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

Council moves to stop drivers from using cars as barricades. No more saving spots. No more leaving cars idle for days. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

Bill Int 0223-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Member Robert F. Holden, it bans using vehicles to reserve parking and blocks cars from sitting in one spot over five days. The matter title reads: 'prohibiting the use of a vehicle to reserve a parking space and prohibiting the continuous parking of a vehicle in the same location for more than five consecutive days.' Holden sponsored the bill, which also requires DOT outreach to alert drivers and stakeholders. No votes yet. The bill aims to keep curb space moving and cut hazards for people outside cars.

• File Int 0223-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Danielle Aber died on Nassau Avenue. The driver, Stanley Manel, had 26 speed camera tickets. He faced minor charges. Officials demand action: lower speed limits, force repeat offenders to install speed controls, and redesign deadly streets. The city’s inaction kills.

"Assembly Member Gallagher carries legislation requiring drivers with six or more speeding tickets in a year – or with 11 or more points on their license in 18 months – to install an intelligent speed assistance device in their car that prevents speeding." -- Dennis P. Gallagher

On February 25, 2024, after Danielle Aber was killed by a repeat speeding driver in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a coalition of elected officials demanded sweeping changes. The group—Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, Council Member Lincoln Restler, and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez—called for passage of two state bills: one mandating intelligent speed assistance devices for drivers with six or more speeding tickets in a year, and 'Sammy’s Law,' which would let the City Council lower speed limits. Their statement read, 'We’re calling on the New York State legislature to pass two critical bills that would lead to fewer incidents of traffic violence.' They also urged the Department of Transportation to install raised crosswalks and daylighting at intersections, and to convert Nassau and Norman avenues to one-way streets. The officials’ push highlights the deadly gap in accountability and infrastructure that leaves vulnerable road users at risk.

• Greenpoint Woman Dies from Injuries Sustained in Crash, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-25

Council Member Holden pushed a helmet law for all cyclists. The bill died in committee. Riders faced a $50 fine. No change for city streets. The danger remains. Cars still rule the road.

"A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear" -- Robert F. Holden

Int 1259-2023, introduced by Council Member Robert F. Holden, aimed to require every bicyclist in New York City to wear protective headgear. The bill was filed at the end of session by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with key dates on December 6 and December 31, 2023. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Holden sponsored the bill, which would have fined unhelmeted riders up to $50. The bill stalled and did not become law. No systemic change for vulnerable road users. The threat from cars remains unaddressed.

• File Int 1259-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-31

Council backs harsher penalties for drivers who hide plates. Obscured tags let reckless motorists dodge cameras and tickets. The bill aims to stop evasion and protect people on city streets.

Resolution 0866-2023, filed by the Committee on Public Safety, urges Albany to pass S.2447/A.5234. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Robert F. Holden, calls for increased penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates. The resolution states: 'increase the penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates.' It was introduced and voted on in December 2023. The bill would let authorities confiscate plate coverings, suspend registrations, and block VINs. Obscured plates let drivers evade speed and red-light cameras, putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The council wants tougher enforcement to keep streets safer for all.

• File Res 0866-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-31

Council backs harsher penalties for drivers who hide plates. Obscured tags let reckless motorists dodge cameras and tickets. The bill aims to stop evasion and protect people on city streets.

Resolution 0866-2023, filed by the Committee on Public Safety, urges Albany to pass S.2447/A.5234. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Robert F. Holden, calls for increased penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates. The resolution states: 'increase the penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates.' It was introduced and voted on in December 2023. The bill would let authorities confiscate plate coverings, suspend registrations, and block VINs. Obscured plates let drivers evade speed and red-light cameras, putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The council wants tougher enforcement to keep streets safer for all.

• File Res 0866-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-20

Council backs harsher penalties for drivers who hide plates. Obscured tags let reckless motorists dodge cameras and tickets. The bill aims to stop evasion and protect people on city streets.

Resolution 0866-2023, filed by the Committee on Public Safety, urges Albany to pass S.2447/A.5234. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Robert F. Holden, calls for increased penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates. The resolution states: 'increase the penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates.' It was introduced and voted on in December 2023. The bill would let authorities confiscate plate coverings, suspend registrations, and block VINs. Obscured plates let drivers evade speed and red-light cameras, putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The council wants tougher enforcement to keep streets safer for all.

• File Res 0866-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-20

Council backs harsher penalties for drivers who hide plates. Obscured tags let reckless motorists dodge cameras and tickets. The bill aims to stop evasion and protect people on city streets.

