No More Dead Kids: Hold Paladino Accountable for Traffic Violence

Councilmember Vickie Paladino fought cycling safety in Queens. She disrupted a DOT meeting, spread fear, and urged her supporters to walk out. Her words painted cyclists as outsiders. The meeting turned productive only after she left. Vulnerable road users lost a voice.

On October 28, 2024, Councilmember Vickie Paladino publicly opposed the Northern Queens Greenway project at a Department of Transportation workshop. The op-ed, titled 'We Just Want Safety While Vickie Paladino Wants Chaos and Danger,' details Paladino's actions: she misled supporters about the meeting, encouraged disruption, and left with her group. Paladino claimed, 'Bike lanes are not presently being used here,' and voiced fears that greenways would enable crime. She framed cyclists as outsiders and dismissed community input. The op-ed accuses her of fueling division and suppressing dissent. After Paladino's exit, the workshop shifted to productive discussion about safe infrastructure for all, especially the most vulnerable. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided, but the event highlights how political opposition can stall life-saving street improvements.

• Op-Ed: We Just Want Safety While Vickie Paladino Wants Chaos and Danger, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-28

Council sparred over parking mandates in the City of Yes plan. Mayor Adams wavered. Public Advocate Williams demanded parking stay. Commissioner Garodnick called removal crucial. Paladino railed against change. Over 600 testified. The fight centers cars, not people on foot or bike.

Bill: City of Yes Housing Plan. Status: Public hearing held October 22, 2024. Committee: City Council zoning reform. The matter, 'eliminating mandatory parking requirements,' drew sharp lines. Mayor Adams signaled compromise, saying mandates may remain. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams insisted on keeping parking beyond a half-mile from transit, warning of harm to neighborhoods. City Planning Commissioner Dan Garodnick testified, 'getting rid of costly parking requirements was crucial to the plan.' Council Member Vickie Paladino fiercely opposed the change, dismissing supporters. Over 600 people signed up to testify. The hearing exposed deep divides. The debate focused on car storage, not the safety of people walking or biking. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users was assessed.

• Can Mayor Adams Land The ‘City of Yes’ Housing Plane?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-22

A sedan tore down Cross Island Parkway, speed unchecked. The car flipped, metal shrieked, six inside. A seventeen-year-old boy, unbelted, was thrown from the wreck. His body shattered. Sirens wailed through the night, marking another life ended by reckless velocity.

According to the police report, a 2014 Nissan sedan traveling southbound on Cross Island Parkway with six occupants crashed after the driver lost control at unsafe speed. The report states, 'A 2014 Nissan, six inside, hit speed and flipped.' The vehicle overturned, and a 17-year-old male passenger seated in the left rear was ejected from the car. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the primary contributing factor. The teen suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and was pronounced dead at the scene. The narrative details, 'A 17-year-old boy in the back, no belt, thrown clear. Whole body broken.' No other contributing factors are cited for the victim. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers exceed safe speeds, especially with multiple passengers in the vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4762856, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council passed a law letting pedestrians cross streets anywhere, at any time. Jaywalking is now legal. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks or against signals. The law shifts blame from walkers to drivers. Streets belong to people again.

Int 0346-2024, now Local Law 98 of 2024, was enacted by the City Council on October 26, 2024, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way," lets pedestrians cross roadways at any point, even against traffic signals. It erases penalties for so-called jaywalking. Sponsors include Tiffany Cabán (primary), Lincoln Restler, Crystal Hudson, Shahana K. Hanif, Julie Won, Mercedes Narcisse, Darlene Mealy, Erik D. Bottcher, and Farah N. Louis. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor. The law requires the Department of Transportation to educate all road users about these new rights. By ending jaywalking enforcement, the city removes a tool often used to blame victims and target the vulnerable. The law marks a shift: streets are for people, not just cars.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A westbound car swept past an 80-year-old man on 48th Avenue, its bumper slamming into his head. Blood pooled on the pavement. He stayed conscious, wounded and cut. The street held no intersection, only danger and steel.

