Shrink the Zone, Raise the Toll: Kids Bleed While Albany Looks Away
AD 61: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
The Toll on Our Streets
Three people are dead. Five more have life-altering injuries. In the last twelve months, Assembly District 61 has seen over a thousand crashes. More than five hundred people have been hurt. The numbers do not bleed, but the people do. A 68-year-old man, crossing at Forest Avenue and Raymond Place, was struck and killed by an SUV. He was in the crosswalk. The driver failed to yield, distracted, turning left. The man never made it to the other side. NYC Open Data
Children are not spared. In the past year, 72 kids were injured in crashes here. The street is no sanctuary. The curb is no shield.
Leadership: Action and Evasion
Assembly Member Charles Fall has voted for speed cameras in Schenectady, supporting a pilot to protect children there. But here at home, he has sponsored a bill to shrink the area around schools where speed cameras can operate. The bill would mean fewer cameras, less protection for children walking to class. The summary is plain: “reduces the radial distance from school buildings for such school speed zones.” See the bill
No safety analyst has weighed in. The intent is clear. Less camera coverage. More danger at the curb.
The Human Cost
The news does not soften the blows. On a cold March morning, two police officers crashed their cruiser into a building on Victory Boulevard, swerving to avoid a car making a U-turn. Both were hospitalized. No bystanders were hit, this time. “It was pretty, pretty fast and then he crashed into a sanitation car. He crashed over there and then he’s doing circles and then he crashed out with a police car,” said witness Abi Aguirre.
Elsewhere, a driver with 27 violations fled a stop, crashed into a police car, and fired a gun. Three officers were injured by shattered glass. The SUV had five speeding tickets. The system let it roll on. NY Daily News
What Comes Next
This is not fate. This is policy. Every day the law delays, another family waits for the call. Contact Assembly Member Charles Fall. Demand he protect—not shrink—school speed zones. Demand he fight for more cameras, lower speed limits, and safer crossings. The blood on the street is not an accident. It is a choice.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Police Cruiser Slams Into Staten Island Building, ABC7, Published 2025-03-15
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642632, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
- Police Cruiser Slams Into Staten Island Store, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-15
- Driver Flees Stop, Crashes, Fires Gun, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-12
- File A 4371, Open States, Published 2025-02-04
- Police Cruiser Slams Into Staten Island Building, ABC7, Published 2025-03-15
- THE POWER BROKERS: Brooklyn Machine Fights Smaller BQE at Closed-Door City Hall Meeting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-04
- File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07
▸ Other Geographies
AD 61 Assembly District 61 sits in Staten Island, Precinct 120, District 49.
It contains The Battery-Governors Island-Ellis Island-Liberty Island, St. George-New Brighton, Tompkinsville-Stapleton-Clifton-Fox Hills, Port Richmond, Snug Harbor.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Assembly District 61
E-Scooter Rider Bloodied on Church Street▸An e-scooter rider slammed into a parked SUV near 55 Church Street. Her arm split open. Blood streaked the grips. She stood, stunned, pain sharp and raw. The SUV sat untouched. The street stayed silent.
A 36-year-old woman riding an e-scooter was injured after crashing into a parked SUV near 55 Church Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A woman on an e-scooter struck a parked SUV. Her arm split open on the metal. Blood smeared the grips. She stood still, stunned, staring. The SUV was unmarked.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The woman suffered severe lacerations to her arm and was in shock. The SUV was parked and showed no damage. No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors in the crash.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4635224,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Fall Opposes Misguided BQE Lane Reduction Plan▸Brooklyn power players met behind closed doors. They fought to keep the BQE wide and fast. Former party boss Frank Seddio led the charge. Some officials want fewer lanes for cleaner air and safer streets. City Hall claims neutrality. The debate rages on.
On March 4, 2023, a closed-door City Hall meeting gathered Brooklyn political figures to debate the future of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The event, organized by Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, focused on whether to reduce the BQE from three lanes to two. Former Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio opposed the lane reduction, urging allies to resist the change. The meeting excluded some officials who support shrinking the highway, such as Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon and State Senator Andrew Gounardes, who cite environmental and community health concerns. Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the city for favoring a three-lane solution and sidelining affected communities. City Hall denied taking a side, stating, 'the decision would be based on a DOT traffic study.' No formal council bill or vote was recorded, and no safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.
-
THE POWER BROKERS: Brooklyn Machine Fights Smaller BQE at Closed-Door City Hall Meeting,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2023-03-04
Jeep Turns Left, Cyclist Bleeds on Victory Boulevard▸A Jeep turned left. A cyclist rode straight. Steel struck skull. The man hit the ground headfirst. Blood pooled. His helmet cracked. He stayed conscious, bleeding on the street. The SUV’s front left crumpled. The city’s danger showed its teeth.
