup slammed into a parked SUV on Beach 19th. The woman inside, forty-five, died in her seat. Police cite driver distraction. The truck showed no damage. The road stayed quiet, but the toll was final.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck struck a parked SUV near 233 Beach 19th Street in Queens at 3:45 p.m. The SUV's occupant, a 45-year-old woman, was killed in the crash. The report states, 'A Ford pickup struck a parked SUV. The woman inside, 45, wore no seatbelt. She died there, still in her seat.' Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the collision. The pickup truck showed no damage, while the SUV was struck on the left rear quarter panel. The woman was not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly impact underscores the consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753464, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A westbound SUV plowed into a 19-year-old woman crossing North Conduit Avenue with the signal. Her head split. Blood pooled. She lay semiconscious on the pavement. The driver, distracted and inattentive, kept going straight. Systemic danger, flesh and steel.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old woman was crossing North Conduit Avenue at 79th Street in Queens with the pedestrian signal when a westbound SUV struck her. The report states she suffered a severe head injury and was left semiconscious, bleeding on the pavement. The SUV, a 2020 Honda, was traveling straight ahead with three occupants. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver did not see the pedestrian and continued straight, making no attempt to avoid the collision. The victim was crossing with the light, as noted in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention and failure to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731349, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Governor Hochul halted congestion pricing. Lawmakers balked at raising payroll taxes. The MTA’s $15 billion plan now hangs by a thread. Projects stall. Federal funds at risk. Riders, walkers, and cyclists face uncertainty. Albany remains split. Streets stay dangerous.

On June 6, 2024, Governor Hochul announced a pause on congestion pricing, sparking confusion in Albany. The state-level response included a rejected proposal to raise the payroll mobility tax (PMT) on NYC businesses to fill the $15 billion gap in the MTA’s capital plan. State Sen. Liz Krueger said, 'Payroll mobility taxes are actually taxes on workers... I do not think we have an appetite for that in the Senate.' Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato, who once voted for congestion pricing, now supports the pause, calling the original vote 'political blackmail.' The MTA’s future projects, including the Second Avenue Subway, are threatened, as federal matching funds require local dollars. Lawmakers remain divided. No clear alternative has emerged. Vulnerable road users are left exposed as transit funding falters.

• Reporter’s Notebook: Where Were You The Day Congestion Pricing Died (Maybe)?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-06

At 157th Avenue and 97th Street, an SUV’s left turn slams into a young e-bike rider. Steel tears flesh. Blood pools on Queens asphalt. The cyclist, helmeted but unlicensed, stays conscious as his leg splits open. Driver inattention rules the scene.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old e-bike rider was traveling north at the corner of 157th Avenue and 97th Street when an SUV made a left turn and struck him. The report states the SUV driver’s action was a 'left turn,' and lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The collision resulted in severe lacerations to the cyclist’s leg, described in the report as 'his leg splits open' and 'blood on asphalt.' The cyclist was wearing a helmet and remained conscious after the crash. The report notes the cyclist was unlicensed, but does not cite this as a contributing factor. No evidence in the report suggests any error by the cyclist. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention in left-turn scenarios.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714654, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Ford sedan crashed head-on into a parked SUV on Dickens Street. The unlicensed driver, distracted by something outside, crushed both legs. Alone in the night, he was left conscious and injured. The street stayed silent after the impact.

According to the police report, a Ford sedan traveling south on Dickens Street near Beatrice Court struck a parked SUV head-on. The sedan's sole occupant, a 34-year-old unlicensed male driver, suffered severe crush injuries to both legs and was found conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Outside Car Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the driver was distracted by something outside the vehicle before the crash. The sedan's driver did not possess a valid license at the time of the collision. The SUV was parked and unoccupied, with no injuries reported to others. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger posed by driver distraction and unlicensed operation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714550, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Chevy sedan tore down Centreville Avenue and struck a 29-year-old man. The impact crushed his leg. He stayed conscious as the car sped away, leaving him broken in the street. The driver’s aggression marked the night.

A 2004 Chevy sedan traveling southwest on Centreville Avenue near Rockaway Boulevard struck a 29-year-old man, according to the police report. The pedestrian was not at an intersection when the collision occurred. The report states the man suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg but remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' was cited as the primary contributing factor in the crash. The sedan’s left front bumper delivered the blow, and the vehicle sustained no damage. The report notes the driver continued on, leaving the injured man in the roadway. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior were listed in the police report. The focus remains on the driver’s aggression and the systemic risk it poses to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703525, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A fleeing Honda reversed down 84th Street, crushing a man’s leg beneath steel. The driver had no license. Sirens echoed. The pedestrian stayed conscious, pain radiating in the dark as streetlights flickered over Dumont Avenue.

A 33-year-old man suffered crush injuries to his leg when a Honda sedan, driven by an unlicensed man, reversed into him on 84th Street near Dumont Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the crash occurred during a police pursuit. The report states the driver was 'Backing Unsafely' and did not possess a valid license. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk at the time, but the report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The narrative describes the scene: 'A fleeing Honda reversed into a man, not at a crosswalk. His leg was crushed under steel. He stayed conscious. The driver had no license. The streetlights flickered. Sirens followed.' The focus remains on the driver’s unlawful actions—operating without a license and reversing unsafely while fleeing police—which directly led to the pedestrian’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705891, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Toyota sedan tore down Cross Bay Boulevard. It hit hard, left side first. The driver, alone, was thrown from the car. Chest crushed. Unsafe speed and alcohol fueled the crash. He died on the street, harness strapped, darkness all around.

A 27-year-old man driving a 1993 Toyota sedan on Cross Bay Boulevard near East 1st Road in Queens was killed after his car struck left-side first and he was ejected from the vehicle. According to the police report, 'Speed and alcohol behind the wheel. Dead on the street.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The driver was alone and wearing a lap belt and harness. The impact crushed his chest. No other vehicles or people were involved. The crash highlights the deadly consequences of unsafe speed, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686524, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A bus turned left at dawn in Queens. A 73-year-old woman crossed in the marked crosswalk. The front of the bus hit her. She died on the street. The engine idled. The city stayed silent.

A 73-year-old woman was killed at the corner of 86th Street and 107th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a bus turned left at dawn and struck her as she crossed in the marked crosswalk. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The woman suffered fatal injuries to her entire body and died at the scene. The bus, a Ford, was making a left turn when its front end hit the pedestrian. No damage was reported to the bus. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors from the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677970, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14