Dead in the Crosswalk, Ignored in City Hall

Council Member Joann Ariola voted against expanding speed cameras. Her SUV racked up 27 school-zone speeding tickets. She calls cameras a burden. Critics see hypocrisy. The vote blocks a tool proven to slow drivers and protect people on foot and bike.

On September 9, 2022, the New York City Council considered a 'home rule' message to let state lawmakers expand speed cameras to 24/7 operation. The matter summary: 'expanding New York's speed camera program.' Council Member Joann Ariola, representing southern Queens and the Rockaways, voted no. Ariola argued, 'these cameras add additional financial strain to New Yorkers,' and claimed repeat offenders with fake plates escape punishment. Ariola’s SUV has 48 violations since 2017, including 27 for speeding in school zones and two for running red lights. She insists her record did not influence her vote. Critics, like StreetsPAC’s Eric McClure, highlight the contradiction between her opposition to speed cameras and her stated concern for school safety. The vote denied a proven measure to slow traffic and protect vulnerable road users.

• Queens Pol Voted Against Speed Cameras — And Has 27 Speeding Tickets!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-09

Three cars crashed eastbound on Jackie Robinson Parkway. Metal twisted. Flames rose. A 35-year-old man suffered chest injuries and burns. Two women and a child hurt. All struck in a chain. Following too closely fueled the wreck.

Three vehicles collided in a chain-reaction crash on Jackie Robinson Parkway. According to the police report, 'Three cars, eastbound, struck in a chain. Metal folded. A man, 35, burned through the belt that held him. His chest crushed. Fire found him anyway.' Seven people were involved. A 35-year-old male driver suffered severe chest injuries and burns. Two female drivers, ages 25 and 60, were injured, along with a 60-year-old female passenger and a 3-year-old and 2-year-old child. The police report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the primary contributing factor. The force of the crash left metal twisted and the night lit by flames. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552460, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Chevy SUV plowed into an e-bike at Metropolitan and Woodhaven. Three riders thrown. Blood on the street. A young woman’s head split open. Shock and pain. The driver failed to yield. The city’s danger laid bare in the morning light.

At the corner of Metropolitan Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens, a Chevy SUV struck an e-bike carrying three people. According to the police report, the SUV failed to yield right-of-way and hit the e-bike. A 19-year-old woman, riding as a passenger, was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. Another 19-year-old woman and the 24-year-old e-bike driver were also ejected and injured. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The SUV driver, a 60-year-old man, was not reported injured. The crash left blood on the road and riders in shock. No mention of helmet use or signals as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549825, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel met flesh on Metropolitan Avenue. An SUV ran the light. It struck an e-bike. Three young riders were thrown, heads bloodied. The driver failed to yield. The morning air filled with sirens and pain.

On Metropolitan Avenue near Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens, an SUV struck an e-bike carrying three people. According to the police report, the SUV disregarded traffic control and failed to yield right-of-way. The crash left a 19-year-old woman with severe head bleeding and another 19-year-old woman with minor head bleeding. The 24-year-old male e-bike driver was also injured, complaining of pain and nausea. All three were ejected from the e-bike. The SUV driver, a 60-year-old man, was not ejected and reported no injuries. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. None of the e-bike riders had safety equipment. The impact was violent, the injuries grave, the cause clear in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4550165, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Three years after approval, congestion pricing remains stuck. Councilmember Joann Ariola opposes the plan, claiming it will worsen city travel. Delays threaten $1 billion in MTA funding. Vulnerable road users wait as traffic and pollution persist. No relief in sight.

On June 9, 2022, Councilmember Joann Ariola (District 32) joined critics in a policy debate over New York City's stalled congestion pricing plan. The measure, approved by state lawmakers three years ago, would charge drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The MTA faces hundreds of follow-up questions from the Federal Highway Administration, delaying the required environmental assessment. Ariola argued, 'I don’t believe it will work, in fact I believe it will make the city more unmanageable to travel through.' The plan is intended to reduce traffic, lower car pollution, and fund MTA capital improvements. Delays put $1 billion in annual funding at risk, threatening upgrades like accessible subway stations and zero-emission buses. As the debate drags on, vulnerable road users remain exposed to traffic and pollution hazards.