A 57-year-old cyclist suffered severe head lacerations when a Jeep SUV turned left into his path on Victory Boulevard near Montgomery Avenue, Staten Island. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The cyclist, wearing a helmet, struck the ground headfirst after the Jeep’s front left quarter panel hit him. The man remained conscious but bled from the head. No injuries were reported for the Jeep’s occupants. The police report details the Jeep’s left turn and the cyclist’s straight path, highlighting the improper lane usage by the driver. The helmet is mentioned only because it cracked in the impact, after the driver’s error.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549917,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Motorcyclist Thrown, Bleeds Out on Richmond Terrace▸A 27-year-old man rode west on Richmond Terrace. His motorcycle’s front smashed. He flew off, helmeted, leg torn open. Blood pooled on the pavement. He stayed conscious. The bike rolled on without him. The street stayed silent.
A 27-year-old man was thrown from his motorcycle on Richmond Terrace near Wright Avenue. According to the police report, 'A 27-year-old man, helmeted and alone, was thrown from his motorcycle. The front crumpled. His leg bled out on hot pavement. He was conscious. The bike kept going straight. He did not.' The crash left him with severe bleeding to his lower leg. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The report notes the rider wore a helmet. No other injuries or vehicles are detailed in the data. The crash highlights the brutal cost of distraction on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542805,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
SUV Driver Hits Baby Boy Crossing Signal▸A GMC SUV struck a baby boy on Jewett Avenue. The child crossed with the signal. The SUV’s right front hit his face. Blood poured. He stayed awake. The driver looked elsewhere. The street ran red. The system failed the smallest among us.
A GMC SUV hit a baby boy as he crossed Jewett Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, 'A GMC SUV struck a baby boy crossing with the signal. The right front hit his face. He bled hard but stayed awake. He was zero years old. The driver was looking elsewhere.' The child suffered severe bleeding to the face but remained conscious. The driver’s action was listed as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The data shows the baby was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing lawfully. No helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention, especially near vulnerable road users.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542320,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
An e-scooter rider slammed into a parked SUV near 55 Church Street. Her arm split open. Blood streaked the grips. She stood, stunned, pain sharp and raw. The SUV sat untouched. The street stayed silent.
A 36-year-old woman riding an e-scooter was injured after crashing into a parked SUV near 55 Church Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A woman on an e-scooter struck a parked SUV. Her arm split open on the metal. Blood smeared the grips. She stood still, stunned, staring. The SUV was unmarked.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The woman suffered severe lacerations to her arm and was in shock. The SUV was parked and showed no damage. No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors in the crash.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4635224, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14
Fall Opposes Misguided BQE Lane Reduction Plan▸Brooklyn power players met behind closed doors. They fought to keep the BQE wide and fast. Former party boss Frank Seddio led the charge. Some officials want fewer lanes for cleaner air and safer streets. City Hall claims neutrality. The debate rages on.
On March 4, 2023, a closed-door City Hall meeting gathered Brooklyn political figures to debate the future of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The event, organized by Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, focused on whether to reduce the BQE from three lanes to two. Former Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio opposed the lane reduction, urging allies to resist the change. The meeting excluded some officials who support shrinking the highway, such as Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon and State Senator Andrew Gounardes, who cite environmental and community health concerns. Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the city for favoring a three-lane solution and sidelining affected communities. City Hall denied taking a side, stating, 'the decision would be based on a DOT traffic study.' No formal council bill or vote was recorded, and no safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.
-
THE POWER BROKERS: Brooklyn Machine Fights Smaller BQE at Closed-Door City Hall Meeting,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2023-03-04
Jeep Turns Left, Cyclist Bleeds on Victory Boulevard▸A Jeep turned left. A cyclist rode straight. Steel struck skull. The man hit the ground headfirst. Blood pooled. His helmet cracked. He stayed conscious, bleeding on the street. The SUV’s front left crumpled. The city’s danger showed its teeth.
A 57-year-old cyclist suffered severe head lacerations when a Jeep SUV turned left into his path on Victory Boulevard near Montgomery Avenue, Staten Island. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The cyclist, wearing a helmet, struck the ground headfirst after the Jeep’s front left quarter panel hit him. The man remained conscious but bled from the head. No injuries were reported for the Jeep’s occupants. The police report details the Jeep’s left turn and the cyclist’s straight path, highlighting the improper lane usage by the driver. The helmet is mentioned only because it cracked in the impact, after the driver’s error.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549917,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Motorcyclist Thrown, Bleeds Out on Richmond Terrace▸A 27-year-old man rode west on Richmond Terrace. His motorcycle’s front smashed. He flew off, helmeted, leg torn open. Blood pooled on the pavement. He stayed conscious. The bike rolled on without him. The street stayed silent.
