Twelve Dead, Thousands Hurt—How Many Bodies Before Albany Acts?

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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.

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

City Hall floats three-lane BQE. Electeds push back. Two lanes, they say, or fewer. Advocates want transit, not more highway. Officials call City Hall’s claims false. The fight is sharp. Vulnerable road users watch as cars and trucks rule the debate.

On March 3, 2023, City Hall reignited debate over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) lane count. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi claimed some locals want three lanes each way, but 17 elected officials, including State Sen. Julia Salazar, Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, and Council Member Lincoln Restler, publicly rejected the idea. Salazar said, 'no to three lanes. Two lanes at most.' Gounardes confirmed, 'all support a two-lane highway.' Gallagher wrote, '2 lanes if any.' Restler called City Hall’s statements 'plainly inaccurate.' The Department of Transportation delayed environmental review to study both options. Advocates and officials urge investment in mass transit, not highway expansion. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as the city weighs more lanes for cars and trucks.

• City Hall: We Hear that People Want to Keep Three-Lane BQE (Really?!), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-03

The BQE slices through North Brooklyn, choking streets with noise and fumes. City leaders have tools to force state DOT to the table but hold back. Advocates demand Adams use his power. The highway’s shadow falls hardest on those walking and biking nearby.

This opinion piece, published February 21, 2023, calls on Mayor Adams to wield the city’s legal leverage over the state Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The article, titled 'Mayor Adams Has Leverage to Force a Reluctant State DOT to Budge on the BQE,' details how city DOT can veto regional transportation plans and must approve state highway projects within city limits. Jon Orcutt, former city DOT official, urges Adams to push for a full corridor plan and not settle for piecemeal fixes. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso are named as officials demanding state DOT return to the process. The BQE has long divided North Brooklyn, bringing pollution and danger to dense neighborhoods. Advocates want the city to use its power to protect residents and vulnerable road users from the harms of urban highways.

• OPINION: Mayor Adams Has Leverage to Force a Reluctant State DOT to Budge on the BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-21

DMV told New Yorkers to report defaced plates through official channels, not to the commissioner. Law enforcement, not the DMV, should ticket offenders. Critics say sending new plates lets reckless drivers dodge accountability. The city’s most vulnerable remain at risk.

On February 13, 2023, after a Streetsblog investigation, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles clarified its process for reporting defaced license plates. DMV Deputy Commissioner Lisa Koumjian stated, "The DMV has an established process for replacing plates and that is the process individuals should follow if their plate is in poor condition." If someone reports a plate that does not belong to them, the DMV can pursue replacement with the registrant if enough information is provided. Koumjian added, "If the plate is covered or intentionally defaced, law enforcement should be notified of this criminal activity as they have the jurisdiction to cite the registrant." Assembly Member Emily Gallagher was involved after constituents raised concerns. Critics, including Marius Facktor, blasted the DMV’s approach: "Car drivers are scratching and covering up their plates to avoid accountability when they hit and kill pedestrians. That's why this is so urgent." The DMV’s response drew fire for failing to hold dangerous drivers accountable and leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• ROWBACK: State DMV Clarifies How to Rat Out Help Out Your Plate-Defacing Neighbor, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-13

Eighteen Brooklyn officials demand state DOT address BQE’s full deadly stretch. They reject piecemeal fixes. They call out decades of harm. The state’s refusal leaves neighborhoods exposed. The city’s hands are tied. The highway’s danger remains. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 10, 2023, eighteen Brooklyn lawmakers issued a joint letter demanding New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) participate in comprehensive planning for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The statement, prompted by a Streetsblog report, reads: "We ask that the NYS DOT remember the daily harms caused by the BQE in its current state—not just the crumbling cantilever section—and join us at the table in search of a solution." The group includes Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Dan Goldman, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, state Sens. Jabari Brisport, Julia Salazar, Kristen Gonzalez, Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Members Bobby Carroll, Maritza Davila, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Emily Gallagher, Jo Anne Simon, Marcela Mitaynes, and Council Members Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Lincoln Restler. Senator Gounardes called the state’s refusal to join the city’s visioning process “unacceptable and irresponsible.” The lawmakers stress that the BQE’s harms—crashes, pollution, division—stretch from Bay Ridge to Greenpoint. Without state action, only city-owned segments see attention. The city’s efforts are limited. The state’s inaction leaves systemic danger unaddressed.

• Brooklyn Pols Demand the State ‘Come to the Table’ on the BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-10

State DMV boss Mark Schroeder told New Yorkers to send him photos of defaced plates. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher pressed him on enforcement. DMV says only owners can request replacements. The loophole leaves dangerous, unreadable plates on city streets.

On February 8, 2023, during a legislative hearing, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher questioned DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder about the surge of defaced and fake license plates in New York City. Schroeder encouraged the public to send him photos of unreadable plates, saying, "Send them to me. Tell them, 'Send them to Schroeder.'" Gallagher noted the widespread issue in her district and pressed for innovations to prevent plate tampering. Schroeder claimed the DMV would send new plates free to owners, but the agency's public process only allows car owners—not third parties—to request replacements. The DMV spokesman reiterated this policy, sidestepping the issue of public reporting. The loophole leaves enforcement weak and vulnerable road users at risk from untraceable drivers.

• State Car Boss: ‘Send Me Pictures of Defaced Plates!’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-08