Holden’s Streets, Holden’s Blood: The Toll Grows in District 30

A lane change cut too close on the Long Island Expressway. Steel slammed steel. Two taxi passengers suffered head injuries amid shattered glass. Shock and bruises followed. The crash exposed dangerous driver errors and left victims broken and silent.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on the eastbound Long Island Expressway around 8:30. The collision resulted from an 'Unsafe Lane Changing' maneuver by a vehicle, which cut too close and struck a taxi. The taxi sustained damage to its left side doors, while the SUV hit the taxi with its right front bumper. Two passengers in the taxi’s rear seats, a 33-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, both suffered head injuries including a concussion and contusions. Both were not wearing safety equipment and were left in shock. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Other Vehicular' factors as causes. The violent impact shattered glass and caused serious injuries. The police report clearly attributes the crash to driver errors, with no fault assigned to the injured passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785052, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Congestion pricing hits Manhattan at midnight. Cars pay to cross south of 60th. Lawmakers split. Some call it a burden. Others hail cleaner air, safer streets, and better transit. The toll stirs anger, hope, and a fight over who pays and who breathes.

On January 3, 2025, congestion pricing (no bill number cited) will begin in Manhattan after a federal judge allowed the toll to proceed. The policy charges most drivers $9 to enter south of 60th Street during peak hours. The matter, titled 'Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll,' has drawn sharp lines. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) opposes the toll, warning, 'I don't know how my district is going to be impacted.' He fears more cars parking in Queens and unclear pollution risks. Council Member Kristy Marmorato (Bronx) calls it a 'cash grab.' In contrast, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas support the measure, citing cleaner air, safer streets, and transit upgrades. González-Rojas says, 'Congestion pricing isn't about penalizing anyone—it's about modernizing our transportation system and tackling climate change.' The judge ordered further study on environmental impacts, but the toll begins as scheduled.

• Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll, amny.com, Published 2025-01-03

Five days. Five attacks. Blood on the subway rails. Cops, National Guard, Guardian Angels—none stopped the violence. Council members blast failed safety plans. Riders pay the price. City Hall promises change. Riders wait. Danger rides the rails.

On January 2, 2025, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (District 48) joined other city officials responding to a spike in subway violence. The event, covered by nypost.com, details five consecutive days of stabbings, slashings, and a fatal arson, despite increased NYPD, National Guard, and Guardian Angels patrols. The matter summary reads: 'NYC subways have experienced five consecutive days of violent attacks, including stabbings, slashings, and a fatal arson, despite increased patrols.' Council members Joann Ariola, Robert Holden, and Joe Borelli criticized current safety measures and leadership, calling for stronger action. Mayor Eric Adams backed more police and mental health interventions, while Governor Hochul's National Guard deployment drew fire. City Hall pledged to work with Albany on the Supportive Interventions Act. No direct safety analyst assessment was provided for vulnerable road users.

• NYC subways have seen attacks for 5 days in a row — despite cops, National Guard and even the Guardian Angels on patrol, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-02

Councilman Holden blasted Governor Hochul for touting subway safety hours after a woman was burned alive and another rider stabbed to death. The timing stung. Riders died. Politicians called out official claims. The gap between words and carnage widened.

On December 23, 2024, Councilman Robert F. Holden (District 30) publicly condemned Governor Kathy Hochul’s statements about improved subway safety. The criticism followed a deadly day: a sleeping straphanger was set on fire and killed in Brooklyn, and a double stabbing on the 7 train in Queens left one dead. Hochul had posted, 'crime is going down, and ridership is going up,' citing National Guard deployment, NYPD support, and new subway cameras. Holden called the governor’s timing 'incredible' and said, 'Hochul’s incompetence is costing lives.' The matter, covered by nypost.com, highlights the disconnect between official safety claims and the brutal reality for vulnerable riders. No council bill was filed, but the public rebuke underscores the urgent danger faced by New Yorkers in transit.

• Gov. Kathy Hochul ripped for ‘tone-deaf’ tweet about improved subway safety after sleeping straphanger fatally lit on fire, nypost.com, Published 2024-12-23

A federal judge refused to halt New York City’s congestion pricing. The program will launch January 5. Transit advocates cheered. Council Member Robert Holden and others condemned the decision. Lawsuits continue. The $9 toll stands. Streets may soon change.

