Broken Children, Broken Promises: Streets Still Bleed

Council members slammed NYPD brass for denying racial bias in traffic enforcement. Data shows Black drivers face more searches and arrests. NYPD blamed crime patterns. Lawmakers called it an excuse. The city’s history of biased policing loomed large.

On April 29, 2025, the City Council held an oversight hearing on NYPD traffic enforcement and racial bias. Council Members Yusef Salaam, Tiffany Caban, and Lincoln Restler pressed NYPD Director Joshua Levin about stark racial disparities. The matter: 'Council members criticized NYPD leadership over racial disparities in traffic enforcement after the department refused to acknowledge evidence of bias.' Restler called the disparity 'extreme.' Caban said, 'Black and brown people are being beaten up, searched, arrested, 10 times more than white people.' The NYPD claimed disparities stem from policing high-crime areas. Lawmakers rejected this, citing data showing Black and Latinx drivers are disproportionately stopped, searched, and arrested. The hearing referenced the city’s long record of racially biased enforcement, including jaywalking laws once used to target Black and Latinx New Yorkers. Experts, including the NYCLU, say the Adams administration’s surge in traffic stops continues a pattern of racist policing.

• Council Pols Fume as NYPD Disputes Report of Racial Bias in Traffic Enforcement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-29

Council members push Albany to outlaw police courtesy cards. These cards let insiders dodge tickets for speeding, running lights, and other dangers. The resolution calls for equal enforcement. No more special treatment. The committee holds the line.

Resolution 0851-2025 sits with the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced April 24, 2025, it urges the State Legislature and Governor to ban police courtesy cards. The resolution states: 'prohibiting the issuance of police courtesy cards.' Council Members Chi A. Ossé (primary sponsor), Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler, and Tiffany Cabán back the measure. The cards, handed out by NYPD union members, let friends and relatives skirt penalties for traffic violations. The practice breeds unequal enforcement. A 2024 lawsuit exposed how officers faced pressure to honor these cards, even after a $175,000 city settlement. The bill demands an end to this shadow system. It seeks one law for all, no matter who you know.

• File Res 0851-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-24

A Ford pickup struck a man on an e-scooter at 42nd Street and 30th Avenue. He flew. His head bled. He stayed conscious. The truck showed no damage. The man’s skull told another story. A baby watched.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck traveling south on 42nd Street collided with a 42-year-old man riding an e-scooter eastbound at 30th Avenue. The report states the man was ejected from the scooter, suffering a severe head injury with bleeding, though he remained conscious. The narrative describes the impact: 'He flew. No helmet. Head bleeding. Conscious. Forty-two years old. A baby watched.' The police report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The pickup truck showed no damage, but the man’s injuries were grave. The report does not list any victim behavior as a contributing factor, only noting the absence of a helmet after describing the driver’s inattention. The crash underscores the danger posed by inattentive drivers to vulnerable road users in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4805222, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 39-year-old man crossed Ditmars Boulevard before dawn. An eastbound Toyota SUV hit him with its left front bumper. Blood pooled from his head. The street was empty. He remained conscious, wounded and alone in the early morning dark.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old pedestrian was crossing Ditmars Boulevard near 35th Street in Queens when a 2013 Toyota SUV, traveling east, struck him with its left front bumper. The crash occurred before dawn, on an empty street. The report states the man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but was conscious at the scene. The police narrative notes the pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing with no signal or crosswalk present. The report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and pedestrian, providing no further detail on driver actions. The impact location and vehicle trajectory underscore the danger faced by pedestrians on wide, empty streets, especially when driver errors are left unaddressed or unreported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792677, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A 38-year-old unlicensed rider sped west on Grand Central Parkway. He passed a taxi, struck its front, and was thrown from his bike. The motorcycle shattered. He died on the asphalt. The taxi stopped. The road bore the mark.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old man riding a motorcycle westbound on Grand Central Parkway attempted to pass a taxi at high speed. The report states he was unlicensed but wore a helmet. The motorcycle struck the taxi's right front quarter panel, causing the rider to be ejected and thrown onto the roadway. The motorcycle was demolished. The taxi, operated by a licensed driver, stopped after the collision. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The rider died at the scene, suffering injuries to his entire body. The report does not cite any contributing victim behavior beyond helmet use. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when unlicensed, inexperienced drivers operate powerful vehicles on city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792295, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A pick-up truck hit a baby girl in the road outside 32-72 Steinway Street. Blood pooled from her head as she lay conscious in the cold night. The truck’s left side bore the mark of impact. The city’s danger pressed close.

