Queens Bleeds While Leaders Stall—How Many More Must Die?

Aug 27 - Queens Borough President Richards backs Adams’s housing plan but blocks citywide parking reform. He wants parking mandates gone in dense, transit-rich hubs but kept in car-dependent outer Queens. The split stance leaves vulnerable road users exposed in sprawling, car-heavy neighborhoods.

On August 27, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a statement on Mayor Adams’s ‘City of Yes’ zoning proposal. Richards supports removing parking mandates in high-density, transit-rich areas—like downtown Jamaica, Flushing, and Long Island City—saying, “Parking mandates in major transit hubs... should be eliminated, in order to increase housing opportunities there.” But he opposes ending parking mandates citywide, insisting they remain in low-density, outer transit-oriented development areas (OTODAs) due to infrequent Long Island Rail Road service and car dependence. Richards claims, “This is the reality of living in a transit desert.” The move splits the city, keeping car-centric policies in place for much of Queens. Housing advocates and the mayor’s office argue that citywide parking reform is needed to spur housing and reduce car reliance, but Richards’s stance preserves systemic danger for vulnerable road users in sprawling neighborhoods.

• Queens BP Says ‘Yes’ to Adams Zoning Plan, But ‘No’ to Ending Costly Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-27

Aug 23 - A male pedestrian crossing Cornaga Avenue in a marked crosswalk was struck by a westbound SUV. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, resulting in a contusion to the pedestrian’s elbow and lower arm. The pedestrian remained conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a male pedestrian was injured while crossing Cornaga Avenue at a marked crosswalk without a signal. The collision occurred at 1:59 PM in Queens. The vehicle involved was a 2019 Toyota SUV traveling westbound, driven by a licensed male driver. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and bruising to the elbow and lower arm but remained conscious. No pedestrian behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in areas with pedestrian crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 23 - Two vehicles collided on Rockaway Freeway in Queens. Both drivers, men, were traveling west when the SUV struck the sedan’s left rear quarter panel. The SUV driver suffered a back contusion. Police cited driver inattention as the cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:24 AM on Rockaway Freeway near Beach 41 Street in Queens. The collision involved a 2020 BMW SUV and a 2016 Ford sedan, both traveling westbound. The SUV impacted the sedan’s left rear quarter panel with its right front quarter panel. The sole occupant of the SUV, a 22-year-old male driver, sustained a back contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report explicitly lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor for the crash. No other contributing factors related to the victim’s behavior were noted. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The crash highlights the systemic danger posed by driver distraction in multi-vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750029 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 21 - A westbound SUV struck the rear of a stopped SUV on Rockaway Freeway. The impact injured an 85-year-old rear passenger, causing head trauma and whiplash. Police cite following too closely as the driver error behind the collision.