On December 23, 2024, a federal judge ruled that New York City’s congestion pricing program could proceed as planned, denying requests for an injunction from unions and officials. The matter, titled 'Congestion pricing to continue as planned as judge declines to pause the program,' drew sharp reactions. Council Member Robert F. Holden of District 30, mentioned in the case, called the ruling 'disappointing' and pledged to keep fighting the 'congestion tax scam.' The program, set to start January 5, will impose a $9 base toll. Transit advocates like the MTA and Riders Alliance praised the decision, citing benefits for transit riders, air quality, and emergency response. The ruling keeps the city’s first-in-the-nation congestion pricing on track, though further lawsuits may still shape its future.

• Congestion pricing to continue as planned as judge declines to pause the program, amny.com, Published 2024-12-23

Council Member Holden’s e-bike registration bill faces fierce pushback. Advocates warn it targets immigrants and delivery workers. Business groups fear new costs. Supporters say it brings accountability. Streets remain deadly. Cars still kill most. Debate rages. No easy answers.

Intro. 606, known as Priscilla’s Law, was introduced by Council Member Robert F. Holden of District 30. The bill, debated on December 12, 2024, sits before the City Council. It would require all e-mobility devices not covered by the state DMV to register with the city’s Department of Transportation. The bill’s summary states it aims to increase accountability for e-bike riders after fatal crashes. Holden, the sponsor, cited dangers from unregulated e-vehicles and hit-and-runs. Advocacy groups, including Los Deliveristas Unidos and Open Plans, argue the bill would unfairly criminalize immigrants and delivery workers, and increase police stops for people of color. The NYC Hospitality Alliance warns of new financial and administrative burdens for small businesses. Both sides agree cars cause far more deaths, but the bill’s critics say better street design, not registration, would protect vulnerable road users.

• Immigrant, hospitality advocacy groups push back on NYC e-bike licensing bill, amny.com, Published 2024-12-12

Council Member Holden wants license plates on e-bikes. Lawyers say it’s illegal. The bill could block riders, clash with state law, and open doors to police stops. Critics warn it hurts city goals. The law department stays silent.

Intro 606, a City Council bill introduced by Council Member Bob Holden, would force the Department of Transportation to register e-bikes and issue license plates for a fee. The bill is named after Priscilla Loke, killed by an electric Citi Bike rider. Legal experts Daniel Flanzig, Peter Beadle, and Brandon Chamberlin argue the bill violates state law, which bars cities from imposing fees that restrict the 'free use' of bicycles. They warn it would create barriers to e-bike use and could lead to inconsistent rules across cities. Holden defends the bill as a push for 'accountability and safety.' Critics say it discourages e-bike use and risks police harassment, especially for immigrants. The city Law Department declined comment. The bill’s legal standing and impact on vulnerable road users remain sharply contested.

• Intro 606 Alert: E-Bike Licensing Bill Is Not Even Legal, Lawyers Say, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-11

DOT Commissioner Rodriguez shot down the Council’s e-bike registration bill. He said enforcement tools already exist. He pointed to street redesigns that save lives. Council Member Holden pressed for plates. Rodriguez stood firm: cars, not e-bikes, drive the city’s blood toll.

On December 11, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on Intro 606, a bill to require registration and license plates for e-bikes and e-scooters. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Robert Holden, claims to address a 'public safety crisis.' DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez opposed the measure, stating, 'The administration already has the tools to enforce against illegal [cycling] behaviors; a license plate is not necessary for enforcement.' Rodriguez cited data: 105 pedestrians killed by cars this year, versus six by e-bikes, mopeds, and scooters combined. He argued that street redesigns, not new bureaucracy, cut deaths and injuries. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams echoed this, noting that registration backers often resist proven safety fixes like protected bike lanes. Rodriguez warned the bill would waste $19 million and slow adoption of sustainable transport. He called for holding delivery apps accountable and redesigning streets, not targeting vulnerable road users.

• DOT: Council E-Bike Registration Bill is Not Necessary to Make Streets Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-11

Council Member Holden pushed Priscilla’s Law at City Hall. The bill demands visible license plates for e-bikes and mopeds. Supporters say it brings accountability after deadly crashes. Critics warn of burdens for delivery workers. The fight centers on safety and blame.

On December 11, 2024, Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30) testified before the City Council’s Transportation Committee on his 2023 bill, Priscilla’s Law. The bill, titled 'requiring visible license plates on e-vehicles,' would force all e-bikes and mopeds not covered by the state DMV to register with NYC DOT and display identifying plates. Holden said, 'This bill is long overdue.' Janet Schroeder, co-founder of the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, argued, 'This legislation will save lives and mitigate injuries for pedestrians, cyclists and e-bikers.' Andrew Fine echoed the need for accountability. Dissent came from Andrew Rigie of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, who warned of new costs for small businesses. The bill’s supporters frame it as a direct response to fatal crashes, aiming to make riders answer for harm on city streets.

