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

Council demands DOT show its work. The law forces public updates on every street safety project. No more hiding delays. No more silent cost overruns. Progress for bus riders, cyclists, and walkers must be tracked and posted.

Int 1105-2024 became law on May 10, 2025, after action by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to post annual and monthly updates on all projects tied to the streets master plan. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' It forces transparency on protected bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian signals, and upgrades. The public will see delays, costs, and status. No more secrets. The mayor returned it unsigned, but the law stands.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

DOT finished the Queens Boulevard redesign. Protected bike lanes, pedestrian islands, and new signals now line seven miles. Fatalities dropped 68 percent. Injuries fell 35 percent. Julie Won helped fund the next phase. Concrete upgrades will harden safety. Streets remember every life.

On November 12, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced the completion of the final phase of the Queens Boulevard Redesign. The project, part of Vision Zero, was celebrated in Council District 26 with Council Member Julie Won present and helping secure $1.5 million for future upgrades. The redesign stretches from Queens Plaza to Hillside Avenue, creating the city’s longest protected bike lane. The DOT reports a 68% drop in fatalities and a 35% reduction in injuries since 2015. The redesign adds parking-protected bike lanes, pedestrian islands, and improved signals. The next phase, funded in part by Won, will replace painted lanes with concrete, add raised medians, and increase accessibility. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez called it a milestone, saying, 'Queens Boulevard is not the Boulevard of Death anymore, but the Boulevard of Life.'

• A ‘Boulevard of Life’ transformation: DOT announces completion of Queens Boulevard Redesign, amny.com, Published 2024-11-12

A 25-year-old man died when his BMW tore apart on Nassau Expressway. The car sped east, too fast for the dark. Metal twisted, silence followed. No other lives touched, but the road bore witness to reckless velocity.

A deadly single-car crash on Nassau Expressway claimed the life of a 25-year-old man, according to the police report. The incident involved a 2023 BMW sedan traveling eastbound. The report states the vehicle was moving at an 'Unsafe Speed.' The driver was ejected from the car and suffered fatal injuries to his entire body. The police narrative describes the aftermath: 'A 2023 BMW sped east, too fast for the dark. The driver, 25, was thrown from the wreck. His body broke on impact. No sirens, no cries. Just twisted metal cooling under the silence.' The only contributing factor cited is excessive speed. No mention is made of other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclist involvement. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The focus remains on the lethal consequences of unsafe speed on city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769290 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 47-year-old man bent over a stalled car on 228th Street. An SUV, driver distracted, came south. The right front bumper hit flesh and bone. The man collapsed, bleeding, unconscious, broken on Queens pavement. The driver kept going straight.

According to the police report, near 145-27 228th Street in Queens, a 47-year-old man was leaning over a stalled car when a southbound SUV struck him with its right front bumper. The report states the driver was inattentive and distracted at the time of the crash. The pedestrian suffered severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body, and was found unconscious on the street. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. The man was not at an intersection and was working on a car, but the report does not cite these as contributing factors. The impact left the victim collapsed and motionless, underscoring the danger posed by distracted driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769400 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV barreled west on 140th Avenue. An 87-year-old woman walked outside the crosswalk. The vehicle struck her. Her head split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The driver kept going. The old woman lay still, silent under the morning sky.

According to the police report, an 87-year-old woman was walking outside the crosswalk on 140th Avenue near Southgate Plaza when a westbound SUV struck her. The report states, 'Head split open. Blood pooled on the asphalt. The driver kept going. The old woman lay still.' The vehicle, a 2008 Toyota SUV, showed no reported damage and was traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The police narrative lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The report does not cite any specific driver errors or violations, but the driver failed to remain at the scene after the collision. The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations and was conscious at the scene. The focus remains on the impact and the driver’s decision to leave, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767656 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A pickup truck flipped on South Conduit Avenue. Metal screamed, glass shattered. A 73-year-old man bled from the head, belted in the front seat. The sedan’s front left crumpled. Blood on the belt. The road fell silent.

