McGuinness Bleeds, City Stalls: Who Will Stop the Next Death?

A motorscooter struck a parked SUV on Harrison Avenue. The rider, 52, flew off, landing hard. Blood pooled as he lay conscious, torn open. The scooter’s front crumpled. The street held him in the evening heat.

According to the police report, a 52-year-old man riding a motorscooter southbound on Harrison Avenue near 83rd collided with the rear of a parked SUV. The report states, 'A motorscooter slammed into the back of a parked SUV. The rider, 52, flew off. He hit the ground hard. Conscious, torn open. Blood pooled.' The scooter’s front end was crushed, and the rider was ejected, suffering severe lacerations to his entire body. Both vehicles were traveling south, with the SUV entering a parked position at the time of impact. The police report lists 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for both vehicles, drawing attention to the circumstances of vehicle positioning and movement. No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash left the rider injured and the street marked by violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4735660 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly Members Emily Gallagher and Robert Carroll denounce the governor’s move to halt congestion pricing. They call it a blow to transit, air quality, and city life. Their words cut through: New York’s streets belong to people, not cars.

On June 7, 2024, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher (District 50) joined Robert Carroll in a public statement opposing Governor Hochul’s indefinite delay of congestion pricing. The op-ed, titled 'Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It,' argues the governor’s action is 'effectively a cancellation.' Gallagher and Carroll stress that congestion pricing is essential for funding the MTA and improving public transit. They write, 'Congestion pricing does both and there is no fair or viable alternative way to fund the MTA’s capital needs at this juncture.' The statement warns that the delay will shelve critical projects and worsen conditions for all who rely on safe, accessible streets. Gallagher’s stance is clear: the city’s future depends on prioritizing transit and public space over traffic and private cars.

• Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-06-07

Two Assembly members slam the governor’s move to halt congestion pricing. They call it a blow to transit, air quality, and city life. They say New York needs fewer cars, more trains, and streets for people, not traffic. The fight continues.

Assembly Members Robert Carroll and Emily Gallagher issued a public statement on June 7, 2024, supporting congestion pricing and condemning Governor Hochul’s indefinite delay of the program. The statement, published as an op-ed, argues, 'the Governor’s announcement to indefinitely delay implementation is effectively a cancellation of congestion pricing.' Carroll and Gallagher, both long-time supporters, stress that congestion pricing is vital for funding the MTA’s capital needs and for reducing traffic and pollution. They warn that the governor’s move will stall key transit projects and harm New Yorkers who rely on public transportation. The members urge Democrats to embrace the policy, stating, 'It is past time for New York to join such cities as London, Milan, Stockholm, and Singapore and implement congestion pricing without further delay.' The statement does not mince words: the city’s future depends on streets for people, not cars.

• Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-07

A Buick SUV turned left through a Brooklyn crosswalk, crushing a 10-year-old girl as she crossed with the signal. The driver failed to yield. Her body broke beneath the front end. She died at the scene. Systemic danger, unyielding metal.

According to the police report, a Buick SUV traveling south on Wallabout Street near Franklin Avenue struck and killed a 10-year-old girl at approximately 14:33. The vehicle was making a left turn through the crosswalk when it hit the child. The report states the girl was 'crossing with the signal' at the intersection. The driver failed to yield the right-of-way and was also cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The impact crushed the girl beneath the front end of the SUV, resulting in fatal injuries to her entire body. The police report highlights 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor, underscoring the lethal consequences of driver error and inattention. The victim’s lawful crossing is noted only after the driver’s failures.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717867 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist barreled down Driggs Avenue and slammed headfirst into a parked Jeep. His skull split open. Blood streaked the morning street. The Jeep’s doors bore a deep dent. The bike’s front end crumpled. The rider stayed conscious.

A 39-year-old cyclist was severely injured after striking a parked Jeep on Driggs Avenue near 559 Driggs, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 8:20 a.m. The report states the cyclist 'struck a parked Jeep,' was 'ejected,' and 'landed hard.' The narrative describes 'blood pooled,' 'his head split open,' and the cyclist remained 'conscious' with 'severe lacerations.' The Jeep’s 'doors bore the dent,' and the 'bike’s front crumpled.' The police report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor, but does not specify any cyclist behavior as a cause. No helmet use or cyclist error is cited as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the collision’s violent impact and the systemic danger posed by parked vehicles in the cyclist’s path.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712331 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A truck killed Danielle Aber in a Greenpoint crosswalk. The driver had a record of speeding. Kristen Gonzalez demanded tougher laws for repeat offenders and urgent safety fixes on Nassau Avenue. Officials say policy failure and missing infrastructure left Aber exposed.

