No More Dead Neighbors: Demand Action on District 31’s Killing Streets

A Ford SUV struck a 52-year-old woman head-on on Beach Channel Drive. She died there. Three passengers suffered head injuries. Two sedans stood nearby, one parked. The streetlights glowed. The road stayed silent. Another life lost to traffic.

A Ford SUV hit a 52-year-old woman head-on near Bay 32 Street in Queens. She died at the scene. According to the police report, 'A Ford SUV struck a 52-year-old woman head-on. She died there. Two sedans stood nearby, one parked.' Three passengers suffered head injuries. Another woman, age 29, was also hurt. The police report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the data. The crash left the street quiet, marked by loss and injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4609851 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

DOT missed safety targets. Council pressed for action. DOT balked, citing staff shortages. Council demanded more. Advocates called bills weak. Streets remain dangerous. No relief for pedestrians or cyclists. City government stalls. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

At a February 14, 2023 City Council oversight hearing, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez admitted the agency failed to meet last year’s street safety benchmarks. The hearing, led by Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, reviewed a slate of bills requiring reflective materials, school safety signs, daylighting, bollards, and more frequent fatality studies. Rodriguez said DOT supports the intent but opposes the bills, citing staffing shortages and a need for flexibility. Brooks-Powers expressed disappointment: 'It sounds, unfortunately, like DOT is not supporting any of the bills.' Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized city austerity and shrinking staff. Advocates, including Amy Cohen, said the bills 'don’t go nearly far enough.' The hearing exposed deep gaps between Council ambition, DOT capacity, and the urgent need for safer streets.

• DOT to Council: Don’t Ask Us To Do More After We Failed to What You Mandated Us To Do Last Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-14

City Council grilled DOT on street safety. Commissioner Rodriguez rejected new bollards, signs, and speed bumps. Advocates demanded action after 255 deaths. Council and DOT agreed only on a 5 mph limit for Open Streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain at risk.

On February 14, 2023, the City Council’s Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), held a hearing on a slate of street safety bills. The matter, titled 'DOT chief pushes back on City Council’s latest street safety proposals,' saw Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez oppose mandatory installation of bollards, safety signs near schools, reflective curbs, and speed bumps near senior centers. Brooks-Powers opened the hearing noting, 'It sounds, unfortunately, like DOT doesn’t support any of the bills that we’re looking to discuss today.' Street safety advocates, including Priscilla Afokoba and Amy Cohen, spoke in favor of the proposals, citing the 255 people killed by motorists in the previous year. The only consensus: a resolution to urge Albany to reduce the speed limit to 5 mph on Open Streets, with Governor Hochul signaling support. The hearing highlighted deep divides between the Council and DOT on protecting pedestrians and cyclists.

• DOT chief pushes back on City Council’s latest street safety proposals, gothamist.com, Published 2023-02-14

Council pressed DOT on slow safety progress. Adams administration rejected bills for traffic calming, daylighting, and crash studies. Council vowed to push forward. DOT blamed staff cuts. Advocates demanded hard fixes. Streets stay deadly. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 14, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on a package of street safety bills. Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers led the debate. The Adams administration, represented by DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, opposed the bills, arguing, 'Streets are dynamic and conditions are constantly changing. We need to be nimble.' The bills would require DOT to install traffic calming near senior centers, daylight intersections, add school safety signs, study and install bollards, and increase crash reporting. Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the mayor’s budget cuts, saying they undermine safety goals. Brooks-Powers pledged to advance the bills, stressing the need for hard infrastructure, especially in Black and Brown neighborhoods. DOT admitted it is behind on bus and bike lane targets. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided, but advocates insist better design saves lives.

• DOT honchos grilled on street safety progress as Adams admin announces opposition to Council bills, amny.com, Published 2023-02-14

City Council grilled the Adams administration on street carnage. The hearing exposed failures: missed targets for protected bike lanes, bus lanes, and safety investments. Council members called for real infrastructure, not just enforcement. Advocates demanded accountability and action for vulnerable New Yorkers.

On January 27, 2023, the City Council’s Transportation Committee held an oversight hearing on street safety and Vision Zero implementation. The hearing, led by Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, questioned whether Mayor Adams is honoring his pledge to end road violence. The matter focused on the administration’s failure to meet Council-mandated benchmarks in the NYC Streets Plan, especially protected bike lanes and bus lanes. Brooks-Powers stated, 'No New Yorker should have to fear for their life while crossing or using our streets.' She stressed that enforcement alone is not enough, demanding equitable infrastructure in neglected neighborhoods. Advocacy leaders like Elizabeth Adams and Sara Lind echoed the call for physical changes and accountability. The hearing marked a rare moment of scrutiny, with advocates welcoming the Council’s push for real safety measures for all road users.

