May 12 - A 73-year-old man rode his e-bike down Monitor Street. A southbound SUV struck him head-on. He flew from the saddle, hit his head, and died. Both drivers were distracted. The SUV showed no damage. The street stayed quiet. The man did not.

A 73-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed on Monitor Street near Driggs Avenue in Brooklyn when a southbound SUV struck him. According to the police report, 'A 73-year-old man on an e-bike was struck by a southbound SUV. He flew from the saddle, hit his head, and died. Both drivers were distracted. The SUV bore no scars.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor for both the SUV and the e-bike. The cyclist suffered fatal head injuries and was ejected from his bike. The SUV sustained no damage. No other injuries were reported. The data lists no helmet for the cyclist, but only after the primary cause: driver distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4628437 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 3 - 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

Mar 23 - A van hit an e-scooter on Kent Avenue near Metropolitan. The rider, a 61-year-old man, flew from his scooter. He wore a helmet. He landed head first. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, torn and still, morning quiet broken.

A van and an e-scooter collided on Kent Avenue near Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash left a 61-year-old man, riding the e-scooter, ejected and severely injured. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor in the crash. The man suffered head injuries and severe lacerations but remained conscious at the scene. The report notes he was wearing a helmet. The van struck the e-scooter as both vehicles traveled straight, the van northbound and the e-scooter eastbound. The impact was forceful, sending the rider head first onto the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4615630 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 11 - 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 2025-09-19

Mar 3 - 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

Feb 21 - 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

Feb 13 - 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

Feb 10 - 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

Feb 8 - 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

Jan 24 - A Honda sedan struck a 14-year-old boy in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The car’s bumper tore his leg. Blood pooled on Broadway. The driver, distracted, did not stop. The boy stayed awake, bleeding in the cold street.

A 14-year-old boy was hit by a Honda sedan at the corner of Broadway and 282 in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the boy was crossing the intersection when the car’s left front bumper struck his lower leg, causing severe bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 28-year-old woman, was not injured and did not remain at the scene. The boy was conscious after the crash. The police report highlights driver distraction as the primary error. No other contributing factors are listed before the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4600749 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 29 - Steel screamed on the BQE. A box truck rammed another, stopped cold in traffic. A 19-year-old, belted in the middle seat, took the force. His legs crushed. He stayed awake. The trucks buckled. The road did not forgive.

Two box trucks collided westbound on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. According to the police report, one truck struck another that was stopped in traffic. A 19-year-old passenger, belted in the middle seat, suffered crush injuries to his legs but remained conscious. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed and uninjured. The impact crumpled steel and left one young passenger hurt. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when heavy trucks fail to keep distance in dense city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4586338 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 17 - Lawmakers and advocates rallied in Manhattan. They demanded more money for the MTA. They want six-minute bus and subway service. They warned against service cuts and fare hikes. They called for gas tax revenue to fund transit. Riders need safe, frequent service.

On November 17, 2022, state legislators and transit advocates pressed for increased MTA funding and six-minute off-peak service. The push comes ahead of the next budget cycle. Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani and Amanda Septimo, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher led the call. Mamdani said, 'If we implement six-minute service, the consequences would be felt for riders across all aspects of their life.' Septimo called transit an economic and racial justice issue. Gounardes urged the governor to include MTA funding in the initial budget. Gallagher criticized the gas tax holiday, urging funds go to transit. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber warned that cuts or fare hikes would devastate working- and middle-class New Yorkers. The group demanded action to protect and improve transit for all riders.

• Legislators and Advocates Press Case For MTA Rescue And Six-Minute Service, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-17

Aug 31 - DOT will daylight intersections, ban left turns, and add pedestrian space on McGuinness Boulevard. Eleven pedestrians and four cyclists have died here since 1995. Advocates demand a full redesign. The city promises more action after these quick fixes.

On August 31, 2022, the Department of Transportation announced interim safety improvements for McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint. The street has seen 1,594 crashes, 44 cyclist injuries, 67 pedestrian injuries, and three deaths since 2013. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher announced the changes, which include daylighting intersections, banning left turns at key avenues, and adding painted pedestrian extensions. Gallagher said, 'Quick, iterative incremental changes will be a great way to reduce injuries and fatalities rather than waiting for an entire overhaul.' Council Member Lincoln Restler praised the upgrades as 'a step in the right direction.' Bronwyn Breitner of Make McGuinness Safe Coalition called for a full-scale redesign, reallocating space from cars to people. The city will revisit the corridor plan this winter after installing these measures in the fall.

• DOT Will Give Deadly McGuinness Boulevard Some Safety Fixes Before Full Redesign, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-31

Aug 20 - A Ford SUV ran a signal on Bedford Avenue. It struck a 26-year-old cyclist. He flew, head split, blood pooled. Semiconscious, he lay under harsh streetlights. The SUV driver failed to pay attention. Williamsburg silent, sirens closing in.

