Morgan Avenue: Blood on the Asphalt, Silence from City Hall

Feb 20 - Two sedans collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. One driver, age 34, suffered shoulder and arm injuries. Police cite following too closely and other vehicular factors. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at 18:37. The collision was caused by 'Following Too Closely' and 'Other Vehicular' factors. The impact struck the center back end of one sedan. A 34-year-old male driver was injured, suffering shoulder and upper arm trauma and whiplash. He remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report highlights driver errors, including unsafe following distance, as primary causes. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794344 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 18 - A box truck lurched from parking on Bushwick Ave. A motorcycle struck its side. The rider, forty-seven, flew from the seat. Blood pooled on the street. His leg was torn open. The truck stood, unmarked, silent, unmoved.

According to the police report, a box truck started from parking on Bushwick Ave near Johnson Ave in Brooklyn. As the truck pulled out, a motorcycle traveling straight ahead collided with its side. The motorcyclist, age 47, was thrown from his vehicle and suffered severe lacerations to his leg, described as 'knee-lower leg foot' injuries, and was partially ejected but remained conscious. The report notes the truck sustained no damage, while the motorcycle's left front bumper took the impact. Both vehicles list 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, which, in this context, points to the truck's movement from parking as a critical action preceding the crash. The police narrative underscores the violence of the impact and the aftermath, with blood spreading on the blacktop. No driver errors beyond 'Other Vehicular' are specified, and no victim behavior is cited as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793524 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 18 - A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 18 - Senators move to guard bike lanes. Cameras will catch drivers who block or invade. The city’s cyclists and walkers get a shot at safer streets. No more hiding behind the wheel.

Senate bill S 5008, now in sponsorship, aims to launch a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced February 18, 2025, sits in committee. Its summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal leads, joined by Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, Jessica Ramos, and Julia Salazar. The bill targets drivers who block or misuse bike lanes, using cameras to enforce the rules. The move puts pressure on the city to protect cyclists and pedestrians from daily danger.

• File S 5008, Open States, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 18 - Brooklyn’s Community Board 15 killed a Sheepshead Bay rezoning, citing rampant illegal parking—even by police. The board demanded more parking, ignoring transit and non-drivers. Council Member Vernikov opposed the project. More parking means more cars, more danger for people on foot and bike.

On February 18, 2025, Brooklyn Community Board 15 rejected a rezoning proposal at 2510 Coney Island Ave. The board’s vote came after the developer slashed housing units and promised a one-to-one parking ratio. The official matter focused on 'excessive illegal parking—including by the local police precinct.' CB15 Chair Theresa Scavo said, 'If we allow this rezoning every property owner on that block will continue to do the same thing, causing more backups and more traffic.' Council Member Inna Vernikov, through her legislative director, voiced strong opposition, prioritizing parking over new housing. Borough President Antonio Reynoso criticized the parking mandate, warning it 'traps neighborhoods in car dependent development patterns.' Advocates argued the board ignored transit options and the needs of non-drivers. The City Council is expected to reject the project, blocking new homes and locking in car dominance.

• Too Much Illegal Parking Prompts Community Board to Reject New Housing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 18 - Senators move to guard bike lanes. Cameras will catch drivers who block or invade. The city’s cyclists and walkers get a shot at safer streets. No more hiding behind the wheel.

Senate bill S 5008, now in sponsorship, aims to launch a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced February 18, 2025, sits in committee. Its summary reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of bicycle lanes and/or protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal leads, joined by Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, Jessica Ramos, and Julia Salazar. The bill targets drivers who block or misuse bike lanes, using cameras to enforce the rules. The move puts pressure on the city to protect cyclists and pedestrians from daily danger.

• File S 5008, Open States, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 17 - A 30-year-old male bicyclist suffered facial contusions in a crash on Kent Avenue, Brooklyn. The cyclist was conscious and not ejected. Police report lists unspecified contributing factors but no driver errors or other vehicles involved.