• Council Wants Answers from Adams Administration on Road Violence Epidemic, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-27

Councilmember Brooks-Powers calls a hearing on hidden license plates. Drivers hide plates to dodge cameras. City Hall claims enforcement, but plates stay covered. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price. The city’s promise rings hollow. Action, not words, saves lives.

On January 25, 2023, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31) announced a forthcoming NYC Council hearing on obscured license plates and enforcement. The hearing, date not yet set, follows mounting evidence that drivers—including law enforcement—deface or cover plates to evade speed and toll cameras. The matter, described as a public safety issue, exposes a gap in city enforcement. Brooks-Powers’s action responds to calls for accountability, as highlighted in the article: 'there will be a hearing on obscured plates.' Despite City Hall’s claim that 'obscuring and defacing license plates is against the law' and that enforcement is increasing, the streets tell a different story. Unreadable plates let reckless drivers escape detection. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—face greater risk. The city’s failure to act leaves them exposed.

• The End of ‘Criminal Mischief’? A Reflection on Three Months of Field Work, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-01-25

Council eyes crackdown on drivers hiding plates. Lawmakers plan a hearing. Defaced plates dodge cameras, shield reckless drivers. City Hall claims action, but enforcement lags. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price. The system protects the powerful, not the people.

On January 25, 2023, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers announced an upcoming hearing on enforcement against obscured license plates. The hearing, not yet scheduled, follows months of reporting by Gersh Kuntzman, who documented widespread plate defacement by drivers—including law enforcement and public officials—to evade speed and toll cameras. The article quotes Brooks-Powers: 'there will be a hearing on obscured plates.' Kuntzman urges expansion of Council Member Lincoln Restler’s Intro 501, which would let the public report illegal plates via 311. City Hall claims it is 'strengthening enforcement,' but Kuntzman’s reporting shows little follow-through. The lack of action lets reckless drivers escape accountability, undermining automated enforcement and endangering vulnerable road users. The system’s failure leaves pedestrians and cyclists exposed while drivers hide in plain sight.

• The End of ‘Criminal Mischief’? A Reflection on Three Months of Field Work, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-25

Advocates call on Mayor Adams to back open streets, curb car use, and fund transit. They urge permanent outdoor dining, end to parking mandates, and more space for people. The message is clear: put safety and public space before cars.

On January 25, 2023, advocates released a statement ahead of Mayor Adams’s State of the City address. The statement, titled 'What the Livable Streets Movement Wants from Thursday’s State of the City Address,' urges the city to prioritize open streets, permanent outdoor dining, and public transit. The group calls for eliminating parking mandates and expanding Summer Streets to Brooklyn and Queens. They demand automated curb enforcement and a reduction in the city’s vehicle fleet. Borough Presidents Antonio Reynoso and Donovan Richards support the Summer Streets expansion. The statement insists, 'Leadership should be celebrating [public transit] and investing in it above all else.' The advocates reject half-measures and marketing campaigns. They want policies that move people out of cars and reclaim streets for vulnerable road users.

• What the Livable Streets Movement Wants from Thursday’s State of the City Address, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-25

A 2000 Infiniti slammed into two parked vehicles on Rockaway Boulevard near 146th Avenue. The driver, 21, was trapped and bleeding. Metal twisted. Glass scattered. The street fell silent around the wreck. Only the driver was hurt.

A 21-year-old man driving a 2000 Infiniti sedan struck two parked vehicles on Rockaway Boulevard near 146th Avenue. According to the police report, 'Unsafe Speed' was the contributing factor. The Infiniti hit a parked SUV and a utility truck, both unoccupied. The driver was trapped inside his demolished car, bleeding and incoherent, with severe lacerations and injuries to his entire body. No other injuries were reported. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4597591 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams’s budget keeps Fair Fares funding flat at $75 million. No new money. Low-income riders still face strict limits. The city holds back while transit costs rise. Council leaders stay silent. Riders wait. The gap between need and help widens.

Bill: Mayor Adams’s 2023 preliminary budget. Status: Proposed, under Council review. Committee: City Council Budget. Key dates: Announced January 12, 2023; hearings and negotiations run until June 30. The budget 'does not increase funding for Fair Fares, the city’s half-price MetroCard program for very low-income transit riders.' Adams holds funding at $75 million, below pre-pandemic levels. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers did not comment. Adams claims fiscal discipline is key, despite calling Fair Fares 'transformative.' The program’s strict eligibility leaves out many struggling New Yorkers. As subway fares rise, the city’s refusal to expand Fair Fares keeps transit out of reach for thousands.