A Ford SUV traveling north on Bedford Avenue struck a 26-year-old man riding a bike eastbound at North 11th Street. According to the police report, the SUV driver disregarded a traffic control signal and was inattentive or distracted. The cyclist was ejected from his bike, suffered severe head injuries, and was found semiconscious with blood pooling on the street. The report states, 'Traffic signal ignored.' The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the primary driver errors. No other injuries were reported. The collision highlights the danger when drivers ignore signals and lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557239 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 16 - A sedan sped down McGuinness Boulevard. It hit a woman crossing with the signal. Her head bled. She stayed conscious. The driver did not stop. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A 27-year-old woman was crossing McGuinness Boulevard at Huron Street with the signal when a sedan struck her head-on. According to the police report, 'A 27-year-old woman crossing with the signal was hit head-on by a speeding sedan. Her head bled. She stayed conscious. The driver, in a 2017 Acura, kept going straight.' The driver was traveling at unsafe speed, as listed in the contributing factors. The woman suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious. The report lists no driver injuries. The crash highlights the risk to pedestrians from drivers who ignore speed limits and signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546772 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - Gov. Hochul signed a law forcing new drivers to learn about pedestrian and cyclist safety. The law closes a deadly gap in driver education. Assemblymember Gallagher and Senator Gounardes led the push. The change targets inexperience behind the wheel. Lives are at stake.

On July 15, 2022, Governor Hochul signed a law requiring cyclist and pedestrian safety awareness in New York's driver licensing process. The bill, led by Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and Senator Andrew Gounardes, updates the five-hour pre-licensing course and driver's manual. The matter summary states: 'The law addresses a longstanding gap in driver education, which had previously left generations of motorists with little awareness of road-sharing with pedestrians and cyclists.' Gov. Hochul said, 'It is common sense to make pedestrian and bike safety education mandatory for drivers.' Gounardes noted that driver instruction had not kept pace with the growing presence of cyclists and micro-mobility users. In 2021, driver inexperience contributed to over 2,500 injury crashes in NYC. The law took 11 years to pass, reflecting persistent advocacy for vulnerable road users.

• Gov. Hochul Signs Law Adding Cyclist and Pedestrian Safety Awareness to Driver’s License Requirements, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-15

Jul 1 - Council Member Restler slammed DOT’s weak McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Three killed since 2014. Advocates want fewer lanes, safer crossings, protected bike lanes. DOT’s plans keep traffic flow, ignore calls for real change. Community demands safety, not parking.

On July 1, 2022, the NYC Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) preliminary redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. The matter, titled 'Adams Administration’s McGuinness Redesign Options Underwhelm Street Safety Boosters,' outlined three options: only one would remove travel lanes and add protected bike lanes. Council Member Lincoln Restler, joined by Assembly Member Emily Gallagher and Borough President Antonio Reynoso, criticized DOT’s proposals as 'inadequate.' Restler stated, 'The way we're going to fully connect Greenpoint community and make this street safer is by having less lanes of traffic.' Advocates and residents backed lane reductions and protected bike lanes, citing three deaths since 2014. DOT cited traffic concerns and delayed action. The hearing exposed a rift between community safety demands and DOT’s reluctance to prioritize vulnerable road users over car throughput and parking.

• Adams Administration’s McGuinness Redesign Options Underwhelm Street Safety Boosters, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-01

Jun 28 - Over 2,500 neighbors demand a safer McGuinness Boulevard. The petition calls for fewer lanes, wider sidewalks, and a protected bike lane. Community anger follows deadly crashes. The city’s DOT faces pressure to act. The street remains a danger zone.

On June 28, 2022, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and over 2,500 residents backed a petition urging a full redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. The Department of Transportation will present its draft plan to Brooklyn Community Board 1’s Transportation Committee on June 30. The petition, described as a call for 'wider sidewalks and a wider median, a protected bike lane, and eliminating one lane of traffic in each direction,' follows the hit-and-run death of teacher Matthew Jensen. Gallagher stated, 'Our community is speaking loud and clear: no more deaths on McGuinness.' The campaign has support from Councilmember Lincoln Restler and Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The street, a busy four-lane truck route, has seen dozens of crashes and injuries in recent years. Organizers and residents demand urgent action to end the deadly toll on vulnerable road users.

• EXCLUSIVE: More than 2,500 sign petition supporting McGuinness Boulevard redesign ahead of DOT presentation, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-06-28

Jun 17 - Two SUVs crashed at Vandervoort and Meeker. The lights were out. Steel met glass. A man clutched his neck. A young woman’s leg was crushed. Both drivers hurt. Both belted. The street gave no warning. The system failed. Bodies broke.

Two SUVs collided at the corner of Vandervoort Avenue and Meeker Avenue. According to the police report, the traffic lights were not working. Both vehicles traveled eastbound and crashed. The male driver, 60, suffered neck injuries and crush trauma. The female driver, 23, was unlicensed and trapped by a crushed leg. Both wore seat belts. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Device Improper/Non-Working' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. No other errors or violations are noted. The crash left both drivers injured, underscoring the danger when basic traffic controls fail.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539736 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 28 - A drowsy driver veered down Division Avenue. Five parked cars took the hit. Metal screamed, glass shattered. A 51-year-old woman in her SUV died at the wheel. The street stayed silent. The morning moved on.

A crash on Division Avenue near Roebling Street in Brooklyn left a 51-year-old woman dead inside her parked SUV. According to the police report, a sedan driver, fatigued and drowsy, drifted west and struck five parked vehicles. The impact killed the woman, who was belted in her seat. The report lists 'Fatigued/Drowsy' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors are noted. The violence of the crash left metal twisted and glass scattered. The woman lost her life while sitting in her car. The morning continued, but her seat stayed warm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4514353 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19