A 27-year-old man was thrown from his motorcycle on Richmond Terrace near Wright Avenue. According to the police report, 'A 27-year-old man, helmeted and alone, was thrown from his motorcycle. The front crumpled. His leg bled out on hot pavement. He was conscious. The bike kept going straight. He did not.' The crash left him with severe bleeding to his lower leg. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The report notes the rider wore a helmet. No other injuries or vehicles are detailed in the data. The crash highlights the brutal cost of distraction on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542805,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
SUV Driver Hits Baby Boy Crossing Signal▸A GMC SUV struck a baby boy on Jewett Avenue. The child crossed with the signal. The SUV’s right front hit his face. Blood poured. He stayed awake. The driver looked elsewhere. The street ran red. The system failed the smallest among us.
A GMC SUV hit a baby boy as he crossed Jewett Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, 'A GMC SUV struck a baby boy crossing with the signal. The right front hit his face. He bled hard but stayed awake. He was zero years old. The driver was looking elsewhere.' The child suffered severe bleeding to the face but remained conscious. The driver’s action was listed as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The data shows the baby was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing lawfully. No helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention, especially near vulnerable road users.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542320,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Brooklyn power players met behind closed doors. They fought to keep the BQE wide and fast. Former party boss Frank Seddio led the charge. Some officials want fewer lanes for cleaner air and safer streets. City Hall claims neutrality. The debate rages on.
On March 4, 2023, a closed-door City Hall meeting gathered Brooklyn political figures to debate the future of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The event, organized by Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, focused on whether to reduce the BQE from three lanes to two. Former Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio opposed the lane reduction, urging allies to resist the change. The meeting excluded some officials who support shrinking the highway, such as Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon and State Senator Andrew Gounardes, who cite environmental and community health concerns. Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the city for favoring a three-lane solution and sidelining affected communities. City Hall denied taking a side, stating, 'the decision would be based on a DOT traffic study.' No formal council bill or vote was recorded, and no safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.
- THE POWER BROKERS: Brooklyn Machine Fights Smaller BQE at Closed-Door City Hall Meeting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-04
Jeep Turns Left, Cyclist Bleeds on Victory Boulevard▸A Jeep turned left. A cyclist rode straight. Steel struck skull. The man hit the ground headfirst. Blood pooled. His helmet cracked. He stayed conscious, bleeding on the street. The SUV’s front left crumpled. The city’s danger showed its teeth.
A 57-year-old cyclist suffered severe head lacerations when a Jeep SUV turned left into his path on Victory Boulevard near Montgomery Avenue, Staten Island. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The cyclist, wearing a helmet, struck the ground headfirst after the Jeep’s front left quarter panel hit him. The man remained conscious but bled from the head. No injuries were reported for the Jeep’s occupants. The police report details the Jeep’s left turn and the cyclist’s straight path, highlighting the improper lane usage by the driver. The helmet is mentioned only because it cracked in the impact, after the driver’s error.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549917,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
Motorcyclist Thrown, Bleeds Out on Richmond Terrace▸A 27-year-old man rode west on Richmond Terrace. His motorcycle’s front smashed. He flew off, helmeted, leg torn open. Blood pooled on the pavement. He stayed conscious. The bike rolled on without him. The street stayed silent.
A 27-year-old man was thrown from his motorcycle on Richmond Terrace near Wright Avenue. According to the police report, 'A 27-year-old man, helmeted and alone, was thrown from his motorcycle. The front crumpled. His leg bled out on hot pavement. He was conscious. The bike kept going straight. He did not.' The crash left him with severe bleeding to his lower leg. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The report notes the rider wore a helmet. No other injuries or vehicles are detailed in the data. The crash highlights the brutal cost of distraction on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542805,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
SUV Driver Hits Baby Boy Crossing Signal▸A GMC SUV struck a baby boy on Jewett Avenue. The child crossed with the signal. The SUV’s right front hit his face. Blood poured. He stayed awake. The driver looked elsewhere. The street ran red. The system failed the smallest among us.
