Six Dead, Thousands Hurt—District 29 Streets Still Bleed

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

A Mercedes hit a box truck head-on at Lefferts Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue. The front of the car folded. A 36-year-old man in the passenger seat died, belted in place. The night was silent. Metal and glass marked the spot.

A deadly crash unfolded at Lefferts Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a Mercedes sedan struck a box truck headfirst. The sedan’s front end crumpled. A 36-year-old man, riding as a front passenger and wearing a seatbelt, was killed. The report states, 'A Mercedes slammed headfirst into a box truck. The front crumpled like paper. In the passenger seat, a 36-year-old man died, belted and still.' Both vehicles were traveling straight. The data lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the report. The victim’s use of a lap belt and harness is noted, but the cause remains unclear in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643448, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Lynn Schulman calls for a public referendum to end NYC’s carriage horse trade. She slams council inaction and union power. Streets remain deadly for horses and people. The city’s leaders stall. The public demands change. The fight continues.

On June 27, 2023, Council Member Lynn Schulman (District 29) published an editorial urging a public referendum to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City. The editorial, titled "With politicians fearful of the TWU, a public referendum is the answer," criticizes the City Council’s failure to act on a bill that would replace horses with electric carriages. Schulman highlights that only 18 of 51 council members sponsor the bill, despite strong public support and past campaign promises. She names Justin Brennan, Gale Brewer, Julie Menin, and herself among those who have not advanced the legislation. Schulman blames union influence for the council’s inaction, citing 115 accidents and 27 horse deaths over decades. She calls for a citizen ballot initiative to bypass political gridlock and protect both horses and the public from ongoing street danger.

• With politicians fearful of the TWU, a public referendum is the answer, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-06-27

Council sought to clear streets of cars with missing or obscured plates. The bill ordered quick towing of vehicles blocking space or hiding identity. Filed at session’s end, it aimed to cut hazards for those on foot or bike. No action taken.

Int 1116-2023 was introduced on June 22, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Sanitation and NYPD to tow vehicles that block streets or lack visible, valid license plates, registration, or inspection stickers. The matter summary reads: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to towing vehicles that are an encumbrance on the street or that lack, improperly display, or obscure valid license plates, registration stickers, inspection stickers, or vehicle identification numbers.” Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Salamanca, Brannan, Feliz, Stevens, Ung, Riley, and Schulman. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, with no further action. Removing untraceable or abandoned vehicles could have reduced street dangers for pedestrians and cyclists, but the measure stalled.

• File Int 1116-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-06-22

Council Member Lynn Schulman urged DOT to study Austin Street. The strip is crowded, dangerous, clogged with cars. Forty-eight pedestrians and cyclists hurt in four years. Schulman wants wider sidewalks, safer crossings, less chaos. DOT is reviewing the request.

On May 4, 2023, Council Member Lynn Schulman called on the Department of Transportation to study safety and congestion on Austin Street, Forest Hills. The request, not yet a formal bill, follows a campaign by resident Pedro Rodriguez and support from Queens Community Board 6. Schulman wrote, the goal is for DOT 'to identify ways to improve traffic congestion, pedestrian experience, and mobility concerns along the corridor.' She cited input from local businesses and residents. Proposed changes include wider sidewalks, safer crossings, outdoor seating, and possibly pedestrianizing segments. From January 2018 to November 2022, 48 pedestrians and cyclists were injured in 356 crashes on Austin Street. DOT is reviewing Schulman's letter.

• Queens Council Member Joins Call for Study of a Pedestrian-Friendly Austin Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-04

Council moved to ban driving with fake or expired plates. Civil fines would hit drivers hard. Sponsors spanned the city. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed to untraceable cars and reckless drivers.

Int 0987-2023 was introduced in the New York City Council on April 11, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to prohibit operating a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates, including temporary ones. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates.' Civil penalties ranged from $300 to $1,000, with a 10-day cure period for expired plates. The bill was sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over thirty council members, including Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Yeger, Menin, and others, as well as the Brooklyn and Bronx Borough Presidents. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0987-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

The Council called for Albany to pass Sammy’s Law, letting New York City set lower speed limits. The resolution also urged a crash victims bill of rights and stronger street safety laws. Lawmakers want fewer deaths. The bill stalled. Danger remains.

Resolution 0549-2023, filed at session’s end, came from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2023, and pushed by Council Member Shahana K. Hanif as primary sponsor, with Jennifer Gutiérrez and over twenty others co-sponsoring. The resolution urged the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law'), which would let New York City set lower speed limits, and A.1901, a crash victims bill of rights. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422, also known as ‘Sammy’s Law,’ ... and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights, as well as the other bills of the package known as the SAFE Streets Act.' The SAFE Streets Act package also includes safe passing for cyclists and complete street design mandates. The Council’s action highlights the city’s ongoing fight against reckless driving and the urgent need for stronger protections for people on foot, on bikes, and in cars.

