Heastie Delayed. Bronx Families Paid. Streets Still Bleed.

A 78-year-old woman crossed White Plains Road. An SUV struck her. She fell. Head trauma. Medics rushed her to Jacobi. She died. The driver stayed. No charges. Another night. Another life lost to traffic in Williamsbridge.

NY Daily News reported on May 25, 2025, that a 78-year-old woman was fatally struck while crossing White Plains Road at East 216th Street in the Bronx. The crash happened around 10:20 p.m. Saturday. The article states, 'The victim was crossing White Plains Road at E. 216th St. in Williamsbridge when a 56-year-old woman driving north in a 2024 Toyota RAV4 hit her.' The victim suffered severe head trauma and died at Jacobi Medical Center. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by pedestrians at Bronx intersections, especially after dark. No details were given about driver speed, visibility, or street design. The case underscores persistent risks for older New Yorkers on city streets.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing Bronx Street, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-25

A 76-year-old woman died on White Plains Road. An SUV hit her head-on. Police cite driver inattention. The crash happened late at night. The street turned deadly in an instant. One life ended. The driver walked away.

A 76-year-old female pedestrian was killed when a northbound SUV struck her on White Plains Road at East 216th Street in the Bronx. According to the police report, the vehicle's center front end hit the pedestrian, causing fatal head injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver, a 56-year-old woman, was licensed and uninjured. No other injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants. The pedestrian was not at an intersection at the time of the crash. The police report does not list any pedestrian error or equipment as a factor. Systemic danger persists when driver distraction meets vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815461, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A taxi struck a woman crossing at White Plains Road. She suffered severe hip and leg wounds. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed open. The city’s danger showed in the blood on the asphalt.

A taxi traveling south on White Plains Road in the Bronx hit a 37-year-old woman at the intersection with East 220th Street. According to the police report, the pedestrian was injured, suffering severe lacerations to her hip and upper leg. The report states, “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way” as the contributing factor for the crash. The driver, a 61-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The data lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the ongoing risk faced by pedestrians at Bronx intersections when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4811922, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A young man on an e-bike crashed into the rear of a parked pick-up truck on Colden Ave. His helmet stayed on, but blood ran from his head. The truck’s bumper bore the wound. Two men watched, unscathed, under Bronx streetlights.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male riding an e-bike struck the rear of a parked pick-up truck near 3311 Colden Ave in the Bronx at 22:46. The report states, 'A pick-up truck sat parked. A 25-year-old on an e-bike struck its rear. His helmet held, but his head bled. The truck’s bumper bore the mark.' The e-bike rider suffered severe lacerations to the head, while the two men associated with the truck were not injured. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' and does not cite any explicit driver errors or victim behaviors as contributing to the crash. The incident underscores the persistent danger posed by large, stationary vehicles in the streetscape, especially at night.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805794, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Lawmakers push for cameras to ticket double parkers. Streets choke with blocked bike lanes and chaos. Manual enforcement fails. DOT backs automation. Some lawmakers resist, call for cops. Vulnerable road users left dodging danger as debate drags.

On March 3, 2025, a legislative proposal surfaced to deploy automated parking enforcement cameras across New York City. Assemblymember Steven Raga leads the push for a $35 million pilot, aiming to install 150 cameras targeting double parking and illegal stops. The bill, not yet assigned a committee or number, seeks to automate enforcement where manual efforts fall short. Raga writes, 'manual enforcement has not been able to meet the demand to combat double parking and illegal parking.' State Senator Simcha Felder of District 44 opposes the measure, arguing for traditional police summonses instead. The Department of Transportation supports the expansion, stating, 'Automated enforcement has proven to change driver behavior and make our streets safer for everyone.' The debate centers on whether automation or police presence best protects pedestrians and cyclists from blocked lanes and traffic hazards.

• New push for automated ticketing of drivers who double park in NYC, gothamist.com, Published 2025-03-03

Trump killed congestion pricing. Subway riders fumed. The city lost billions for transit. Streets will clog again. Danger rises for those on foot and bike. Riders called the move insane. Politicians slammed the decision. The city’s lifeline is at risk.

On February 19, 2025, President Trump ended New York City’s congestion pricing program, just weeks after it began. The federal action canceled the $9 toll meant to fund the MTA’s capital plan, threatening $16 billion for transit upgrades. The matter drew sharp words: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, 'The president and the Republican members of New York's congressional delegation ... just blew a $16-billion hole in the most important transit system in the nation.' Subway riders at Canal Street called the move 'insane' and accused Trump of ignoring New Yorkers. Advocates and everyday riders warned that ending congestion pricing would slow commutes, worsen traffic, and put vulnerable road users at greater risk. The city’s future now hangs in the balance, with transit funding gutted and streets set to fill with cars again.

