No More Dead Kids: Hold Paladino Accountable for Traffic Violence

Three SUVs tore north on Cross Island Parkway. Metal slammed metal. Glass exploded. Four men, ages seventeen to forty-four, crushed in their seats. Belts held. Bones broke. Speed carved pain into steel. All awake. All broken.

On Cross Island Parkway, three SUVs collided in a violent chain-reaction, leaving four men aged 17 to 44 with severe crush injuries. According to the police report, all vehicles were traveling northbound when the crash occurred at 19:50. The report describes the scene: 'Three SUVs, metal to metal. A hard strike. Glass burst. Four men, ages 17 to 44, crushed in their seats. Belts held them tight. All awake. All broken. Speed carved the pain into steel.' The official contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' This systemic danger—drivers operating at speeds too high for control—directly led to the catastrophic injuries. No other contributing factors were cited for the victims. The report does not attribute any fault to the injured occupants, who were all restrained by seatbelts at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718077, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council targets hidden plates. Bill slaps fines and jail time on drivers who cover or deface tags. No more hiding from cameras. Law aims to strip shields from reckless motorists. Committee weighs next steps. Streets demand accountability.

Int 0766-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced April 11, 2024, the bill bans parking, standing, stopping, or operating a vehicle with obscured or defaced license plates. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the parking, standing, stopping, or operation of a motor vehicle with obscured or defaced license plates.' Council Member Oswald Feliz leads as primary sponsor, joined by Holden, Bottcher, Gennaro, Marte, Restler, Ung, and Paladino. The bill hits violators with up to $1,000 fines, possible jail, and escalating penalties for repeat offenses. The measure aims to end the dodge—drivers hiding plates to evade enforcement. The committee now holds the bill for review.

• File Int 0766-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

A box truck barreled into a diesel rig’s rear on the Long Island Expressway. Steel twisted. The 25-year-old driver’s legs were crushed. He stayed conscious, pain sharp and unyielding. Following too closely left him broken in the cab.

A violent rear-end collision unfolded on the Long Island Expressway when a box truck crashed into the back of a diesel tractor-trailer, according to the police report. The report states the box truck 'slammed into a diesel rig’s rear,' folding steel and pinning the 25-year-old driver. He suffered severe crush injuries to his legs but remained conscious throughout, with pain keeping him awake. The police report explicitly cites 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor for the crash. The impact targeted the center front end of the box truck and the rear of the tractor-trailer. The driver was wearing a lap belt at the time. No other contributing factors are listed in the report. The collision highlights the lethal consequences of driver error and the dangers inherent in truck traffic on city expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713180, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill demands DOT keep curbs high after street work. Low curbs mean water floods sidewalks. Pedestrians wade through puddles. Property owners get fined. Ariola leads, Holden, Paladino, Vernikov back her. Committee reviews. No action yet. Streets stay risky.

Int 0603-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since March 7, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that the department of transportation maintain curb heights following street construction,' targets a simple failure: after street work, curbs often vanish, water pools, and property owners get fined for city mistakes. Council Member Joann Ariola sponsors, joined by Holden, Paladino, and Vernikov. The bill orders DOT to restore curbs to proper height after any street, sidewalk, or gutter work. The committee has not voted. The bill aims to stop flooding and fines, but leaves the daily hazard for walkers and wheelchair users unaddressed until passed.

• File Int 0603-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

A Ford pickup slammed into a 57-year-old man standing off 126th Street. His body was crushed. Alcohol lingered in the air. The man stayed conscious. The trucks moved on. He did not.

A 57-year-old pedestrian was struck and severely injured by a Ford pickup truck near 23-41 126th Street in Queens, according to the police report. The man was standing off the roadway when the collision occurred. The report states, 'A Ford pickup struck him. His body crushed. He stayed conscious.' The crash involved two pickup trucks, one parked and one driven. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The Ford pickup, driven by a licensed male driver, was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The report does not cite any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the driver’s actions and the presence of alcohol as a systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706856, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0221-2024 shifts sidewalk repair duty for city tree damage from homeowners to the Parks Department. Homeowners must report damage. City crews must fix broken, buckled, or hazardous walks caused by city trees. Private owners are off the hook.

Int 0221-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the parks department to repair damage caused by trees owned by the city of New York.' Council Members James F. Gennaro (primary sponsor), Robert F. Holden, Joann Ariola, Vickie Paladino, and Inna Vernikov back the measure. Their bill requires the Parks Department to repair sidewalks damaged by city-owned trees, removing the burden from homeowners of one-, two-, or three-family homes. Owners must notify the city if tree roots break the walk. If the damage is not tree-related, owners still have ninety days to fix it. The bill aims to clarify responsibility and ensure city action on hazards caused by its own trees.