• Transit Equity? Adams Budget Adds No New Funds for Fair Fares Discount Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-12

The Council’s Transportation Committee stalled. Three hearings. Two bills passed. No action on street safety, placard abuse, or protected lanes. Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers focused on commuter vans, not Vision Zero. Advocates saw inaction. Vulnerable road users paid the price.

In 2022, the City Council’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held only three hearings on 87 bills and passed just two. The committee, according to the matter summary, was 'largely absent from major transportation issues, including street safety, placard abuse, school street safety, e-mobility planning, ghost plates, and NYPD enforcement.' Brooks-Powers led a resolution supporting commuter vans and spoke on transportation equity, but did not advance key street safety or Vision Zero legislation. The committee failed to hold the Adams administration accountable for missing protected bike and bus lane benchmarks. Advocates and council members voiced frustration at the lack of progress on urgent issues like traffic violence and the Streets Master Plan. The committee’s approach prioritized car-dependent communities and lagged behind previous leadership on safety reforms. Vulnerable road users saw little relief.

• ANALYSIS: Council’s Transportation Committee Has Little to Show in First Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-11

A sedan hit a 65-year-old man outside the crosswalk on Merrick Boulevard. He lay broken in the street. He died there as headlights passed. The new year began with loss and silence.

A sedan traveling west on Merrick Boulevard struck a 65-year-old man who was outside the crosswalk. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 65-year-old man outside the crosswalk. He lay crushed and unconscious in the street. He died there, beneath the cold sky, as headlights passed and the new year began without him.' The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were specified in the data. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594840 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Honda slammed into stopped cars on South Conduit Avenue. Metal screamed. Four vehicles struck. A 76-year-old man bled from the head. Passengers hurt. The cause: following too closely, driver inattention. Shock and pain lingered in the cold Queens air.

A violent multi-car crash unfolded on South Conduit Avenue near Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, a 76-year-old man driving a Honda struck a line of stopped vehicles, setting off a chain reaction that damaged four cars. The driver suffered severe head bleeding and shock. Several passengers, including women aged 24, 32, and 66, reported back injuries and pain. Others sat stunned, still buckled in their seats. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians were involved. The impact left metal twisted and lives shaken, all traced to driver error behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4592521 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council members push the MTA to study reviving the Rockaway Beach rail line. The move aims to connect southeast Queens, cut car trips, and open new routes. The bill signals urgency but lacks binding power. Debate continues over transit versus parkland.

On November 28, 2022, Council Members Joann Ariola and Selvena Brooks-Powers introduced a City Council resolution urging the MTA to conduct an environmental impact study for the QueensLink rail reactivation. The bill, non-binding and currently under committee review, seeks to revive 3.5 miles of the former Rockaway Beach Branch, extending the M train from Rego Park to the Rockaways. The matter title calls for 'a deeper study of the QueensLink proposal to reactivate an old rail line.' Ariola and Brooks-Powers, both representing southeastern Queens, argue the project would benefit communities with poor subway access and reduce car dependency. Ariola stated, 'I think it’s necessary and I think that it would really benefit the communities.' Brooks-Powers emphasized the resolution as a priority for the Transportation Committee. The push comes as Mayor Adams advances the QueensWay park plan, raising concerns among transit advocates. The MTA says a new study is unnecessary, but supporters insist a thorough review is needed before converting the corridor to parkland.

• Queens Pols Revive Push for MTA to Study QueensLink, As QueensWay Linear Park Surges, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-28

A man drove east on South Conduit Avenue. He fell asleep. His SUV smashed front-first. He died belted in, arm broken. The crash left the morning dark and silent. No other injuries reported. Sleep claimed the wheel. Steel claimed the rest.

A 33-year-old man driving a 2021 Nissan SUV on South Conduit Avenue in Queens fell asleep at the wheel. According to the police report, the vehicle struck hard with its center front end. The driver, alone in the car, was killed. His arm was broken, and he was found belted in. The report lists 'Fell Asleep' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No other injuries were reported. The crash happened in the early morning darkness. The data shows no other driver errors or contributing factors beyond the driver falling asleep.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585208 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Drivers hide plates with leaves and branches. They dodge cameras. They dodge tolls. The city loses millions. Council cracks down. Brooks-Powers calls it a safety threat. New laws ban cover sales. DOT must now report evaders. Streets stay dangerous.