• NYC Subway Riders to Trump: Drop Dead, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-19

Albany leaders tried to delay an upstate special election, risking democracy to bargain over congestion pricing. Governor Hochul put the bill on hold. The editorial backs congestion pricing but slams the move to silence 800,000 New Yorkers. Power games, real stakes.

On February 12, 2025, an editorial targeted a special election bill pushed by State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. The bill, introduced late Friday, would let Governor Hochul delay a congressional special election until November 4, leaving nearly 800,000 upstate residents without representation. The editorial quotes, 'wiping out congressional representation for so many people for so long is unfair and undemocratic and unconstitutional.' Stewart-Cousins is mentioned as a key player. Hochul requested the bill be put on hold, pausing the plan. The editorial supports congestion pricing, noting it has 'successfully reduced Midtown and Downtown traffic,' but condemns using democracy as a bargaining chip. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users is assessed, but the piece underscores the importance of congestion pricing for safer, less crowded streets.

• Don’t swap democracy to save tolls: Kill the special election scam regardless of congestion pricing, nydailynews.com, Published 2025-02-12

Albany leaders stall on MTA funding. They block capital plans. They threaten congestion pricing. Subways face cuts. Riders pay the price. Service, safety, and reliability hang in the balance. Political games choke the city’s lifeline. Vulnerable New Yorkers lose again.

This report covers the ongoing 2025 state legislative budget negotiations over the MTA’s 2025-29 capital plan and congestion pricing. The article, published January 13, 2025, highlights how Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Governor Hochul have failed to deliver needed funding. The matter summary states: 'Starving the MTA will not actually improve service and will not actually improve safety, will not actually improve reliability.' Lawmakers consider exemptions or repeals to congestion pricing, undermining the MTA’s financial foundation. Andrew Rein, a key voice, warns that withholding funds is 'a recipe for disaster and an abdication of responsibility.' The legislature’s inaction threatens subway modernization, safety, and reliability. Without proper investment, vulnerable riders—those who rely on transit—face greater risk and hardship.

• Albany’s Power Brokers Are Trying To Break Your Subway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-13

Two sedans slammed head-on near Bronxwood Avenue. Metal twisted, airbags burst. Four people inside crushed, stunned, incoherent. Parked cars struck in the chaos. The street fell silent, wreckage marking the cost of unsafe speed and reckless force.

On E 216th Street near Bronxwood Avenue in the Bronx, two sedans collided head-on, tearing through the night. According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:09 a.m. and involved a 2008 Acura sedan and a 2013 Nissan sedan, both traveling straight ahead. The report details that 'Unsafe Speed' was a contributing factor, with one driver also flagged for 'Alcohol Involvement.' The narrative describes airbags bursting and metal folding, leaving four occupants—two drivers and two passengers—injured. Victims suffered crush injuries, with one semiconscious, two incoherent, and one in shock. The force of the collision sent vehicles into parked cars, compounding the destruction. The police report makes clear: unsafe speed and driver recklessness shattered the quiet, leaving bodies broken and a street scarred.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785315, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Albany leaders killed the MTA’s capital plan. Repairs and upgrades freeze. Janno Lieber warns of cascading failures. Riders face broken signals, crumbling tracks, and delays. The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee urges reversal. Lawmakers argue over funding while the city waits.

On December 30, 2024, New York State legislative leaders rejected the MTA 2025-29 Capital Plan. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins blocked approval, citing incomplete funding. The plan, described as funding 'crucial state-of-good-repair track work,' now hangs in limbo. MTA CEO Janno Lieber called the move a 'Catch-22' that could cause cascading failures and delay urgent repairs. The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA urged lawmakers to withdraw their objection, warning of long-term delays and higher costs. Stewart-Cousins’s spokesperson, Mike Murphy, dismissed the urgency, pointing to unfinished projects from the last plan. The standoff leaves essential transit upgrades—and the safety of millions—at risk.

• MTA to Albany Pols: Your 11th-Hour Rejection of the Capital Plan Will Cause an ‘Insurmountable’ Problem, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-30

Albany leaders stopped the MTA’s $68-billion plan. Their move halts new trains, station fixes, and power upgrades. Riders wait. Subways and buses age. Streets stay dangerous. No comment from Heastie or Stewart-Cousins. Advocates warn: delay means risk for millions.