• File Res 0549-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

Queens Community Board 6 wants Austin Street for people, not cars. The board passed a resolution urging the city to study sidewalk widening, safer crossings, and possible car bans. Crashes have battered pedestrians and cyclists. The city says it will consider changes.

On February 23, 2023, the Transportation Committee of Queens Community Board 6 unanimously passed a resolution calling for a 'pedestrian-first redesign' of Austin Street between Yellowstone Boulevard and Ascan Avenue. The committee urged the Department of Transportation to study sidewalk widening, safer crossings, outdoor seating, and even pedestrianizing segments of the street. The matter title reads: 'Austin Street in Forest Hills should be transformed into a pedestrian paradise instead of the car-choked, will-sapping roadway it is today.' Pedro Rodriguez, a local advocate, pressed for urgent action, citing ongoing injuries and business impacts. Council Member Lynn Schulman did not comment. DOT spokesperson Vin Barone welcomed the board's support for Vision Zero and promised further discussions. From January 2018 to November 2022, 356 crashes caused 80 injuries on this stretch—most to pedestrians and cyclists. The board’s push aims to end the violence.

• Queens Panel Wants a ‘Pedestrian-First’ Austin Street — And a Possible Car Ban, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-07

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study bike traffic each year. The law would have mapped busy bike routes, flagged gaps in protection, and pushed safety fixes. The session ended. The bill died. Cyclists wait. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0926-2023, introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to conduct and publish an annual study on bicycle activity. The bill’s summary states: “The department shall conduct and submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council and post conspicuously on the department's website an annual study on bicycle activity.” Council Members Amanda Farías, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, Tiffany Cabán, Crystal Hudson, Kevin C. Riley, and Lynn C. Schulman sponsored the measure. The bill would have identified the most biked streets and bridges, noted which lacked protected lanes, and demanded safety recommendations. The council filed the bill at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill’s failure leaves cyclists exposed, with no citywide data push to guide urgent fixes.

• File Int 0926-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council filed a bill to force a city study on truck and delivery traffic from last mile warehouses. The bill targets congestion, collisions, and harm to neighborhoods. It demands hard numbers on vehicle flow, street damage, and danger to people outside cars.

Int 0923-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Member Alexa Avilés, with over thirty co-sponsors, sought a city study on the impact of truck and delivery traffic from last mile facilities. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to conducting a study of the impact that truck and delivery traffic generated by last mile facilities have on local communities and infrastructure.' The bill required the Department of Transportation to report on delivery vehicle volumes, parking, congestion, collisions, and pedestrian injuries near these hubs. It called for identifying the most affected streets and estimating the costs and possible fixes. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without passage.

• File Int 0923-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study street design that blocks or deters trucks from residential streets. The bill called for a report on making streets less accessible to commercial vehicles. It died at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0924-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to study and report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential neighborhoods. The matter’s title reads: 'A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of transportation to study street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsored the bill, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The report was due by December 31, 2023. The bill was filed at the end of session with no report issued. The measure aimed to examine street redesign, traffic calming, and camera enforcement to keep trucks out of residential areas, but it stalled before any impact reached the street.

• File Int 0924-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

A motorcycle and SUV slammed head-on on Liberty Avenue. The rider, 49, flew from his bike. He wore a helmet. His body broke. Paralysis followed. The night swallowed the noise. Wreckage and silence remained.

A motorcycle and a sport utility vehicle collided head-on on Liberty Avenue near 114th Street in Queens. The 49-year-old motorcycle rider was ejected and suffered paralysis, with injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling straight when they struck each other. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the data. No other serious injuries were reported among the occupants. The crash left the scene shattered and quiet, with the consequences of inexperience clear in the aftermath.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577472, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The Council passed Int 0291-2022, forcing city agencies to map, plan, and report on greenways. The law demands annual updates and public engagement. It aims to carve out safe, car-free corridors for walkers and cyclists. The mayor returned it unsigned.

Int 0291-2022, now Local Law 115 of 2022, was enacted by the City Council on November 27, 2022. The bill came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, first introduced April 28, 2022. The law's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a citywide greenway plan.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by dozens of co-sponsors including Rivera, Hudson, and others. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor on October 27, 2022. The law orders the Department of Transportation and Parks to identify, map, and report on greenways, and to consult with community boards. Proposals for new greenway segments or repairs must be presented to affected communities within 60 days. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law. The measure compels the city to plan and maintain safe routes for non-drivers, with regular public reporting and accountability.

