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

Feb 8 - Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 8 - Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Feb 7 - A bus traveling east on Grand Street struck a parked sedan’s left rear quarter panel. The impact injured a 33-year-old female passenger in the sedan, causing contusions to her elbow and lower arm. The bus sustained damage to its right rear quarter panel.

According to the police report, a 2021 New Flyer bus was traveling eastbound on Grand Street in Brooklyn when it collided with a parked 2016 Hyundai sedan. The point of impact was the left rear quarter panel of the sedan and the right rear quarter panel of the bus. The sedan had one occupant, a 33-year-old female passenger, who sustained contusions and bruises to her elbow and lower arm but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists the contributing factor as "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion," but no driver errors were explicitly cited. The bus driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The collision caused damage to both vehicles’ rear quarter panels, highlighting risks posed by vehicle proximity and movement near parked cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4701829 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 3 - Two sedans collided on Driggs Avenue in Brooklyn when one driver failed to yield and followed too closely. The impact injured a 56-year-old male driver, causing back injuries and shock. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in the northbound crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:05 on Driggs Avenue in Brooklyn involving two northbound sedans. The driver of one sedan, a 56-year-old man, was injured with back injuries and was in shock but not ejected. The report cites 'Following Too Closely' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors attributed to the driver. Both vehicles sustained center front-end damage, indicating a rear-end collision. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt and harness, and no pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The report highlights driver errors as the cause, with no victim fault or external factors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700211 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 2 - Two SUVs collided at 2:45 AM on Johnson Avenue, Brooklyn. The driver of one vehicle suffered chest injuries and shock. Police cited traffic control disregard and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 2:45 AM on Johnson Avenue near Stewart Avenue in Brooklyn. Two station wagons/SUVs traveling west and north collided, impacting the right front bumper of one vehicle and the left front bumper of the other. The 32-year-old male driver of one SUV was injured, sustaining chest injuries and shock, and reported complaints of pain or nausea. The report explicitly cites 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors to the collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The report does not attribute any fault or contributing factors to the injured driver beyond these driver errors. Vehicle damage was noted on the front quarters of both SUVs, confirming the point of impact. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699998 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 1 - A van changing lanes unsafely struck the left front bumper of an SUV traveling west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The SUV driver, a 53-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at 11:10. A van traveling west was changing lanes when it impacted the right front quarter panel of the van and the left front bumper of the SUV. The contributing factor cited was "Unsafe Lane Changing" by the van driver. The SUV driver, a 53-year-old male occupant, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma but was not ejected and remained conscious. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the SUV driver or any pedestrian involvement. The collision highlights the dangers posed by improper lane changes on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699483 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 31 - Five years after passage, the city’s commercial waste overhaul crawls forward. Only one zone starts in 2024. Fewer trucks, fewer miles, but delays keep danger rolling. Streets still wait for safer rigs. Cyclists and pedestrians remain exposed.

Bill creating the Commercial Waste Zone program, sponsored by Antonio Reynoso, passed in 2019 after deadly crashes involving private haulers. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced on January 31, 2024, that only one of twenty zones—Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst—will launch this year. The law aims to cut truck miles in half, add backup cameras, GPS, and safety training. DSNY spokesperson Joshua Goodman said contracts target safety and worker protections. Reynoso urged ongoing oversight, saying, 'It is important that DSNY continuously reassess implementation and course correct as needed.' Yet, delays persist, especially on installing guard rails to prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being swept under trucks. Justin Wood of NYLPI voiced concern over the slow rollout. The program promises fewer trucks and safer streets, but for now, most neighborhoods wait.

• Long-Delayed Business Waste Program to Start Later This Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-31

Jan 30 - Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

Jan 28 - A sedan struck a parked box truck on Johnson Avenue. The sedan driver suffered a fractured upper arm. Police cite driver inattention and unsafe speed. The truck was stationary. Metal crumpled. Pain followed.

According to the police report, a westbound sedan hit the left rear bumper of a parked box truck on Johnson Avenue in Brooklyn at 2:00 a.m. The 30-year-old male sedan driver suffered a fractured, distorted, and dislocated upper arm. He was conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The box truck was stationary before impact and sustained damage to its left rear quarter panel. The sedan's front end was crushed. The crash resulted directly from the driver's distraction and excessive speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698501 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 28 - A 29-year-old woman lost control of her motorscooter on Manhattan Avenue. Speed too high, pavement slick, she hit the ground hard. Blood pooled on cold asphalt. No helmet. The street was empty, the night silent.