On December 26, 2024, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins blocked the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan, worth $68 billion. The action came via a Christmas Eve letter to MTA CEO Janno Leiber, rejecting the plan and stalling critical transit improvements. The plan, as described, funds 'essential work'—new trains, accessibility, power, and station repairs. Riders Alliance called on Albany to 'fix the subway.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance warned, 'the least-visible projects are the most vulnerable to cuts – but also often the most essential, like new signals and upgrades to power systems and structures.' Neither Heastie nor Stewart-Cousins responded to requests for comment. The rejection delays contract awards for new electric rail cars and locomotives, leaving millions of riders—and vulnerable road users—at risk from crumbling infrastructure and unreliable transit.

• Christmas Sockings: Carl Heastie and Andrea Stewart-Cousins Say ‘No’ to Better Transit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-26

A BMW sedan, driven by a permit holder, tore through Eastchester Road in the Bronx. A 60-year-old man died beneath its wheels. Parked cars shuddered. The street was dark. The driver was distracted. The man’s body bore the crush.

A 60-year-old pedestrian was killed when a BMW sedan, operated by a driver holding only a permit, struck him on Eastchester Road near Givan Avenue in the Bronx. According to the police report, the crash occurred just after midnight, and the street was dark. The report states the driver was inattentive or distracted at the time of the collision. The impact was so forceful that parked cars were damaged. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk when struck, but the police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver’s permit status is noted in the narrative, underscoring a lack of full licensure. The report does not cite any pedestrian actions as contributing factors. The focus remains on the driver’s distraction and permit status, which led to fatal consequences for the man in the roadway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775743, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Gov. Hochul may slash the $68.4-billion MTA capital plan. Transit advocates rage. Riders face crumbling subways, broken promises. The governor holds the knife. The future of safe, reliable transit hangs in the balance. The buck stops with her.

On September 30, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced she might not fill a $33-billion gap in the proposed 2025-2029 MTA capital plan, threatening to shrink the $68.4-billion package approved by the MTA Board. The plan now awaits review by the Capital Plan Review Board, which has 90 days to approve or reject it. The matter centers on whether the governor will force cuts to desperately needed repairs and upgrades. Advocates like Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance demand Hochul fund 'the reliable, accessible, resilient service we've long been denied but that we need and deserve.' Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany calls out Hochul’s record, urging her to cut her own Interborough Express project first if reductions come. The MTA declined comment. The fate of New York’s transit—and the safety of millions who rely on it—rests on this decision.

• Derailed? Gov. Hochul May Rip Up MTA Capital Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-30

A flatbed truck turned left at Bronxwood Avenue. A 64-year-old man crossed with the light. Steel crushed flesh. The truck stopped. The man lay still. The intersection fell silent, marked by violence and the weight of machinery.

A 64-year-old man was killed when a flatbed truck struck him at the intersection of Bronxwood Avenue and East 229th Street in the Bronx, according to the police report. The crash occurred as the truck was making a left turn. The report states, 'A flatbed truck turned left. A 64-year-old man crossed with the light. The front end struck him. His body crushed beneath steel.' The pedestrian was crossing with the signal at the intersection, as explicitly noted in the police data. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' but the narrative and vehicle data confirm the truck's left turn and the pedestrian's lawful crossing. The man suffered fatal crush injuries to his entire body. No driver errors beyond the left turn are specified, but the sequence underscores the lethal risk posed by turning vehicles to people in crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758508, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Steel tore on Bronx Boulevard as a BMW SUV veered and slammed a parked Nissan. A 37-year-old man’s back was crushed in the silence. The street froze. The crash left one injured, the city’s danger exposed again.

According to the police report, at 3:02 a.m. near 3640 Bronx Boulevard, a BMW SUV traveling north veered and struck a parked Nissan sedan. The report states the impact folded steel and left a 37-year-old male driver with crush injuries to his back. He remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The Nissan was parked at the time of the collision, and no other injuries were reported. The evidence in the report underscores the consequences of improper lane usage, as the SUV’s movement directly led to the severe injury of the sedan’s occupant. No victim actions are cited as contributing factors. The crash stands as another instance of systemic road danger in the Bronx.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757079, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

State Sen. Jeremy Cooney calls out Governor Hochul. He demands a 100-day plan to fill the $16.5 billion MTA gap left by her congestion pricing pause. Projects for safer, more accessible transit hang in the balance. Albany leaders mostly stay silent.

On July 24, 2024, State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, new chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, issued a public demand for Governor Hochul to deliver a '100-day plan' to replace the $16.5 billion MTA funding shortfall caused by her cancellation of congestion pricing. In his op-ed, Cooney wrote, 'the time for debating the merits of congestion pricing has passed,' urging the governor to convene finance, labor, and passenger representatives to find a solution. Cooney’s push comes as the MTA faces threats to station accessibility, signal upgrades, and new trains and buses. Other Albany leaders, including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate President Andrea Stewart-Cousins, have offered little response. Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger called Hochul’s move illegal. The bill or action is not numbered, but the committee involved is the Senate Transportation Committee. No direct safety analyst note was provided, but the loss of funding jeopardizes projects vital to vulnerable road users.

