No More Empty Chairs: Demand Safe Streets Now
District 16: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
The Toll: Lives Lost, Families Broken
In District 16, the numbers do not tell the whole story, but they do not lie. Seventeen people killed. Twenty-four left with serious injuries. Over 2,200 hurt since 2022. The dead include children, parents, neighbors. They are not statistics. They are the empty chair at dinner, the silence on a basketball court, the father who will not come home.
On a May night, a black Mercedes sped down Webster Avenue. It hit Kelvin Mitchell, a 43-year-old father, and dragged him half a block. His mother said, “They killed my son. I need justice for my son.” The driver did not stop. The street did not forgive. The city moved on.
The Pattern: Cars, Trucks, and the Cost of Speed
Cars and SUVs killed six. Trucks and buses killed one. Motorcycles, mopeds, and bikes left others broken. The numbers are steady, the pain is not. Speed is the constant. A sedan, a truck, a bus—each can end a life in a second. The victims are most often on foot, in the crosswalk, or riding a bike. They are not shielded by steel or speed. They are exposed.
Mitchell’s sister said, “We shouldn’t be afraid to come outside and not make it back home.” The fear is real. The risk is not shared equally.
The Response: What Althea Stevens Has Done—and Not Done
Council Member Althea Stevens has backed some measures that matter. She voted to legalize jaywalking, ending a law that punished the vulnerable and did nothing to stop drivers from killing. She co-sponsored bills for bollards, curb extensions, and greenway planning. She joined calls for safer crossings on the Washington Bridge. These are steps. But the blood on the street says it is not enough.
Stevens has also supported bills that raise fines for sidewalk cycling and e-scooter violations. These laws target the least protected, not the most dangerous. They do not stop cars from killing. They do not slow the traffic that takes lives.
What Comes Next: No More Waiting
Every day without action is another day of risk. The city can lower speed limits. It can build more protected crossings. It can put people before parking. Call Council Member Stevens. Demand more. Demand streets where children can cross without fear, where parents come home. Do not wait for another name on the list.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Bronx Father Killed In Hit-And-Run, ABC7, Published 2025-05-12
- Police Chase Ends In Bronx Fatality, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-14
- Bronx Man Killed in Hit-and-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-11
- File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27
- Exclusive: BPs Levine and Gibson pen letter to DOT calling for upgrades to Washington Bridge, amny.com, Published 2022-09-22
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728165, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
- Bronx Father Killed In Hit-And-Run, ABC7, Published 2025-05-12
- Explainer: Why a Full Citi Bike Dock Doesn’t Mean No One’s Using It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-04
- Top NYPD official claims cops park on sidewalks because there’s nowhere else to park on the streets, amny.com, Published 2023-03-20
▸ Other Geographies
District 16 Council District 16 sits in Bronx, Precinct 44.
It contains Concourse-Concourse Village, Highbridge, Mount Eden-Claremont (West), Yankee Stadium-Macombs Dam Park, Claremont Park, Bronx CB4.
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Council District 16
Int 0256-2022Stevens sponsors bill requiring police to report vehicle force, boosting safety.▸Council bill Int 0256-2022 would force NYPD to count every time an officer uses a car to control someone. The law closes a reporting loophole. Police vehicles are now named as weapons. The bill was filed at session’s end. No action taken.
Int 0256-2022, introduced April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety, sought to amend the city code to require NYPD to report when officers use a motor vehicle as force. The bill’s matter title reads: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to use of force incidents involving police department use of a motor vehicle.” Council Member Althea V. Stevens led as primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Hudson, Williams, Restler, Krishnan, and others. The bill would have added 'use of a motor vehicle to gain control of a subject' as a reporting category. It was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. This measure aimed to expose police vehicle violence by demanding full transparency in use-of-force reporting.
-
File Int 0256-2022,
NYC Council – Legistar,
Published 2022-04-28
Int 0287-2022Stevens sponsors bill to create active transportation office, boosting street safety.▸Council filed a bill to create an Office of Active Transportation and an advisory board. The plan aimed to coordinate city policy, hear complaints, and push for safer streets. The bill died at session’s end. Vulnerable users remain exposed.
Int 0287-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill proposed 'establishing an office of active transportation and an active transportation advisory board.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, Lincoln Restler, and Carlina Rivera backed the measure. The advisory board would have studied safety, complaints, and policy for cyclists, e-bike riders, and others outside cars. Eight board members would be appointed by the Council Speaker, four by the Mayor. The office would report annually and serve as a citywide liaison for active transportation users. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No new protections for vulnerable road users resulted.
-
File Int 0287-2022,
NYC Council – Legistar,
Published 2022-04-28
Int 0172-2022Stevens co-sponsors bill that could delay or block street safety upgrades.▸Council bill Int 0172-2022 would force DOT to warn communities before changing open streets. Sixty days’ notice. Four weeks for comments. Two weeks for answers. Streets can’t shift without neighbors knowing. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay uncertain.
