Five Dead in a Year. Still No Action.

Lawmakers blasted city officials for letting trash haulers with deadly records win new contracts. Council grilled DSNY for picking low bids over safety. Victims’ lives lost in the math. Oversight weak. Dangerous firms keep rolling. Streets stay risky for all.

On June 4, 2024, the City Council held an oversight hearing on commercial waste zone implementation and contractor selection. The hearing spotlighted the Commercial Waste Zones law, which aims to cut crashes by limiting private trash haulers in each zone. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, author of the 2019 reform, and Council Member Shaun Abreu led the charge, questioning why companies like Cogent Waste Solutions—with poor safety records—were awarded contracts. Reynoso declared, "Saving $20 for a business is not worth five human lives." DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the process, promising to terminate contracts after multiple at-fault fatalities. BIC Commissioner Liz Crotty admitted, "Safety is not a factor" in license denial. Lawmakers condemned the city for putting cost before safety, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• Pols Slam City For Giving Rogue Carters Permits for New Zones, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-04

Two sedans struck on Hancock Street. Both drivers moved west. Close passing led to a crash. Two women in back seats suffered head and neck injuries. Police blamed passing too closely. Metal and bodies took the hit.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 17:50 on Hancock Street in Brooklyn. Both vehicles traveled west; one went straight, the other merged. The crash hit the left front bumper of one car and the right front of the other. Police cited 'Passing Too Closely' as the cause. Two female passengers, ages 21 and 24, suffered head and neck injuries described as whiplash. Both were conscious and not ejected. Neither used safety equipment, as noted after the driver error. Both drivers were licensed men from New York. The crash shows the danger when drivers pass too close.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729823 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

An SUV collided with a moped traveling south on Myrtle Avenue. The moped driver, an 18-year-old male wearing a helmet, suffered a shoulder abrasion. Police cited improper lane usage by the SUV as the cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Myrtle Avenue involving a 2023 SUV traveling east and a moped traveling south. The SUV's left front bumper struck the moped's right front bumper. The moped driver, an 18-year-old male occupant wearing a helmet, sustained an upper arm shoulder abrasion but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper lane discipline. The SUV driver was licensed in New York. No contributing factors were assigned to the moped driver. The collision resulted in vehicle damage to the SUV's left front bumper, while the moped showed no damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729132 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

SUV slammed into a 14-year-old girl at a Bushwick Avenue intersection. She took the hit to her knee and lower leg. Driver failed to yield. The girl stayed conscious. Steel met flesh. System failed.

According to the police report, a 2002 Honda SUV heading north on Bushwick Avenue struck a 14-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The impact hit her knee, lower leg, and foot, leaving her with contusions. She remained conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the driver’s error. No contributing factors are noted for the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and driving straight. The collision underscores the danger when drivers fail to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729129 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 38-year-old man was ejected and injured in a Brooklyn collision. The sedan struck him at Myrtle Avenue near Harman Street. He suffered back injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The driver was licensed and entering a parked position.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old male pedestrian was injured and ejected during a collision with a 2011 Ford sedan on Myrtle Avenue near Harman Street in Brooklyn at 18:20. The pedestrian was riding or walking along the highway with traffic at an intersection when the sedan, traveling north and entering a parked position, struck him at the center back end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained back injuries and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The driver, a licensed male from New Jersey, was alone in the vehicle. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to the pedestrian. The impact and ejection highlight the dangers posed by vehicle maneuvers in busy urban areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731172 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

A sedan traveling south struck a parked SUV on Wilson Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact damaged the left front bumper of the sedan and the left rear quarter panel of the SUV. The sedan driver, a 25-year-old man, suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:41 AM on Wilson Avenue in Brooklyn. A southbound sedan collided with a northbound parked SUV, impacting the left front bumper of the sedan and the left rear quarter panel of the SUV. The sedan driver, a 25-year-old male occupant, was injured with abrasions to his elbow and lower arm but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the collision. The parked SUV had no occupants at the time. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727810 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A sedan and SUV collided head-on at Central and Gates. A 29-year-old woman, riding in the back seat, was thrown from the wreck and died of crush injuries. Traffic control was ignored. The street fell silent. Lives changed. Metal ruled.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV crashed head-on at the corner of Central Avenue and Gates Avenue in Brooklyn at 6:28 a.m. The impact ejected a 29-year-old woman from the rear seat; she died from crush injuries affecting her entire body. The report states, 'Traffic control was ignored,' identifying 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the primary contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when they collided. The police narrative makes clear that the drivers' failure to obey traffic controls directly led to the deadly collision. No information in the report attributes any contributing behavior to the victim. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard basic traffic rules, leaving passengers and bystanders exposed to catastrophic harm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727582 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