A violent collision unfolded on South Conduit Avenue near 153-70 in Queens when a pickup truck overturned after a lane change, according to the police report. The crash involved a pickup and a sedan, both traveling east. The report states, 'A pickup flipped after a lane change. A 73-year-old man, belted in the front seat, bled from the head.' The sedan’s front left quarter panel was crushed. Police cite 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The 73-year-old male passenger in the pickup, restrained by a lap belt and harness, suffered severe head bleeding but remained conscious. The report details blood on the belt and silence on the road. Driver error—specifically unsafe lane changing—stands at the center of this crash’s violence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766064 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Jeep with faulty brakes slammed into a Cadillac’s rear on Belt Parkway. The front passenger, 45, suffered a crushed neck. He stayed conscious. The Jeep showed no damage. The man did. Systemic failure left flesh broken and steel untouched.

According to the police report, a 1997 Jeep traveling westbound on Belt Parkway struck the rear of a Cadillac sedan. The collision occurred when the Jeep, identified as having 'Brakes Defective' as a contributing factor, crashed into the Cadillac’s center back end. The front passenger in the Cadillac, a 45-year-old man, was injured with severe neck crush injuries and remained conscious at the scene. The report notes that the passenger wore only a lap belt. The Jeep showed no damage, while the Cadillac sustained damage to the right rear bumper. The police report explicitly cites 'Brakes Defective' as the primary cause, highlighting a clear driver-related mechanical failure. No victim behaviors are listed as contributing factors. The crash underscores the lethal risk posed by defective vehicle systems and the systemic dangers present on New York City roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759323 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

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

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

City Council pulled the jaywalking bill before a vote. Advocates warned new language could blame pedestrians for crashes. The bill would have let people cross mid-block, but now demands they yield to drivers. Racial bias in enforcement remains unaddressed.

On September 12, 2024, the City Council delayed action on a bill to legalize jaywalking. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, passed the Transportation Committee but was withdrawn before a full Council vote. The bill’s summary stated it would 'legalize crossing outside crosswalks and require a pedestrian education campaign.' Advocates objected to last-minute changes that would force pedestrians to yield to drivers, fearing it could criminalize those struck by cars. Narcisse highlighted 'systemic bias in how these laws are enforced.' Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'There is little evidence to support the claim that criminal or civil offenses for jaywalking change pedestrian behavior or increase pedestrian safety,' and noted racial disparities in ticketing. The NYPD and DOT opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with advocates demanding stronger protections for pedestrians.

• Council Balks on Legalizing ‘Jaywalking’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

A deadly seven-way tangle in the Rockaways will get $25 million in upgrades. Protected bike lanes. Bigger pedestrian islands. Raised crosswalks. City officials promise change after 112 crashes since 2019. Construction starts 2027. No more waiting for blood on the asphalt.

The planned overhaul targets the chaotic intersection of Beach 35th Street, Seagirt Boulevard, Rockaway Freeway, and Beach Channel Drive. Announced September 11, 2024, the $24.8 million project includes protected bike lanes, expanded sidewalks, and safer crossings. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pledged $500,000, saying, "We're not waiting until someone loses their life to take action." Since 2019, 112 crashes have injured 54 people here—five of them pedestrians. The intersection currently favors cars, forcing pedestrians on long detours. The redesign will dead-end Beach 35th Street, add raised bike lanes, and expand pedestrian space. Final design is due next year, with construction set for 2027 and completion by 2029. The project includes a $2.6 million federal grant and is tied to Edgemere sewer upgrades.

• Chaotic Rockaways Intersection to Get Bike and Pedestrian Upgrades in 2027, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-11

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-10

A woman stepped down from a car on 147th Road. An SUV tore into her right leg. Flesh ripped. She stayed conscious. The driver sped off, leaving blood and silence behind.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old woman was injured on 147th Road near 235th Street in Queens when she exited a vehicle and was struck by a 2023 Toyota SUV. The report states the SUV hit her right leg, causing severe lacerations, but she remained conscious at the scene. The driver did not stop after the impact. The police report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage and continued eastbound, according to the report. The victim was not at an intersection and was getting on or off a vehicle at the time. The focus remains on the driver's failure to yield, as cited by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757610 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Ford pickup slammed into a parked SUV on Beach 19th. The woman inside, forty-five, died in her seat. Police cite driver distraction. The truck showed no damage. The road stayed quiet, but the toll was final.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck struck a parked SUV near 233 Beach 19th Street in Queens at 3:45 p.m. The SUV's occupant, a 45-year-old woman, was killed in the crash. The report states, 'A Ford pickup struck a parked SUV. The woman inside, 45, wore no seatbelt. She died there, still in her seat.' Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the collision. The pickup truck showed no damage, while the SUV was struck on the left rear quarter panel. The woman was not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly impact underscores the consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two SUVs slammed together on Beach Channel Drive. A six-year-old girl, strapped in back, took glass to the face. Blood marked the spot. Obstructed view left her wounded in daylight.