Int 0172-2022, filed by the NYC Council and handled by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to amend city law on open streets. Introduced April 14, 2022, the bill required the Department of Transportation to give 60 days’ notice to council members, boards, and local groups before any permanent open street changes. The bill’s summary reads: “notification and community input regarding designation of, removal of and changes to open streets.” Sponsors included Tiffany Cabán (primary), Crystal Hudson, Kamillah Hanks, Oswald Feliz, Farah N. Louis, Kalman Yeger, Sandy Nurse, Shahana K. Hanif, and Althea V. Stevens. The bill mandated a four-week comment window and a two-week response period, plus annual reporting and advance notice for temporary changes. The bill was filed at the end of session, leaving open streets policy unchanged.
-
File Int 0172-2022,
NYC Council – Legistar,
Published 2022-04-14
Motorcycle Slams Into Turning SUV on Morris Avenue▸A motorcycle struck a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider flew from the seat, hit the ground, bleeding from the head. He lost a leg. Engines hissed. Both vehicles crumpled in the dusk. Streets stained. Lives changed in seconds.
A motorcycle collided with the rear of a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider, unlicensed, was ejected and suffered a severe head injury and leg amputation. According to the police report, 'A motorcycle slammed into the rear of a turning SUV. The rider, unlicensed, flew from the seat. He hit the ground, bleeding from the head. Conscious. One leg gone.' Both vehicles were heavily damaged. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. These driver errors played a central role in the crash. The data notes the motorcycle rider was unlicensed, but the primary causes remain driver inattention and improper lane use.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4514744,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Council bill Int 0256-2022 would force NYPD to count every time an officer uses a car to control someone. The law closes a reporting loophole. Police vehicles are now named as weapons. The bill was filed at session’s end. No action taken.
Int 0256-2022, introduced April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety, sought to amend the city code to require NYPD to report when officers use a motor vehicle as force. The bill’s matter title reads: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to use of force incidents involving police department use of a motor vehicle.” Council Member Althea V. Stevens led as primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Hudson, Williams, Restler, Krishnan, and others. The bill would have added 'use of a motor vehicle to gain control of a subject' as a reporting category. It was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. This measure aimed to expose police vehicle violence by demanding full transparency in use-of-force reporting.
- File Int 0256-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28
Int 0287-2022Stevens sponsors bill to create active transportation office, boosting street safety.▸Council filed a bill to create an Office of Active Transportation and an advisory board. The plan aimed to coordinate city policy, hear complaints, and push for safer streets. The bill died at session’s end. Vulnerable users remain exposed.
Int 0287-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill proposed 'establishing an office of active transportation and an active transportation advisory board.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, Lincoln Restler, and Carlina Rivera backed the measure. The advisory board would have studied safety, complaints, and policy for cyclists, e-bike riders, and others outside cars. Eight board members would be appointed by the Council Speaker, four by the Mayor. The office would report annually and serve as a citywide liaison for active transportation users. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No new protections for vulnerable road users resulted.
-
File Int 0287-2022,
NYC Council – Legistar,
Published 2022-04-28
Int 0172-2022Stevens co-sponsors bill that could delay or block street safety upgrades.▸Council bill Int 0172-2022 would force DOT to warn communities before changing open streets. Sixty days’ notice. Four weeks for comments. Two weeks for answers. Streets can’t shift without neighbors knowing. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay uncertain.
Int 0172-2022, filed by the NYC Council and handled by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to amend city law on open streets. Introduced April 14, 2022, the bill required the Department of Transportation to give 60 days’ notice to council members, boards, and local groups before any permanent open street changes. The bill’s summary reads: “notification and community input regarding designation of, removal of and changes to open streets.” Sponsors included Tiffany Cabán (primary), Crystal Hudson, Kamillah Hanks, Oswald Feliz, Farah N. Louis, Kalman Yeger, Sandy Nurse, Shahana K. Hanif, and Althea V. Stevens. The bill mandated a four-week comment window and a two-week response period, plus annual reporting and advance notice for temporary changes. The bill was filed at the end of session, leaving open streets policy unchanged.
-
File Int 0172-2022,
NYC Council – Legistar,
Published 2022-04-14
Motorcycle Slams Into Turning SUV on Morris Avenue▸A motorcycle struck a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider flew from the seat, hit the ground, bleeding from the head. He lost a leg. Engines hissed. Both vehicles crumpled in the dusk. Streets stained. Lives changed in seconds.
A motorcycle collided with the rear of a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider, unlicensed, was ejected and suffered a severe head injury and leg amputation. According to the police report, 'A motorcycle slammed into the rear of a turning SUV. The rider, unlicensed, flew from the seat. He hit the ground, bleeding from the head. Conscious. One leg gone.' Both vehicles were heavily damaged. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. These driver errors played a central role in the crash. The data notes the motorcycle rider was unlicensed, but the primary causes remain driver inattention and improper lane use.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4514744,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Council filed a bill to create an Office of Active Transportation and an advisory board. The plan aimed to coordinate city policy, hear complaints, and push for safer streets. The bill died at session’s end. Vulnerable users remain exposed.