A 9-year-old girl crossing Bushwick Avenue was struck by an SUV traveling south. The vehicle's left front bumper hit her outside a crosswalk. She suffered bruises and leg injuries, left reeling in shock. The driver’s inattention caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 9-year-old female pedestrian was injured on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn at 3:51 PM. The pedestrian was crossing outside a crosswalk when a 2017 Toyota SUV traveling south struck her with its left front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor, repeated twice, highlighting the driver's failure to maintain focus. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The SUV sustained damage to its left front bumper. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. No pedestrian fault or contributing behavior was noted in the report. This crash underscores the dangers posed by distracted driving to vulnerable pedestrians outside designated crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724622 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

SUV hit a woman crossing Evergreen Avenue. Driver was distracted. She suffered head abrasions but stayed conscious. The SUV showed no damage. Impact was direct and harsh.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old woman was crossing Evergreen Avenue at an intersection when a northbound 2014 Nissan SUV struck her with its center front end at 3:09 AM. The driver was licensed and alone in the vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main cause. The pedestrian suffered head abrasions and remained conscious. No damage was reported to the SUV. The data shows the pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but this was not cited as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger of driver distraction to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723742 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

SUV left turn. Moped struck. Two boys hurt. Pavement slick. Speed unsafe. Head and leg injuries. Brooklyn street, hard impact. System failed the young.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV making a left turn on Irving Avenue struck a northbound moped at 19:32. The moped carried a 16-year-old male driver and a 10-year-old male passenger. Both were injured, suffering abrasions and head injuries. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The SUV's left side doors hit the moped's center back end. The moped driver wore a helmet; the passenger had no safety equipment. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The collision underscores driver errors and hazardous road conditions that left two young riders hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723744 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A Mazda sedan, driven by an unlicensed man, hit a 71-year-old woman crossing Eldert Street. She died from crush injuries. Another woman, 44, suffered chest bruises. The driver ignored traffic control. Brooklyn pavement took another life.

According to the police report, a northbound Mazda sedan struck a 71-year-old woman as she crossed Eldert Street near Knickerbocker Avenue in a marked crosswalk. She suffered fatal crush wounds and never regained consciousness. A second pedestrian, age 44, was also hit and sustained chest contusions but remained conscious. The report states the Mazda driver was unlicensed and disregarded traffic control. 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' are listed as contributing factors. The victims were crossing without a signal but within a marked crosswalk, as documented in the report. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore basic rules and operate vehicles without a license.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

City wants waste haulers to report every crash, injury, and reckless move. The rule targets companies with deadly records. Data will track harm, expose danger, and force accountability. Streets and lives hang in the balance. The city must act.

On May 7, 2024, the Department of Sanitation proposed amendments to the Commercial Waste Zones program. The rule, not yet law, would require all contracted waste haulers to submit detailed crash and driving data twice a year. The matter targets companies like Action Carting, linked to at least five traffic deaths. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who led the original reforms as a council member, said, 'Crash data from [commercial waste zone] awardees is good, but crash data from CWZ applicants would have been even better.' The bill aims to end the 'Wild West' of private waste hauling, which killed seven New Yorkers in a single year. The new rules demand real-time telematics, immediate injury reports, and full transparency on crashes. Advocates say the data could help redesign streets and hold dangerous drivers to account. The city must prevent weak enforcement from gutting the law’s promise.

• Waste Reforms Could Require Data on Crashes, Dangerous Driving, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-07

A distracted and inexperienced SUV driver struck a 27-year-old e-bike rider traveling south on Starr Street in Brooklyn. The rider suffered an elbow and lower arm injury with minor bleeding. The collision caused shock but no ejection or vehicle damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Starr Street in Brooklyn at 14:56. The collision involved a 2010 SUV traveling south and a southbound e-bike. The e-bike rider, a 27-year-old male, was injured with elbow, lower arm, and hand trauma, experiencing minor bleeding and shock. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the SUV driver. The SUV struck the e-bike at the center front end, while the e-bike was impacted at the center back end. No vehicle damage was reported. The e-bike rider was not ejected and was wearing no safety equipment. The report focuses on the SUV driver's failure to maintain attention and lack of experience as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721870 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 66-year-old man suffered head injuries after a tow truck hit him at an intersection on Bushwick Avenue. The driver failed to yield and was distracted, striking the pedestrian who was crossing with the signal. The victim sustained contusions and bruises.

According to the police report, at 9:31 AM on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn, a tow truck traveling south struck a 66-year-old male pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The report identifies the contributing factors as driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way. The tow truck's point of impact was the right front quarter panel, and the pedestrian suffered head injuries classified as contusions and bruises. The vehicle damage was minimal, with no damage reported on the tow truck. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead. The report explicitly cites driver errors—distraction and failure to yield—as the causes, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian's actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721180 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09