• File Int 0221-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders speed humps on streets by parks over one acre. DOT must install unless safety or guidelines say no. Seventeen council members back the move. The bill sits in committee. Streets by parks may soon slow cars.

Int 0262-2024 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 28, 2024. The bill states: "requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre." Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by seventeen co-sponsors including Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Marte, and others. The Department of Transportation must install speed humps on qualifying streets unless the commissioner finds it unsafe or inconsistent with DOT guidelines. The bill remains in committee. If passed, it would take effect 180 days after becoming law. The measure aims to slow traffic near parks, where walkers and children cross.

• File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill targets auto shops, rentals, and gas stations clogging city streets with business vehicles. Fines run $250 to $400 per day. Impoundment possible. Exempts car dealerships. Bill sits in committee. Streets may clear, but danger remains for those on foot and bike.

Int 0227-2024, now before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting certain commercial establishments from parking vehicles on city streets,' cracks down on auto body shops, mechanics, car rental businesses, and gas stations that use public streets for business parking. Civil penalties range from $250 to $400 per day, with impoundment for repeat violations. The bill excludes car dealerships and carsharing organizations. Council Members Nantasha M. Williams (primary sponsor), Robert F. Holden, Erik D. Bottcher, and Vickie Paladino back the measure. The law aims to reclaim curb space, but the threat to pedestrians and cyclists from double-parked and idling vehicles persists. The bill awaits further action.

• File Int 0227-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders DOT to study speed bumps at camera sites. If possible, bumps go in within a year. Annual reports track danger and decide if cameras stay. Carr, Louis, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino back the move. Streets may slow. Lives may change.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it commands the Department of Transportation to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. The bill reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), David M. Carr, Sandra Ung, Robert F. Holden, Joann Ariola, and Vickie Paladino sponsor the measure. If DOT finds a location suitable, it must install a raised speed reducer within a year. DOT must also report annually, track changes in dangerous driving, and recommend if cameras are still needed. The bill aims to force physical changes where drivers speed, not just rely on cameras. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A left-turning SUV, driver distracted, struck a 68-year-old man crossing Westmoreland Street. The bumper hit his head. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, wounded. The street fell silent, danger revealed in the moment’s violence.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old man was crossing Westmoreland Street near 41st Drive in Queens when he was struck by a left-turning SUV. The report states the driver was distracted at the time of the crash, listing 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The impact was to the pedestrian's head, causing severe bleeding, and the man remained conscious at the scene. The SUV’s left front bumper was the point of impact. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal, but this is only mentioned after the driver’s distraction is cited as the main factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences of driver inattention on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700379, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Nissan turned right on 149th Street. Its bumper hit a woman in the crosswalk. She fell. She was crushed from head to heel. The car was fine. She was not. The street stayed cold and silent.

A 49-year-old woman was crossing 149th Street when a westbound Nissan sedan turned right and struck her with its left front bumper. According to the police report, 'A 49-year-old woman stepped into the crosswalk against the light. A westbound Nissan turned right. Its left bumper struck her. She fell hard. Conscious. Crushed from head to heel. The car was undamaged. She was not.' The woman suffered crush injuries to her entire body and remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were cited in the data. The driver was licensed and the vehicle was undamaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692470, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota SUV hit a 69-year-old woman as she crossed Parsons Boulevard with the light. The impact shattered her hip. She stayed conscious, lying in the street. The SUV showed no damage. The driver continued straight after the crash.

A 69-year-old woman was crossing Parsons Boulevard with the signal when a southbound Toyota SUV struck her on the right side. According to the police report, 'A 69-year-old woman crossed with the light. A southbound Toyota SUV struck her right side. Her hip shattered. She lay conscious in the street. The SUV bore no mark. The driver kept going straight.' The pedestrian suffered crush injuries to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were detailed in the data. The woman was not at an intersection but was crossing with the signal. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688146, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Mazda SUV hit a bus head-on. Metal tore. The SUV’s front folded. The bus doors bent. A 39-year-old man’s arm was crushed. He stayed awake, seatbelt on. The right-of-way was ignored. The street held the wreckage.

A Mazda SUV collided head-on with a bus on College Place. According to the police report, 'A Mazda SUV struck a bus head-on. Metal screamed. The SUV’s front crumpled. The bus doors twisted inward.' The crash left a 39-year-old man, the SUV driver, with a crushed arm. He remained conscious and wore his seatbelt. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The data does not indicate any errors by the bus driver. The crash underscores the danger when drivers disregard the right-of-way. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680668, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 15-year-old girl worked in the street. A vehicle crushed her. Her whole body broke. She stayed awake. No crosswalk. No borough. Only steel, flesh, and silence.