According to the police report, a single bicyclist was involved in a crash on Kent Avenue in Brooklyn at 12:10. The 30-year-old male bicyclist was the driver of the bike traveling north, going straight ahead when the crash occurred. The point of impact was the center front end of the bike, which sustained damage. The bicyclist suffered a contusion and bruise to the face, classified as injury severity 3, and remained conscious and not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any driver errors or involvement of other vehicles. No safety equipment was used by the bicyclist. The data focuses on the injury and crash details without attributing fault or noting victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795396 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 15 - Sedan veered on Williamsburg Bridge. Taxi struck head-on. Sedan driver hurt, chest and internal injuries. Police cite unsafe lane change, distraction. Metal twisted. Lives changed.

According to the police report, a sedan and a taxi collided head-on on the Williamsburg Bridge at 13:16. The sedan, heading west, changed lanes and struck the eastbound taxi. The sedan driver, a 43-year-old man, suffered chest trauma and internal injuries. Police list 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as causes. Both vehicles took heavy front-end damage. The taxi was traveling straight when hit. The report highlights driver errors and does not mention any fault by those injured or any pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792989 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 13 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Feb 12 - A 37-year-old woman working in the roadway was struck by a vehicle traveling straight ahead on Broadway in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. Driver inattention was cited as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured on Broadway in Brooklyn at 11:59 AM. The 37-year-old female pedestrian was working in the roadway when she was struck by a vehicle traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, with an injury severity rated as moderate (3). The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or pedestrian behaviors were cited. The vehicle had no occupants other than the driver, and the driver’s license status or jurisdiction was not specified. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in Brooklyn’s roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792186 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 12 - A pick-up truck turned left and struck a woman and child crossing with the signal in Brooklyn. Both suffered leg injuries and shock. Driver failed to yield and turned improperly. Blood on the street. System failed them.

According to the police report, a 2024 Chevrolet pick-up truck made a left turn near Division Avenue in Brooklyn at 9:00 AM and struck two pedestrians—a 37-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy—who were crossing with the signal. Both suffered injuries to their knees, lower legs, and feet, along with minor bleeding and shock. The report cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way and improper turning as contributing factors. The impact was at the center front end of the truck. The pedestrians were in the crosswalk, following the signal. The driver’s errors led to their injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 11 - A man flew from his TEYIN on Manhattan Avenue. Metal buckled. Blood spilled. His knee shattered. He swerved for a car that never struck him. The street stayed hard and indifferent. He remained conscious, pain flooding the winter dusk.

According to the police report, a 55-year-old man driving a TEYIN southbound near 783 Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn was ejected from his vehicle after swerving in reaction to an uninvolved vehicle. The narrative states, 'He swerved for a ghost — a car that never touched him.' The crash left the left front of the vehicle crumpled and resulted in the driver suffering a shattered knee and severe bleeding. The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the primary contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The man was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. No other vehicles made contact, and no other injuries were reported. The incident underscores the danger posed by sudden evasive maneuvers and the unpredictable hazards drivers introduce to city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796851 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 11 - Two SUVs stopped in traffic were struck from behind by a garbage truck traveling east on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Both SUV drivers suffered neck and head injuries, conscious and restrained, as the truck's front end impacted their rear ends.

According to the police report, at 7:17 AM on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, a garbage truck traveling east struck two stopped SUVs from behind. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to vehicle operation. Both SUV drivers, aged 44 and 35, were injured with neck and head trauma respectively, conscious and wearing lap belts. The truck driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of the truck against the center back ends of the SUVs. The collision caused internal complaints but no ejections. The report does not specify driver errors beyond the general vehicular factor, but the rear-end nature of the crash highlights failure to maintain safe distance or control by the truck driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 10 - A bicyclist suffered full-body contusions after an SUV failed to yield right-of-way in Brooklyn. Both vehicles traveled east, colliding at the bike’s left side. The cyclist remained conscious but injured, with no helmet reported.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in Brooklyn near Johnson Avenue at 7:00 PM. A bicyclist traveling east was struck on the left side doors by an SUV also traveling east. The report cites "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver did not yield properly. The bicyclist, a 42-year-old male, sustained injuries to his entire body, described as contusions and bruises, but was not ejected and remained conscious. The cyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. Vehicle damage was not reported on either the bike or the SUV. The collision highlights driver error in yielding and the vulnerability of bicyclists in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792993 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 10 - Two sedans collided on Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn, injuring a 49-year-old male driver. The impact struck the right side doors of one vehicle and the front center of the other. Failure to yield right-of-way was cited as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, at 18:05 on Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn, two sedans collided while both were traveling east. The impact occurred on the right side doors of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. The driver of one sedan, a 49-year-old male, suffered injuries to his entire body including whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor to the crash. Both drivers were licensed and operating vehicles registered in New York and New Jersey. No victim behaviors or pedestrian involvement were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793723 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 6 - DOT refuses to commit to a road diet for Atlantic Avenue. Council Members Hudson and Ossé demand urgent redesign. Residents fear crossing. Four dead, 473 injured in three years. DOT wants a two-year study. Advocates call the delay deadly. The danger remains.

