Queens Streets Bleed—How Many More Before We Act?

Federal attack on congestion pricing draws fire in Queens. Rep. Velázquez vows court fight. Council Member Julie Won joins call for activism. Panel slams rollback of protections. The crowd demands action to defend New Yorkers from federal threats.

On February 20, 2025, Rep. Nydia Velázquez led a Queens town hall to rally opposition against Trump Administration policies, including the federal move to block New York City's congestion pricing plan. The event, held at Sunnyside Community Services, featured Council Member Julie Won (District 26) and other local officials. The panel condemned the rollback of protections for immigrants and the firing of NLRB board member Gwynne A. Wilcox. Velázquez declared, 'We’ll see him in court,' after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revoked federal approval for congestion pricing. She pledged to fight budget cuts targeting vulnerable communities and criticized tax breaks for the wealthy. Julie Won joined the call for grassroots activism. The town hall spotlighted the threat to New York’s sovereignty and the urgent need to defend city streets and programs from federal interference.

• Velázquez leads Queens town hall against Trump policies, calls for activism, amny.com, Published 2025-02-20

Two sedans collided on 49 Ave in Queens at night. Both drivers suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited unsafe speed and driver inattention as causes. Vehicles struck front to rear, leaving damage and pain in their wake.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:20 on 49 Ave in Queens involving two sedans traveling north. The first vehicle was going straight ahead when it struck the rear of a parked sedan. Both drivers, men aged 31 and 43, were injured with back pain and shock. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. Neither driver was ejected, and safety equipment such as airbags and lap belts were deployed or used. The collision caused damage to the right front bumper of the moving sedan and the center back end of the parked vehicle. This crash highlights the dangers of speeding and distracted driving in urban streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794660 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 42-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries after a pick-up truck driver, distracted and inattentive, hit her while she crossed with the signal at a Queens intersection. The truck made a left turn and struck her with its left front bumper.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 69 St and 51 Ave in Queens at 8:37 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2023 Ford pick-up truck, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her with its left front bumper. The driver was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity 3, and remained conscious. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report emphasizes the driver's failure to maintain attention during the maneuver, directly causing the collision. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior were noted beyond crossing with the signal.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793229 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A minivan left the road in Queens. It hit a tree. One woman died. Three others, all seniors, went to the hospital. The crash happened on Brookville Boulevard, near Sunrise Highway. Police are investigating. The road stayed quiet after.

According to the NY Daily News (published February 14, 2025), a minivan from Eunhae Adult Daycare crashed while leaving a senior residence in Queens. The 74-year-old driver 'lost control of the wheel at the Sunrise Highway.' The vehicle veered off Brookville Blvd and struck a tree. Four people were inside, all seniors. One woman in her 70s died after being found unconscious in the back seat. Three others, including the driver, were hospitalized but expected to survive. Police are investigating the cause. The article highlights the dangers faced by passengers in vehicles operated by older drivers and the risks at busy intersections like Brookville Boulevard and Sunrise Highway.

• Minivan Crash Kills Woman, Injures Three, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-14

Assembly bill A 5440 targets reckless drivers. It makes car owners pay when their vehicles run red lights. Cameras catch the lawbreakers. The aim: fewer crashes, safer streets for all.

Assembly bill A 5440 was introduced on February 14, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled "Imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York," seeks to hold vehicle owners accountable when their cars violate traffic signals, using camera enforcement. Assembly Member Steven Raga sponsors the bill, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Tony Simone, Yudelka Tapia, Karines Reyes, and Marcela Mitaynes as co-sponsors. No safety analyst note is available. The bill aims to curb dangerous driving and protect vulnerable road users by making owners answer for violations caught on camera.

• File A 5440, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Two sedans collided on Queens Plaza. Pavement was slick. A rear passenger took a blow to the head and suffered whiplash. Metal twisted. The street showed no mercy.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling straight ahead collided on 28 Street near Queens Plaza. The crash involved a 2020 Volkswagen and a 2024 Toyota. Slippery pavement was listed as a contributing factor. A 28-year-old male rear passenger in the Toyota suffered head injuries and whiplash. He was conscious and not ejected. Both vehicles took heavy damage at the center ends. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The report highlights hazardous road conditions and the resulting loss of control.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792554 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car struck an underpass on Belt Parkway. Metal twisted. A woman, 27, died at the hospital. A man survived. Police do not know who drove. The wreck left questions. The system failed to protect its passengers.