Resolution 0866-2023, filed by the Committee on Public Safety, urges Albany to pass S.2447/A.5234. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Robert F. Holden, calls for increased penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates. The resolution states: 'increase the penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates.' It was introduced and voted on in December 2023. The bill would let authorities confiscate plate coverings, suspend registrations, and block VINs. Obscured plates let drivers evade speed and red-light cameras, putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The council wants tougher enforcement to keep streets safer for all.

• File Res 0866-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-20

Council Member Holden pushed a helmet law for all cyclists. The bill died in committee. Riders faced a $50 fine. The city kept its patchwork of rules. No change for those most at risk.

"A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear" -- Robert F. Holden

Int 1259-2023, introduced by Council Member Robert F. Holden, sought to require every bicyclist in New York City to wear protective headgear. The bill was filed at session's end by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after its December 6, 2023 introduction. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Holden sponsored the measure. The law would have fined unhelmeted riders up to $50, exempting those already covered by other helmet laws. The bill did not advance. No new protections for vulnerable road users resulted.

• File Int 1259-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-06

Council Member Holden pushed a helmet law for all cyclists. The bill died in committee. Riders faced a $50 fine. No change for city streets. The danger remains. Cars still rule the road.

"A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear" -- Robert F. Holden

Int 1259-2023, introduced by Council Member Robert F. Holden, aimed to require every bicyclist in New York City to wear protective headgear. The bill was filed at the end of session by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with key dates on December 6 and December 31, 2023. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Holden sponsored the bill, which would have fined unhelmeted riders up to $50. The bill stalled and did not become law. No systemic change for vulnerable road users. The threat from cars remains unaddressed.

• File Int 1259-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-06

Council Member Holden pushed a helmet law for all cyclists. The bill died in committee. Riders faced a $50 fine. No change for city streets. The danger remains. Cars still rule the road.

"A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear" -- Robert F. Holden

Int 1259-2023, introduced by Council Member Robert F. Holden, aimed to require every bicyclist in New York City to wear protective headgear. The bill was filed at the end of session by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, with key dates on December 6 and December 31, 2023. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Holden sponsored the bill, which would have fined unhelmeted riders up to $50. The bill stalled and did not become law. No systemic change for vulnerable road users. The threat from cars remains unaddressed.

• File Int 1259-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-06

Manhattan Community Board 6 shot down Council Member Holden’s e-bike registration bill. The board called it broad, incomplete, and toothless. Members said it would not fix safety. They warned it could push cyclists off the street while ignoring illegal mopeds.

On November 8, 2023, Manhattan Community Board 6 voted on Council Member Bob Holden’s e-bike registration bill. The bill, before the Transportation Committee, would require licensing and visible plates for all e-bikes, scooters, and legal motorized vehicles not already registered with the DMV. The board opposed the measure, passing a resolution 21-15 (with five abstentions), calling it 'overly broad and ineffective at addressing safety concerns.' The matter summary reads: 'Require registration and licensing for all e-bikes and legal motorized vehicles.' Board members Brian Van Nieuwenhoven and Jason Froimowitz criticized the bill as incomplete and unrealistic, noting it would not solve dangerous operation or enforcement issues. Holden dismissed the board’s opposition as unrepresentative. The board also passed a separate resolution supporting daylighting at intersections.

• Manhattan CB6 Rejects E-Bike Registration Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-09

A man on an e-scooter crashed near 64th Street. He flew from the scooter. His head struck hard. Blood pooled on the pavement. The scooter twisted at the bumper. He died there. The street stayed silent.

A 46-year-old man riding a 5th Wheel e-scooter was killed on Flushing Avenue near 64th Street in Queens. According to the police report, the rider was ejected from his scooter and suffered a fatal head injury. The report states, 'Driver Inexperience' contributed to the crash. The man was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the data, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. The scooter was left crumpled at the scene. No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The crash highlights the deadly consequences when inexperience meets city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4675713 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Dodge pickup turned right on Fresh Pond Road. The truck hit a 75-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Steel met flesh. Blood stained the street. She died there, beneath the open sky. The truck’s front end bore the mark.