On February 6, 2025, the City Council held a hearing on the safety of Atlantic Avenue. The Department of Transportation (DOT) would not commit to a 'road diet' or redesign for the deadly 13-block Brooklyn stretch, pending a traffic study that could take two years and requires Council funding. Council Members Crystal Hudson and Chi Ossé, along with Borough President Antonio Reynoso, demanded a fully funded redesign, calling Atlantic Avenue 'one of the most dangerous corridors in the entire borough.' Residents testified about fear and danger from speeding cars and blind turns. From 2021 to 2024, four people died and 473 were injured in 831 crashes. Advocates and lawmakers condemned DOT's reluctance, calling it emblematic of citywide failures. The rezoning plan, which could add thousands of residents, now moves to the full Council.

• DOT: Safety Improvements on Atlantic Avenue? Wait Two More Years, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-06

Feb 5 - Crystal Hudson backs the Atlantic Avenue rezoning plan. She wants strong tenant protections, affordable housing, and safer streets. The plan cuts lanes, adds metered parking, and targets deadly intersections. Community boards demand more. Residents fear displacement. The fight for safety and equity continues.

On February 5, 2025, Council Member Crystal Hudson (District 35) expressed support for the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, a rezoning proposal for central Brooklyn. The plan, conditionally endorsed by Community Boards 3 and 8, aims to create 4,600 apartments, protect manufacturing jobs, and improve street safety. The matter summary states the plan 'aims to bring nearly 4,600 new apartments, safeguard manufacturing space, and enhance pedestrian safety and infrastructure.' Hudson praised Borough President Reynoso’s recommendations, emphasizing 'strong manufacturing requirements, affordable housing, tenant protections, street safety, and workforce opportunities.' She called for a 'robust redesign of Atlantic Avenue that incorporates street safety improvements.' The plan includes a 'road diet' to reduce lanes, more metered parking, and safety upgrades at dangerous intersections. Residents and advocates raised concerns about displacement, legal protections, and infrastructure strain. The plan’s fate now rests with the city council and administration.

• Reynoso endorses Atlantic Avenue plan, calls for stronger tenant protections, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-02-05

Feb 4 - Senate bill S 4421 seeks a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. Michael Gianaris leads. Robert Jackson, John Liu, Julia Salazar join. The move could shift riders from cars to buses. Status: sponsorship.

Senate bill S 4421, now at the sponsorship stage, proposes a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'Provides a fare-free bus pilot program in New York City for one year, subject to appropriations.' Michael Gianaris sponsors, with Robert Jackson, John Liu, and Julia Salazar as co-sponsors. Introduced on February 4, 2025, the bill awaits committee review. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The pilot could change how New Yorkers move, but its effect on street safety remains unstudied.

• File S 4421, Open States, Published 2025-02-04

Feb 3 - SUV rear-ends sedan on Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Sedan driver, 62, suffers head and internal injuries. Police cite following too closely. Impact leaves driver in shock. Systemic danger on city highways persists.

According to the police report, an SUV struck a sedan from behind on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at 8:45 PM. The 62-year-old male sedan driver suffered head and internal injuries and was left in shock. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The sedan's left rear bumper and the SUV's front were damaged. Both drivers were licensed and traveling westbound. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to maintain safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791481 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19