On November 26, 2022, the New York City Council took legislative action to combat license plate obscuring, a tactic used by drivers to evade tolls and traffic cameras. The matter, described as 'banning the sale of toll-beating covers and requiring DOT to report cars evading red lights and speed cameras with unreadable license plates,' passed through the transportation and infrastructure committee. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, chair of the committee and sponsor, stated, 'It’s a safety issue, it’s an issue in terms of [city] revenue, it’s an issue in terms of ensuring we have safe streets and holding people accountable.' The city has lost $19 million this year due to unreadable plates. The new laws aim to close loopholes and restore accountability, but the risk to pedestrians and cyclists from untraceable drivers remains high.

• Unbe-leaf-able: Scofflaws dodge tolls and traffic cameras with foliage, nypost.com, Published 2022-11-26

A Jeep hit a 64-year-old man in the crosswalk on Seagirt Boulevard. The impact was head-on. He died on the pavement as darkness fell. The SUV kept straight. The street stayed silent. No driver errors listed. The man never got up.

A 64-year-old man was killed when a Jeep SUV struck him head-on at the intersection of Seagirt Boulevard and Beach 31st Street in Queens. According to the police report, the man stepped into the intersection as the Jeep traveled east and hit him with its center front end. The pedestrian died at the scene. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The driver was licensed and wore a seatbelt. The only fatality was the pedestrian; no injuries were reported for the vehicle occupants. The crash underscores the lethal risk faced by people crossing New York City streets, even when no driver error is officially cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4584724 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City made Jamaica and Archer Avenue busways permanent. Jamaica Avenue hours slashed. Archer stays 24/7. Northern Boulevard bus lanes started after months of delay. Local politicians fought restrictions. Bus riders still face slow trips. City bows to business pressure.

On November 15, 2022, the Adams administration made busways on Jamaica and Archer avenues permanent after a one-year pilot. The Department of Transportation cut Jamaica Avenue’s busway hours from 24/7 to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, while Archer Avenue remains round-the-clock. The Northern Boulevard bus lane project, stalled for months after Council Member Francisco Moya lobbied against it, finally began installation. Council Members Nantasha Williams and Selvena Brooks-Powers opposed the busways, calling for their elimination and citing business concerns. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and other local officials pushed for even shorter hours. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the busways, saying, 'strong bus infrastructure is a necessity.' Despite opposition, the city kept some busway hours intact, but caved to business interests, reducing protection for bus riders and vulnerable road users.

• City Makes Jamaica Busways Permanent But With Shorter Hours; Begins Northern Blvd. Bus Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-15

City made Jamaica and Archer Avenue busways permanent. Jamaica Avenue hours slashed. Archer stays 24/7. Northern Boulevard bus lanes started after months of delay. Local politicians fought restrictions. Bus riders still face slow trips. City bows to business pressure.

On November 15, 2022, the Adams administration made busways on Jamaica and Archer avenues permanent after a one-year pilot. The Department of Transportation cut Jamaica Avenue’s busway hours from 24/7 to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, while Archer Avenue remains round-the-clock. The Northern Boulevard bus lane project, stalled for months after Council Member Francisco Moya lobbied against it, finally began installation. Council Members Nantasha Williams and Selvena Brooks-Powers opposed the busways, calling for their elimination and citing business concerns. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and other local officials pushed for even shorter hours. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the busways, saying, 'strong bus infrastructure is a necessity.' Despite opposition, the city kept some busway hours intact, but caved to business interests, reducing protection for bus riders and vulnerable road users.

• City Makes Jamaica Busways Permanent But With Shorter Hours; Begins Northern Blvd. Bus Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-15

Councilman Robert Holden slammed congestion pricing in a New York Post editorial. He called the plan a disaster for outer-borough residents. Holden argued it would barely cut Manhattan traffic, worsen Bronx air, and punish working families. The editorial dismissed equity concerns.

On November 8, 2022, Councilman Robert F. Holden (District 30) was mentioned in a New York Post editorial opposing congestion pricing. The editorial, titled 'Hey, Donovan Richards: It’s actually way more racist to FAVOR congestion pricing,' criticized Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for labeling Holden’s opposition as racist. The piece argued, 'congestion pricing would be a disaster,' claiming it would harm diverse outer-borough residents and worsen air quality in The Bronx by diverting diesel trucks. The editorial cited MTA studies predicting only a 3.1% reduction in Manhattan traffic and framed the plan as an unfair tax on commerce. Holden’s stance reflects ongoing resistance to congestion pricing in the council, with equity and environmental impacts at the center of the debate. No formal council vote or bill was referenced in this editorial.

• Hey, Donovan Richards: It’s actually way more racist to FAVOR congestion pricing, nypost.com, Published 2022-11-08