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

DOT says the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program failed. Few cars seized. Violations continued. Brooks-Powers promises scrutiny. Lander demands tougher action. Streets remain perilous. The city weighs next steps as reckless drivers keep rolling.

On September 22, 2023, the Department of Transportation issued a report recommending the end of the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP). The program, designed to target repeat red light and speeding offenders, required violators to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure. The report, reviewed by Council Transportation Chair Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), found little impact: 'A program meant to crack down on dangerous drivers did not dramatically reduce their behavior.' Only half completed the course, violations persisted, and just 12 vehicles were seized. Brooks-Powers stated, 'Holding reckless drivers accountable and keeping our streets safe for all New Yorkers remains a priority.' Comptroller Brad Lander criticized DOT for abandoning the effort, urging the city to strengthen, not scrap, DVAP. The report also called for state laws to suspend registrations or install speed governors for repeat offenders, but such measures have stalled in Albany.

• Program meant to crack down on NYC's dangerous drivers should end, says transportation department, gothamist.com, Published 2023-09-22

Council waits. DOT stalls. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program limps toward expiration. Thousands of reckless drivers dodge consequences. Few take the safety course. Council members call for answers, action, and stronger laws. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain exposed.

On September 18, 2023, the City Council reviewed the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP), which is set to expire on October 26. The Transportation Committee, led by Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a final report on the program’s effectiveness. The bill required drivers with 15 speed-camera or five red-light tickets in a year to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure. Council Member Shahana Hanif voiced disappointment, noting, 'We need to not only reauthorize this program, but strengthen it.' Despite over 34,000 drivers meeting the threshold in the last year, only about 1,200 took the course in three years. DOT has not explained the reporting delay or provided outcome data. The lack of enforcement leaves dangerous drivers on the road and vulnerable road users at risk.

• Council Needs Info from DOT So it Can Rescue (or Ignore) Fading ‘Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

The city missed legal targets for new bus and bike lanes. Officials dodged questions. Council grilled DOT. Advocates tracked the shortfall. Political meddling blocks safer streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Progress stalls. Danger stays.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s progress toward mandated bus and bike lane construction. The hearing, led by Transportation Committee chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for answers. The law requires 150 miles of protected bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes by 2026. In 2022, the city built only 4.4 miles of bus lanes and 26.3 miles of bike lanes, far short of the legal benchmarks. Councilmember Lincoln Restler criticized political interference, saying, 'We're at a point where it's all politics all the time, and we're failing to execute.' Advocacy groups confirmed the city lags behind. The administration’s refusal to track or disclose progress leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city’s failure to act keeps streets dangerous.

• City fails to monitor bus and bike lane construction progress after falling short of mandates last year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-13

Councilmember Brooks-Powers slammed DOT for missing legal targets on bus and bike lanes. DOT leaders dodged numbers, citing delays and staff shortages. The hearing exposed deep rifts over accountability. Vulnerable road users wait as city agencies stall and argue.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) compliance with the Streets Master Plan under Local Law 195. Brooks-Powers demanded specifics: 'DOT has struggled to meet its legal mandate. In 2021, DOT installed just 4.4 miles of bus lane—well below 20-mile requirement.' DOT officials, including Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, refused to provide current figures, promising data next year. Brooks-Powers called this 'unacceptable.' She stressed, 'The 30 miles of bus lane and 50 miles of bike lanes is not a goal—it’s legal mandate.' The exchange revealed ongoing tension over DOT’s slow rollout and lack of transparency. Staffing shortages and council opposition to projects were cited as obstacles. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Brooks-Powers and DOT Exchange Testiness Over Agency’s Alleged ‘Master Plan’ Shortfalls, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-12

Councilmember Lincoln Restler sounded the alarm. His Brooklyn district saw more traffic injuries than any other in New York City this year. Cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers face daily danger. Restler demands swift action: real protected bike lanes, not empty promises.

On September 11, 2023, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) issued a statement on street safety and protected bike lanes. The data, compiled by Transportation Alternatives, showed his Brooklyn district suffered the most traffic injuries citywide in the first half of 2023: 36 pedestrians, 24 cyclists, and 41 motorists. The matter summary reads, 'New York City is on pace for one of the deadliest years for bike riders in recent history, but it doesn't have to be this way.' Restler called on the Adams administration to 'prioritize and expedite proven solutions that will save lives, especially the swift implementation of a truly protected network of bike lanes.' The statement underscores the urgent need for systemic change as vulnerable road users bear the brunt of failed policy and dangerous streets.

