Flatbush and Fulton don’t forgive

Jul 18 - Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

Jul 18 - Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

Jul 17 - A tractor truck struck a parked sedan on Nevins Street in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver and front passenger suffered neck injuries. The truck’s right front bumper made impact. Both sedan occupants wore seat belts and suffered whiplash.

According to the police report, a 2018 Mack tractor truck traveling south collided with a parked 2020 Infiniti sedan on Nevins Street, Brooklyn. The truck’s right front bumper hit the sedan. The sedan’s driver, 55, and front passenger, 58, both conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses, suffered neck injuries described as whiplash. The report lists "Oversized Vehicle" and "Passing Too Closely" as contributing factors. The truck driver was licensed in New Jersey and was going straight ahead before the crash. The sedan was stationary at the time. No ejections occurred. The crash highlights dangers posed by large vehicles passing too close to parked cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646907 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - A 57-year-old male bicyclist was struck on Washington Street by a southbound SUV making a left turn. The cyclist suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee and lower leg. The driver was distracted. The cyclist remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Washington Street was hit by a southbound SUV making a left turn. The SUV's center front end struck the cyclist, causing abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from his bike. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper attention during the turn. The bicyclist's actions were also noted as a factor, but no helmet or signaling issues were mentioned. The SUV driver was licensed and driving a 2020 model vehicle. The crash caused damage to the SUV's front end and the bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645604 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 14 - A motorcycle and an SUV collided on York Street late at night. The motorcycle driver, wearing a helmet, suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. Both vehicles struck each other frontally and on the left quarter panel. Failure to yield caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 43-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured in a collision with a sport utility vehicle on York Street. The motorcycle driver sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was not ejected and remained conscious. Both drivers failed to yield the right-of-way, which the report lists as contributing factors. The motorcycle was traveling west, and the SUV was traveling south, both going straight ahead before impact. The motorcycle's center front end and the SUV's left front quarter panel were damaged. The motorcycle driver was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646598 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 13 - A 21-year-old man on an e-scooter was partially ejected and injured at Lafayette Avenue. The sedan made a left turn and struck the scooter’s front center. The rider suffered abrasions and leg injuries. Driver distraction was a factor.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn collided with an e-scooter traveling straight west on Lafayette Avenue. The e-scooter rider, a 21-year-old male, was partially ejected and sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including abrasions. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-scooter and the right front quarter panel of the sedan. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. The rider was not wearing any safety equipment. The sedan driver’s failure to yield while making a left turn led to the collision. The rider was conscious after the crash but injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4646886 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 10 - A Brooklyn family sues the city after a police van, driven recklessly by officers, killed Ronald Smith. The van sped, ran red lights, and struck Smith as he panhandled in the rain. The city faces charges of wrongful death and calls for accountability.

On July 10, 2023, the family of Ronald Smith filed a wrongful death lawsuit against New York City in Brooklyn Supreme Court. The suit alleges that Officers Orkhan Mamedov and Evan Siegel killed Smith by 'driving recklessly at nearly double the posted speed limit, at night, running red lights, in the wrong lane, with visibility limited by rain ... without justification or cause.' Smith was struck and killed while panhandling on Eastern Parkway. The officers, transporting prisoners, had no emergency but rushed to beat a shift change. Attorney David Rankin, representing the family, criticized the city's harsh treatment of victims' families, saying, 'The City of New York, in every instance where an employee kills somebody, puts the family and loved ones though a rigorous and unnecessarily brutal process.' Attorney General Letitia James cleared the officers of criminal charges but condemned their actions and called for NYPD procedural reform. The NYPD and city officials declined to comment further, while the family seeks both accountability and compensation.

• Family of Man Killed by Recklessly Driving Cop Sues City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-10

Jul 9 - A moped and sedan collided head-on on Willoughby Avenue. The moped driver, 29, suffered a crushed neck. He sat upright, silent, in shock. The street was empty. No skid marks. Engines cooled in the dark.