According to the police report, at 16:20 on Rockaway Freeway, a 2023 ACUR SUV traveling westbound struck the right rear bumper of a stopped 2023 HYUN SUV. The collision injured an 85-year-old female occupant seated in the left rear passenger position of the HYUN SUV. She sustained head injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and was conscious at the scene. The report explicitly identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash, indicating the striking vehicle failed to maintain a safe distance behind the stopped vehicle. The injured passenger was secured with a lap belt and harness. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were cited. The crash highlights the dangers of tailgating and the severe consequences for vehicle occupants even in low-speed rear-end collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749768 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 20 - A sedan backing north on Beach 100 Street hit a northbound e-bike rider. The e-bike driver suffered facial abrasions but remained conscious. The crash exposed dangers of unsafe vehicle maneuvers in Queens’ streets.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:33 in Queens near Beach 100 Street. A sedan was backing north when it struck an e-bike traveling straight ahead in the same direction. The sedan’s left rear bumper impacted the e-bike’s right front bumper. The e-bike rider, a 52-year-old male, was injured with abrasions to his face but was conscious and not ejected. The report identifies the sedan driver’s contributing factor as "Backing Unsafely," highlighting a critical driver error. The e-bike rider was licensed and traveling straight, with no contributing factors listed against him. This collision underscores the hazards posed by unsafe backing maneuvers by motor vehicles, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749512 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - A 16-year-old boy suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a vehicle struck him at an intersection on Rockaway Freeway. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian with the vehicle’s right front bumper at 8:20 p.m.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing at an intersection on Rockaway Freeway near Beach 69 Street in Queens at 8:20 p.m. The vehicle, traveling northeast, struck the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The report explicitly cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor in the collision. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at level 3. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors such as pedestrian behavior or safety equipment were noted in the report. The crash underscores the danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748602 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - A sedan traveling west rear-ended a stopped vehicle on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. The driver of the struck vehicle suffered a neck injury and whiplash. The collision caused center back end damage to the sedan. Driver errors were not specified.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old male driver wearing a lap belt and harness was injured with neck pain and whiplash after his vehicle was struck from behind. The sedan, a 2012 Nissan traveling west, was stopped in traffic before impacting the center back end of the other vehicle. The report lists no contributing driver factors or errors such as Failure to Yield or Distracted Driving. The injured driver was conscious and not ejected. Vehicle damage was limited to the center back end of the sedan. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers of rear-end impacts in traffic congestion.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4748601 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 15 - City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Aug 13 - An SUV making a left turn on red collided with a sedan traveling straight on Seagirt Boulevard in Queens. The sedan’s front passenger, a 33-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage on impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:40 PM on Seagirt Boulevard in Queens. The SUV driver was making a left turn on red when the collision happened. The sedan was traveling straight ahead when struck. The front passenger of the sedan, a 33-year-old woman, was injured with back trauma and whiplash, remaining conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' factors contributing to the crash, highlighting the SUV driver's error in turning on red. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front bumpers, indicating a direct impact. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The report emphasizes driver error as the cause, with no blame placed on the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747770 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 10 - Councilwoman Joann Ariola called out Tiffany Cabán for racking up school-zone speeding tickets while pushing to cut car use. Cabán’s platform promised safer streets and fewer cars. Ariola and others say the tickets show a gap between words and actions.

On August 10, 2024, Councilwoman Joann Ariola (District 32) publicly criticized Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán after media reports revealed Cabán received four school-zone speeding tickets and three other violations since November 2022. The matter, covered by the New York Post, states: 'Cabán—who was elected to office on a platform advocating less car use and cracking down on dangerous driving—received four tickets in the past 13 months for speeding her vehicle in school zones.' Ariola, joined by Councilman Robert Holden, accused Cabán of hypocrisy, highlighting the disconnect between Cabán’s advocacy for street safety and her own driving record. Cabán’s policy platform includes converting 25% of city roadways for people, building 1,000 miles of car-free streets, and expanding bus and bike lanes. No formal council bill or committee action is attached to this event, but the public dispute underscores tensions in the city’s push for safer, less car-dominated streets.

• Socialist NYC Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán has amassed nearly $500 in traffic tickets despite pushing anti-car agenda: ‘Hypocrisy’, nypost.com, Published 2024-08-10

Aug 9 - Two passengers suffered neck injuries in a rear-end crash on Beach 13 Street in Queens. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts. The SUV struck the sedan from behind while traveling westbound, causing whiplash but no vehicle damage.

According to the police report, at 3:55 PM on Beach 13 Street in Queens, a 2019 SUV traveling westbound struck the rear of a stopped 2004 sedan also heading west. The impact was to the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the sedan. The sedan carried two male occupants, aged 44 and 18, both passengers wearing lap belts. Both suffered neck injuries described as whiplash and were conscious after the crash. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors, but the collision dynamics indicate a failure to maintain safe distance or attention by the SUV driver. Neither vehicle sustained damage. The report does not attribute any fault or contributing factors to the passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746745 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 9 - Queens Borough President Donovan Richards rejects citywide parking reform. He backs lifting mandates in dense, transit-rich zones but blocks changes in car-dependent areas. Civic leaders echo him. The move keeps cars central, leaving pedestrians and cyclists exposed.