A 15-year-old pedestrian was struck and crushed by a vehicle while working in the roadway on 15th Avenue. According to the police report, 'A 15-year-old girl, working in the street, was crushed by a vehicle. Her whole body broken. She stayed awake. No crosswalk. No borough. Just steel, flesh, and the long scream of silence.' The girl suffered crush injuries to her entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The crash occurred away from any intersection or crosswalk. The victim was not blamed in the report. No information about the vehicle or driver was provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673561, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Members rail against bike lanes and safe streets. They call it a war on cars. But the fight is bigger. Streets remain deadly. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. The backlash grows, but so does the demand for safety and space.

This editorial, published October 12, 2023, does not concern a specific bill but highlights ongoing political resistance to street safety measures in New York City. Council Members Bob Holden and Vickie Paladino publicly oppose Citi Bike expansion, congestion pricing, and safe street redesigns, framing them as attacks on drivers. The piece states: 'Initiatives that use less than 1 percent of a city’s parking spots for something that isn’t the private storage of vehicles... are labeled a "war" on our "way of life."' The editorial underscores how these measures—bike lanes, pedestrianization, reduced car speeds—are essential for protecting vulnerable road users. It warns that entrenched car culture and political backlash threaten progress, but also notes growing public demand for safer, more walkable streets.

• Hey, Bike Haters, You Will Lose the Culture War You’re Starting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-12

Council Member Vickie Paladino rails against congestion pricing and safer street measures. She calls climate and safety reforms a cash grab. Her stance pits her against efforts to protect pedestrians and cyclists. The fight over road space grows sharper. Lives hang in the balance.

On October 12, 2023, Council Member Vickie Paladino (District 19) was featured in an editorial debate over transportation policy. The piece, titled 'Hey, Bike Haters, You Will Lose the Culture War You're Starting,' highlights Paladino's public opposition to congestion pricing, electric vehicle transition, and safe street redesigns. She uses her office to denounce these measures as 'Democrat-led cash grabs.' The editorial notes, 'Cities cannot succeed in solving America’s road-death crisis without calming streets, reducing car speeds and creating more space for cyclists and pedestrians.' Paladino’s stance stands in direct opposition to proven safety interventions for vulnerable road users. The clash signals a deep divide in City Council over the future of New York’s streets.

• Hey, Bike Haters, You Will Lose the Culture War You're Starting, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-10-12

An SUV struck a motorcycle from behind on Bell Boulevard. The rider flew from his bike. Blood pooled on the street. His leg was torn open. He wore a helmet. The crash left him conscious, wounded, and alone in the early morning dark.

A 27-year-old man riding a Kawasaki motorcycle was ejected after an SUV struck the rear of his bike on Bell Boulevard near 36th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the SUV hit the motorcycle’s center back end, causing severe lacerations to the rider’s leg. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported. The scene was marked by silence, pain, and blood on the asphalt. The crash highlights the dangers faced by motorcyclists when drivers fail to pay attention or keep a safe distance.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665326, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two Hondas met head-on in the dark. Metal twisted. Both drivers died. One was unlicensed and unbelted. The other buckled in. Distraction ruled the road. No borough, no cross street, just silence and steel.

Two SUVs collided head-on on the Whitestone Expressway. Both drivers, men aged 25 and 45, were killed. According to the police report, 'Distraction named.' The 25-year-old was unlicensed and wore no seatbelt. The 45-year-old was licensed and buckled in. Both vehicles struck left front to left front. The crash happened in darkness, with no cross street or borough listed. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other errors or violations are noted. The toll: two lives ended, metal crushed, silence left behind.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656580, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 17-year-old girl died on Cross Island Parkway. She rode outside a Honda motorcycle. The bike turned left. She was ejected, helmeted, and killed. The driver had only a permit. Inexperience and speed led to tragedy. The road stayed silent.

A 17-year-old girl was killed while riding on the outside of a 2002 Honda motorcycle on Cross Island Parkway just after midnight. According to the police report, the motorcycle made a left turn when the passenger, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The driver, a male with only a permit, was operating the motorcycle at an unsafe speed. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The victim was a passenger, not responsible for the crash. The report notes she was helmeted, but the primary causes were driver error and inexperience.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4639069, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two SUVs, southbound. One slams into the back of the other. Steel folds. A woman, 49, crushed in the front seat. Both drivers hurt. Alcohol involved. The Whitestone Expressway runs red with injury.

Two sport utility vehicles, both heading south on the Whitestone Expressway, collided when one struck the rear of the other. According to the police report, 'Alcohol was there.' Three people were injured: a 49-year-old woman in the front passenger seat suffered crush injuries to her entire body, a 24-year-old woman driver sustained arm injuries, and a 54-year-old male driver was hurt in the chest. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. Both vehicles were damaged at their center ends, showing a forceful rear-end impact. No other contributing factors were specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4636368, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15