A GMC SUV hit a baby boy as he crossed Jewett Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, 'A GMC SUV struck a baby boy crossing with the signal. The right front hit his face. He bled hard but stayed awake. He was zero years old. The driver was looking elsewhere.' The child suffered severe bleeding to the face but remained conscious. The driver’s action was listed as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The data shows the baby was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing lawfully. No helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention, especially near vulnerable road users.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542320,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
A Jeep turned left. A cyclist rode straight. Steel struck skull. The man hit the ground headfirst. Blood pooled. His helmet cracked. He stayed conscious, bleeding on the street. The SUV’s front left crumpled. The city’s danger showed its teeth.
A 57-year-old cyclist suffered severe head lacerations when a Jeep SUV turned left into his path on Victory Boulevard near Montgomery Avenue, Staten Island. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The cyclist, wearing a helmet, struck the ground headfirst after the Jeep’s front left quarter panel hit him. The man remained conscious but bled from the head. No injuries were reported for the Jeep’s occupants. The police report details the Jeep’s left turn and the cyclist’s straight path, highlighting the improper lane usage by the driver. The helmet is mentioned only because it cracked in the impact, after the driver’s error.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549917, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14
Motorcyclist Thrown, Bleeds Out on Richmond Terrace▸A 27-year-old man rode west on Richmond Terrace. His motorcycle’s front smashed. He flew off, helmeted, leg torn open. Blood pooled on the pavement. He stayed conscious. The bike rolled on without him. The street stayed silent.
A 27-year-old man was thrown from his motorcycle on Richmond Terrace near Wright Avenue. According to the police report, 'A 27-year-old man, helmeted and alone, was thrown from his motorcycle. The front crumpled. His leg bled out on hot pavement. He was conscious. The bike kept going straight. He did not.' The crash left him with severe bleeding to his lower leg. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The report notes the rider wore a helmet. No other injuries or vehicles are detailed in the data. The crash highlights the brutal cost of distraction on city streets.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542805,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
SUV Driver Hits Baby Boy Crossing Signal▸A GMC SUV struck a baby boy on Jewett Avenue. The child crossed with the signal. The SUV’s right front hit his face. Blood poured. He stayed awake. The driver looked elsewhere. The street ran red. The system failed the smallest among us.
A GMC SUV hit a baby boy as he crossed Jewett Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, 'A GMC SUV struck a baby boy crossing with the signal. The right front hit his face. He bled hard but stayed awake. He was zero years old. The driver was looking elsewhere.' The child suffered severe bleeding to the face but remained conscious. The driver’s action was listed as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The data shows the baby was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing lawfully. No helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention, especially near vulnerable road users.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542320,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
A 27-year-old man rode west on Richmond Terrace. His motorcycle’s front smashed. He flew off, helmeted, leg torn open. Blood pooled on the pavement. He stayed conscious. The bike rolled on without him. The street stayed silent.
A 27-year-old man was thrown from his motorcycle on Richmond Terrace near Wright Avenue. According to the police report, 'A 27-year-old man, helmeted and alone, was thrown from his motorcycle. The front crumpled. His leg bled out on hot pavement. He was conscious. The bike kept going straight. He did not.' The crash left him with severe bleeding to his lower leg. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The report notes the rider wore a helmet. No other injuries or vehicles are detailed in the data. The crash highlights the brutal cost of distraction on city streets.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542805, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14
SUV Driver Hits Baby Boy Crossing Signal▸A GMC SUV struck a baby boy on Jewett Avenue. The child crossed with the signal. The SUV’s right front hit his face. Blood poured. He stayed awake. The driver looked elsewhere. The street ran red. The system failed the smallest among us.
A GMC SUV hit a baby boy as he crossed Jewett Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, 'A GMC SUV struck a baby boy crossing with the signal. The right front hit his face. He bled hard but stayed awake. He was zero years old. The driver was looking elsewhere.' The child suffered severe bleeding to the face but remained conscious. The driver’s action was listed as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The data shows the baby was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing lawfully. No helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention, especially near vulnerable road users.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542320,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-14
A GMC SUV struck a baby boy on Jewett Avenue. The child crossed with the signal. The SUV’s right front hit his face. Blood poured. He stayed awake. The driver looked elsewhere. The street ran red. The system failed the smallest among us.
A GMC SUV hit a baby boy as he crossed Jewett Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, 'A GMC SUV struck a baby boy crossing with the signal. The right front hit his face. He bled hard but stayed awake. He was zero years old. The driver was looking elsewhere.' The child suffered severe bleeding to the face but remained conscious. The driver’s action was listed as 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The data shows the baby was a pedestrian at the intersection, crossing lawfully. No helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention, especially near vulnerable road users.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542320, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14