Queens Streets Run Red—Who’s Next?

Councilmember Brooks-Powers says yes to bike lanes, but only with community board power. She blocks faster installation. She rejects citizen reporting of blocked lanes. She wants more NYPD and camera enforcement. Vulnerable road users wait. Cars keep killing.

On April 27, 2023, Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers made a public statement on bike lane policy. She supports more bike lanes but insists unelected community boards must have strong input, even if it slows projects. Brooks-Powers cited the Seagirt Boulevard redesign, questioning DOT’s choices and suggesting alternatives. She opposes Intro. 501, a bill that would let citizens report blocked bike lanes, preferring more NYPD and automated camera enforcement. Brooks-Powers said, "communities want to have input on where these assets are going," and criticized DOT’s community engagement. She remains opposed to citizen reporting, even after the bill was softened. No safety analyst note was provided. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while process stalls.

• Council Transportation Chair Says She Does Want Bike Lanes — <I>But</I> Also Community Board Input, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-27

Council moved on bills for safer streets. Measures target deadly corners, reckless speed, and senior danger. Daylighting, crash studies, and pedestrian zones all on the table. Narcisse backed the push. Streets remain hostile. Lawmakers act. Lives hang in the balance.

On April 27, 2023, the City Council committee voted on several transportation safety bills. The session included Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse of District 46, who supported the measures. The bills, as summarized, would require the Department of Transportation to create pedestrian zones for seniors, install traffic calming devices, increase the frequency of serious crash studies, and implement 'daylighting'—removing parking near intersections—at 100 sites starting January 1, 2025. The matter title reads: 'NYC Council tackles bills on policing, homeless rights and charity gambling.' Narcisse is listed as a sponsor. These actions aim to cut risk for pedestrians and seniors, especially at dangerous crossings. The council’s stance is clear: support for pedestrian safety zones, traffic calming, more crash studies, and daylighting. The vote signals a push for systemic change on city streets.

• NYC Council tackles bills on policing, homeless rights and charity gambling, gothamist.com, Published 2023-04-27

Two sedans collided head-to-tail on Cross Island Parkway. The rear driver, a 46-year-old man, suffered arm abrasions. Both cars showed front and back damage. No driver errors listed. The injured man stayed conscious.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling north on Cross Island Parkway collided. The rear sedan struck the front sedan, injuring its 46-year-old male driver. He suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm but remained conscious and was not ejected. Both vehicles showed damage to the center front and back ends. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The injured party was the driver of the rear vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624340 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Council wrangles over citizen power to report cars blocking bike and bus lanes. NYPD resists, citing risk. DOT softens stance. Bill drops bounties, expands near schools. Advocates split. Streets stay deadly. Cyclists and walkers pay the price.

On April 25, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee debated Intro. 501, a bill to let citizens report drivers blocking bike and bus lanes. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler and co-sponsored by a Council majority, was revised to remove cash bounties and require cars be unoccupied when reported. It now covers more area near schools. The NYPD, represented by Director of Legislative Affairs Michael Clarke, opposed the bill, warning of possible assaults and harassment. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said his agency is open to talks after earlier resistance. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, committee chair, voiced concerns about public conflict. Restler insisted, 'People are dying on our streets. This will save lives.' Advocates remain divided. NYPD’s rare enforcement leaves bike lanes blocked, endangering vulnerable road users.

• NYPD Opposes Watered-Down Citizen Enforcement Bill, But DOT is Now ‘Open’ to It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-25

A motorcycle rider was ejected after a collision with a sedan making a left turn on Braddock Avenue in Queens. The rider suffered a fractured hip and upper leg injuries. The sedan struck the motorcycle’s right side, demolishing the bike.

According to the police report, a sedan was making a left turn on Braddock Avenue when it collided with a motorcycle traveling straight ahead. The motorcycle rider, a 38-year-old man wearing a helmet, was ejected and sustained a fractured hip and upper leg injuries. The point of impact was the right side doors of the sedan, which suffered damage there, while the motorcycle was demolished. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor by the sedan driver. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The motorcycle rider was conscious after the crash but seriously injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620547 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

A pick-up truck struck a parked dump truck on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. The driver, a 49-year-old man, suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The crash caused damage to both vehicles’ front and rear panels.