A pick-up truck traveling south struck a baby girl outside 32-72 Steinway Street in Queens just before 1 a.m., according to the police report. The report states the child was in the roadway and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding, remaining conscious at the scene. The truck’s left side doors showed damage consistent with the collision. According to the police report, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was listed as a contributing factor. No driver errors were cited in the report. The incident occurred away from an intersection, with the child described as performing 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The report does not mention any additional contributing factors related to the driver. The focus remains on the impact and the resulting injury to the vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785367, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or hurt the most. The city must report back. The law dies when the pilot ends. Streets remember every scar.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, the bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings. The official title: 'A Local Law in relation to establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program and the repeal of this local law upon the expiration thereof.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The bill demands at least five marked sites per borough, targeting places with the most injuries and deaths from bad driving. After the pilot, the city must report on results and recommend next steps. The law sunsets when the pilot ends. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Council calls on the MTA to lock in Access-A-Ride’s on-demand e-hail pilot. Riders with disabilities and seniors need fast, flexible trips. Demand surges. The program means fewer waits, more freedom. The city urges permanence. Vulnerable New Yorkers depend on it.

Resolution 0695-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024, it urges the MTA to make the Access-A-Ride On-Demand E-Hail Pilot Program permanent. The resolution states: 'The Council of the City of New York calls on the MTA to make permanent the Access-A-Ride On-Demand E-Hail Pilot Program.' Council Member Nantasha M. Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Riley, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The program, launched in 2017, lets people with disabilities and seniors book paratransit rides on demand, not days in advance. Ridership jumped from 7,386 to 22,372 monthly trips in one year. The council wants the MTA to expand access and improve service. The resolution centers vulnerable riders, demanding transit that meets their needs.

• File Res 0695-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Council bill Int 1138-2024 would ban parking and standing within 20 feet of crosswalks. It forces the city to install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections each year. The bill sits in committee. Sponsors include Bottcher, Won, and the Public Advocate.

Int 1138-2024, introduced December 5, 2024, is under review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill is 'Laid Over in Committee.' Its title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.' Council Member Erik D. Bottcher is the primary sponsor, joined by Julie Won, Jumaane Williams, and others. The bill prohibits standing or parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and mandates the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections per year. The law also requires citywide outreach and reporting. This measure aims to keep sightlines clear at crossings, a known danger zone for people on foot and bike. The bill has not yet received a vote.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Just after midnight on Grand Central Parkway, a speeding sedan slammed into the rear of an SUV. The impact crushed metal and left a 19-year-old passenger bleeding from a severe head wound, conscious but seriously injured in the back seat.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling at unsafe speed collided with the left rear bumper of a sport utility vehicle on Grand Central Parkway shortly after midnight. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors for the sedan driver. The sedan's right front bumper struck the SUV's rear, crushing metal and causing significant damage. Inside the SUV, a 19-year-old male passenger suffered severe head lacerations; he remained conscious but was bleeding heavily. The sedan driver, a 17-year-old male, was injured with fractures and dislocations but was not ejected and had safety equipment deployed. No victim behaviors or safety equipment issues were cited as contributing factors. This crash highlights the deadly consequences of excessive speed and inexperience behind the wheel on city highways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776248, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A man clung to a dump truck on Astoria Boulevard. No harness, no shield. He fell, skull to asphalt, blood pooling. The truck rolled on, untouched. The man, forty-seven, left with severe head wounds. The city’s machinery did not stop.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man was riding on the outside of a dump truck near Astoria Boulevard and 88th Street in Queens. The report states he was 'ejected' and suffered 'severe lacerations' to the head after falling from the moving vehicle. The narrative details: 'A 47-year-old man clung to the outside of a dump truck. No belt. No shield. He fell. Skull met asphalt. Blood pooled. The truck rolled on, untouched. The man did not.' The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The vehicle, a 2005 PTRB dump truck registered in New Jersey, sustained no damage and continued westbound, according to the report. The man was not using any safety equipment at the time, but the report does not cite this as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the systemic danger of unsecured riders and the unchecked movement of heavy vehicles through city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768345, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

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

Council pulled the jaywalking decriminalization bill before a vote. Advocates warned it could shield drivers who hit pedestrians. NYPD tickets mostly Black and Hispanic New Yorkers. Councilmember Cabán says the law enables biased policing. Streets remain dangerous for those on foot.

Bill to decriminalize jaywalking, sponsored by Councilmember Tiffany Cabán (District 22), was pulled for revision before a full City Council vote on September 23, 2024. The measure, under review in committee, aimed to end NYPD enforcement that disproportionately targets people of color. The bill’s summary states, 'NYPD issues hundreds of jaywalking tickets a year. Vast majority go to people of color.' Cabán, a key sponsor, argued police use jaywalking as a pretext for stop-and-frisk, calling the law archaic and motorist-centered. Advocates raised concerns that the bill’s language might let drivers escape liability for hitting pedestrians, prompting its withdrawal. The law’s enforcement remains unequal, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYPD issues hundreds of jaywalking tickets a year. Vast majority go to people of color., gothamist.com, Published 2024-09-23

Council bill Int 1039-2024 would stop bike share operators from charging members more than a subway fare for short rides. The cap covers e-bikes up to one hour and regular bikes up to two hours. The bill sits in committee.