According to NY Daily News (published February 8, 2025), a single-car crash on Queens’ Belt Parkway killed a 27-year-old woman and injured a 30-year-old man. The white Toyota sedan hit an underpass near 225th Street around 3:50 a.m. Both occupants were found outside the wreck when police arrived. Investigators are unsure who was driving at the time of impact: 'Since both occupants were out of the car at the time of the crash, investigators haven't figured out who was driving, police said.' The woman died at Long Island Jewish Hospital-Valley Stream; the man was expected to survive. The article highlights ongoing uncertainty about driver identity and underscores the persistent risks on city highways, especially where loss of vehicle control leads to deadly outcomes. The investigation continues.

• Woman Killed In Queens Parkway Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-08

A taxi making a right turn struck a sedan traveling straight on 63rd Street in Queens. The sedan driver suffered a concussion and upper arm injury. The crash was caused by driver inattention, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:04 on 63rd Street near Woodside Avenue in Queens. A taxi, traveling west and making a right turn, collided with a sedan traveling east and going straight ahead. The point of impact was the taxi's left front bumper and the sedan's right rear quarter panel. The sedan's 24-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining a concussion and upper arm injury. The driver was conscious and not ejected, with an airbag deployed. The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors were specified. The report does not indicate any fault or error on the part of the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790978 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 55-year-old woman suffered a neck injury and concussion after a sedan struck her at an intersection in Queens. The driver was making a left turn and failed to pay attention, causing a collision with a pedestrian crossing legally with the signal.

According to the police report, at 11:10 AM in Queens, a sedan traveling southeast was making a left turn on 55 Drive near 58 Street when it struck a 55-year-old female pedestrian crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained a neck injury and concussion but remained conscious. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle's point of impact was the center front end, and despite the collision, the sedan showed no damage. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors; the crash was caused by the driver's failure to maintain attention while executing the turn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792091 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Lawmakers and advocates clashed over how to fill the MTA’s $33 billion gap. No clear plan emerged. Councilmember Claire Valdez called for details. Riders face risk as funding stalls. Outside groups pitched taxes. The capital plan hangs in limbo.

"I think that would be helpful so we can all see the details and make sure that we're allocating resources most effectively. But these are all moving targets, and we need input from all sides." -- Claire Valdez

On February 6, 2025, Councilmember Claire Valdez of District 37 joined the heated debate over the MTA’s $33 billion budget shortfall. The matter, titled 'MTA honcho Janno Leiber quiet on plan to fill $33B budget hole — but outside group pitches longshot taxes, fees,' was discussed after the Capital Plan Review Board rejected the MTA’s $68 billion five-year capital plan due to a lack of funding. Valdez said, 'I think that would be helpful so we can all see the details and make sure that we're allocating resources most effectively.' She pressed for transparency and input from all sides. Outside groups proposed new taxes and fees, but lawmakers and the governor have not endorsed any. Rider advocates stressed the urgent need for full funding, warning that delay means a more unreliable system for New Yorkers. The council has yet to reach consensus or action.

• MTA honcho Janno Leiber quiet on plan to fill $33B budget hole — but outside group pitches longshot taxes, fees, nypost.com, Published 2025-02-06

A 19-year-old bicyclist suffered neck injuries in a collision with a sedan traveling north on 43 Avenue. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, striking the cyclist head-on. The bicyclist was conscious and suffered whiplash but was not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:08 AM on 43 Avenue in Queens. A sedan traveling north struck a bicyclist traveling east. The point of impact was the sedan's left front bumper and the bike's center front end. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error. The bicyclist, a 19-year-old male, was injured with neck trauma and complained of whiplash. He was conscious and not ejected from his bike. The sedan driver was licensed and driving straight ahead. No other contributing factors related to the bicyclist were noted in the report. Vehicle damage was limited to the sedan's left front bumper and the bike's front end.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A man slammed his Mercedes into a stopped car on the Whitestone Expressway. The impact threw an MTA worker onto the pavement. The driver ran. The worker died. Police found the abandoned car. The driver had no license.

