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

A driver struck a moped rider on McGuinness Boulevard. The rider’s leg broke. Politicians and neighbors demand the mayor act. The city delays a safety plan. The street stays deadly. The call is clear: fix McGuinness now.

On August 11, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler and other Northern Brooklyn officials responded to a crash on McGuinness Boulevard, where a driver hit and injured a moped rider. The incident happened near Meeker Avenue, one block from where teacher Matthew Jensen was killed in 2021. The matter, titled 'Locals call for mayor to take immediate action after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard,' highlights the urgent need for the Department of Transportation’s proposed safety redesign. Restler, along with U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, issued a joint statement: 'Lives are being put at risk. We need immediate action by the Mayor's office to implement the Department of Transportation's proposed safety improvements so that everyone in our community can feel confident that McGuinness Boulevard will not cause more tragedies.' The safety plan remains blocked, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to ongoing danger.

• Locals call for mayor to take ‘immediate action’ after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-11

A Toyota SUV hit a young e-bike rider from behind on Meeker Avenue. The crash tore open his leg. Blood pooled on the street. Speed fueled the violence. The rider wore no helmet. The SUV’s front end did the damage.

A 20-year-old man riding an e-bike southbound on Meeker Avenue near Humboldt Street was struck from behind by a Toyota SUV. According to the police report, 'A Toyota SUV slammed into the rear of a southbound e-bike. The 20-year-old rider hit the pavement hard. His leg split open. Blood pooled on hot asphalt. Speed did the damage.' The crash left the e-bike rider with severe lacerations to his lower leg and foot. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The SUV’s center front end struck the e-bike’s rear, causing the rider to fall. The rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause was the SUV driver’s unsafe speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661868 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

State pours federal cash into highways. Comptroller Lander and Assemblymember Gallagher push back. They call for greenways, bike paths, and transit. Highway expansion repeats old mistakes. Vulnerable road users lose out. Safety and climate take a back seat.

On August 4, 2023, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher (District 50) joined Comptroller Brad Lander in criticizing New York State’s use of federal infrastructure funds. The state plans to spend hundreds of millions widening city highways, including $730 million for the Van Wyck Expressway. Lander called this a repeat of past errors, saying, 'Even maintaining a state of good repair on existing roadway infrastructure would be a better use of money than widening the highway.' Gallagher warned, 'New York state risks squandering the historic investments of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by directing far too much funding toward highway expansion instead of climate resilient, multimodal projects.' Both urge a shift to projects that cut emissions and improve safety for all, especially those outside cars. The state DOT defends its plan, but advocates say vulnerable road users are left exposed.

• State spending too much federal infrastructure money on NYC highways: Comptroller Lander, gothamist.com, Published 2023-08-04

Two bodies pulled from Newtown Creek. Council Member Gutiérrez demands action. Industrial zones draw crowds but lack lights, signs, transit. Politicians push for safety. Danger stalks dark streets. City must fix deadly gaps before more lives are lost.

On August 4, 2023, Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez (District 34) led a call for increased nightlife safety in industrial areas after two men died near Brooklyn Mirage. The matter, titled 'After two bodies recovered from Newtown Creek, pols petition for more nightlife safety measures in industrial areas,' highlights the lack of lighting, signage, connectivity, and public transportation in the Industrial Business Zone (IBZ). Gutiérrez, joined by U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Members Maritz Davila and Emily Gallagher, and State Senator Julia Salazar, urged a full investigation and demanded urgent infrastructure upgrades. Gutiérrez said, 'We remain committed to enhancing public safety and ensuring that the nightlife community operates and maintains responsible practices.' The push centers vulnerable road users—pedestrians and nightlife patrons—who face systemic danger in neglected, poorly lit streets.

• After two bodies recovered from Newtown Creek, pols petition for more nightlife safety measures in industrial areas, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-04

State Sen. Gounardes and Assembly Member Gallagher push a bill to force repeat speeders to install limiters. The tech would cap speed, targeting drivers with six or more tickets. Advocates say it could cut deaths. Reckless drivers face real consequences.