• Nearly 8 people seriously injured on NYC streets daily in 2023, gothamist.com, Published 2023-09-11

A drunk, unlicensed motorcyclist struck a 68-year-old man on the Boardwalk. The impact was head-on. The man fell, bleeding from the head, motionless. The night was silent. The rider failed to yield. The man did not get up.

A 68-year-old pedestrian suffered severe head injuries after a motorcycle hit him head-on on the Boardwalk. According to the police report, the rider was drunk and unlicensed. The report states, 'The rider was drunk. Unlicensed.' The crash left the man unconscious and bleeding. Police listed 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The motorcycle’s front end took the impact. The man’s injuries were grave. The report does not mention any actions by the pedestrian that contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656731 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel met flesh on 147th Avenue. An SUV turned left into a moped’s path. The rider’s leg was crushed. He stayed conscious. The SUV showed no damage. The street bore witness. Improper turn and failure to yield led to pain.

A crash at 147th Avenue and Springfield Boulevard in Queens left a 41-year-old moped rider with severe leg injuries. According to the police report, 'A moped rolled east. An SUV turned left. No helmet. Steel struck flesh. The rider’s leg crushed. He stayed awake. The SUV stood unmarked. The street held the pain.' The data lists 'Turning Improperly' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The moped rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary errors were the SUV’s improper left turn and failure to yield. The SUV sustained no damage, but the moped rider suffered crush injuries to his lower leg.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653603 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Yamaha motorcycle hit a turning SUV at 233rd Street and 125th Avenue. The rider, 33, flew from his seat and died in the street. He wore a helmet. The crash ended with the bike slamming a parked Ford. Night stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of 233rd Street and 125th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck a turning SUV, then crashed into a parked Ford. The 33-year-old motorcyclist was ejected from his seat and died at the scene. The report states, “The rider, 33, flew from the seat. He wore a helmet. He died in the street.” The data lists no specific driver errors, but the sequence involved a left-turning SUV and a motorcycle traveling straight. The motorcyclist was unlicensed. No other injuries were reported. The night was still after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651866 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

The City Council’s Transportation Committee drags its feet. Only one minor bill—mile markers—moves forward. Thirteen key safety bills, with broad support, sit idle. Advocates fume as crashes and injuries mount. Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers stays silent. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On July 12, 2023, the City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, scheduled only one bill—Intro 853, requiring mile markers on select roads—for a vote. This bill has two sponsors and no opposition. Meanwhile, thirteen more significant bills, including measures to streamline bike lane installation, enable reporting of blocked bike and bus lanes, create e-bike charging stations for delivery workers, and improve truck route safety, remain unscheduled despite broad support. Only 19% of the committee’s 113 bills have had hearings; just 4% have passed. Advocates like Elizabeth Adams and Jon Orcutt decry the slow pace, especially as traffic crashes and injuries remain high. Brooks-Powers has not responded to requests for comment. Advocates demand urgent action to protect vulnerable road users and improve transit accessibility.

• Analysis: Council Transportation Committee Spinning Its Wheels, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-12

NYPD claims action on ghost cars. Numbers tell a different story. Arrests for fake plates drop. Summonses barely rise. DOT cameras miss over a million violations. Council weighs tougher fines. Riders and walkers pay the price for weak enforcement.

On June 27, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on NYPD enforcement against ghost cars—vehicles with fake, covered, or defaced plates. NYPD Transportation Bureau’s Michael Pilecki reported arrests for forged plates fell 11 percent from last year, while summonses rose just 0.6 percent. The hearing spotlighted two bills from Council Member Oswald Feliz to raise fines for using or selling fake plates, both widely supported, including by the NYPD. The matter summary: 'NYPD claims it has stepped up its efforts to summons and arrest car drivers who cover or deface their plate, or drive with a fake temporary tag, but its own statistics show that the effort has not continued into this year.' Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers and Kamillah Hanks did not comment. Activists and officials noted DOT’s automated cameras failed to bill 1.2 million violations last year due to temp tags, leaving dangerous drivers unaccountable. The city’s weak enforcement leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYPD’s Fight Against ‘Ghost Cars’ Lacks Serious Muscle, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-27

A Dodge sedan tore down Belt Parkway. It hit hard. The unlicensed driver and a woman in back were thrown from the car. Both died from head wounds. The wreckage sprawled across the asphalt. Speed killed. The night stayed silent.

