McGuinness Bleeds Because City Hall Stalls

Police blocked off a longtime illegal lot under the BQE. Dozens of city employee cars vanished. Metal barriers now guard the plaza. Summonses flew, cars towed. Streets opened for people. The crackdown strikes at driver privilege. Pedestrians and cyclists reclaim space.

On June 24, 2025, NYPD and the 84th Precinct enforced a sweep against illegal placard parking under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at Tillary and Navy streets. The action, coordinated with Council Member Lincoln Restler, followed community complaints. Officers issued 40 summonses and towed 10 vehicles. The NYPD stated, "Following community complaints about illegal parking... the NYPD Transportation Bureau and Council Member Lincoln Restler coordinated... to address the parking condition and clear the area." Council Members Restler and Crystal Hudson represent the district but did not claim credit. The crackdown targets city employees who abused parking privileges for years. Safety analysts note: "Cracking down on placard abuse reduces illegal parking, especially in bike lanes, crosswalks, and sidewalks, improving safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists by reclaiming public space and reducing driver entitlement."

• Police Finally Remove Cars From Plaza in Downtown Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-24

Seventeen-year-old Jhoan Puga died after his moped struck a turning car in Midwood. His passenger was thrown and critically hurt. The crash left trauma and questions in its wake.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-24), Jhoan Puga, 17, was riding a gas moped north on East Eighth St. in Brooklyn when he collided with a Genesis G80 driven by a 71-year-old man making a left turn. The impact threw Puga and his passenger, causing severe injuries. The article states, "Jhoan later died at the hospital." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD collision squad is investigating. The crash highlights risks at intersections and the vulnerability of moped riders in city traffic.

• Teen Killed, Passenger Hurt In Moped Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-24

SUV slammed into cyclist on Manhattan Ave. Brakes failed. Cyclist thrown, leg torn. Metal against flesh. System failed. Blood on the street.

A sport utility vehicle struck a cyclist on Manhattan Ave at Calyer St in Brooklyn. The cyclist, a 31-year-old woman, was injured in her leg and partially ejected from her bike. According to the police report, the SUV's brakes were defective. The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the danger when vehicle systems fail and vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822347 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped slammed into a car’s door in Bay Ridge. The rider died. His passenger broke bones. The driver was drunk, unlicensed, and arrested. The street stayed quiet after the crash. Another life lost to reckless driving.

NY Daily News reported on June 22, 2025, that Joel Mota, 22, died after his moped struck the passenger-side door of a 2013 Acura TSX at Third Ave and 67th St in Brooklyn. The crash happened at 4:45 a.m. Police said the car’s driver, Leslie Moreno, was intoxicated and unlicensed. Mota’s passenger suffered multiple fractures. The article notes, 'Police arrested the Acura driver, 29-year-old Leslie Moreno, for driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired, and being unlicensed.' Moreno was arraigned and released without bail. The case highlights the ongoing risk posed by impaired, unlicensed drivers on city streets.

• Drunk Unlicensed Driver Kills Moped Rider, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-22

SUV door swung open. Cyclist hit hard. Chest injury. Brooklyn street, midnight. Driver inattention listed. Blood on the pavement. Bike mangled. System failed the rider.

A 22-year-old cyclist suffered a chest injury after colliding with the right-side doors of a parked SUV on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' The cyclist was partially ejected and remained conscious at the scene. The report lists no helmet or safety equipment for the cyclist, but the primary factor was driver inattention. The impact left the bike damaged and the rider hurt, underscoring the danger faced by vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822345 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A taxi and two sedans crashed on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Two people injured. Police cite driver distraction and unsafe lane change. Metal twisted. Pain spread. System failed.

A crash involving a taxi and two sedans struck the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Two people, a 74-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, suffered injuries. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' contributed to the collision. The impact left one vehicle demolished and another with heavy rear-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no helmet or signal issues. The crash highlights the danger when drivers lose focus and change lanes unsafely.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821972 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

DOT pushes ahead. Protected bike lanes coming to 31st Street. Community board erupts. Lawmakers back the plan. Business owners protest. City stands with cyclists and pedestrians. Proven safety gains for vulnerable users. Change rolls forward. Streets shift. Lives may be spared.