On August 2, 2023, State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher announced new legislation targeting recidivist reckless drivers. The bill, introduced in the New York State Legislature, would require drivers with at least six speeding tickets in a single year, or 11 points in 18 months, to install speed limiter devices in their vehicles. The matter summary states: "We are going to literally force you to slow down by requiring you to install a speed limiter on your car." Gounardes led the announcement at the Atlantic Avenue intersection where a driver killed Katherine Harris. Gallagher, co-sponsor, said, "Cars and trucks can act as weapons when used recklessly." The bill aims to bypass bureaucratic hurdles and act automatically, modeled after ignition interlock devices for drunk drivers. Advocates and city officials joined the call, citing data that speed limiters can reduce traffic deaths by 37 percent. The bill targets the most dangerous drivers, seeking to end impunity for repeat offenders.

• In-Car Tech Would Force NYC’s Worst Drivers to Slow Down Under New Proposal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-02

Lawmakers push a bill to force speed-limiting devices on repeat reckless drivers. The measure targets those with a record of speeding and red-light violations. It aims to slow down the worst offenders and curb the rising toll of traffic deaths.

On August 1, 2023, lawmakers introduced a bill requiring speed-limiting devices for repeat reckless drivers. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, targets drivers with six or more automated speed or red light tickets, or eleven license points in 18 months. The measure would force these drivers to install devices that cap speed at five miles per hour above the limit. Gounardes said, 'There is a persistent cohort of drivers... driving on our streets recklessly without any consequences.' The bill was unveiled at the site of a fatal pedestrian crash in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, which mandates safety courses for repeat offenders, has faced criticism for weak enforcement. This new bill seeks to close those gaps and directly slow down the most dangerous drivers on city streets.

• State lawmakers unveil bill to put speed limiting devices in reckless drivers’ cars, amny.com, Published 2023-08-01

DOT boss dodged on safety. Mayor stalled the plan. Advocates fumed. The original design promised fewer lanes, protected bike lanes, safer crossings. Now, after a teacher’s death and 82 crashes in a year, the future is murky. City Hall listens to business, not victims.

On July 18, 2023, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez addressed the status of the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. The $40 million plan, drafted in 2021 after a fatal hit-and-run, aimed to cut lanes from four to two, add protected bike lanes, and shorten crossings. Rodriguez said, "[My] personal commitment as the commissioner of DOT [is] to do the best it can to continue doing my job to improve safety on McGuinness Boulevard." Mayor Adams reversed the plan after business opposition, despite support from every other elected official. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher blamed a small group for swaying the mayor, noting, "Other redesigned streets... all get safer and they work better." The timeline is now unclear. In the past year, 82 crashes injured 35 people on the corridor. Advocates vow to keep fighting for the original, safer design.

• DOT Boss Tries to Stay ‘Positive’ on McGuinness But Won’t Commit to Safest Possible Design, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-18

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

A Tesla slammed into a woman on an e-scooter at Franklin and Milton. Blood spilled from her leg. Her helmet stayed on. The car’s bumper cracked. The street gave no room. She was left hurt, the city cold.

A Tesla sedan struck a 27-year-old woman riding an e-scooter at the corner of Franklin Street and Milton Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the woman suffered severe bleeding from her leg and remained conscious at the scene. The Tesla’s left front bumper was damaged. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'View Obstructed/Limited' as contributing factors. The driver of the Tesla was a 37-year-old man. The e-scooter rider wore a helmet, which stayed on during the crash. The data shows no errors attributed to the e-scooter rider. The helmet is noted only after the driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647860 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist rode east on North 7th. A woman stepped from behind a parked car. His front wheel hit her. She fell. Her head struck the pavement. Blood pooled. The cyclist kept riding. She lay still, unconscious.

A 66-year-old woman was struck by a man riding a bike on North 7th Street. According to the police report, the cyclist rode east as the woman stepped from behind a parked car. His front wheel hit her, causing her to fall and strike her head on the pavement. Blood pooled as she lay unconscious. The cyclist did not stop. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The woman suffered head injuries and was left motionless at the scene. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645388 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist slammed into the back of a stopped SUV on South 4th Street. He flew headfirst, hit the ground, and bled from the skull. Thirty-three years old. No helmet. Blood pooled on Brooklyn pavement. He was conscious, injured, and alone.