Two people died in a violent crash on Belt Parkway. According to the police report, a Dodge sedan, driven by an unlicensed 35-year-old man, was speeding west when it crashed. The impact ejected both the driver and a 29-year-old woman riding in the back seat. Both suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The sedan was demolished. No driver errors are listed for the other vehicle involved. The woman was not using any safety equipment, but this is noted only after the primary cause: unsafe speed by the unlicensed driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4640445 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City will push e-scooter share into eastern Queens. Bronx pilot saw two million trips, few injuries. DOT touts safety features, speed limits, and training. Council backs move for transit deserts. Rollout covers 600,000 residents. Launch set for next year.

On June 15, 2023, the Department of Transportation announced a major expansion of its e-scooter share program into eastern Queens. The program, which began as a pilot in The Bronx in 2021, will now cover roughly 20 square miles and serve about 600,000 residents. DOT Commissioner Rodriguez said, 'E-scooters and other forms of micromobility will help us build a cleaner and greener transportation system that connects residents to commercial and transit hubs.' Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers celebrated the move, highlighting its impact on transit deserts in Southeast Queens. The Bronx pilot logged over two million trips with very low injury rates. Safety features—speed limits, in-app training, 'Beginner Mode,' and no overnight use for new riders—will continue. Discounted rates remain for NYCHA and assistance program residents. Service in Queens begins in 2024.

• City to Expand Scooter Share to Eastern Queens, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-15

A truck driver hit a man on Hook Creek Boulevard in Laurelton, Queens. The victim died weeks later. The road is wide, fast, and unprotected. No charges filed. Council District 31 leads the city in road deaths. Danger is routine here.

On May 19, 2023, a 41-year-old pedestrian was struck by a 61-year-old truck driver at Hook Creek Boulevard near 135th Road in Queens. The victim died on June 11. The crash happened in Council District 31, represented by Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers. The intersection lacks stop signs or a traffic light. A speed camera there issued over 600 tickets in 2021. Transportation Alternatives calls the district the city’s deadliest: six road deaths in early 2023, more than 10 percent of city fatalities, and the highest fatality rate per resident. The driver stayed at the scene. Police gave no details. No charges were filed. The street’s design and lack of enforcement leave pedestrians exposed and unprotected.

• Pedestrian Struck by Truck Driver in Queens Dies of His Injuries: Cops, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-14

Mayor Adams expands Summer Streets to every borough. Five Saturdays. Seventeen miles. Cars banned from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Brooklyn and Queens get major corridors. Advocates want longer hours and connected routes. City cites costs and safety. Streets open, but only for a while.

On June 12, 2023, Mayor Adams announced the expansion of New York City’s Summer Streets program to all five boroughs. The program, managed by the Department of Transportation, will run on five Saturdays in July and August, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., covering 17 miles. Borough presidents Antonio Reynoso (Brooklyn) and Donovan Richards (Queens) pushed for this expansion, with Reynoso praising the use of major corridors like Eastern Parkway. Mayor Adams said, “This is a five-borough city and we are now saying the Summer Streets program is going be a five-borough initiative. Everyone deserves to enjoy that.” Adams expressed interest in longer hours but cited public safety and NYPD staffing costs as barriers. Advocates want more hours and connected car-free routes. The city will spend $1.5 million, not including staffing. The expansion marks a step forward, but the early end time leaves advocates wanting more.

• Summer Streets Expands to All Boroughs; Still Ends Early, Though, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-12

A Nissan sedan tore east on South Conduit Avenue. It hit hard. Metal screamed. The car crumpled. The driver, forty-four, bled from his head but stayed awake. The night air filled with the sound of wreckage and pain.

A 2022 Nissan sedan, traveling east on South Conduit Avenue in Queens, crashed front-first and was demolished. According to the police report, the lone driver, a 44-year-old man, suffered a head injury with severe bleeding but remained conscious inside the wreck. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The vehicle was crushed in the impact. No other people were involved or injured in this crash. The report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The collision underscores the danger of high speed and aggressive driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4636310 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Sammy’s Law would let New York City drop speed limits to 20 mph on deadly streets. Council Member Gutierrez led the charge. Brooks-Powers joined. Streets scarred by crashes and deaths. Lower speeds mean fewer bodies broken. The city waits. Lives hang in the balance.