According to the police report, a 2011 Ford pick-up truck traveling east on Rockaway Boulevard collided with a parked 2021 Mack dump truck. The point of impact was the pick-up’s left front bumper and the dump truck’s left rear quarter panel. The pick-up truck driver, a 49-year-old man, was injured with abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. The dump truck was unoccupied and stationary at the time of the crash. Damage was reported on the right front quarter panel of the pick-up and the left rear quarter panel of the dump truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621097 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams sidestepped backing Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City set its own speed limits. As cyclist deaths mount, other council members press for action. Adams cites other priorities. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. Streets stay deadly.

On April 12, 2023, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams declined to support Sammy’s Law, a state bill allowing New York City to control its speed limits. The bill, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a reckless driver in 2013, has stalled in Albany despite mounting pressure. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez introduced a resolution urging passage, co-sponsored by Shahana Hanif and Lincoln Restler. Adams, however, said, 'We’re going to let the state do what the state does in response to Sammy’s Law,' and focused on other budget priorities. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called for pairing lower speed limits with street redesigns in neglected neighborhoods. As children and cyclists die in record numbers, the council’s inaction leaves vulnerable New Yorkers at risk. The law would not lower limits automatically, but grant the city authority to act.

• Speaker Adams Still Won’t Come Out in Support of Sammy’s Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-12

Councilmember Restler joins Bronx and Queens colleagues to target fake license plates. The bill slaps heavy fines on dealers selling sham tags. Lawmakers say ghost cars dodge cameras, endanger streets, and let reckless drivers vanish. The crackdown aims to stop the chaos.

Intro 988, introduced on April 11, 2023, targets the sale of fake license plates in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Oswald Feliz, Marjorie Velázquez, and Lincoln Restler, amends laws to ban selling counterfeit tags, with fines starting at $1,000 for first offenses and $2,000 for repeat violations. The measure was brought before the City Council and discussed at a City Hall press conference. The matter summary states the bill 'goes after the unscrupulous used car dealers profiting considerably off a huge black market for phony tags.' Restler, as a sponsor, joins efforts to curb the spread of ghost cars, which evade speed cameras and tolls, making streets more dangerous for everyone. Lawmakers stress that the goal is deterrence, not revenue, and call for further action from online marketplaces and federal agencies.

• Bronx pol proposes crackdown on ‘ghost cars’ with phony plates, amny.com, Published 2023-04-11

Two sedans crashed on 118 Avenue in Queens. Aggressive driving and unsafe speed led to impact. One driver suffered fractured and dislocated leg. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on 118 Avenue in Queens. One driver, a 25-year-old man, suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee and lower leg. The report lists aggressive driving, road rage, and unsafe speed as contributing factors. One sedan was making a left turn while the other was passing. The injured driver was conscious and not ejected. Damage struck the left front quarter panel and front ends of the cars. No safety equipment was noted for the injured driver. The crash resulted from driver errors tied to aggressive driving and unsafe passing.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619100 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

DOT will roll out up to 20 micro-delivery hubs this summer. Trucks unload at hubs. Cargo bikes finish the job. The plan aims to clear streets, cut truck chaos, and curb pollution. Officials say it’s a step to safer, saner roads for all.

""Every year roughly 1,400 lives are lost prematurely because of preventable air pollution exacerbated by the explosion of local truck traffic on city streets,"" -- Selvena N. Brooks-Powers

On April 7, 2023, the NYC Department of Transportation announced a pilot program to create up to 20 micro-delivery hubs. The program, mandated by a 2021 law, will run for three years in two phases. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'These hubs will help better organize last-mile deliveries and support small and large businesses’ economic recovery.' The hubs will be chosen for proximity to bike lanes, truck routes, and transit, with community input. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers backed the plan, citing the need to reduce truck traffic and its deadly toll. Brooks-Powers noted, 'Every year roughly 1,400 lives are lost prematurely because of preventable air pollution exacerbated by the explosion of local truck traffic.' The council leadership supports the initiative as a move toward sustainable, safer streets for vulnerable road users.

• Hubba Lubba Dub Dub: DOT Announces Micro Delivery Hubs To Start This Summer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-07

The city will test up to 20 delivery microhubs this summer. Trucks will unload at these sites. Smaller vehicles will finish deliveries. The goal: fewer trucks clogging streets, less double parking, and cleaner air. Councilmember Brooks-Powers backs sustainable change.