A 33-year-old cyclist was injured after colliding with the rear of a stopped SUV near 163 South 4th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist 'hit the back of a stopped SUV. No helmet. He flew headfirst, hit the ground. Blood pooled on the pavement. Conscious, bleeding from the skull.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The SUV was stopped in traffic at the time of impact. The absence of a helmet is noted in the report, but driver errors are cited as primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645632 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams ordered DOT to pause the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. The plan would have cut car lanes for bike lanes. Local businesses and some residents fought back. Council Member Restler and others supported the redesign. Delay leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

On July 12, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams intervened in the planned redesign of McGuinness Boulevard, instructing the Department of Transportation to rethink its proposal. The redesign, shaped by months of public meetings, aimed to remove a vehicle lane in each direction to add protected bike lanes. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher backed the safety-focused plan. The mayor’s reversal followed pressure from local businesses and the 'Keep McGuinness Moving' campaign. Over 7,000 people signed a petition for the redesign, while about 4,000 opposed it. The official matter summary states: 'Mayor Eric Adams appears to have ordered the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) to reverse course on a planned redesign of McGuinness Boulevard after powerful locals and influential members of the administration voiced their opposition.' The delay means the street remains dangerous for people walking and biking. Supporters warn that every day without changes puts lives at risk.

• Adams orders DOT to rethink McGuinness Boulevard redesign, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-07-12

Mayor Adams killed the McGuinness Boulevard safety redesign. He ignored months of community pleas. He sided with donors and power brokers. The street stays deadly. Pedestrians and cyclists remain at risk. Elected officials call it a betrayal. Safety lost. Politics won.

On July 7, 2023, Mayor Adams reversed course and canceled the McGuinness Boulevard safety redesign. The plan, developed by the Department of Transportation after extensive community engagement, aimed to curb crashes and deaths on this notorious Brooklyn corridor. The matter, described as a choice between 'Keep McGuinness Moving' and 'Make McGuinness Safe,' drew strong support from Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, Council Member Lincoln Restler, state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez. Gallagher condemned the move, saying, 'The status quo is deadly and no campaign donation is enough to replace a life.' Former DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman called the decision 'very disappointing.' The mayor’s action, driven by political and donor pressure, leaves vulnerable road users exposed and sets a grim precedent for future safety projects.

• Cycle of Rage: Mayor Adams Has Disgraced Himself in Rejecting DOT’s Safety Plan for Deadly McGuinness, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-07

Emily Gallagher stands firm for the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. She calls out opponents for acting in bad faith. Gallagher cites crash deaths, public support, and her own trauma. She urges the mayor to hold the line. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On June 15, 2023, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher issued a public statement supporting the McGuinness Boulevard road diet and redesign. The matter, discussed in Streetsblog NYC, centers on Gallagher’s push for safer streets in Greenpoint. She recounts her history as a cyclist and her advocacy for speed cameras, lower speed limits, and inclusion in the Safe Streets for Seniors program. Gallagher says, 'I truly believe that the opposition to a road diet on McGuinness is about fear, bad faith and control.' She urges the mayor to 'stay the course' on safe streets. Gallagher’s statement highlights the deadly toll of crashes on McGuinness and the urgent need for transformative change. Thousands of constituents support the redesign. Gallagher’s stance is clear: the city must act to protect vulnerable road users.

• Greenpoint Lawmaker: ‘Opposition to McGuinness Redesign is About Fear, Bad Faith and Control’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-15

A driver killed Teddy Orzechowski, 73, on Driggs Avenue. Neighbors gathered at the site. They mourned. They demanded action. Streets once safe for walking and biking now funnel cars. Officials pledged change. Locals want redesign, not more deaths.

On June 3, 2023, North Brooklyn residents rallied at Driggs Avenue, where a driver killed cyclist Teddy Orzechowski, 73. The event followed the removal of traffic calming measures, which had once protected pedestrians and cyclists. Chris Roberti, chair of the Safe Streets Committee at Public School 110, called for a 'comprehensive, safe street redesign.' Council Member Lincoln Restler promised to 'push like all hell' for changes at Monitor and Driggs by September. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher blamed state legislators for blocking Sammy's Law, which would let New York City lower speed limits. The rally featured a ghost bike and calls for urgent safety improvements. Locals plan further meetings to press for redesign and protection for vulnerable road users.

• Greenpointers Rally For Safer Streets Where Cyclist, 73, Was Killed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-05

Families for Safe Streets rallied outside Speaker Heastie’s office. They demanded action on Sammy’s Law. The bill would let New York City set its own speed limits. Lawmakers dodged a vote. Grief and anger filled the air. The Assembly stayed silent.