On February 27, 2024, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez responded to the death of Danielle Aber, who was struck and killed by a truck in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The driver, Stanley Manel, was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Gonzalez, representing District 59, called for the state to pass stricter traffic laws targeting drivers with multiple school zone speed camera violations, noting Manel's history of speeding. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher joined Gonzalez, highlighting the lack of traffic calming on Nassau Avenue, where Aber was killed. Gallagher stated, 'Nothing to slow traffic on Nassau: no signal, stop sign, even a painted crosswalk.' The officials urged immediate installation of pedestrian safety measures and renewed calls for policy changes to protect vulnerable road users. The incident marks the first traffic fatality in Northern Brooklyn in 2024, underscoring systemic failures in street design and enforcement.

• Greenpoint woman dies of injuries after being hit by truck in crosswalk, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-02-27

Danielle Aber died on Nassau Avenue. The driver, Stanley Manel, had 26 speed camera tickets. He faced minor charges. Officials demand action: lower speed limits, force repeat offenders to install speed controls, and redesign deadly streets. The city’s inaction kills.

On February 25, 2024, after Danielle Aber was killed by a repeat speeding driver in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a coalition of elected officials demanded sweeping changes. The group—Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Council Member Lincoln Restler, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez—called for passage of two state bills: one mandating intelligent speed assistance devices for drivers with six or more speeding tickets in a year, and 'Sammy’s Law,' which would let the City Council lower speed limits. Their statement read, 'We’re calling on the New York State legislature to pass two critical bills that would lead to fewer incidents of traffic violence.' They also urged the Department of Transportation to install raised crosswalks and daylighting at intersections, and to convert Nassau and Norman avenues to one-way streets. The officials’ push highlights the deadly gap in accountability and infrastructure that leaves vulnerable road users at risk.

• Greenpoint Woman Dies from Injuries Sustained in Crash, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-25

A truck hit a woman crossing Sutton Street in Greenpoint. She lies in critical condition. The driver, with a long record of violations, faces charges. Council Member Restler and others demand safer streets, calling out reckless driving and deadly intersections.

On February 23, 2024, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined other officials in a public statement after a truck struck a pedestrian at Sutton Street and Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint. The incident left a 49-year-old woman in critical condition. The driver, Stanley Manel, was arrested and charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. The officials' statement read: 'We’re deeply saddened and outraged at the news of yet another pedestrian being struck by an unsafe driver in Greenpoint.' Restler and colleagues highlighted the intersection's dangers and the driver's history—35 tickets since 2019, including 26 speed camera violations. They urged support for bills requiring speed control devices for repeat offenders and for Sammy’s Law, which would let NYC set its own speed limits. The group called on the Department of Transportation to install raised crosswalks and daylighting to protect pedestrians.

• Driver arrested after crash that left Greenpoint pedestrian in critical condition, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-02-23

A reckless driver with a long record struck a woman in a Greenpoint crosswalk. She clings to life. Officials demand action: lower speed limits, mandate speed devices, redesign streets. The city’s system failed to stop a repeat offender. Streets remain deadly.

On February 22, 2024, a woman was struck and critically injured by Stanley Manel, a driver with 26 prior speed camera violations, at Sutton Street and Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint. Manel was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Nassau Avenue, a two-way street used by cyclists, lacks protective infrastructure. Following the crash, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Council Member Lincoln Restler, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez called for passage of two state bills: one requiring repeat speeding offenders to install intelligent speed assistance devices, and Sammy's Law, which would let the City Council lower speed limits. They also urged the Department of Transportation to install raised crosswalks and daylighting at intersections. Their statement reads: “Lowering the speed limit and enforcing real accountability for dangerous drivers are urgent steps we must take to protect New Yorkers.”