A 29-year-old woman riding a KYMC motorscooter suffered a severe head injury after losing control on Manhattan Avenue, according to the police report. The crash occurred just before 1 a.m. The report states the driver was traveling at 'unsafe speed' and encountered 'pavement slippery' conditions. The narrative describes her skidding out, hitting the ground hard, and bleeding from the head. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor, with 'Pavement Slippery' also noted. The woman was not wearing a helmet, as documented in the report, but this detail appears after the driver error of unsafe speed. No other vehicles or people were involved. The scene was empty, the crash unfolding in isolation.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700210 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 25 - A taxi and FDNY ambulance collided during left turns on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn. The taxi driver suffered neck injuries and shock. Police cited driver inattention and other vehicular factors as causes. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:10 on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn. Both vehicles, a taxi and an FDNY ambulance, were making left turns when the collision happened. The taxi was struck on the right side doors, sustaining damage there, while the ambulance impacted with its right front bumper but showed no damage. The taxi driver, a 48-year-old male occupant, was injured with neck pain and reported shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, indicating driver errors on one or both vehicles. No pedestrian or cyclist involvement or victim behaviors were noted. The focus remains on driver errors and systemic vehicular risks in this collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698103 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 25 - A box truck struck a parked SUV from behind on Roebling Street in Brooklyn. The impact injured a 16-year-old female passenger in the SUV, causing whiplash and whole-body pain. Driver distraction and passing too closely contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, at 11:37 AM on Roebling Street in Brooklyn, a box truck traveling west rear-ended a parked SUV. The collision caused center front-end damage to the truck and center back-end damage to the SUV. A 16-year-old female occupant in the SUV suffered injuries described as whiplash and entire body pain, with injury severity rated at level 3. The report cites 'Passing Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The injured passenger was not ejected and was conscious after the collision. The truck driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead prior to impact. The SUV was stationary at the time of the crash. The data highlights driver errors in maintaining safe distance and attention, leading to the injury of a vulnerable passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698976 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 24 - A 28-year-old woman crossing outside a crosswalk was struck by a sedan making a left turn in Brooklyn. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, injuring the pedestrian’s lower leg and foot. The impact occurred at the vehicle’s right front bumper.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2023 Acura sedan, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her with its right front bumper. The pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk or signal at the time of impact. The report identifies the primary contributing factor as driver inattention or distraction. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported to be in shock. The collision occurred in Brooklyn near North 4 Place at 9:38 AM. No pedestrian fault or contributing factors were cited in the report. The driver’s failure to maintain attention while executing the turn directly led to the pedestrian’s injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698985 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - A sedan making a left on Leonard Street passed too close and struck a 64-year-old woman crossing with the signal. She suffered injuries and shock. Driver failed to keep safe distance.

According to the police report, a 64-year-old woman was crossing Leonard Street with the signal near Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn when a sedan made a left turn and passed too closely. The report lists 'Passing Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian suffered injuries to her entire body and was in shock. The driver was licensed and showed no vehicle damage. The police report highlights the driver’s error in not maintaining safe clearance, which led to the pedestrian’s injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697514 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - A sedan driver suffered full-body injuries after a collision on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The crash involved a tractor truck and was caused by improper lane usage. The driver was restrained but left in shock with serious injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:09 on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway involving a sedan and a tractor truck. The sedan driver, a 46-year-old woman, was injured with bodily trauma affecting her entire body and was in shock. The report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor to the collision. The sedan was changing lanes westbound when it was struck on the right side doors by the tractor truck traveling straight ahead. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The truck driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. The primary cause identified is the sedan driver's improper lane change, highlighting systemic dangers of lane discipline on this expressway.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4697370 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 23 - Advocates stormed Albany for Sammy’s Law. They want New York City to set its own speed limits. Last year, Speaker Heastie blocked a vote. Mothers starved in protest. Lawmakers stalled. Now, survivors and families demand action. Data shows lower speeds save lives.

On January 23, 2024, advocates launched a renewed push for Sammy’s Law in Albany. The bill, which would let New York City control its own speed limits, stalled last year when Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to allow a vote, despite majority support. Brooklyn Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, a strong supporter, noted, 'Even [lawmakers] who had City Council members from their districts supporting the bill were still not interested.' Queens Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, recently injured by a driver, said, 'Had the car been going faster ... I might not be here.' Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets highlighted broad support: 'We have organizations from across the city supporting Sammy’s Law.' City data shows a 36% drop in pedestrian deaths after the 2014 speed limit reduction. The bill remains in limbo, but advocates are not backing down.

• This Year’s Mettle: The Push for Sammy’s Law Begins — With or Without Carl Heastie, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-23

Jan 18 - Two sedans collided on Graham Avenue in Brooklyn at noon. The driver of the rear vehicle suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention and following too closely as causes. Both vehicles were traveling southbound at impact.

According to the police report, a rear-end collision occurred on Graham Avenue in Brooklyn at 12:00 PM involving two sedans traveling southbound. The driver of the rear sedan, a 33-year-old male, sustained back injuries and complained of whiplash. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors for the crash. The front vehicle was impacted at its center front end while the rear vehicle struck the center back end. Both drivers were licensed, with the rear driver holding a Florida license and the front driver a New York license. The injured driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The police report focuses on driver errors, specifically inattention and unsafe following distance, as the primary causes of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4696175 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 17 - Seven Brooklyn officials urge DOT to clear cars from corners. They want boulders, planters, and bike corrals—not just paint. Their call follows deadly crashes. They press the city to use state law and federal funds. DOT promises review. Advocates back the push.

On January 17, 2024, seven Brooklyn elected officials—including Council Member Shahana Hanif, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Members Marcela Mitaynes, Jo Anne Simon, Robert Carroll, and State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Andrew Gounardes—issued a joint letter to the NYC Department of Transportation. They called for 'universal daylighting with hardened materials such as boulders, planters, and bike corrals' at intersections. The officials cited recent fatal crashes and urged the city to opt into a state law banning parking within 20 feet of corners. They want federal funds used for these changes. The group opposes DOT’s slow pace and reliance on paint, demanding physical barriers. Community board leaders and advocates support the move. DOT says it will review the letter and remains committed to evidence-based daylighting.

• Seven Brooklyn Electeds Join Growing Calls For Universal Daylighting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-17