""It's frustrating. So much of the state legislative infrastructure is dedicated to normalizing and absolving drivers of harmful acts committed while driving."" -- Emily Gallagher

On June 5, 2023, supporters of Sammy’s Law gathered outside Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s Bronx office. The bill, which would grant New York City local control over its speed limits, remains stalled in the Assembly. The rally, led by Families for Safe Streets, called out lawmakers for refusing to bring the measure to a vote. Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, a leading advocate, criticized the lack of transparency: 'We are demanding that the Speaker bring this to a vote.' Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz voiced strong support, but others, like Chantel Jackson, hesitated, citing constituent feedback. The bill’s matter summary states it would not mandate lower limits but allow the city to decide. The legislative process left families of crash victims frustrated and angry. The Assembly’s inaction keeps city streets dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Supporters of Sammy’s Law Rally Heastie and Share Frustrations About Assembly’s Inaction on Speed Limit Reduction, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-05

A man rode west on Conselyea. He struck something head-on. Thrown from his bike, he hit the street. His skull broke. His organs tore. The street stayed quiet. He did not get up.

A 39-year-old man riding a bike west on Conselyea Street near Graham Avenue was killed in a violent crash. According to the police report, he struck something head-on and was thrown from his bike. The report states, 'Skull broken. Organs torn.' The cyclist was unlicensed and wore no helmet. The police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The crash left the street silent, another life lost to impact and force.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637331 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A driver killed Teddy Orzechowski, 73, at Driggs and Monitor. The city once protected this street. Neighbors tore down those barriers. Advocates begged for bike lanes. Officials delayed. Now, another cyclist is dead. The street remains dangerous. The blood is on their hands.

On June 4, 2023, a fatal crash at Driggs Avenue and Monitor Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, killed cyclist Teddy Orzechowski, 73. The intersection, once part of an Open Street program, lost its protections after local backlash. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said, "The community has tried for a bike lane on this exact street & a play street in front of the school, and all were KILLED by backlash. Blood is on our hands. Shame on us." Advocates like Noel Hidalgo and Bronwyn Breitner called out city delays and DOT inaction. The Department of Transportation made minor changes but failed to stand up to opposition. Proposals for bike lanes stalled. The dismantling of safety measures left vulnerable road users exposed. The death highlights the deadly cost of caving to anti-safety voices and the urgent need for real protection.

• Greenpoint Crash Kills Cyclist At a Former Open Street that Opponents Dismantled, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-04

City will cut car lanes, add protected bike lanes, and shorten crosswalks on McGuinness Boulevard. The redesign follows deadly crashes and strong advocacy. Officials call it transformative. DOT claims similar changes cut deaths and injuries by 30 percent.

On May 3, 2023, the NYC Department of Transportation announced a major redesign for McGuinness Boulevard in north Brooklyn. The plan, presented to Community Board 1's Transportation Committee, will remove a car lane in each direction and install protected bike lanes along a 1.1-mile stretch from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge. The official summary states the overhaul will 'reconfigure the 1.1-mile stretch... following advocacy for safety upgrades after multiple deaths.' Council Member Lincoln Restler and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher praised the plan, calling it 'transformative' and pledging support. DOT statistics show similar road diets reduce deaths and serious injuries by 30 percent. The redesign includes shorter crosswalks, pedestrian islands, and new loading zones. This action responds to a history of crashes and the 2021 hit-and-run killing of teacher Matthew Jensen.

• EXCLU: McGuinness Blvd. to Go On Road Diet for Protected Bike Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-03

A 51-year-old man rode his e-bike down Kent Avenue. He struck a parked trailer. His head hit hard. He wore a helmet. He was crushed and thrown. He died alone in the dark. The street stayed silent.

A 51-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed after colliding with a parked trailer on Kent Avenue. According to the police report, the man 'hit a parked trailer. He wore a helmet. His head struck hard. He was crushed, half-thrown from the seat. He died alone in the dark.' The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was unlicensed and partially ejected from his seat, suffering fatal head and crush injuries. The trailer was parked at the time of the crash and had no occupants. The police report notes the rider wore a helmet, but the primary factors remain the collision and the parked trailer.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612822 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04