• Serious Crash in Greenpoint Again Reveals Flaws in City Design, Enforcement Against Reckless Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-22

A Dodge pickup turned left on Nassau Avenue, striking a 49-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk. She died beneath the streetlights. The driver, unharmed, failed to yield. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The city’s danger is written in her absence.

A 49-year-old woman was killed at the corner of Nassau Avenue and Sutton Street in Brooklyn when a Dodge pickup truck, making a left turn, struck her head-on as she crossed in the marked crosswalk. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The report states, 'A Dodge pickup turned left. A 49-year-old woman crossed in the marked crosswalk. The truck struck her head-on.' The woman suffered fatal head injuries and severe bleeding, dying at the scene. The driver, a licensed man, was not injured and his vehicle sustained no damage. The police report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The victim was crossing without a signal but within a marked crosswalk, as noted in the police report, after the driver’s error. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver failure to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 29-year-old woman lost control of her motorscooter on Manhattan Avenue. Speed too high, pavement slick, she hit the ground hard. Blood pooled on cold asphalt. No helmet. The street was empty, the night silent.

A 29-year-old woman riding a KYMC motorscooter suffered a severe head injury after losing control on Manhattan Avenue, according to the police report. The crash occurred just before 1 a.m. The report states the driver was traveling at 'unsafe speed' and encountered 'pavement slippery' conditions. The narrative describes her skidding out, hitting the ground hard, and bleeding from the head. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor, with 'Pavement Slippery' also noted. The woman was not wearing a helmet, as documented in the report, but this detail appears after the driver error of unsafe speed. No other vehicles or people were involved. The scene was empty, the crash unfolding in isolation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700210 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Advocates stormed Albany for Sammy’s Law. They want New York City to set its own speed limits. Last year, Speaker Heastie blocked a vote. Mothers starved in protest. Lawmakers stalled. Now, survivors and families demand action. Data shows lower speeds save lives.

On January 23, 2024, advocates launched a renewed push for Sammy’s Law in Albany. The bill, which would let New York City control its own speed limits, stalled last year when Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to allow a vote, despite majority support. Brooklyn Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, a strong supporter, noted, 'Even [lawmakers] who had City Council members from their districts supporting the bill were still not interested.' Queens Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, recently injured by a driver, said, 'Had the car been going faster ... I might not be here.' Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets highlighted broad support: 'We have organizations from across the city supporting Sammy’s Law.' City data shows a 36% drop in pedestrian deaths after the 2014 speed limit reduction. The bill remains in limbo, but advocates are not backing down.

• This Year’s Mettle: The Push for Sammy’s Law Begins — With or Without Carl Heastie, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-23

A sedan turned left on Greenpoint Avenue. An e-scooter kept straight. Metal struck flesh. A young man flew, head first, no helmet. Blood pooled on cold pavement. He lay conscious, bleeding, alone in the street.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at the intersection of Greenpoint Avenue and Humboldt Street in Brooklyn. A sedan, registered in New Jersey, was making a left turn while an e-scooter, operated by a 22-year-old man, was traveling straight. The report states, 'A sedan turned left. An e-scooter went straight. Metal struck flesh.' The collision ejected the e-scooter rider headfirst onto the pavement, resulting in severe bleeding from a head injury. The victim was conscious but alone and bleeding in the cold. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both parties, but the narrative and vehicle actions highlight the sedan's left turn across the path of the e-scooter. The report notes the e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed after the description of the driver's maneuver. No injuries were reported for the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4695261 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 20-year-old on a moped hit a tanker’s side at Greenpoint and Kingsland. He was thrown from the seat, head struck the pavement. No helmet. He died alone. The tanker rolled on, untouched. The street stayed cold and silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at Greenpoint Avenue and Kingsland Avenue. A 20-year-old moped rider struck the side of a turning tanker truck. According to the police report, the moped operator was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The moped rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The tanker sustained no damage and continued on. No other injuries were reported. The crash left one young life ended in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685506 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams gutted the McGuinness Blvd. safety plan. Two lanes each way remain. Bike lanes go unprotected. Crossing distances stretch. Local leaders say nothing changed for people on foot. Cyclists dodge cars and illegal parking. The danger stays. The fight continues.