Int 1039-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on September 12, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to setting maximum amounts for certain member usage fees charged by a bike share operator.' Council Member Chi A. Ossé leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Marte, Hudson, Cabán, Brannan, Hanif, Brewer, and Abreu. The bill would prohibit bike share companies from charging members more than the base subway fare for e-bike rides of one hour or less, or regular bike rides of two hours or less. The law would take effect 120 days after passage and apply to new or renewed contracts. This measure aims to keep bike share affordable for New Yorkers, making cycling a more accessible option.

• File Int 1039-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-12

Council yanked the jaywalking bill. Lawmakers clashed over driver liability. Advocates withdrew support after amendments weakened pedestrian protections. Speaker Adrienne Adams delayed a vote. The city’s streets remain dangerous. Enforcement falls hardest on people of color. The fight continues.

Bill 2024, aimed at decriminalizing jaywalking, stalled in the City Council on September 12, 2024. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had advanced the bill, but Speaker Adrienne Adams held it back from a full vote, citing ongoing debate. The bill’s summary: ending NYPD tickets for crossing outside crosswalks, a practice disproportionately enforced against New Yorkers of color. Councilmember Tiffany Cabán, a sponsor, condemned the law’s discriminatory impact and its failure to reduce traffic violence. After lawmakers amended the bill to shield drivers from liability in pedestrian crashes, advocates like Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives withdrew support, insisting the law should 'clearly protect [pedestrians’] right to safety and security.' The latest version still exposes jaywalkers to civil suits and mandates a city safety education campaign. The bill’s future is uncertain. Advocates demand stronger protections for people on foot.

• NYC lawmakers struggle to decriminalize jaywalking, gothamist.com, Published 2024-09-12

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

A 15-year-old boy, unlicensed and bareheaded, collided with a bus at 19th Avenue and 43rd Street. He flew from his motorscooter, struck the pavement, and died from head injuries. The street fell silent. No helmet. No chance.

A 15-year-old boy driving a motorscooter was killed in a violent crash with a bus at the corner of 19th Avenue and 43rd Street in Queens, according to the police report. The report states the teen was 'unlicensed and bareheaded' when he struck the bus and was ejected from his motorscooter, suffering fatal head injuries. The bus, registered in New Jersey, was traveling west and was struck on its right front bumper. The police report lists the boy as unlicensed and not wearing any safety equipment. Contributing factors are marked as 'Unspecified' in the report. The narrative emphasizes the severity of the impact and the absence of a helmet, but does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor before listing the lack of helmet use. The focus remains on the systemic dangers present when young, unlicensed individuals operate motor vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737138, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Porsche, chased by police, smashed into two sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. Metal twisted. A 17-year-old boy, unbelted in the front seat, died instantly. The street, once roaring, fell silent in the aftermath.

According to the police report, a Porsche sedan fleeing police at unsafe speed crashed into two other sedans on 45th Street near Astoria Boulevard. The report states the Porsche's 'right front crumpled' on impact. A 17-year-old boy, riding as a front passenger in the Porsche, died at the scene. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The Porsche was engaged in a 'Police Pursuit' at the time of the crash. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt, but the report does not list this as a contributing factor. The collision ended with the street in silence, underscoring the lethal consequences of reckless driving and high-speed pursuits.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4734553, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Nissan sedan tore into a parked box truck on 28th Avenue. The driver, 57, was left semiconscious, bleeding from the head. The truck stood still. Speed did not. Metal crumpled. Blood pooled. The street bore witness.

According to the police report, a Nissan sedan traveling east on 28th Avenue near 44-10 collided with the rear of a parked box truck. The driver, a 57-year-old man, was held by his seatbelt but suffered severe head lacerations and was found semiconscious. The report states the box truck was stationary at the time of impact. 'Unsafe Speed' is listed as the primary contributing factor in the crash. The sedan's center front end struck the truck's back, crumpling metal and leaving the driver injured. No contributing factors related to the victim's behavior are cited in the report. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of excessive speed behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722161, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14

A Jeep crashed into a Honda on Astoria Boulevard. Metal twisted, blood spilled. Alcohol lingered in the night air. The Honda’s driver, 56, suffered a neck wound but stayed conscious. Parked vehicles absorbed the force. Systemic danger left its mark.

According to the police report, a Jeep collided with a Honda near 28-10 Astoria Boulevard in Queens at 9:00 p.m. The impact crushed metal and sent both vehicles into a parked Dodge pickup. The Honda’s 56-year-old driver suffered severe neck bleeding but remained conscious. The report states, 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. The narrative describes the Jeep 'tore into a Honda, metal folding like paper,' and notes, 'Alcohol hung in the air.' No seatbelt was used by the injured driver, but this is mentioned only after the primary driver error. The crash underscores the lethal mix of alcohol and speed on city streets, with parked vehicles and bystanders left vulnerable to the violence of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718769, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-14