According to the police report, an 80-year-old pedestrian was walking with traffic along 48th Avenue near 206th Street at dusk when a westbound car 'passed too close.' The vehicle's right front bumper struck the man's head, causing severe lacerations and bleeding. The report notes that the pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. The crash did not occur at an intersection. The primary contributing factor cited is 'Passing Too Closely,' a clear driver error. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The narrative documents the impact, the injuries, and the absence of intersection controls, underscoring the peril faced by those on foot when drivers fail to maintain safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757802, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A van rolled down 147th Street, brakes failed. It pinned a 26-year-old man, crushing his legs. Blood pooled on the quiet pavement. Metal pressed flesh. Parked cars stood by, silent. The man stayed conscious, pain sharp, morning still.

A 26-year-old pedestrian suffered severe crush injuries to his legs when a van rolled from rest on 147th Street near 13th Avenue in Queens, according to the police report. The incident occurred at 8:51 a.m. The report states the van’s brakes were defective, causing it to move unexpectedly and strike the man. The narrative describes the van as having 'failed brakes' and details how it 'crushed a 26-year-old man’s legs.' The victim remained conscious on the pavement, bleeding. Two parked vehicles—a van and an SUV—were involved, but only the van moved. The police report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the primary contributing factor. No driver errors beyond mechanical failure are cited. The report does not attribute any contributing actions to the pedestrian. The focus remains on the van’s mechanical failure and the resulting harm to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756178, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

New York will close 71 streets to cars outside schools this fall. The city adds more car-free zones for kids. Streets once deadly will now be safer for walking, play, and learning. The move targets neighborhoods hit hardest by crashes.

On August 29, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a record 71 school streets will close to cars this fall. The expansion, not tied to a specific council bill, builds on the Open Streets program, made permanent in 2021. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez said, 'We have created a new framework to give this space back to our school children.' Councilwoman Vickie Paladino celebrated the new open street at PS 129, calling it a win for safe pick-up, drop-off, and play. Funding comes from the Public Space Equity Program, with $30 million focused on under-resourced areas. Street Lab will provide programming and street furniture. The program responds to past investigations showing higher crash and injury rates outside schools, especially in poorer neighborhoods. The city will directly fund management and operations starting in 2025, aiming to make these safety gains permanent.

• More Safe School Streets Coming To NYC This Fall, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-29

A taxi slowed on 149th Street. The driver’s eyes left the road. A woman’s leg broke beneath the wheel. She went into shock. The car sat unharmed. The street held its breath as pain and silence filled the dusk.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling on 149th Street near 5th Avenue in Queens struck a 60-year-old woman who was standing in the roadway. The report states, 'The taxi slowed, but the driver looked away.' The woman suffered crush injuries to her knee and lower leg and went into shock. The police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, with additional mention of 'Passenger Distraction.' The taxi itself sustained no damage. The victim was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway,' but the report identifies driver distraction as the primary cause. The focus remains on the driver’s failure to maintain attention, resulting in severe injury to a pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751449, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two SUVs met head-on on Cross Island Parkway. Steel ripped. Roofs caved. A ten-year-old boy and a thirty-four-year-old woman were crushed in their seats. Five people injured. Speed and failure to yield tore lives apart in the night.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided head-on on Cross Island Parkway at 10:15 p.m. The impact was catastrophic: 'Roofs folded. Steel tore. A 10-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman crushed in their seats. Five injured. All awake. All broken.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors for at least one vehicle. The narrative underscores that 'speed was too much. Yielding came too late.' Both the child and the woman, along with three others, suffered crush injuries to their entire bodies. All occupants were conscious but injured. The data points to driver actions—excessive speed and failure to yield—as the primary causes of this violent crash. No contributing factors are attributed to the victims.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750683, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda motorcycle struck a Volkswagen SUV’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. The rider, helmeted but unlicensed, suffered severe bleeding. Metal screamed. The SUV’s bumper crumpled. Westbound lanes bore witness to the violence of improper lane use.

According to the police report, a 2009 Honda motorcycle collided with the rear of a Volkswagen SUV on the Long Island Expressway. The crash occurred in the westbound lanes. The motorcyclist, a 26-year-old man, was helmeted but unlicensed and suffered severe bleeding to his entire body, remaining conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors to the collision. The SUV’s left rear bumper was damaged, and the sound of impact echoed across the highway. The police report makes clear that improper lane usage and unsafe speed were central to the crash, underscoring the dangers present on New York City’s high-speed corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741868, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A KIA sedan reversed near 26th Avenue. Its bumper struck a 78-year-old woman standing off the roadway. Her body crushed, pain unyielding. She stayed conscious. The car showed no damage. The street stayed indifferent.

