No More Bodies for Broken Promises: Make AD44 Streets Safe Now

Assembly Member Carroll rejects letting suburbs dodge the MTA payroll tax hike. He says all regions use transit, all must pay. Exempting suburbs would gut MTA funding. Carroll demands shared cost, warns against service cuts, and calls for real revenue.

Assembly Member Robert Carroll issued a legislative statement on April 28, 2023, urging equal cost-sharing for the MTA Payroll Mobility Tax (PMT) increase. The proposal, discussed in the Assembly, faces suburban resistance. Carroll’s statement, titled "When It Comes to Transit, Everyone Must Pay Their Fair Share," argues that exempting suburbs would cost the MTA $325 million and undermine regional transit. Carroll and NYC Assembly colleagues wrote to Speaker Heastie, demanding the PMT hike apply to both city and suburbs or, failing that, that new revenue go only to NYC Transit. Carroll said, "It is unwise and bad policy to abandon the principle of an integrated regional transportation system funded through cost sharing across the jurisdictions that benefit most from the MTA." He warns that letting only city businesses pay would be unfair and would threaten transit service. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the statement centers on funding the transit system that protects vulnerable road users.

• Assembly Member Carroll: When It Comes to Transit, Everyone Must Pay Their Fair Share, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-28

A Yamaha motorcycle hit a turning Ford SUV on Atlantic Avenue. The rider, 24, wore a helmet. He was thrown, crushed, broken under the SUV’s front. Seven in the SUV, including children, were unhurt. The street swallowed another body.

A Yamaha motorcycle slammed into the rear of a Ford SUV making a left turn at Atlantic Avenue and Grand Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the 24-year-old motorcyclist, who wore a helmet, was thrown from his bike and crushed under the SUV’s front, suffering injuries to his entire body. The Ford carried seven occupants, including five children and two adults, none of whom were reported injured. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors for either vehicle. The motorcyclist’s helmet is noted in the data, but the impact proved fatal. The crash shows the deadly force of turning vehicles and the vulnerability of those on two wheels.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618565 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senator Gounardes wants a 25-cent fee on every online package. The money would fund city infrastructure. Trucks crowd streets. Packages pile up. The bill aims to slow the flood. City Hall will review. Delivery giants face new rules. Streets stay dangerous.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill on March 23, 2023, proposing a 25-cent surcharge on every online delivery package in New York City. The bill, now under review, aims to raise $226 million yearly for city infrastructure. Gounardes said, "We're proposing an infrastructure fund to help pay for some of the capital costs to mitigate some of the consequences of last-mile trucking, and freight growth." The bill responds to a surge in daily package deliveries, now at 2.3 million, and forecasts of 200,000 trucks a day by 2045. Gounardes, the bill's sponsor, wants the city—not the MTA—to control the funds. City Hall has not taken a position but said it welcomes ideas to limit emissions and advance infrastructure. The bill joins other efforts to regulate last-mile delivery and warehouse placement. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• State Senator Seeks Online Delivery Charge to Fund City Infrastructure, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-23

A Toyota’s brakes failed on Coney Island Avenue. The car slammed into two stopped sedans. Metal twisted. A 51-year-old man’s face was crushed. Children and adults hurt. Sirens cut the night. The street echoed with pain and steel.

On Coney Island Avenue near Avenue C in Brooklyn, a Toyota sedan’s brakes failed and it crashed into two sedans stopped in traffic. According to the police report, 'A Toyota’s brakes failed. It plowed into two stopped sedans. Metal crumpled. A 51-year-old man sat belted, his face crushed. Six others waited in silence, the night split by sirens and bent steel.' The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the contributing factor. Injuries included a 51-year-old man with facial crush injuries, a 79-year-old woman with a fractured leg, and several children and adults with pain to the head, back, and legs. The crash left at least seven people injured. No driver or passenger actions contributed except for the mechanical failure noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606313 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Lawmakers and advocates climbed the city’s highest subway station. They demanded more from Governor Hochul’s MTA budget. They want six-minute off-peak trains. They reject fare hikes. They call for taxing the wealthy to fund better, faster service. Riders wait. Danger lingers.