• Hochul Must Put Up or Shut Up on Congestion Pricing, New Senate Transportation Chair Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-24

Albany stalls. The MTA faces a $15 billion hole. Lawmakers argue over reviving congestion pricing with a lower toll. Transit hangs in the balance. Streets stay clogged. Riders and walkers wait for answers. No fix. No funding. Danger lingers.

On July 2, 2024, state lawmakers, including Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47), debated the future of congestion pricing and MTA funding. The matter, reported as 'MTA in dark over Gov. Hochul’s talks to revive congestion pricing with lower tolls,' highlights confusion and division. Hoylman-Sigal supports lowering the toll, saying, 'The goal should be mend it don’t end it.' He urges keeping the program alive to save mass transit. Sen. Liz Krueger is open to tweaks if goals are met. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow opposes any revival. The MTA faces a $15 billion shortfall after the program’s pause. Policy experts warn that lowering the toll could weaken congestion relief and transit funding. No clear plan exists. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as gridlock and uncertainty persist.

• MTA in dark over Gov. Hochul’s talks to revive congestion pricing with lower tolls: ‘I don’t know anything’, nypost.com, Published 2024-07-02

Governor Hochul’s halt on congestion pricing slashes $15 billion from the MTA’s capital plan. State Comptroller DiNapoli warns of stalled upgrades, crumbling service, and years of pain for riders. Transit faces deep cuts. Streets stay clogged. Safety and air suffer.

On June 25, 2024, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli issued a report blasting Governor Hochul’s indefinite pause on congestion pricing. The program, set to charge drivers $15 to enter Manhattan’s core, was expected to raise $15 billion for the MTA’s $55-billion capital plan. DiNapoli’s report, titled 'Loss of Congestion Pricing Revenue Leaves MTA With No Good Options,' warns that the MTA 'will be forced to put off badly needed investment in expansion and improvements to the system.' He stressed, 'Those choices will directly affect riders ... for years to come.' NYC Comptroller Brad Lander echoed support for congestion pricing, urging the governor to reconsider price points if it means moving forward. Activists plan to pressure the MTA board to resist the governor’s decision, citing the need to avoid transit cuts and deliver 'major traffic safety, air quality, and cost of living improvements for all New Yorkers.' The loss of funding threatens basic maintenance, reliability, and frequency, with no clear replacement in sight.

• State Comptroller: Loss of Congestion Pricing Revenue Leaves MTA With ‘No Good Options’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-25

Schumer and Heastie back congestion pricing but refuse to fight Hochul’s pause. Both leaders sidestep direct action. The MTA’s lifeline hangs in limbo. Advocates slam their silence. Streets stay dangerous. Cars keep killing. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On June 25, 2024, Senator Chuck Schumer and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie made public statements regarding Governor Hochul’s indefinite pause of New York’s congestion pricing program. The matter, described as 'Power Outage: Schumer, Heastie Won’t Fight Hochul’s Congestion Pricing ‘Pause’,' highlights both leaders’ support for congestion pricing and MTA funding, but neither will challenge the Governor’s decision. Heastie said, 'If you want me to attack the Governor for making a call, I’m sorry I’m not going to do that. I want to get the MTA funded.' Schumer, pressed by a constituent, affirmed his support but refused to publicly pressure Hochul, claiming she 'doesn’t react well to public pressure.' With the MTA board’s plan stalled and federal action pending, the program’s future is uncertain. No safety analyst has assessed the impact, but the continued delay leaves vulnerable road users exposed to the daily threat of traffic violence.

• Power Outage: Schumer, Heastie Won’t Fight Hochul’s Congestion Pricing ‘Pause’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-25

Albany lawmakers passed a bill to quadruple red light cameras in New York City. The cap jumps from 150 to 600 intersections. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie led the move. The street sweeper camera bill died. Streets stay dangerous. Enforcement rises.

On June 7, 2024, the New York State Assembly passed legislation to expand red light cameras from 150 to 600 intersections. The bill, steered by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (District 83), marks a major shift in automated enforcement. The matter summary states: 'State legislators are expected to pass a dramatic expansion of red light cameras at New York City intersections.' Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said, 'People shouldn’t run red lights... when they do that they endanger other people’s lives, and people have died.' Heastie controlled the vote. A separate bill to ticket cars blocking street sweepers failed to reach the floor. Advocates pushed for both measures, but only the camera expansion passed. The next legislative session is in January.

• More red light cameras coming to NYC intersections under newly passed legislation, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-07