According to the police report, a KIA sedan backed up near 208-11 26th Avenue in Queens at 14:53. The vehicle struck a 78-year-old woman who was standing off the roadway. The report states, 'A KIA sedan backed up. No damage to the car. A 78-year-old woman stood off the roadway. The bumper found her. Her whole body crushed. She stayed conscious. The pain did not let go.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her entire body and remained conscious at the scene. The police report identifies 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor for the crash. No vehicle damage was reported. The data makes clear: driver error—specifically unsafe backing—directly led to severe injury for a vulnerable pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742811, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A diesel truck rammed a northbound pickup on Whitestone Expressway. Metal folded, glass burst, three young adults trapped inside. Neck bones cracked. The truck’s nose caved, the pickup’s rear torn open. All survived, but the scars will linger.

According to the police report, a diesel tractor truck struck the rear of a northbound Ford pickup truck on Whitestone Expressway at 8:37 a.m. The report states, 'A diesel truck slammed into a northbound Ford pickup. The truck’s nose folded. The pickup’s rear tore open.' Three young adults inside the pickup—ages 20, 27, and 29—suffered severe neck crush injuries. None were ejected; all remained strapped in as the vehicle crumpled around them. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the crash. The force of the impact left the pickup’s right rear bumper destroyed and the truck’s front end mangled. The data makes clear: driver error behind the wheel of the tractor truck led to devastating injuries for the pickup’s occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4740029, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Vickie Paladino backs Priscilla’s Law. The bill demands registration for all e-vehicles not covered by the state. Plates must be visible. The law follows a fatal crash. Supporters say chaos from unregulated e-bikes must end. Streets stay dangerous.

Intro 606, renamed Priscilla’s Law, was introduced in the New York City Council and supported by Council Member Vickie Paladino (District 19) on June 21, 2024. The bill sits before committee. Its summary: 'Priscilla's Law aims to crack down on illegal e-vehicles in NYC.' The law would require all unregistered e-bikes, mopeds, and scooters to register with the NYC Department of Transportation and display a visible plate. The bill honors Priscilla Loke, killed by an e-bike rider who ran a red light. Paladino declared, 'It's time for e-bike accountability. Our streets cannot be a free-for-all when it comes to these motorized vehicles, which are increasingly causing chaos throughout the city.' The bill has support from 31 council members. Emergency doctors report rising injuries and deaths from e-vehicle crashes. The city’s crackdown continues, but the toll mounts.

• Priscilla’s Law aims to crack down on illegal e-vehicles in NYC, amny.com, Published 2024-06-21

A Mazda SUV swung right on 160th Street. Metal met flesh. A 53-year-old woman on a bike went down, her leg shattered beneath the front left wheel. Blood pooled. She stayed conscious, silent, helmetless, pain radiating through the dusk.

A collision unfolded on 160th Street near Council District 19 at 7:40 p.m., involving a Mazda SUV and a woman riding a bicycle, according to the police report. The report states the SUV was making a right turn when it struck the cyclist, who was traveling east. The cyclist, a 53-year-old woman, suffered crush injuries to her lower leg after the SUV’s front left quarter panel hit her. She remained conscious but was bleeding on the pavement. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' was cited as the contributing factor, highlighting a critical driver error. The report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail is listed only after the driver’s failure to yield. The impact and resulting injury underscore the dangers faced by cyclists when drivers do not yield as required.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731994, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Hyundai sedan tore down Cross Island Parkway. Metal twisted, glass shattered. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, stayed conscious as crush injuries swept her body. The car’s right front quarter bore the brunt. The night air held the sound.

A Hyundai sedan traveling north on Cross Island Parkway crashed, inflicting severe crush injuries on its sole occupant, a 30-year-old woman. According to the police report, the vehicle's right front quarter panel sustained heavy damage. The driver remained conscious, restrained by a lap belt and harness, but suffered injuries described as spreading through her entire body. The report states the driver was licensed and alone in the car. Both contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified,' providing no further detail on the cause. The narrative notes, 'A Hyundai sedan slammed hard on its right front. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, stayed conscious. Her seatbelt held. Her bones did not. Crush injuries spread through her body like fire through dry grass.' No other vehicles or road users are named in the report, and no driver errors are specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4729233, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Five killed in Queens. A child, a young man, two moped riders, and another victim. Councilmember Vickie Paladino calls for debate, not action. City lags on protected lanes. Advocates say the toll is rising. Streets remain deadly for the vulnerable.