On February 5, 2023, legislators and advocates rallied for increased MTA funding and more frequent subway service. The event, led by Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani and Robert Carroll, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Riders Alliance’s Betsy Plum, responded to Governor Hochul’s budget proposal. The matter: 'Advocates and legislators raced up the stairs...to press their case for Gov. Hochul to do more to fill the MTA's fiscal gap.' Hochul’s plan stabilizes finances but does not boost service or halt fare hikes. Mamdani and Gounardes called for six-minute off-peak trains and new taxes on the wealthy. Gounardes said, 'We all know that we need better service and we need more service.' The proposal remains under negotiation. No safety analyst has assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but frequent, reliable transit is vital for their safety.

• ON THEIR MARKS: Legislators Demand More from Hochul’s MTA Budget Proposal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-05

Assembly bill A 551 drops the speed for owner liability to seven miles over the limit. Carroll and Simone sponsor. The move targets reckless drivers. No safety analyst note. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 551 was introduced on January 9, 2023, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to reducing the speed for owner liability for failure of operator to comply with certain posted maximum speed limits,' proposes to lower the threshold for owner liability to more than seven miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Assembly Members Robert C. Carroll (District 44, primary sponsor) and Tony Simone (District 75, co-sponsor) back the measure. No safety analyst assessment is available. The bill aims to hold more drivers accountable for speeding, but its impact on vulnerable road users remains unassessed.

• File A 551, Open States, Published 2023-01-09

Steel crushed flesh on Vanderbilt Avenue. An Audi SUV hit hard. The driver died, buckled in. His passenger, trapped, survived with crush wounds. Distraction ruled the wheel. The street fell silent. Metal and blood marked the spot.

A 2021 Audi SUV traveling west on Vanderbilt Avenue near Pacific Street crashed front-first. The 70-year-old male driver died at the scene, restrained by a lap belt and harness. His 60-year-old female passenger, also buckled in, suffered crush injuries but survived. According to the police report, 'Distraction at the wheel' was a contributing factor. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The SUV was demolished. The crash left one dead, one injured, and a street marked by silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A diesel truck turned right on Caton Avenue. Its trailer caught a man, 47. His head was crushed. His body broke. He died in the streetlight’s shadow. The truck kept moving. Driver inattention marked the scene. The street stayed silent.

A 47-year-old man was killed on Caton Avenue near Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a diesel tractor truck turned right and its trailer struck the pedestrian, crushing his head and body. He died at the scene. The crash involved a truck and a sedan, both making right turns. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The data does not list any helmet or signal use as a factor. The deadly impact and driver inattention underline the danger faced by pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4580430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly Member Carroll stands firm for congestion pricing. He wants fewer cars, cleaner air, and faster buses. He rejects broad carve-outs. Only yellow cabs get a break. Uber and Lyft must pay. He demands urgency. Streets must change. Lives depend on it.

On September 27, 2022, Assembly Member Robert Carroll made a public statement supporting congestion pricing in New York City. The matter, titled 'I’m Willing to Take the Heat to Support Congestion Pricing,' was reported by Streetsblog NYC. Carroll opposes broad exemptions, saying, 'Simplicity is key and exemptions should be limited.' He supports only yellow cab drivers for additional exemptions, citing their medallion fees and capped numbers. Carroll insists Uber and Lyft drivers pay every time they enter the zone, regardless of fare. He also backs time-based charges for taxis, for-hire vehicles, and trucks, especially in busy corridors. Carroll acknowledges the financial burden but argues the cost of congestion is greater. He urges swift action, naming London, Milan, Stockholm, and Singapore as models. No safety analyst note was provided.

• AM Carroll: ‘I’m Willing to Take the Heat’ to Support Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-27

Two bikes slammed together on Prospect Park Southwest. A young rider hit the ground. Blood spilled from his leg. Skin torn. He stared at the sky, awake. The street fell silent. Two children and another man were also involved. No helmets. No mercy.

Two bicycles collided head-on at Prospect Park Southwest and Greenwood Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 23-year-old male rider was partially ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his leg, remaining conscious at the scene. Two children, ages 2 and 4, and a 35-year-old man were also involved, all listed as bicyclists. The report notes, 'Two bikes collided head-on. A 23-year-old rider hit the ground hard. No helmet. Blood ran from his leg. Skin peeled back.' No contributing factors or driver errors were specified in the data. Helmets were not used, as noted after the absence of driver errors. The crash left one rider badly hurt while others escaped with unspecified injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4561432 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Lawmakers push for e-bike rebates. Senate passes, Assembly stalls. Salazar and Carroll lead. Up to $1,100 for buyers. Critics call it a luxury. Carroll disagrees. Program aims for working-class riders. Cars keep killing. E-bikes offer a way out.