On June 20, 2025, the Department of Transportation reaffirmed its plan to install protected bike lanes under the elevated tracks on 31st Street in Astoria. The proposal, discussed at a heated community board meeting, remains active and is set for installation after summer repaving. Council Member Tiffany Caban, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas endorsed the plan in a letter, stating it would 'protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers while making our streets safer and less congested.' DOT spokesman Will Livingston said the design improves safety and supports local businesses. Despite opposition from some business owners, the plan moves forward. Safety analysts note: 'Protected bike lanes are proven to reduce injuries and fatalities for cyclists and pedestrians, encourage mode shift, and improve street equity by reallocating space from cars to vulnerable users.'

• DOT Stands By Astoria Bike Lane Plan Despite Foes’ ‘Childish’ Outbursts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-20

A sedan hit a cyclist at Grand Street and Graham Avenue. The cyclist suffered leg injuries. Police cite failure to yield. The driver was unhurt. The street stayed open. The crash left shock and pain.

A sedan and a bicycle collided at Grand Street and Graham Avenue in Brooklyn. The 43-year-old cyclist, a woman, was injured in the knee, lower leg, and foot. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was listed as a contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. The sedan driver, a 27-year-old man, was not injured. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824299 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan door swung open on Grand Street. A cyclist hit it, flew off his bike, and landed hard. Shoulder torn, arm scraped. Police cite passing too closely and passenger distraction.

A cyclist was injured after striking the right-side doors of a parked sedan at 723 Grand Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Passenger Distraction.' The cyclist, a 28-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. A 35-year-old female passenger in the sedan was also involved, with unspecified injuries. The report lists driver errors as contributing factors, highlighting the dangers of close passing and distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824584 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan hit a 17-year-old girl crossing N 6 St at Berry. She suffered arm abrasions. The driver and passenger were unhurt. Police list causes as unspecified. Streets remain hostile to those on foot.

A 17-year-old pedestrian was struck by a sedan while crossing N 6 St at Berry St in Brooklyn. She suffered abrasions to her arm. According to the police report, the crash involved a sedan traveling west, with no damage reported to the vehicle. The driver and a passenger, both 60-year-old men, were uninjured. Police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk. No driver errors were specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821971 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV driver swung open door. Cyclist struck. Head injury. Bleeding. Police cite failure to yield, distraction. Brooklyn street, danger sharp as glass.

A cyclist suffered a head injury and minor bleeding after colliding with the left side doors of a parked SUV on Bayard Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved a 2023 Tesla SUV and a bike. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. No other serious injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821819 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Taxi slammed into motorcycle at Harrison and Lynch. Rider ejected, bleeding from head. Both drivers hurt. Police cite traffic control ignored.

A taxi and a motorcycle collided at Harrison Avenue and Lynch Street in Brooklyn. The motorcycle rider, a 61-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe head bleeding. The taxi driver, a 46-year-old woman, reported back pain and shock. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The motorcycle rider was unlicensed but wore a helmet. Both vehicles were going straight. No pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan turned left across Greenpoint Avenue. An e-bike rider went straight. Metal struck flesh. The cyclist took the hit in the shoulder. Shock followed. Driver inattention and a bad turn set the stage. The street stayed silent.

A crash on Greenpoint Avenue at Humboldt Street in Brooklyn involved a sedan and an e-bike. The 34-year-old male cyclist suffered a shoulder injury and shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Turning Improperly' contributed to the collision. The sedan, driven by a 61-year-old man, was making a left turn when it struck the e-bike, which was traveling straight. The report lists no errors by the cyclist. The impact left the cyclist with a contusion and upper arm injury. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to pay attention and turn without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820093 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City will rip out a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The lane calmed a deadly stretch. Drivers still parked illegally. Children darted into traffic. Now, cyclists and pedestrians face more danger. Policy shifts, safety slips. Streets stay lethal.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 13, 2025, that Mayor Adams will remove the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue, a corridor known for high crash rates. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'before this bike lane from 2018 to 2022 this is the area that had the second largest numbers of pedestrian fatalities and crashes in the city.' The lane faced opposition from some Hasidic leaders, citing children running into the lane from illegally parked cars and buses. Despite tweaks—school bus zones, daylighted corners, no standing areas—drivers kept parking illegally, blocking sightlines and endangering children. The city rarely removes protected lanes, but Adams acted after political pressure. Moving the lane to Classon Avenue, as some demand, would force cyclists onto a chaotic BQE ramp. The decision highlights persistent driver violations and policy gaps that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Adams Removes Bedford Avenue Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-13