Brooklyn’s Streets Bleed—How Many More Must Die Before City Hall Acts?

Jul 23 - Two pedestrians killed. Advocates and local leaders demand action. City stalls. Third Avenue stays deadly. Anger and grief fill Sunset Park.

"This is not meant to be a highway. This is where people walk. This is where people live. This is where kids go to school." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 23, 2025, local politicians and advocates rallied at 60th Street and Third Avenue, Sunset Park. They condemned the Adams administration's delay of a DOT safety plan, approved by Community Board 7 in 2023, after a hit-and-run killed two pedestrians. Council Member Alexa Avilés called for real investment. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the delay 'unconscionable.' State Sen Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes demanded urgent redesign. The rally's matter: 'demanding the Adams administration implement traffic safety measures on Third Avenue.' Safety analysts note: public rallies like this can push systemic changes, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• After fatal hit-and-run, local pols and street safety advocates slam delay of Third Avenue safety plan, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 23 - Two men killed crossing Third Avenue. A driver sped through a red light, fled. Eighty hurt or dead since 2018. Residents rally. Promised fixes stalled. Danger remains. Children cross nine lanes to reach school.

Gothamist (2025-07-23) reports Sunset Park residents and officials demand safety upgrades on Third Avenue after a hit-and-run killed two men. Police say the driver "sped through a red light" and fled. Since 2018, drivers have killed or seriously injured 80 people on this two-mile stretch. A redesign with protected bike lanes was approved but stalled. State Sen. Gounardes criticized the city's response: "We should all be offended... the response... is a sign that says: 'be careful.'" The article highlights the need for enforcement and infrastructure, noting children must cross nine lanes daily.

• Sunset Park Demands Safer Third Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 22 - A southbound SUV rear-ended a stopped SUV on 4th Avenue at Bay Ridge Parkway. A 40-year-old woman driver suffered a head injury and complained of whiplash. Police recorded following too closely.

A southbound SUV struck another SUV stopped in traffic on 4 Avenue at Bay Ridge Parkway, injuring the 40-year-old female driver. According to the police report, "one female driver suffered a head injury and complained of whiplash." Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The stopped vehicle was hit in the center back end; the striking vehicle sustained center front end damage. The struck SUV carried three occupants; the striking SUV carried one. No other driver errors or external factors are recorded in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829845 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 21 - The driver of an SUV turned left and hit a northbound motorcyclist on Ovington Avenue. The 23-year-old rider was ejected and suffered a fractured shoulder. Police recorded failure to yield and traffic control disregarded.

An SUV driver made a left turn on Ovington Avenue and collided with a northbound motorcyclist. The 23-year-old rider was ejected and suffered a fractured shoulder; he remained conscious. The motorcycle was demolished and the SUV’s left front bumper was damaged. According to the police report, "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and "Traffic Control Disregarded" were listed as contributing factors. Police recorded the motorcyclist’s ejection and upper-arm/shoulder fracture. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other serious injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829396 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 20 - A 17-year-old moped driver crashed on Fort Hamilton Parkway. He was ejected and hurt his chest. Unsafe speed led to the crash. The street bore the mark of impact.

A 17-year-old male driving a moped on Fort Hamilton Parkway at 82nd Street in Brooklyn was ejected and injured after a crash. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Speed.' The driver suffered a chest injury and abrasion. The moped's left front bumper took the impact. No safety equipment was used. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the main contributing factor. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830373 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 19 - Two SUVs collided at 12 Ave and 71st Street in Brooklyn. A 13-year-old front passenger suffered whiplash. A 38-year-old passenger reported arm and shoulder pain. Police cited drivers for failure to yield and traffic control disregard.

Two SUVs collided at 12 Avenue and 71st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a 13-year-old front passenger suffered whiplash and a 38-year-old passenger reported pain in her upper arm and shoulder. The driver of a BMW SUV was going east. The driver of a Nissan SUV was going south. Police recorded failure to yield by the driver and police recorded traffic control disregarded by the driver. The BMW showed left-front bumper damage. The Nissan showed right-side door and right-rear quarter-panel damage. Several other people suffered unspecified injuries, according to the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828655 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - Council Member Justin Brannan moves to stop delivery apps from axing workers at will. The bill targets silent firings. No more robot bosses. Human over algorithm. Status: introduced.