A moped and a sedan struck head-on on Willoughby Avenue. The moped driver, age 29, was injured with a crushed neck and showed signs of shock. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight ahead when they collided. The report notes the moped driver wore no helmet. No specific driver errors were listed; contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified.' The street was empty, with no skid marks or other signs of evasive action. The crash left the moped driver upright and silent, as engines cooled in the night.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4647145 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 9 - SUV slammed into parked car on Clermont Avenue. Driver, woman, 59, hurt with back pain and whiplash. Police cite faulty accelerator and brakes. No one else injured. Metal twisted. System failed.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old woman drove her SUV south on Clermont Avenue in Brooklyn and struck a parked SUV while making a right turn. She suffered back pain and whiplash. The report lists 'Accelerator Defective' and 'Brakes Defective' as contributing factors. The moving SUV's right front bumper and the parked SUV's left side doors were damaged. No other people were involved. The driver was conscious at the scene and wore a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644431 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 7 - City’s BQE plan adds new highway ramps, pushing more traffic onto Hicks Street. Politicians and experts slam the move. They say it copies old mistakes, ignores safety, and brings pollution closer to homes. Bike lanes appear, but real safety gains remain unclear.

On July 7, 2023, the Department of Transportation unveiled redesign concepts for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway’s Atlantic Avenue interchange. The plans, discussed in committee, propose new highway off-ramps on Hicks Street. The matter summary states: 'DOT proposals rely on outdated approaches by building new highway ramps instead of eliminating them.' Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon criticized the plan for increasing traffic and pollution near homes, urging a new approach: 'They need to go back to the drawing board.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes called out the reliance on old infrastructure, saying, 'The proposals should not be doubling down on the infrastructure and transportation of the past.' Former DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman said, 'They don't improve safety, they don't improve traffic, and they certainly don't improve any of the surrounding communities.' All concepts include a buffered or protected bike lane on Atlantic Avenue, but the impact on vulnerable road users remains uncertain.

• DOT Plan for BQE’s Atlantic Ave. Interchange is ‘The Robert Moses Playbook’: Pols and Experts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-07

Jul 7 - City’s BQE plan adds new highway ramps, pushing more traffic onto Hicks Street. Politicians and experts slam the move. They say it copies old mistakes, ignores safety, and brings pollution closer to homes. Bike lanes appear, but real safety gains remain unclear.

On July 7, 2023, the Department of Transportation unveiled redesign concepts for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway’s Atlantic Avenue interchange. The plans, discussed in committee, propose new highway off-ramps on Hicks Street. The matter summary states: 'DOT proposals rely on outdated approaches by building new highway ramps instead of eliminating them.' Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon criticized the plan for increasing traffic and pollution near homes, urging a new approach: 'They need to go back to the drawing board.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes called out the reliance on old infrastructure, saying, 'The proposals should not be doubling down on the infrastructure and transportation of the past.' Former DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman said, 'They don't improve safety, they don't improve traffic, and they certainly don't improve any of the surrounding communities.' All concepts include a buffered or protected bike lane on Atlantic Avenue, but the impact on vulnerable road users remains uncertain.

• DOT Plan for BQE’s Atlantic Ave. Interchange is ‘The Robert Moses Playbook’: Pols and Experts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-07

Jul 6 - A 22-year-old man driving a sedan struck a parked car on Jay Street. The impact hit the left front bumper of the parked vehicle. The driver suffered a concussion and back injury. Improper lane usage caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male driver was involved in a collision on Jay Street in Brooklyn. The driver, unlicensed, was operating a sedan traveling north when he struck a parked vehicle. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the parked sedan. The driver sustained a concussion and back injury but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as the contributing factor to the crash. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The parked vehicle was damaged on its left front bumper. The driver was not using any safety equipment at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644806 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 4 - A 40-year-old woman driving an SUV rear-ended a parked SUV on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. She suffered neck injuries and shock. Police cited following too closely as the cause. The driver was restrained and not ejected.

According to the police report, a 40-year-old female driver traveling west on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway struck a parked SUV from behind. The collision caused left rear bumper damage to the moving vehicle and front end damage to the parked SUV. The driver, an occupant of the moving SUV, was injured with neck pain and experienced shock. She was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The parked vehicle had no occupants. The driver was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead before the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4644430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 2 - A sedan with faulty brakes crashed on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The front passenger, a 24-year-old woman, suffered a facial bruise. Mechanical failure, not human error, caused the injury.