NY Daily News reported on February 5, 2025, that James Vennitti, 63, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run on the Whitestone Expressway in Queens. On February 10, 2024, Vennitti allegedly rear-ended David Berney, 43, after Berney and another driver stopped in the middle lane following a minor collision. The crash threw Berney from his car, killing him at the scene. The other driver was injured. Vennitti, unlicensed, abandoned his Mercedes and fled on foot. Police arrested him a year later. A grand jury indicted Vennitti for leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. The case highlights the lethal risk of unlicensed driving and the dangers of stopped vehicles on high-speed roads.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Queens Fatal Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-05

Senate bill S 4421 seeks a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. Michael Gianaris leads. Robert Jackson, John Liu, Julia Salazar join. The move could shift riders from cars to buses. Status: sponsorship.

Senate bill S 4421, now at the sponsorship stage, proposes a one-year fare-free bus pilot in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'Provides a fare-free bus pilot program in New York City for one year, subject to appropriations.' Michael Gianaris sponsors, with Robert Jackson, John Liu, and Julia Salazar as co-sponsors. Introduced on February 4, 2025, the bill awaits committee review. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The pilot could change how New Yorkers move, but its effect on street safety remains unstudied.

• File S 4421, Open States, Published 2025-02-04

Senate bill S 3832 orders advanced safety tech in all New York vehicles. DMV must set rules. Sponsors push for stricter standards. No direct safety impact analysis for pedestrians or cyclists yet.

Senate bill S 3832, now in sponsorship, demands advanced safety technology in all vehicles statewide. The bill instructs the DMV commissioner to create new rules. Filed January 30, 2025. The matter: 'Mandates the use of advanced safety technology in vehicles in the state.' Sponsors are Brad Hoylman-Sigal (primary), Michael Gianaris, and Kristen Gonzalez. No safety analyst has reviewed the bill's impact on vulnerable road users. The measure aims to raise standards but leaves details to future regulations.

• File S 3832, Open States, Published 2025-01-30

A 78-year-old woman suffered a head contusion after an SUV struck her at a Queens intersection. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, hitting the pedestrian on the left side doors. The victim was conscious but injured crossing against the signal.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:56 on 69 Street near Garfield Avenue in Queens. A 2016 Ford SUV traveling north struck a 78-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian on its left side doors. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the time of impact. She sustained a head injury classified as a contusion and was conscious at the scene. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No vehicle damage was reported. The collision highlights the critical role of driver distraction in causing harm to vulnerable road users at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided head-to-tail on Pulaski Bridge. A 24-year-old front-seat passenger suffered neck abrasions. The crash was caused by one driver following too closely. Both vehicles were traveling westbound when impact occurred.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Pulaski Bridge involving two sedans traveling westbound. The point of impact was the center front end of the lead vehicle and the center back end of the trailing vehicle. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the primary contributing factor, indicating driver error by the trailing vehicle. A 24-year-old female front passenger was injured, sustaining neck abrasions but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The driver of the trailing vehicle was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The collision highlights the dangers of insufficient following distance on city bridges.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787720 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota RAV4 jumped the curb on 90th Avenue, slammed into a garage, and collapsed the structure. The driver, Mamadou Barry, was trapped. First responders pulled him out, but he died at the hospital. No other injuries reported.

According to NY Daily News (2025-01-22), Mamadou Barry, 63, was driving his Toyota RAV4 along 90th Ave. in Jamaica, Queens, around 5:20 a.m. when he lost control, hopped a curb at 143rd St., and crashed into a detached garage. The impact caused the garage to collapse onto both his SUV and a parked, unoccupied Prius. Police said Barry was trapped and later died at Jamaica Hospital. The article notes, 'he lost control of the SUV, which went crashing into a detached garage in Queens, police said.' Family members stated Barry had no known medical issues. The cause of the crash remains unclear. No other injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers faced by drivers and bystanders in residential areas where structures sit close to the street.

• Uber Driver Dies in Queens Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-22

Assembly bill A 2642 orders new safety tech in every car. The DMV must set rules. Lawmakers push for change. Streets could see fewer crashes. The fight for safer roads moves to Albany.

Assembly Bill A 2642, now in sponsorship, would require advanced safety technology in all vehicles statewide. The bill, introduced January 21, 2025, directs the DMV commissioner to set rules and regulations. The matter reads: 'Mandates the use of advanced safety technology in vehicles in the state; requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to promulgate certain rules and regulations.' Brian Cunningham leads as primary sponsor, joined by Steven Raga, Chris Burdick, Tony Simone, Manny De Los Santos, Jen Lunsford, and Jo Anne Simon. The bill aims to force carmakers and drivers to adopt life-saving tech. No safety analyst has yet assessed its direct impact on vulnerable road users.

• File A 2642, Open States, Published 2025-01-21