On May 20, 2024, Councilmember Vickie Paladino (District 19) was mentioned in a public debate following a deadly weekend on Queens streets. The event, covered by Gothamist, highlighted that 2024 is one of the deadliest years for Queens since Vision Zero began. The matter summary states, 'Five people were killed by cars over the weekend.' Paladino criticized DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and street safety advocates, calling for a 'robust, inclusive debate.' Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives condemned the city's failure to meet the 2019 NYC Streets Plan, which mandates 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of bus lanes each year. The city has built only 72% of required bike lanes and 19% of bus lanes. Advocates point to rising deaths, especially among children, and blame delays and opposition from local officials. The debate underscores a systemic failure to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

• Deadly weekend on Queens’ streets makes 2024 one of the worst, safety advocates say, gothamist.com, Published 2024-05-20

A Dodge SUV, moving too fast, struck a stopped Honda on Utopia Parkway. Metal screamed. A 73-year-old man, belted in, suffered crushing injuries. The afternoon stilled as bodies and steel absorbed the force. Speed left its mark.

According to the police report, a Dodge SUV traveling south on Utopia Parkway at an unsafe speed collided with the rear of a stopped Honda SUV. The crash occurred in the early afternoon. The report states, 'A Dodge SUV, speeding south, slammed into a stopped Honda. Metal groaned.' The 73-year-old male driver of the Honda, who was wearing his seatbelt, sustained crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the collision. The impact was severe enough to cause significant damage to both vehicles, with the Dodge's left front bumper striking the Honda's center back end. No actions or errors are attributed to the injured driver in the report. The focus remains on the danger posed by excessive speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721899, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 2003 Honda SUV moved east on 33rd Avenue. The driver, seventy-two, belted in, was crushed across the body. Failure to yield shattered metal and bone. The street fell silent. The wound lingered, heavy and sharp.

According to the police report, a 2003 Honda SUV was traveling east on 33rd Avenue when it was involved in a collision. The driver, a 72-year-old man, was the sole occupant and suffered crush injuries to his entire body. He was conscious at the scene, restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, underscoring a critical driver error that led to the crash. The narrative states, 'The cause: failure to yield. The wound: the frame.' No evidence in the report suggests any victim behavior contributed to the crash. The focus remains on the driver's failure to yield, which resulted in severe injury and a shattered vehicle frame.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720801, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan barreled south on Francis Lewis Boulevard, slamming into an SUV and a parked car. The driver, head bloodied, lay unconscious. Alcohol and distraction fueled the crash. The street was silent, the toll loud and clear.

A violent crash unfolded on Francis Lewis Boulevard near 46th Avenue in Queens when a southbound sedan struck the rear of a sport utility vehicle and then collided with a parked car. According to the police report, the 29-year-old male driver of the sedan was found unconscious, suffering severe head bleeding. The report explicitly lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The narrative details how the sedan 'slammed into the rear of an SUV, then a parked car,' leaving the driver slumped and bleeding. No evidence from the report indicates any error or contributing action by the SUV occupants or the parked vehicle. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of driver impairment and distraction, as documented by the responding officers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719200, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council wants DOT to study speed bumps and other ways to slow electric bikes in bike lanes. The bill targets crash hotspots. Sponsors demand answers. The measure sits in committee. No action yet. Riders and walkers wait for results.

Int 0823-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on April 18, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to study speed bumps and other speed-reducing measures for electric bikes in bike lanes. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law in relation to a department of transportation study on speed reducing measures for bicycles with electric assist operating in bicycle lanes.' Council Members Robert F. Holden, Justin L. Brannan, James F. Gennaro (primary sponsor), Farah N. Louis, Vickie Paladino, and David M. Carr back the bill. Their action: sponsorship and referral to committee. The study must pinpoint crash-prone spots and weigh the impact on all users. If speed bumps won’t work, DOT must suggest alternatives. The bill expires once the study is submitted.

• File Int 0823-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18