""I think there’s a misconception that this bill is maybe purely for folks who have disposable income. They don’t realize that this is not a luxury item."" -- Robert Carroll

Senate Bill 'Ride Clean' proposes up to $1,100 rebates for e-bike purchases, covering half the cost. The bill passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly as of August 30, 2022. The measure, led by State Senator Julia Salazar and Assembly Member Robert Carroll, aims to make e-bikes accessible to working-class New Yorkers. Salazar says, 'With the Ride Clean rebate, [e-bikes] really would be much more accessible to working New Yorkers.' Carroll pushes back on critics who call e-bikes a luxury, stating, 'They don’t realize that this is not a luxury item.' The program would use NYSERDA funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, mirroring the Drive Clean program for electric cars. Advocates cite European and U.S. models. The bill’s fate now rests with the Assembly.

• NY Lawmakers Want To Bring E-Bikes To The People, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-30

Senator Julia Salazar’s Ride Clean bill passed the New York Senate 60-3. It offers up to $1,100 for e-bike purchases. The bill aims to cut car use and emissions. It stalled in the Assembly. Lawmakers say it makes e-bikes accessible for working New Yorkers.

Senate Bill S7703, known as the Ride Clean rebate, passed the New York State Senate on June 2022 by a 60-3 vote. The bill sits stalled in the Assembly committee since January. The measure, sponsored by Senator Julia Salazar, would require NYSERDA to cover half the cost of e-bike purchases, up to $1,100. Salazar said, 'When the federal government falls short, it really does fall on the state to step up and take responsibility.' Assembly sponsor Robert Carroll added, 'This is not a luxury item.' The bill’s summary states it aims to make e-bikes accessible and reduce car dependence. If enacted, New York would join a handful of states offering direct e-bike subsidies, targeting emissions and car use in daily trips.

• NY Lawmakers Want To Bring E-Bikes To The People, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-08-30

Lawmakers spar over who gets a break from congestion pricing. Some want tight limits. Others push for taxi exemptions and tunnel credits. Advocates warn: too many carve-outs gut the plan. The final call lands with the Traffic Mobility Review Board.

On August 26, 2022, New York officials debated congestion pricing exemptions as the policy neared implementation. The discussion, covered by Streetsblog NYC, highlighted shifting positions. State Senator Leroy Comrie, once opposed to exemptions, now listens to public input. Assembly Member Robert Carroll said, "I think that there should be limited exemptions." State Senator Andrew Gounardes added, "Obviously we want them to be as limited as possible." Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine backed toll credits for tunnel users and taxi exemptions. Taxi and for-hire drivers lobbied for relief, citing existing surcharges. Advocacy groups warned against broad carve-outs. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide on further exemptions after federal review. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users was assessed.

• Everyone’s Suddenly Open To Some Congestion Pricing Exemptions, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-26

Council and state leaders spar over who gets a break from congestion pricing. Some want carve-outs. Others warn exemptions gut the plan. Vulnerable road users wait as drivers fight for special treatment. The final call lands with the Traffic Mobility Review Board.

On August 26, 2022, the council held a public debate on congestion pricing exemptions. The matter, titled 'Everyone’s Suddenly Open To Some Congestion Pricing Exemptions,' drew sharp lines. State Senator Leroy Comrie, once a hardliner against exemptions, now listens to public input. Assembly Member Robert Carroll backs limited carve-outs, saying, 'I think that there should be limited exemptions.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes stresses, 'Obviously we want them to be as limited as possible.' Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine pushes for toll credits and taxi exemptions. Advocacy groups warn against broad carve-outs. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide after federal review. The debate centers on who pays and who gets a pass, while the safety of people outside cars hangs in the balance.

• Everyone’s Suddenly Open To Some Congestion Pricing Exemptions, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-08-26

Nearly a thousand people signed up to speak at MTA’s congestion pricing hearings. The plan targets Manhattan below 61st Street. Supporters want fewer exemptions. Critics fear more truck traffic. Lawmakers push for swift action. Streets and air hang in the balance.