"A big consequence that we saw is that delivery workers are often deactivated from the platforms without any notice or any explanation." -- Justin L. Brannan

On July 18, 2025, Council Member Justin Brannan introduced Intro 1332 to the New York City Council. The bill, now pending committee assignment, would require delivery app companies to give a reason before deactivating workers. Brannan says, 'A big consequence that we saw is that delivery workers are often deactivated from the platforms without any notice or any explanation.' The measure aims to end algorithmic firings and protect gig workers from sudden job loss. However, the event text is too vague to determine a direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists, as it does not specify any concrete policy or regulatory change affecting vulnerable road users.

• New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 18 - Cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, as she crossed Cropsey Avenue. She died. Her aide survived. Driver charged with failure to yield and due care. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

Gothamist (2025-07-18) reports a 95-year-old woman, Mayya Gil, died after a cargo van hit her and her home health aide while they crossed Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, Thimothe Andre, was charged with two counts of failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Police said Andre struck both victims while turning. Gil died at the hospital; her aide survived. The article notes, 'NYPD data shows 100 people have died in city traffic crashes so far this year.' The case highlights persistent risks for pedestrians and the consequences of driver inattention at city intersections.

• Brooklyn Pedestrian Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 18 - Six speeding tickets. School zones. Gersh Kuntzman calls out Andrew Cuomo. Reckless driving from leaders puts lives at risk. Streets stay dangerous. No answers from Cuomo.

"if the state legislature had passed Sen. Andrew Gounardes's "Stop Super Speeder" bill, would have required Cuomo to get a speed limiter installed into his beloved Dodge." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 18, 2025, journalist Gersh Kuntzman of Streetsblog NYC criticized former Governor Andrew Cuomo for racking up six speed-camera tickets in city school zones between March and June. Kuntzman wrote, 'That's objectively a horrendous record of reckless driving through city school zones.' He noted that if Sen. Andrew Gounardes's 'Stop Super Speeder' bill had passed, Cuomo would face a mandatory speed limiter. No council bill or committee action is involved. The safety analyst notes this is an individual’s behavior, not a policy change, so there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 17 - Council raised pay for grocery deliveristas. EMTs now earn less. Delivery workers face city streets daily. Council chose their risk. First responders left behind.

On July 17, 2025, the NYC Council passed a bill raising minimum pay for app-based grocery delivery workers to $21.44 per hour. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, matches earlier raises for restaurant deliveristas. The matter summary: 'the NYC Council approved on Monday a pay increase for app-based grocery-delivery workers.' Speaker Adrienne Adams and Justin Brannan backed higher EMT pay, but the bill leaves FDNY EMTs earning less than delivery workers. Safety analysts found no direct impact on pedestrians or cyclists: 'The pay increase for app-based delivery workers does not directly affect the safety of pedestrians or cyclists, nor does it impact street design, mode shift, or driver accountability.'

• FDNY EMT outrage: First responders now earn less than grocery delivery workers after NYC Council vote, AMNY, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 15 - A car spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The driver lost control. The machine struck Madison Ruiz as she sat by the curb. She died at the hospital. The driver faces criminal charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-15), Madison Ruiz, 21, was killed when Zachary Cando, 24, lost control of a Genesis G80 while 'doing donuts' in a Gateway Plaza parking lot. The article states Cando 'lost control' and struck Ruiz as she sat by the curb. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The incident highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and raises questions about parking lot safety and enforcement.

• Driver Doing Donuts Kills Brooklyn Woman, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 13 - Two drivers hurt as SUV and sedan collide at speed on Belt Parkway. Aggressive driving and unsafe speed listed. Passengers shaken. Metal and glass, lives jarred.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, crashed on Belt Parkway. According to the police report, both cars were traveling west when they collided. Two drivers, both men, suffered injuries—one reported whiplash, the other was in shock. Passengers in both vehicles were also involved, but their injuries were unspecified. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left metal twisted and people hurt, another toll from speed and aggression on city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828623 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - A sedan hit a 12-year-old boy riding south on his bike. The crash threw him off. He suffered a concussion and leg injuries. The street saw blood and fear. The car’s front end took the blow.