Sammy’s Law, debated by the NYC Council and State Legislature, seeks home rule for New York City to lower speed limits from 25 to 20 mph on dangerous streets. Council Member Jen Gutierrez carried the resolution; Selvena Brooks-Powers later signed on. The bill targets corridors like Bushwick Avenue, Laurelton Parkway, and East Gun Hill Road—sites of hundreds of crashes and dozens killed or maimed since 2019. The matter summary states: 'Because people are dying and being maimed on New York's most-dangerous 25-mile-per-hour streets.' Supporters, including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, cite the science: lower speeds mean less force, fewer deaths. Research shows 20 mph zones cut crashes by 60 percent. The bill does not mandate, but allows, lower limits where carnage is highest. The council’s action centers the lives of pedestrians and cyclists, demanding the city act before more are lost.

• MAP QUEST: See Exactly Why Sammy’s Law Would Be So Crucial for the Boroughs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-08

NYPD and Jo Anne Simon call for tougher drunk driving laws. Police ramp up DWI patrols for Memorial Day. Officials urge Albany to drop legal BAC to .05%. They cite rising deaths. Advocates say alcohol fuels a third of crashes. Streets stay deadly.

On May 26, 2023, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (District 52) joined NYPD and city officials to announce increased traffic enforcement for Memorial Day and to advocate for state legislation lowering the legal blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold from .08% to .05%. The announcement, made at One Police Plaza, highlighted the bill sponsored by Simon and Sen. John Liu. The matter summary states, 'Officials called on Albany to pass legislation to lower the BAC threshold to .05%, arguing it would reduce DWI fatalities by about 10% and align with other countries.' Simon declared, 'Lowering the BAC limit from .08% to .05% is desperately needed to adequately tackle this epidemic of traffic violence.' NYPD Chief Kim Royster and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez echoed the urgency. The bill awaits action in Albany. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but officials cite 43 NYC DWI deaths in 2021 and say 30% of state crashes involve alcohol.

• NYPD to step up enforcement of drink driving over Memorial Day weekend, amny.com, Published 2023-05-26

Council Member Brooks-Powers wants more parking. She says it will clear bus and bike lanes. DOT officials push back. They say streets must serve all. Brooks-Powers opposes bus lanes and safety redesigns, even as deaths rise in her district.

At a May 22, 2023 DOT budget hearing, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called for more municipal parking citywide. She argued, "DOT has a responsibility to also ensure that there also is parking, even municipal lots or garages available, as we look to share the street." Brooks-Powers claimed more parking would clear cars from bus and bike lanes. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Executive Deputy Commissioner Paul Ochoa disagreed, stressing the need to share streets among all users. Brooks-Powers has opposed bus lane projects and a safety redesign in her own district, despite high traffic fatality rates. Her stance favors drivers, not vulnerable road users. No safety analyst has assessed the impact, but her opposition to proven safety measures puts pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

• Council Transportation Committee Chair Says City Needs More Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-22

Two sedans collided on Belt Parkway before sunrise. The Audi’s front folded. A young man, half-ejected, neck crushed, sprawled across a seat. The Honda stood untouched. Blood pooled. Silence followed. Metal and pain lingered.

Two sedans collided on Belt Parkway in Queens before dawn. According to the police report, the Audi’s front end crumpled while the Honda showed no damage. A 21-year-old male passenger in the Audi was partially ejected and suffered severe neck crush injuries. He was found sprawled across a seat, conscious but gravely hurt. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The Honda had no reported injuries or damage. No helmet or signal issues were noted. The crash left one young man broken and silent metal in its wake.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630383 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A box truck hit a man on Hook Creek Boulevard. No intersection. No warning. The man, 41, died under the truck’s front end. Head broken. Chest crushed. Alone at 2:11 a.m. No driver errors listed. The road stayed silent.

A 41-year-old man was killed when a box truck struck him on Hook Creek Boulevard at 2:11 a.m., far from any intersection. According to the police report, the man was found beneath the truck’s front end, unconscious, with fatal injuries to his head and chest. The driver, a 61-year-old man, was traveling straight. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No specific driver errors or contributing factors were identified. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was engaged in 'other actions in roadway.' There is no mention of helmet or signal use. The man died at the scene. The crash left the street quiet and empty.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630291 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04