Hit-and-Run by JFK. Nights of blood on the Conduit.

Sep 3 - 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 2025-09-18

Sep 3 - 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 2025-09-18

Sep 3 - 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

Sep 2 - 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 2025-09-18

Aug 27 - 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

Aug 23 - 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 2025-09-18

Aug 15 - 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

Aug 15 - 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

Aug 9 - Queens Borough President Donovan Richards rejects citywide parking reform. He backs lifting mandates in dense, transit-rich zones but blocks changes in car-dependent areas. Civic leaders echo him. The move keeps cars central, leaving pedestrians and cyclists exposed.

On August 9, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a public statement opposing the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity rezoning as it relates to eliminating mandatory parking requirements citywide. Richards said, "You can't use the one-size-fits-all approach here. There are really parts of Queens that are transit deserts." He supports removing parking mandates only in high-density, transit-rich areas, not in low-density, car-dependent neighborhoods. Community board leaders and civic groups in Queens joined him, arguing the reform threatens their way of life. Richards's stance contrasts with Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx officials, who support ending parking minimums. The decision preserves car dominance in Queens, leaving vulnerable road users at risk and blocking safer, people-first streets.

• ‘City of No’: Queens Borough President Suddenly Joins ‘Suburban’ Crowd Demanding More Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-09

Jun 27 - DOT will drop speed limits to 20 mph on 49 streets this September. Only a sliver of city roads get safer. Regional slow zones start in lower Manhattan. Council Member Marte backs the move. Advocates want faster, broader action. Most streets stay risky.

On June 27, 2024, the NYC Department of Transportation announced it will use new powers from Sammy's Law to lower speed limits from 25 to 20 mph on 49 street segments starting September 2024, with 201 more to follow by late 2025. The measure covers just 0.13% of city streets, possibly reaching 0.8% if regional slow zones expand. The first such zone will be south of Canal Street in lower Manhattan. DOT can only lower limits street by street unless the City Council acts. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers confirmed no citywide bill exists. Council Member Christopher Marte welcomed the slow zone in his district, citing rampant speeding off the bridges. Advocates and officials demand faster, broader action, saying, 'Twenty is plenty wherever you'll find people, and in New York that's everywhere.' DOT says it will prioritize areas near schools and neighborhoods with more non-white and low-income residents. The rollout is slow. Most streets remain unchanged.

• DOT Begins Slow Process of Lowering Speed Limits on a Small Number of Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-27

Jun 26 - City officials fight to keep jaywalking illegal. They claim it protects pedestrians. Enforcement is rare but hits people of color hardest. Council Member Narcisse wants change. NYPD and DOT resist. Advocates say criminalization fails safety and justice.

On June 26, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on a bill to decriminalize jaywalking. The bill, proposed by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, seeks to end criminal penalties for crossing streets outside crosswalks. The matter summary states officials argue, 'keeping it illegal protects pedestrian safety.' DOT First Deputy Commissioner Margaret Forgione testified against full legalization, supporting only a reduction to a civil offense. NYPD Deputy Chief Thomas Alps defended targeted enforcement in high-crash areas. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers questioned the law's fairness, noting most tickets go to Black and Brown New Yorkers. Advocates criticized the city's stance, saying criminalization does not improve safety and harms communities of color. The bill remains under debate, with no clear path forward.

• City Wants To Keep ‘Jaywalking’ Illegal For Pedestrians’ Own Good, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-26

Jun 15 - A man drove straight on South Conduit Avenue and crashed into two parked SUVs. Metal twisted. His head struck hard. The night air held the smell of alcohol. He wore a belt, but the impact did not spare him.

According to the police report, a male driver with a permit was traveling straight on South Conduit Avenue near 230th Street in Queens when he crashed his SUV into two parked SUVs at 23:40. The report states, 'A man drove straight into two parked SUVs. His front end crumpled. His head bore the hit.' The driver suffered head injuries and crush injuries, despite wearing a lap belt and harness. The police report explicitly lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor in the crash. The parked vehicles were unoccupied, and no actions by other road users contributed to the incident. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by impaired driving, as documented in the official report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4733612 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 6 - City Council pushed Albany to expand red light cameras from 150 to 600 intersections. The move falls short of the original goal but marks the largest growth since 1994. Advocates say cameras save lives. Debate continues over equity and coverage.