"It needs to be implemented now, we passed this bill three years ago, it’s time to get moving." -- Robert Carroll

On August 25, 2022, the MTA held public hearings on congestion pricing for Manhattan below 61st Street. The hearings drew nearly a thousand speakers. The plan, described as aiming to 'reduce congestion, air pollution, and driving into the city,' would charge drivers $5 to $23 depending on time and exemptions. Council Member Robert Carroll (District 44) urged, 'It needs to be implemented now, we passed this bill three years ago, it’s time to get moving.' Other lawmakers, including Andrew Gounardes and Mark Levine, debated exemptions and credits. Governor Hochul called the charge 'crucial to cutting the number of vehicles and combating climate change.' The hearings reflect strong support for minimal carveouts and immediate action to fund transit and clear streets. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Thousand ask to speak at upcoming MTA congestion pricing hearings, amny.com, Published 2022-08-25

A woman rode west on Eastern Parkway. She crashed her bike. Alcohol was involved. Her helmet could not save her. Blood pooled on the street. The night was silent. No car. No other vehicle. Just the impact and aftermath.

A 33-year-old woman riding her bike west on Eastern Parkway suffered a severe head injury. According to the police report, 'Alcohol Involvement' was a contributing factor. The cyclist wore a helmet, but it did not prevent a serious injury. There was no car, no other vehicle, only the cyclist and the pavement. The report states she was incoherent and bleeding heavily from the head. The crash happened in the dark, with no witnesses or other parties involved. The data lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as the primary driver error. Helmet use is noted, but the injury was severe despite it.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552181 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 61-year-old man rode his e-bike up Caton Avenue. He hit a parked Kia. Metal bent. The bike stopped. He died there. Another cyclist, 42, was hurt. The street stayed silent. The crash left pain and questions.

A 61-year-old man riding an e-bike on Caton Avenue near East 4th Street in Brooklyn struck the side of a parked Kia SUV. According to the police report, 'A 61-year-old man on an e-bike struck the side of a parked Kia. Metal folded. The bike stopped. He did not rise.' The e-bike rider suffered fatal injuries. Another bicyclist, age 42, was partially ejected and sustained a neck injury but survived. The Kia was parked at the time of the crash. No driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the police data. The report notes that neither cyclist was using safety equipment, but no helmet or signaling issues were cited as contributing factors. The crash left one dead and another injured, with the street holding its breath.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543764 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel crashed on Washington Avenue. Two men, alone in their cars, slammed nose to tail. Both drivers stunned, necks wrenched, pain sharp and sudden. Distraction behind the wheel left them broken and silent in the Brooklyn dark.

Two sedans collided near 971 Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers, a 24-year-old and a 48-year-old, suffered neck injuries and shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight when the crash occurred, with one sedan striking the other from behind. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary cause. Both drivers were alone and wore lap belts. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left both men injured, their silence broken by pain. The crash underscores the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4518809 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a 28-year-old cyclist at Eastern Parkway and Underhill Avenue. She flew from her bike. Blood pooled from her head. She lay on the asphalt, conscious, eyes open. The car’s bumper bent. The morning light caught the wreckage.

A sedan struck a 28-year-old woman riding her bike on Eastern Parkway at Underhill Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 28-year-old cyclist. She flew from her bike. No helmet. Head bleeding. Conscious. The bumper bent. She lay on the asphalt, eyes open, staring up through the morning light.' The cyclist suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. No helmet was worn, as noted in the report, but driver errors are primary. Two sedan occupants and a witness were unhurt. The crash left the cyclist injured and the car’s bumper damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4516819 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate Bill 8667 would force new drivers to log six hours with a professional instructor. Gounardes and Carroll say the current system is lax. They want more training. Safety leaders back the move. DOT is reviewing. Streets stay deadly.

Senate Bill 8667, introduced by Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Bobby Carroll, would require all new drivers in New York State to complete six hours of professional driving instruction before taking the road test. The bill was announced on March 29, 2022. Gounardes slammed the current rules as too lenient, saying, "For some drivers, the first time they take the wheel [as a licensed driver] they are in sole control of their car." Carroll called the requirement "reasonable." Stephen Walling, president of the New York State Association of Professional Driving Schools, said the bill would "go a long way towards keeping all New Yorkers safer on our roads." The NYC Department of Transportation called driver education "crucial" for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users, and is reviewing the proposal. The bill awaits committee action.

• Albany Bill Would Finally Mandate Instruction for Student Drivers (Well, a Little), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-29