On November 29, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams’s administration scaled back the Department of Transportation’s original McGuinness Boulevard redesign. The DOT’s first plan would have cut traffic lanes and added a parking-protected bike lane. Adams ordered a weaker version after business pushback. The compromise left two car lanes in each direction during the day. Elected officials—U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Council Member Lincoln Restler—sent a letter urging DOT to restore the full safety plan, writing, “Nothing has been done to improve conditions for pedestrians.” Advocates say the new design increases crossing distances and leaves cyclists and pedestrians exposed. DOT says work will continue into 2024. The boulevard remains dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Eric Adams’s McGuinness Blvd. Capitulation Did ‘Nothing’ for Pedestrians, Greenpoint Pols Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-29

Council Member Lincoln Restler stands against the city’s plan for bike lanes and a road diet on McGuinness Boulevard. He claims the redesign will push heavy traffic onto quiet side streets, risking more harm for pedestrians and families in Greenpoint.

On September 12, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) was mentioned in an op-ed opposing the city’s proposed bike lanes and road diet for McGuinness Boulevard. The op-ed, titled 'City plan for bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard will overwhelm local roads,' argues that the plan, promoted by Restler and advocacy groups, would reroute thousands of vehicles onto residential streets. Restler’s opposition centers on concerns for local safety and access, stating, 'This tranquility will be disrupted when thousands of cars and trucks are rerouted onto these local streets.' Instead, the op-ed supports alternative safety measures such as speed cameras, curb extensions, and increased enforcement. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided for the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Op-ed: City plan for bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard will overwhelm local roads, crainsnewyork.com, Published 2023-09-12

A man rode east on Broadway. He lost focus. The bike struck. He flew. His head hit the ground. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, bleeding in the dark. The street stayed silent. The city moved on.

A 29-year-old man riding a bike east on Broadway at Marcy Avenue crashed and was ejected from his bike. According to the police report, 'He lost focus. The bike struck. He flew. His head hit hard. Blood pooled on the pavement. He lay conscious in the dark, bleeding and alone.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The cyclist suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The data notes he was unlicensed and wore no helmet, but these are mentioned only after the driver errors. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657974 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A dump truck turned left on Kingsland Avenue. A woman crossed with the light. The truck did not stop. Its wheels crushed her. She died at the scene. The truck showed no damage. The street stayed silent.

A woman was killed at the corner of Kingsland Avenue and Richardson Street when a dump truck turned left and struck her as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the truck 'did not stop' and 'her body broke beneath its wheels.' The pedestrian died at the scene from crush injuries. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The dump truck, registered in New Jersey, showed no damage after the crash. The woman was crossing at the intersection with the light. No errors or actions by the pedestrian contributed to the crash, according to the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656161 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 7979 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers a speed limiter. Lawmakers move to curb repeat danger. No more unchecked speeding. Streets demand it.

Assembly bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. Introduced August 18, 2023, it 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during an eighteen month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Assemblymember Emily Gallagher leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, and others. The bill aims to force chronic speeders to slow down. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear: rein in repeat offenders, protect those outside the car.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-18

Mayor Adams approved a diluted redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. Protected bike lanes will come, but car lanes stay open during peak hours. The plan falls short of full safety measures. The road remains dangerous. Victims still count. No one is satisfied.

On August 16, 2023, Mayor Adams announced a compromise redesign for McGuinness Boulevard, a notorious Brooklyn corridor. The Department of Transportation will install curbside protected bike lanes and reduce car lanes from two to one in each direction on most of the strip. However, north of Calyer Street, two lanes for cars will remain open during weekdays, reverting to parking lanes at night and on weekends. The plan, shaped after lobbying by business interests and mayoral adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin, mixes two previous DOT proposals. Mayoral spokesman Charles Lutvak said, 'Traffic safety is a key priority for Mayor Adams, and we are delivering with a redesign of McGuinness Boulevard that will make this corridor safer for all road users.' Local officials, including Council Member Lincoln Restler, called it a 'critical step' but noted it lacks key safety elements. The compromise leaves gaps. Since 2021, 62 people have been injured on this stretch. The carnage continues.

• Mayor Adams Signs Off On Compromise for Deadly McGuinness Blvd.; No One Truly Happy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-16