At Beach Channel Drive and Beach 45 Street in Queens, two SUVs collided at 12:05 PM. According to the police report, both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' when they crashed. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as the contributing factor. A six-year-old girl, riding in the rear seat, suffered severe facial lacerations from shattered glass. She was restrained in a child seat. The drivers were licensed and no other driver errors were cited. The crash shows how blocked sightlines at intersections put vulnerable passengers at risk when heavy vehicles collide.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752713 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Parking mandates choke streets, raise rents, and trap New Yorkers in car dependence. Council Member Marmorato and Borough President Richards defend these rules, blocking safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. Ending mandates means more housing, cleaner air, and safer streets for people, not cars.

This opinion, published September 3, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, calls out Council Member Kristy Marmorato and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for defending parking mandates. Richards opposes lifting mandates in Queens, citing poor transit. Marmorato lobbied to restore mandates in a Bronx rezoning near new Metro North stations, arguing, 'We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities.' The editorial rebukes this logic, stating, 'We should not cling to parking mandates when we know they encourage car ownership, make streets less vibrant, increase rents, and pollute our air.' The piece urges officials to break the cycle of car-first policy, invest in transit, and end mandates that block affordable housing and safer streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the editorial centers the harm parking mandates inflict on vulnerable road users and the city’s livability.

• Opinion: It’s Time to Say ‘No’ to Car Drivers and ‘Yes’ to Ending Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

A motorcycle fleeing police crashed into an SUV’s rear on Beach 45th Street. The unlicensed rider, helmetless, flew headfirst onto the asphalt. He bled from a torn scalp, conscious but alone. Aggressive driving and road rage tore through Queens.

According to the police report, a motorcycle operated by an unlicensed 27-year-old male was fleeing police on Beach 45th Street near Beach Channel Drive when it crashed into the rear of a Honda SUV. The report states the motorcycle was involved in 'aggressive driving/road rage' and was being pursued by police at the time of the collision. The rider, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations, described as a torn scalp, but remained conscious at the scene. The SUV, driven by a licensed male, sustained damage to the right rear quarter panel. The police report highlights 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as a contributing factor, underscoring the systemic danger posed by reckless vehicle operation. The victim’s lack of helmet use is noted in the report, but the focus remains on the aggressive driving and police pursuit that led to this violent crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4752675 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Queens Borough President Richards backs Adams’s housing plan but blocks citywide parking reform. He wants parking mandates gone in dense, transit-rich hubs but kept in car-dependent outer Queens. The split stance leaves vulnerable road users exposed in sprawling, car-heavy neighborhoods.

On August 27, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a statement on Mayor Adams’s ‘City of Yes’ zoning proposal. Richards supports removing parking mandates in high-density, transit-rich areas—like downtown Jamaica, Flushing, and Long Island City—saying, “Parking mandates in major transit hubs... should be eliminated, in order to increase housing opportunities there.” But he opposes ending parking mandates citywide, insisting they remain in low-density, outer transit-oriented development areas (OTODAs) due to infrequent Long Island Rail Road service and car dependence. Richards claims, “This is the reality of living in a transit desert.” The move splits the city, keeping car-centric policies in place for much of Queens. Housing advocates and the mayor’s office argue that citywide parking reform is needed to spur housing and reduce car reliance, but Richards’s stance preserves systemic danger for vulnerable road users in sprawling neighborhoods.

• Queens BP Says ‘Yes’ to Adams Zoning Plan, But ‘No’ to Ending Costly Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-27

A northbound Kia SUV hit a 44-year-old woman head-on on Laurelton Parkway. Her skull broke. She died alone, far from any crosswalk. The SUV’s front end crumpled. The road stayed still. No driver errors were specified in the report.

A 44-year-old woman walking in the roadway on Laurelton Parkway was struck head-on by a northbound Kia SUV, according to the police report. The impact broke her skull and she died at the scene, far from any crosswalk. The report states, 'A northbound Kia SUV struck her head-on. Her skull broke. She died there, alone, far from any crosswalk. The SUV’s front crumpled.' The vehicle sustained damage to its center front end. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both the driver and the pedestrian. No specific driver errors, such as failure to yield or distraction, are cited in the data. The focus remains on the fatal impact and the absence of explicit driver accountability in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750204 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15