On August 9, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a public statement opposing the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity rezoning as it relates to eliminating mandatory parking requirements citywide. Richards said, "You can't use the one-size-fits-all approach here. There are really parts of Queens that are transit deserts." He supports removing parking mandates only in high-density, transit-rich areas, not in low-density, car-dependent neighborhoods. Community board leaders and civic groups in Queens joined him, arguing the reform threatens their way of life. Richards's stance contrasts with Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx officials, who support ending parking minimums. The decision preserves car dominance in Queens, leaving vulnerable road users at risk and blocking safer, people-first streets.

• ‘City of No’: Queens Borough President Suddenly Joins ‘Suburban’ Crowd Demanding More Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-09

Aug 8 - A 76-year-old man driving a sedan suffered chest injuries and shock in a Queens crash. The vehicle’s left front quarter panel struck an unspecified object or vehicle. Air bags deployed, and the driver was not ejected. No driver errors were cited.

According to the police report, a 76-year-old male driver in Queens was injured in a crash involving a 2015 Buick sedan traveling east on Beach 80 Street. The vehicle sustained damage to its left front bumper and quarter panel. The driver suffered chest injuries and internal complaints, experiencing shock. Air bags deployed during the collision, and the driver was not ejected. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No other vehicles or pedestrians were identified as involved or injured. The absence of cited driver errors or victim behaviors suggests the crash circumstances remain unclear from the available data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746855 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 4 - A northbound SUV making a left turn struck a northbound sedan on Central Avenue. The sedan driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered neck injuries. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:35 on Central Avenue when a northbound station wagon/SUV was making a left turn and collided with a northbound sedan traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the sedan and the right front bumper of the SUV. The sedan driver, a 27-year-old male occupant, was injured with neck trauma and reported internal complaints but was conscious and not ejected. The police report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver did not yield to the sedan. No other contributing factors were specified. The vehicles involved sustained damage to their front quarter panels. The incident highlights driver error in yielding during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745872 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 31 - A 79-year-old man crossing Dix Avenue was struck by a backing SUV. The vehicle hit him with its left rear bumper, causing contusions and arm injuries. Driver inattention and unsafe backing led to the collision at a Queens intersection.

According to the police report, a 79-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Dix Avenue at an intersection in Queens. The crash occurred at 12:35 PM when a 2014 Kia SUV, traveling southwest, was backing up and struck the pedestrian with its left rear bumper. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained damage to its center back end. The driver was licensed and the sole occupant of the SUV. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors during vehicle backing maneuvers in areas with pedestrian activity.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744383 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 30 - A drug-impaired driver struck a parked sedan in Queens. The collision damaged both vehicles and left the driver injured and incoherent. Police identified illegal drug use as a key factor in the crash, highlighting the dangers of impaired driving.

According to the police report, at 11:42 AM in Queens, a 25-year-old male driver was operating a 2004 Mazda sedan westbound when he collided with a parked 2019 Kia sedan on Collier Avenue. The point of impact was the Mazda's right front bumper against the Kia's left rear quarter panel, causing damage to both vehicles. The driver, who was the sole occupant, was injured and incoherent at the scene. The report explicitly cites illegal drug use as the contributing factor to the crash, listing 'Drugs (illegal)' twice under contributing factors. This impairment led to the failure to maintain control and resulted in the collision with the parked vehicle. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744664 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 29 - An unlicensed driver struck a parked SUV on Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens. The collision caused back injuries and shock to the driver of the moving vehicle. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:40 AM on Rockaway Beach Boulevard in Queens. A Ford SUV traveling westbound, driven by a male with an unlicensed New York driver’s status, collided with a parked Nissan SUV. The point of impact was the center front end of the moving vehicle striking the center back end of the parked vehicle. The driver of the moving vehicle, a 49-year-old male occupant, suffered back injuries and was in shock, reporting complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. This crash highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed and distracted drivers in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743959 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19