A sedan traveling west on 71st Street collided with a 12-year-old boy riding his bike southbound at Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was ejected from his bike and suffered a concussion and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan’s center front end struck the cyclist’s left front quarter. The police listed the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the report. The child was conscious after the crash. No helmet use was noted as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 11 - A 14-year-old on a motorized device was ejected and suffered a head injury when a sedan backed unsafely on Bay Ridge Parkway. Impact was hard. Streets stayed dangerous. No helmet listed.

A crash on Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn left a 14-year-old operating a motorized device injured with a concussion after being ejected. According to the police report, the collision involved a sedan and another standing vehicle. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' as the main contributing factor. The teen suffered a head injury. No helmet use was listed as a factor. No injuries were reported for the sedan driver or a child occupant. The crash underscores the risks when drivers back up without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827868 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 10 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.

• Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 9 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man crossing in Sheepshead Bay. The rider looked away, hit the man, paused, then fled. The victim lay motionless. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital. He died from his injuries.

ABC7 reported on July 9, 2025, that Zhuo Xie, 90, was killed crossing East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn. The article states, "a man riding a blue moped slammed into Xie and both men fell to the ground." Surveillance video showed the moped rider looking left, not ahead, before impact. The driver checked on Xie, then left the scene. Police said the moped had a green light, but the rider's inattention and failure to remain highlight systemic dangers for pedestrians. The incident underscores risks at intersections and the consequences of hit-and-run crashes.

• Moped Hits Elderly Pedestrian, Flees Scene, ABC7, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 8 - Two new elevators rise at Bay Ridge-95th Street. Barriers fall. Riders once shut out now enter. Subway access grows. Streets outside still threaten, but inside, movement is free. Each upgrade shifts the city’s balance.

"This is a great example of working with the MTA on bringing accessibility to the far reaches of the outer boroughs and reminding folks that the ADA is not just a suggestion, it's actually the law." -- Justin L. Brannan

On July 8, 2025, the MTA opened two ADA-compliant elevators at Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn. The project, backed by federal funds, finished under budget. Council Member Justin Brannan, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis all praised the upgrade. Quemuel Arroyo, MTA’s chief accessibility officer, called it 'a crucial connection.' The new elevators mark the third Brooklyn station made accessible this year. Improved subway access encourages walking and cycling to transit, boosting safety for vulnerable users by increasing their numbers and visibility. The MTA must reach 95% accessibility by 2055.

• MTA opens two elevators at newly-accessible Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 8 - Two new elevators rise at Bay Ridge-95th Street. Barriers fall. Riders once shut out now enter. Subway access grows. Streets outside still threaten, but inside, movement is free. Each upgrade shifts the city’s balance.

"This project has been a long time coming. When I first got into elected office, there was not a single accessible station anywhere in my district... Today we are celebrating the second station in Bay Ridge to have accessibility access." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 8, 2025, the MTA opened two ADA-compliant elevators at Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn. The project, backed by federal funds, finished under budget. Council Member Justin Brannan, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis all praised the upgrade. Quemuel Arroyo, MTA’s chief accessibility officer, called it 'a crucial connection.' The new elevators mark the third Brooklyn station made accessible this year. Improved subway access encourages walking and cycling to transit, boosting safety for vulnerable users by increasing their numbers and visibility. The MTA must reach 95% accessibility by 2055.

• MTA opens two elevators at newly-accessible Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 6 - Two cars slammed together on 65th Street. Three men suffered neck injuries. Metal twisted. Pain followed. The cause: other vehicular factors, police say.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, collided on 65th Street at 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three men were injured, all suffering neck pain or whiplash. The crash involved both drivers and a front-seat passenger. Police list 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor. The report does not specify further details about the cause beyond 'Other Vehicular.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825342 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 4 - SUV veered on Belt Parkway. Driver lost consciousness. One man injured, semiconscious. Police cite lost consciousness as cause. Streets remain unforgiving.

A Ford SUV traveling west on Belt Parkway crashed when the driver lost consciousness. According to the police report, the driver was injured and found semiconscious. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the left front quarter panel damaged. No other vehicles or road users were reported hurt. The data does not mention helmet or signal use. The incident highlights the risk when drivers lose control behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19