According to the police report, a 2008 sedan traveling east on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway made a right turn and crashed, striking with its center front end. The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the contributing factor. The front passenger, a 24-year-old woman, was injured with a facial contusion. She was conscious, not ejected, and secured by a harness. The driver was licensed in New York. The crash resulted from mechanical failure, not passenger action. No other contributing factors or victim errors are noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4642457 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 29 - A bike sped north on Kent Avenue. It struck a man in a marked crosswalk. The impact bruised his knee and foot. Unsafe speed and failure to yield caused the crash. The street stayed loud. The man stayed conscious.

According to the police report, a northbound bike on Kent Avenue struck a male pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk at Clymer Street. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors by the bike operator. The point of impact was the bike's center front end. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No mention of safety equipment or signals was made. The crash resulted from the bike operator's speed and failure to yield, with no fault assigned to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643555 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 28 - Two bikes slammed head-on on Tillary Street. Steel met steel. An 18-year-old boy fell, face torn, blood pooling on the dark pavement. No helmets. The street stayed silent. Driver inexperience marked the night. Flesh broke. The city watched.

Two bicyclists collided head-on on Tillary Street. An 18-year-old male rider was left unconscious, suffering severe bleeding and facial injuries. According to the police report, 'Two bikes collided head-on in the dark. No helmets. No warning. An 18-year-old boy lay unconscious, his face torn, bleeding on the pavement.' The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. No other vehicles were involved. Both bikes were traveling straight, one east and one west. The data notes that neither rider wore a helmet, but this is only mentioned after the primary cause: driver inexperience. The crash left the street quiet, marked by blood and broken flesh.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4641690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 28 - A 50-year-old woman was hit by a backing SUV in Brooklyn. She suffered bruises and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk.

According to the police report, a 50-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2017 Jeep SUV backing east on De Kalb Avenue struck her. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The report lists driver errors including Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Driver Inattention/Distraction. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. The impact occurred at the center back end of the vehicle. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle alone. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4641707 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 27 - A 9-year-old boy was struck while crossing Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV, parked with damage on its left side doors, and a sedan traveling east collided. The child suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries. The boy was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 9-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was hit near a parked SUV with damage to its left side doors and a sedan traveling east with front-end damage. The child sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors for the crash. The pedestrian was conscious and complained of abrasions. The vehicles involved were a 2014 SUV and a 2012 sedan. No helmet or signaling issues were noted, and no driver violations were recorded in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4641432 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 25 - A bus struck a 19-year-old bicyclist on Bergen Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered bruises and an elbow injury. Police cited improper lane usage by the bus. The bicyclist wore a helmet and remained conscious after the crash.

According to the police report, a bus traveling west on Bergen Street collided with a bicyclist also heading west. The point of impact was the left side doors of the bus and the right side of the bicycle. The 19-year-old male bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, indicating the bus driver failed to maintain proper lane discipline. The bicyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No damage was reported to the bus, while the bicycle sustained damage to its right side doors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640952 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 23 - SUVs kill. Their bulk crushes bodies and streets. Lawmakers want heavier vehicles to pay more. Revenue would fund safer roads. The bill follows a grim rise in deaths, especially among children. The city bleeds. The council moves. The fight is on.

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill to increase registration fees for heavy vehicles and SUVs in New York. The proposal, announced June 23, 2023, aims to direct new revenue toward street safety projects. The report behind the bill states: 'Injuries from crashes involving large vehicles increased by 91 percent and fatalities by 75 percent between 2016 and 2019.' Mamdani said, 'This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children.' Gounardes called out the public cost of 'mini-tanks.' The bill responds to data showing nearly half of children killed on city streets were struck by drivers of large vehicles, rising to 80 percent in 2022. Lawmakers call this common-sense action to address the deadly toll of oversized cars.

• Report Provides More Reasons to Rein in Supersized SUVs (As If You Needed More), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-23