Int 0287-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill proposed 'establishing an office of active transportation and an active transportation advisory board.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, Lincoln Restler, and Carlina Rivera backed the measure. The advisory board would have studied safety, complaints, and policy for cyclists, e-bike riders, and others outside cars. Eight board members would be appointed by the Council Speaker, four by the Mayor. The office would report annually and serve as a citywide liaison for active transportation users. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No new protections for vulnerable road users resulted.
- File Int 0287-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28
Int 0172-2022Stevens co-sponsors bill that could delay or block street safety upgrades.▸Council bill Int 0172-2022 would force DOT to warn communities before changing open streets. Sixty days’ notice. Four weeks for comments. Two weeks for answers. Streets can’t shift without neighbors knowing. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay uncertain.
Int 0172-2022, filed by the NYC Council and handled by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to amend city law on open streets. Introduced April 14, 2022, the bill required the Department of Transportation to give 60 days’ notice to council members, boards, and local groups before any permanent open street changes. The bill’s summary reads: “notification and community input regarding designation of, removal of and changes to open streets.” Sponsors included Tiffany Cabán (primary), Crystal Hudson, Kamillah Hanks, Oswald Feliz, Farah N. Louis, Kalman Yeger, Sandy Nurse, Shahana K. Hanif, and Althea V. Stevens. The bill mandated a four-week comment window and a two-week response period, plus annual reporting and advance notice for temporary changes. The bill was filed at the end of session, leaving open streets policy unchanged.
-
File Int 0172-2022,
NYC Council – Legistar,
Published 2022-04-14
Motorcycle Slams Into Turning SUV on Morris Avenue▸A motorcycle struck a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider flew from the seat, hit the ground, bleeding from the head. He lost a leg. Engines hissed. Both vehicles crumpled in the dusk. Streets stained. Lives changed in seconds.
A motorcycle collided with the rear of a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider, unlicensed, was ejected and suffered a severe head injury and leg amputation. According to the police report, 'A motorcycle slammed into the rear of a turning SUV. The rider, unlicensed, flew from the seat. He hit the ground, bleeding from the head. Conscious. One leg gone.' Both vehicles were heavily damaged. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. These driver errors played a central role in the crash. The data notes the motorcycle rider was unlicensed, but the primary causes remain driver inattention and improper lane use.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4514744,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Council bill Int 0172-2022 would force DOT to warn communities before changing open streets. Sixty days’ notice. Four weeks for comments. Two weeks for answers. Streets can’t shift without neighbors knowing. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay uncertain.
Int 0172-2022, filed by the NYC Council and handled by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to amend city law on open streets. Introduced April 14, 2022, the bill required the Department of Transportation to give 60 days’ notice to council members, boards, and local groups before any permanent open street changes. The bill’s summary reads: “notification and community input regarding designation of, removal of and changes to open streets.” Sponsors included Tiffany Cabán (primary), Crystal Hudson, Kamillah Hanks, Oswald Feliz, Farah N. Louis, Kalman Yeger, Sandy Nurse, Shahana K. Hanif, and Althea V. Stevens. The bill mandated a four-week comment window and a two-week response period, plus annual reporting and advance notice for temporary changes. The bill was filed at the end of session, leaving open streets policy unchanged.
- File Int 0172-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-14
Motorcycle Slams Into Turning SUV on Morris Avenue▸A motorcycle struck a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider flew from the seat, hit the ground, bleeding from the head. He lost a leg. Engines hissed. Both vehicles crumpled in the dusk. Streets stained. Lives changed in seconds.
A motorcycle collided with the rear of a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider, unlicensed, was ejected and suffered a severe head injury and leg amputation. According to the police report, 'A motorcycle slammed into the rear of a turning SUV. The rider, unlicensed, flew from the seat. He hit the ground, bleeding from the head. Conscious. One leg gone.' Both vehicles were heavily damaged. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. These driver errors played a central role in the crash. The data notes the motorcycle rider was unlicensed, but the primary causes remain driver inattention and improper lane use.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4514744,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A motorcycle struck a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider flew from the seat, hit the ground, bleeding from the head. He lost a leg. Engines hissed. Both vehicles crumpled in the dusk. Streets stained. Lives changed in seconds.
A motorcycle collided with the rear of a turning SUV on Morris Avenue. The rider, unlicensed, was ejected and suffered a severe head injury and leg amputation. According to the police report, 'A motorcycle slammed into the rear of a turning SUV. The rider, unlicensed, flew from the seat. He hit the ground, bleeding from the head. Conscious. One leg gone.' Both vehicles were heavily damaged. The police report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. These driver errors played a central role in the crash. The data notes the motorcycle rider was unlicensed, but the primary causes remain driver inattention and improper lane use.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4514744, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15