Brooklyn Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Demand Safe Streets Now

Jun 13 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.

• File S 5677, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 12 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 12 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.

• File S 5677, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 12 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-12

Jun 11 - 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 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - 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 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - City will block cars from corners. Barriers, granite, planters will clear sightlines. DOT acts after half of deaths hit at intersections. Brooklyn gets first fixes. Cyclists and walkers may see drivers before impact. Steel and stone replace painted lines.

The Brooklyn Paper reported on June 11, 2025, that NYC DOT will redesign intersections to protect cyclists and pedestrians. The plan uses 'hardened daylighting'—physical barriers, granite blocks, and planters—to stop cars from parking near corners. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'Using barriers to clear space at the intersection will help ensure pedestrians, cyclists and turning vehicles can see each other and enhance safety.' Nearly half of city traffic deaths happen at intersections, often due to blocked sightlines and turning vehicles. The redesign targets high-crash Brooklyn intersections first, including Ocean Avenue at Church Avenue. The move highlights the city's shift from painted lines to physical infrastructure, aiming to reduce systemic risk for vulnerable road users.

• NYC DOT Targets Intersection Danger Zones, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 10 - A Honda SUV hit a woman in the crosswalk at 19th Avenue and 62nd Street. She was crossing with the signal. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The woman suffered facial injuries. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

A 36-year-old woman was injured when a Honda SUV struck her as she crossed 19th Avenue at 62nd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'Crossing With Signal' at the intersection when the crash occurred. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV was making a left turn and hit the woman with its center front end. She sustained facial injuries and was conscious at the scene. The driver, a 33-year-old man, was licensed and remained uninjured. The crash highlights the ongoing danger faced by pedestrians at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819467 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 10 - A sedan hit a woman crossing Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The impact left her hurt and in shock. Police blame driver distraction. The car’s front end struck her. No damage to the vehicle. The street stayed dangerous. Pain lingered.

A 58-year-old woman walking on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn was struck by a sedan as she emerged from behind a parked vehicle. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered injuries to her entire body and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The sedan, driven by a 66-year-old woman, was traveling straight ahead when its center front end hit the pedestrian. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No damage was reported to the vehicle. The crash did not occur at an intersection. The report does not mention any errors or actions by the pedestrian as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4819466 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 10 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 6 - Two sedans collided on Belt Parkway. A baby girl suffered a head injury. Metal twisted. Lives shaken. Unsafe lane change listed. System failed its youngest passenger.

Two sedans crashed on Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, six people were involved, including a baby girl who suffered a head injury and whiplash. Five adults, both drivers and passengers, were also in the vehicles. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling west when the collision happened, damaging the right front and left rear quarter panels. The infant was in a child restraint, as noted in the report, but driver error stands out. The crash highlights the danger for passengers, especially children, on New York City roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818684 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 6 - A moped and SUV collided on Avenue O. A 14-year-old boy was ejected and bruised. A 32-year-old woman suffered neck pain. Unsafe speed and lane changes led to injury. The street bore the impact. The system failed to protect them.

A crash on Avenue O in Brooklyn involved a moped and an SUV. According to the police report, a 14-year-old moped driver was ejected and suffered bruises to his entire body. A 32-year-old SUV driver reported neck pain. Another passenger and a registrant were also involved. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. Both vehicles were moving in opposite directions, with the moped heading east and the SUV parked before the crash. The teen on the moped was not using any safety equipment. The collision left vulnerable road users hurt, exposed to the risks of speed and reckless maneuvering.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818568 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 4 - SUV cut left across 17th Avenue. E-bike rider thrown, leg bloodied. Police cite failure to yield. Metal met flesh. Streets stayed hungry.

A 36-year-old man riding an e-bike was injured when a southbound SUV turned left and struck him on 17th Avenue at 65th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved a 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered abrasions to his lower leg. The SUV driver, a 63-year-old woman, was not reported injured. No other contributing factors were listed. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield to cyclists.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817970 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A maroon Chevy struck a car from behind in Brooklyn. The woman inside stepped out. The driver ran her over and dragged her. She died in the street. The driver fled. Police search for answers.

CBS New York reported on May 25, 2025, that a woman was killed in Brooklyn after a maroon Chevy rear-ended her car. According to police, 'when she got out to approach the vehicle she was run over and dragged.' The driver did not remain at the scene. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers who flee after collisions. The NYPD is searching for the suspect. The case underscores ongoing dangers for vulnerable road users and the urgent need for stronger enforcement and street design to prevent such deaths.

• Woman Run Down After Brooklyn Crash, CBS New York, Published 2025-05-25

May 23 - An SUV turned left on Bay 17th Street. It hit an e-scooter head-on. The rider suffered a head injury. Police cite driver inattention. The street fell silent as first responders arrived. Metal and flesh met at the intersection. The system failed again.

An SUV and an e-scooter collided at Bay 17th Street in Brooklyn. The SUV, making a left turn, struck the e-scooter head-on. The 18-year-old e-scooter rider suffered a head injury and abrasions. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor for both vehicles. No other contributing factors were cited. The SUV driver and passenger, both 29-year-old men, were not seriously hurt. The e-scooter rider was not wearing safety equipment, but this is noted only after the primary cause: driver inattention. The crash underscores the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815468 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 20 - A moped hit a seven-year-old boy getting off a vehicle on 61st Street. The child suffered a leg abrasion. Police cite failure to yield and unsafe speed. Streets remain perilous for Brooklyn’s youngest.

A moped traveling west on 61st Street in Brooklyn struck a seven-year-old boy as he got off a vehicle. The child, a pedestrian, suffered an abrasion to his lower leg and foot. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' by the moped operator. The report does not mention any injuries to the moped occupants. The incident highlights the ongoing danger faced by children on city streets, especially when drivers fail to yield and speed through residential areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814324 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19