• File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27

A woman lay dying on 120th Street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. Her head struck. A man, broken back, survived. Two parked SUVs gashed and empty. No driver found. Sirens cut the silence. The street held only wreckage and loss.

A 31-year-old woman was killed and a 40-year-old man suffered a fractured back on 120th Street near 97th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the woman lay dying in the road with a severe head injury and bleeding, while the man was conscious but injured. Two parked SUVs were found with heavy damage to their left sides. No driver was present at the scene. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' There is no mention of helmet use or signaling as a factor. The crash left the street scarred and silent, with only the injured and the dead.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4567693, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pickup’s door swung open on Jamaica Avenue. An e-bike rider hit it head-on. He flew hard, head cracked, blood on the street. The bike’s frame bent. The truck’s door twisted. Driver inattention marked the moment. The city’s danger showed its teeth.

A 32-year-old man riding an e-bike was injured after colliding with the open door of a parked pickup truck near 118-14 Jamaica Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, the e-bike rider struck the truck’s left-side door, was ejected, and suffered a severe head injury with heavy bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The pickup truck was parked at the time. The crash left the bike’s front end folded and the truck’s door bent. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4563282, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Yamaha motorcycle slammed into a turning Subaru at Atlantic Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard. The rider, 31, flew from the bike. He wore a helmet. He did not have a license. He died at the scene. The sedan driver survived.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck a Subaru sedan making a left turn. The 31-year-old male motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and killed. He was wearing a helmet but did not have a license. The sedan’s driver, a 30-year-old woman, survived. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The impact was severe, with the motorcycle hitting the sedan’s left front bumper. No pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver inexperience and the dangers at busy intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4562615, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford pickup struck a parked box truck and a Nissan on 101st Avenue. Metal crumpled. A 26-year-old woman in the back seat bled from the head. She stayed conscious. Driver inattention cut through the morning quiet. Pain and blood marked the scene.

A Ford pickup traveling east on 101st Avenue near 111th Street crashed into a parked box truck and a Nissan sedan. According to the police report, the driver had looked away before impact. The collision left a 26-year-old woman in the back seat with severe head bleeding; she was conscious at the scene. Two drivers, aged 34 and 40, suffered injuries to the body and arm. Multiple other occupants reported pain or unspecified injuries. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The force of the crash tore through metal and flesh, leaving pain and blood behind. All injured parties wore lap belts and harnesses, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552877, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0596-2022 would force DOT to repair broken curbs when streets get resurfaced. Curbs shape the border between sidewalk and street. Broken curbs trip walkers, let cars mount sidewalks, and endanger the frail. The bill died in committee.

Int 0596-2022 was introduced on July 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to repair any curb deemed a safety hazard during street resurfacing. The matter summary reads: 'requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Schulman, Brewer, Dinowitz, Krishnan, Narcisse, Menin, Yeger, Avilés, Nurse, Gutiérrez, Riley, Brannan, Sanchez, and Louis. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. Broken curbs are a daily threat to pedestrians, especially the elderly and disabled. The bill would have forced the city to address these hazards as part of routine work, but the effort stalled.

• File Int 0596-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

A Nissan sedan, moving too fast, struck a man crossing Jamaica Avenue. The car hit head-on. The man’s leg split open. Blood pooled on the street. The driver had no license. The night held its breath.

A 29-year-old man was crossing near 117-13 Jamaica Avenue in Queens when a Nissan sedan struck him head-on. According to the police report, the driver was unlicensed and traveling at unsafe speed. The impact caused severe lacerations to the pedestrian’s lower leg, leaving him conscious but bleeding on the pavement. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The sedan’s center front end took the brunt of the crash. No injuries were reported for the occupants inside the vehicle. The system failed the man on the street. The driver’s lack of license and reckless speed turned a crossing into a scene of violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545750, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chrysler sedan tore down 121st Street. It flipped, smashed parked cars, struck a stopped Jeep. The driver died. A pedestrian and several others were hurt. Speed and distraction ruled the night. The street fell silent after the crash.

A violent crash on 121st Street in Queens left one man dead and several people injured. According to the police report, a Chrysler sedan traveling at unsafe speed flipped, hit parked cars, and struck a stopped Jeep. The 27-year-old driver died from head injuries. A 20-year-old pedestrian suffered hip and leg injuries. Other occupants and passengers, including a 24-year-old woman and a 55-year-old woman, were also hurt. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No mention of helmet use or turn signals appears in the report. The crash shows the deadly consequences when speed and distraction take over city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544296, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15