• Fed-up New Yorkers rally at City Hall demanding registration for e-bikes in NYC, amny.com, Published 2024-12-11

Councilmember Holden’s bill would force e-bikes and scooters to register and display plates. Supporters claim it brings order. Critics say it shifts blame from drivers. The hearing spotlights a city where cars still maim and kill most pedestrians.

On December 11, 2024, the New York City Council held a hearing on a bill introduced by Councilmember Robert F. Holden (District 30). The bill would require all electric bikes, scooters, and similar micromobility devices to be licensed and registered. The committee reviewed the proposal, which aims to regulate these vehicles and address their growing presence. The bill summary states: 'A bill requiring electric bikes, scooters, and other motorized vehicles to have license plates and be registered.' Holden, who sponsored the bill, argued it would help identify riders and discourage hit-and-runs. Critics countered that the measure diverts attention from drivers, who cause most injuries and deaths. Danny Harris, former Transportation Alternatives director, called for a holistic safety approach, including holding delivery apps accountable. The hearing also addressed battery fire risks, with 250 lithium-ion battery fires reported this year. The debate centers on whether registration improves safety for vulnerable road users or simply shifts blame.

• NYC bill would require electric bikes and scooters to be licensed and registered, gothamist.com, Published 2024-12-11

Councilmember Holden pushes e-bike registration. Critics slam it as costly, unfair, and doomed to fail. The bill risks chilling green transit and targets low-income riders. Safety experts say it won’t protect pedestrians or cyclists. Enforcement remains the real problem.

Bill 2024, sponsored by Councilmember Robert F. Holden of District 30, faces a public hearing on December 10, 2024. The bill would force all e-bikes, including Citi Bikes, to register with the city and display license plates. The matter summary calls this a 'common sense way to address concerns about e-bike rider behavior.' Holden leads the charge, but critics, including Shabazz Stuart, call the bill 'flawed, impossible to enforce, unnecessary, and regressive.' They warn it will hit low-income and minority communities hardest, discourage e-bike use, and fail to improve safety. Stuart notes, 'Registration mandates are notoriously difficult to enforce at almost every level of government.' He argues that real safety comes from proven measures: protected bike lanes, road diets, and consistent enforcement of existing laws. The bill, he says, misses the mark and puts vulnerable road users at greater risk.

• Op-Ed: Council E-Bike Registration Bill Is Impossible to Enforce, Unnecessary ... and Won't Even Work, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-12-10

Council bill demands e-bike registration and plates. Critics say it is costly, hard to enforce, and targets the poor. The bill risks chilling e-bike use. No evidence it will cut crashes or protect pedestrians. Bureaucracy grows, safety gains vanish.

On December 10, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on a bill requiring the Department of Transportation to register all electric bikes, including pedal-assist Citi Bikes. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Robert Holden, claims to address e-bike rider behavior. The matter summary reads: 'require the city Department of Transportation to create a registration system, and a newly created license plate, for all electric bikes.' Shabazz Stuart, writing in Streetsblog NYC, calls the bill 'flawed, impossible to enforce, unnecessary, and will not work.' He warns it will be expensive, difficult to implement, and lead to selective policing, especially against poorer and minority communities. Stuart notes registration schemes have failed elsewhere and that police already have tools to address reckless cycling. He concludes the bill would not improve safety, but instead create bureaucracy and enforcement challenges, with no benefit for vulnerable road users.

• Op-Ed: Council E-Bike Registration Bill Is Impossible to Enforce, Unnecessary … and Won’t Even Work, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-10

Councilmember Holden demands action. He calls for e-bike registration and license plates after deadly crashes. He blames reckless riders and delivery apps. He says Priscilla’s Law will bring order. He urges the city to hold companies and riders accountable.

On December 10, 2024, Councilmember Robert F. Holden (District 30) published an op-ed advocating for Priscilla’s Law and stricter e-bike regulation. The op-ed, titled 'Time to crack down on lawless e-bikers sowing mayhem on NYC’s streets,' highlights rising injuries and deaths from e-mobility devices. Holden writes, 'The argument for Priscilla’s Law is simple: We need to hold these riders accountable.' The law would require all e-mobility devices to be registered with the city’s Department of Transportation and carry license plates. Holden criticizes delivery apps and calls for companies to be held responsible for repeat offenders. He cites the 2023 death of Priscilla Loke as a catalyst. Holden opposes groups like Transportation Alternatives who resist increased regulation. The bill is not yet introduced but is framed as a vital tool for accountability and safety.