On April 6, 2023, the city announced a Department of Transportation pilot program to launch up to 20 neighborhood delivery microhubs. This initiative, required by a 2021 City Council law, aims to reduce truck traffic and organize last-mile deliveries. The matter summary states: 'The city will launch a pilot program testing neighborhood delivery microhubs across the five boroughs, aimed at reducing the surge of truck traffic.' Councilmember Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, representing District 31, emphasized the need for sustainable infrastructure to curb environmental justice impacts from truck congestion. The program will allow large trucks to unload at designated hubs, shifting the final delivery leg to vans, cargo bikes, or carts. Details on locations and management are pending. After a year, DOT will review data and consider expansion, with a final report due in 2026. Environmentalists and advocates support the move but note it does not address warehouse siting in vulnerable communities.

• City to pilot local delivery ‘microhubs’ to curb truck congestion starting this summer, amny.com, Published 2023-04-06

City Council pushes for $3 million to swap dangerous batteries and $61 million more for Fair Fares. They demand safer streets, more paving, and equity for communities hit hardest by crashes. Speaker Adams and Brooks-Powers lead the charge. City Hall resists.

On April 4, 2023, the City Council, led by Speaker Adrienne Adams and Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, issued its budget response to the mayor’s $103-billion plan. The Council’s $2.7-billion proposal calls for a near-doubling of Fair Fares funding, $3 million for a battery swap and fire outreach program for delivery workers, and $45.1 million more for road paving. The Council also demands increased investment in street safety infrastructure, especially in communities of color facing high crash rates. Brooks-Powers said, 'New Yorkers deserve access to high-quality services and investments in infrastructure citywide.' Council Member Keith Powers called the battery swap program a 'down payment.' The Council’s push aims to restore cuts and address deadly street conditions. City Hall, citing fiscal pressures, remains cautious but open to negotiation.

• Council Budget Response: $3M for Battery Swaps and $61M for Fair Fares (Among Other Things), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-04

A 65-year-old woman driving an SUV in Queens suffered chest injuries after a collision. The vehicle's right front bumper was damaged. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 65-year-old female driver in Queens was injured in a crash involving her 2018 SUV. The collision damaged the vehicle's right front bumper. The driver suffered a chest contusion but was not ejected and remained conscious. Police identified driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash occurred near Hillside Avenue in the 11426 zip code. The report lists no other contributing factors or victim errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617874 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Twenty-six council members urge Albany to pass Sammy’s Law. The bill lets New York City lower speed limits below 25 mph. Speaker Adams and the Transportation Chair stay silent. Advocates say lower speeds mean fewer deaths. The Assembly leaves the measure out.

On March 31, 2023, a majority of New York City Council members signed a letter supporting Sammy’s Law, which would let the city set speed limits below 25 mph. The letter, sent to state legislative leaders, declared, "We write as a majority of New York City Council Members to express our strong support for the passage of Sammy's Law." Twenty-six council members signed on, but Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers did not. Brooks-Powers argued, "Stricter speed limits must also be paired with investments in physical infrastructure as well that deter drivers from going too fast." Advocates, including DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Comptroller Brad Lander, rallied in support. Despite the push, the Assembly left the measure out of its budget. The bill remains stalled, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• Council (Minus Speaker Adams and Transportation Committee Chair) Tells State Lawmakers it Supports Sammy’s Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-31

A driver with 27 speeding tickets killed a pedestrian on North Channel Bridge. The city’s Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program failed to stop him. Police made no arrests. Advocates and Councilmember Brooks-Powers demand safer street design and local control over speed limits.

On March 30, 2023, a driver with a record of 27 speeding tickets—11 in the past year—struck and killed a 32-year-old pedestrian in Queens. The crash happened on North Channel Bridge near Cross Bay Boulevard. The driver stayed at the scene; police made no arrests or summonses. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP) requires drivers with 15 speeding tickets in a year to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure, but enforcement is weak. Only a few hundred out of over 20,000 eligible drivers have complied. Queens Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the transportation committee, called for re-examining street safety and road design at the corridor, echoing residents’ demands for safer infrastructure. Advocates, including Families for Safe Streets, urged passage of Sammy’s Law to let NYC set its own speed limits. Brooks-Powers did not comment on the DVAP’s failures.

• RECKLESS ABANDON: Driver With History of Speeding Kills Man in Queens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-30

A 37-year-old man driving a sedan suffered neck injuries in a rear-end collision on Cross Island Parkway. Both vehicles were traveling north. The SUV struck the sedan’s center back end. The driver wore a lap belt and harness and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV collided on Cross Island Parkway while both were traveling north. The SUV struck the sedan in the center back end. The sedan driver, a 37-year-old man, was injured with neck trauma and complained of whiplash. He was not ejected and was conscious at the scene. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles going straight ahead. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The sedan driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616711 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-16

Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-03-21