A 75-year-old woman was killed at Fresh Pond Road and 60th Road when a Dodge pickup truck struck her as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the pickup was making a right turn when it hit the pedestrian, causing fatal head injuries and severe bleeding. The report states, “She crossed with the signal. A Dodge pickup turned right. Steel struck her head. Blood pooled on the pavement.” The police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The truck’s center front end was damaged in the crash. The woman was following the signal at the intersection. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669744 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 63-year-old woman crossed with the light. An SUV turned and struck her head. She fell, bleeding and unconscious. Alcohol was in the blood. Two SUVs at the scene. The street corner in Queens ran red with danger.

A 63-year-old woman was hit by a turning SUV while crossing 71st Street in Queens with the signal. According to the police report, she was struck in the head and collapsed, unconscious and bleeding. Two SUVs were involved: one parked, one turning. The report states, 'Alcohol was in the blood.' The listed contributing factor is 'Alcohol Involvement.' The woman, a pedestrian, suffered severe head injuries. No driver errors beyond alcohol involvement are listed. The report does not mention helmet or signal use as contributing factors. The crash left a vulnerable road user gravely hurt at a city intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666210 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford SUV lost grip on wet pavement near 66th Avenue. The front end smashed. The driver, alone, bled from the face. He wore his belt. The street was quiet except for pain and shock.

A Ford SUV traveling south on Woodhaven Boulevard near 66th Avenue crashed when it skidded on slippery pavement. The driver, a 28-year-old man, was alone in the vehicle and suffered severe facial bleeding. According to the police report, 'Pavement Slippery' and 'Following Too Closely' were listed as contributing factors. The SUV’s front end crumpled on impact. The driver was belted and not ejected. No other occupants or road users were involved or injured. The report describes the driver in shock, staring ahead in the aftermath. No mention of helmet or signaling factors appears in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657322 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 29-year-old man on an e-bike slammed into a slowing SUV on Fresh Pond Road. He wore a helmet. The force threw him from the seat. His body hit the pavement. He died there. Speed ruled the night. The street fell silent.

A 29-year-old man riding an e-bike died after striking a slowing SUV on Fresh Pond Road. According to the police report, 'A 29-year-old man on an e-bike struck a slowing SUV. He flew from the seat, helmet on, body crushed. The street did not move. He died there, on the pavement, where speed met silence.' The crash involved an e-bike, a station wagon/SUV, and a parked sedan. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported. The data does not indicate any errors by the SUV driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655286 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus turned on 74th Street. An e-scooter hit its rear. The rider, a 64-year-old woman, flew off. Her head bled on the pavement. The bus rolled away, untouched. The street held her pain. No helmet. No mercy.

A bus turned near 57th Avenue in Queens. An e-scooter struck the bus’s rear bumper. The rider, a 64-year-old woman, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. According to the police report, 'A bus turned. An e-scooter struck its rear. A 64-year-old woman flew off, no helmet, head bleeding. She lay conscious on the pavement. The bus rolled on. Its bumper bore no mark.' The police listed 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The woman was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary error was the bus’s improper turn. The crash left the rider injured and the bus undamaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655019 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 19-year-old motorcyclist hit a parked SUV on 64th Street. He flew from his bike and died under a streetlamp. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He wore a helmet. The night was still. No other injuries reported.

A 19-year-old man riding a motorcycle northbound on 64th Street in Queens struck the center back end of a parked Ford SUV at the corner of 58th Road. According to the police report, the impact ejected the rider from his bike. He landed on the street and died from severe head injuries. The report states he was wearing a helmet. No other people were injured. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The SUV was unoccupied and parked at the time of the crash. The crash left blood on the asphalt and the street silent.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652466 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Chevy pickup struck an 88-year-old man on Dry Harbor Road. The man crossed outside a crosswalk. The truck hit him head-on. He suffered head trauma and broken limbs. He died in the street. The driver had no license.

An 88-year-old man was killed on Dry Harbor Road near 61st Street in Queens. According to the police report, the man was crossing the street outside a crosswalk when a westbound Chevy pickup truck struck him head-on. The pedestrian suffered head trauma and broken limbs and died at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. No other contributing factors, such as helmet use or signal violations, were noted in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650689 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 24-year-old man on a gas scooter crashed head-on on Menahan Street. He was thrown from the scooter. His head struck the pavement. He died at the scene. Police cite driver inexperience as the cause. No helmet. No license. Only loss.

A 24-year-old man was killed while riding a gas scooter on Menahan Street. According to the police report, the unlicensed and helmetless rider was ejected in a head-on crash. His head struck the pavement. He was semiconscious, then still. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as the primary contributing factor. The man was not wearing any safety equipment. No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The crash left one dead, the street marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650972 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04