• Time to crack down on lawless e-bikers sowing mayhem on NYC’s streets, nypost.com, Published 2024-12-10

MTA’s congestion pricing plan splits New Yorkers. Council Member Holden calls it betrayal. Poll shows narrow support. Some see a cash grab, others hope for better transit. The $9 fee hits drivers. The city waits for the impact.

On November 18, 2024, the MTA approved congestion pricing, set to start January 5, 2025. The plan charges $9 for cars and $14.40 for trucks entering Manhattan below 60th Street. amNew York Metro polled nearly 3,000 residents: 53.8% support, 44.9% oppose. The matter, titled 'Here’s how New Yorkers really feel about congestion pricing,' reveals sharp divides. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) condemned the move, calling it a 'blatant political move and a shameless betrayal of New Yorkers.' State Sen. Andrew Gounardes backed the plan, citing needed transit upgrades. The bill’s impact on vulnerable road users was not assessed. The debate centers on funding transit versus burdening drivers. The city stands at a crossroads.

• Here’s how New Yorkers really feel about congestion pricing, amny.com, Published 2024-12-03

A 39-year-old man on a Suzuki motorcycle, helmeted but unlicensed, slammed into a turning KIA at Eliot Avenue and 69th Street. He flew from the wreck, landing headfirst. Crush injuries ended his life in the street.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of Eliot Avenue and 69th Street in Queens. According to the police report, a 39-year-old man, helmeted but unlicensed, was riding a Suzuki motorcycle southbound when he struck a KIA sedan making a left turn. The report states, 'He flew. Headfirst to pavement. Crush injuries. Death in the street.' The motorcyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. The KIA's right front quarter panel was damaged, indicating the point of impact during the left turn. The police report lists the motorcyclist as unlicensed but does not specify any driver errors or contributing factors beyond 'Unspecified.' The focus remains on the lethal outcome of the collision and the systemic dangers present at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768223, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1069-2024 slashes legal parking time for tractor-trailers and similar trucks to 90 minutes. Commercial vehicles clogging curbs will face tighter limits. The measure targets streets where hulking rigs linger, blocking sightlines and endangering walkers and riders.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." It limits parking for tractor-trailer combinations, tractors, truck trailers, and semi-trailers to 90 minutes, down from three hours. Council Member Kevin C. Riley leads as primary sponsor, joined by Nantasha M. Williams, Darlene Mealy, Sandy Nurse, and others. The bill was referred to committee the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the measure aims to keep large trucks from blocking curbs and crosswalks, where they threaten pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

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

City will build protected bike lanes and new sidewalks on Cypress Avenue. Jersey barriers will shield cyclists from highway traffic. Pedestrians and riders get a safer shot at Highland Park. The stretch has seen nearly 100 injuries in three years. Danger meets concrete.

On August 23, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a project to install protected bike lanes and new sidewalks along Cypress Avenue, connecting to Ridgewood Reservoir. The plan, presented to Queens Community Board 5 in June, calls for a two-way cycle path protected by jersey barriers and sidewalk expansions between Cooper Avenue and Cypress Hills Street. The matter summary states: 'Protected bike lanes and built-out sidewalks are coming to Cypress Avenue to provide a safe connection to Highland Park.' Council Member Bob Holden, usually a cycling skeptic, supports the project. His spokesperson said, 'This particular lane benefits those biking to and from the Ridgewood Reservoir and addresses a broader quality of life issue along Cypress Avenue.' Advocates like Bree Mobley of Ridgewood Riders back the plan, citing the area's crash history—166 crashes, 99 injuries in three years. The project targets a corridor marked by high injury and death rates, aiming to shield vulnerable road users from relentless traffic.

• New Protected Bike Lanes Will Connect to Ridgewood Reservoir, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-23

A sedan turned left on 68th Avenue, striking a 64-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The driver did not stop. Her leg was crushed. The car showed no damage. The pain lingered at the intersection.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn at 68th Avenue and Fresh Pond Road struck a 64-year-old woman as she crossed the intersection with the pedestrian signal. The report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way, a critical error cited as the primary contributing factor. The driver fled the scene without stopping, leaving the woman with severe crush injuries to her leg. The vehicle, a 2021 Hyundai sedan, showed no visible damage. The police report notes the pedestrian was crossing with the signal, emphasizing that driver failure to yield was the decisive factor in the collision. No other contributing behaviors by the victim are listed. The crash underscores the persistent danger posed to pedestrians by drivers who disregard right-of-way at city intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747712, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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