On June 6, 2024, the City Council passed a resolution urging the state to expand New York City's red light camera program from 150 to 600 intersections. The measure, led by Council Member Lincoln Restler, follows internal debate and negotiation, with some members pushing for 1,325 intersections and others preferring fewer. The final number represents a four-fold increase, covering about 4 percent of city intersections. The Council's resolution, described as a 'home rule' message, aims to prevent the program from sunsetting and to improve safety for all road users. Restler stated, 'This will expand it to about 4 percent of intersections, and it will make our city safer.' Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz called the expansion a victory, while advocates like Sara Lind of Open Plans noted no deaths at camera-protected intersections since 1994. Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers highlighted the need to ensure cameras improve communities and street safety, raising concerns about fairness in enforcement. The Department of Transportation called the Council's action a critical step.

• Council Urges State to Expand City’s Tiny Red Light Camera Program to 600 Intersections, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-06

Jun 6 - Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. Streets slow. Danger drops. Pedestrians and cyclists get space. Resolution adopted. Albany must act.

Res 0079-2024, adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 6, 2024, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The resolution states: "authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program." Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The measure passed committee and full council on June 6. The bill aims to cut speed and risk where people walk, bike, and gather. The council's push now waits for state lawmakers and the governor.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-06-06

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

May 9 - City officials defend curbside EV charging. Critics warn it locks in car dominance. Council members slam DOT for slow bus and bike lane rollouts. Advocates demand space for people, not cars. The city plans 10,000 new chargers. Streets stay dangerous.

At a May 9, 2024 City Council budget hearing, DOT Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton argued that New York’s widespread free on-street parking justifies dedicating curb space to electric vehicle (EV) charging. Beaton testified, 'Half of our vehicles are stored on the street overnight.' The Adams administration aims to install up to 10,000 curbside chargers over the next decade. Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers and Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized DOT for failing to meet bus and bike lane expansion mandates. Sara Lind of Open Plans countered, 'DOT and the administration are fully capable of changing the status quo and rethinking curb parking.' Advocates warned that more EV chargers could block future sidewalk, bike lane, or outdoor dining expansions. The hearing exposed a city stuck in car-first policy, with vulnerable road users left waiting for safer streets.

• DOT Official: All Our Free Parking Justifies Keeping Curb Space for EVs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-09

May 8 - Mayor Adams backs lower speed limits but calls crashes ‘accidents.’ He urges drivers to slow down, yet hedges on citywide changes. The Council and DOT hold the power. Advocates say language matters. Streets remain deadly. Action lags. Lives hang in balance.

On May 8, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams publicly supported lowering speed limits after the passage of 'Sammy’s Law,' which allows New York City to reduce limits to 20 mph on most roads. The law, passed in the state budget, excludes wide, multi-lane roads in the outer boroughs. Adams said, 'I do believe as New Yorkers we need to slow down,' but repeatedly referred to preventable crashes as 'accidents,' a term advocates reject for removing driver responsibility. The City Council must legislate any citywide speed limit change, while the Department of Transportation (DOT) can adjust limits on specific streets after community input. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers and Speaker Adrienne Adams pledged to 'collaborate and negotiate' with City Hall. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi stressed the need for street redesign and legal reform, noting, 'This is not a problem that goes away on its own.' Despite new authority, the Adams administration has lagged on safe street infrastructure. The city faces its deadliest start to a year in the Vision Zero era, with 60 killed in the first quarter.

• Adams Backs Lower Speed Limits, Calls Crashes ‘Accidents’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-08

Apr 22 - Albany passed Sammy’s Law. The city can now set lower speed limits. Lawmakers carved out wide roads, leaving many deadly corridors untouched. Advocates fought for years. Families of crash victims cheered. The fight for safer streets is not over.

Sammy’s Law, passed on April 22, 2024, as part of New York’s $273-billion state budget, grants New York City the authority to set its own speed limits on most roads. The bill, long blocked by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, finally moved forward under Governor Kathy Hochul’s push. The measure, described as 'a significant legislative achievement,' excludes roads outside Manhattan with three or more travel lanes in one direction—a concession to car-centric lawmakers. The law requires community board notification and comment, but their input is only advisory. Families of road violence victims and street safety advocates celebrated the win. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, Transportation Chair, conditioned her support on street redesigns in underserved neighborhoods. The law’s carve-out leaves many of the city’s deadliest roads unchanged, withholding proven safety benefits from major thoroughfares.

• Behind the Scenes: How Gov. Hochul Got ‘Sammy’s Law’ Over the Finish Line, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-22

Apr 18 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Apr 11 - Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...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, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11