• Congestion pricing continues to stall, three years after being announced, gothamist.com, Published 2022-06-09

City Council voted to extend and expand speed cameras. The bill lets cameras run all day, every day. Forty-three said yes, seven said no. David Carr voted no. The measure now heads to Albany. Streets may see more eyes, more tickets.

On May 26, 2022, the City Council approved a home rule request to extend and expand New York City's speed camera program, allowing cameras to operate 24/7 for three more years. The vote was 43 in favor, seven against. The matter summary: 'giving the state Legislature the go-ahead to pass a three-year extension and expansion of New York City's speed camera program that allows them to operate 24/7.' Council Member David Carr (District 50) voted no. Other Republicans and two Democrats also opposed. Ydanis Rodriguez, City Transportation Commissioner, said, 'Cameras will be 24/7 the whole year.' The bill now moves to the state legislature, which must act before June 2. No formal safety analyst note was provided for this action.

• NYC Council signs off on 24/7 speed enforcement cameras, nypost.com, Published 2022-05-26

Council tried to pay tipsters for catching hit-and-run drivers who maim or kill. The bill died. No reward. No justice for victims. Streets stay dangerous. Drivers flee. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price. Lawmakers failed to act.

Int 0329-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Public Safety on May 5, 2022. The bill aimed to amend the city code to 'establish a reward for individuals who provide information leading to the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person who seriously injures or kills another individual in a hit-and-run accident.' Council Member Rita C. Joseph sponsored the bill, joined by sixteen co-sponsors including Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Vernikov, and others. The bill would have authorized up to $1,000 for information leading to the capture of hit-and-run drivers, but excluded law enforcement and city employees from eligibility. The measure was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. With the bill's failure, the city offers no extra incentive to help catch drivers who leave victims bleeding in the street.

• File Int 0329-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-05

A left-turning SUV hit a man on an e-bike on Pitkin Avenue. He flew from the saddle, head first. Blood pooled under the streetlamp. His skull was torn open. He lay conscious, gasping, as the driver sat unharmed.

A 33-year-old man riding an e-bike was struck by a left-turning SUV on Pitkin Avenue near Sutter Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, 'A left-turning SUV struck a 33-year-old man on an e-bike. He flew from the saddle, head first. No helmet. Blood pooled beneath the streetlamp. He lay conscious, gasping, his skull torn open.' The crash left the e-bike rider with severe head injuries and lacerations. The SUV driver, a 64-year-old woman, was not injured. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, which is noted in the report after the driver error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4515448, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel tore the morning. A Jeep struck a Dodge turning wrong on Jackie Robinson Parkway. Speed ruled. A man, 57, bled from the leg, awake but cut deep. The road stayed hard. The crash left scars and silence.

A 1992 Jeep and a 2013 Dodge collided on Jackie Robinson Parkway. According to the police report, the Jeep hit the Dodge as it turned improperly. Unsafe speed and improper turning were listed as contributing factors. The 57-year-old male driver of the Jeep suffered severe lacerations to his leg but remained conscious and belted. The 19-year-old female driver of the Dodge was involved but her injuries were unspecified. Both vehicles showed front-end damage. The report highlights 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Turning Improperly' as driver errors. No mention of helmet or signal use as factors. The crash left one man injured and others shaken.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512749, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle slammed into an SUV on Woodhaven Boulevard near 97th Avenue. The rider, 29, flew from his bike. His helmet split. Blood pooled on the street. Sirens wailed. The SUV driver failed to yield. The street bore the mark.

A violent collision unfolded on Woodhaven Boulevard near 97th Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, a motorcycle struck the front of an SUV. The 29-year-old motorcyclist was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations, though he was conscious and helmeted. The SUV driver, a 27-year-old man, was not reported injured. The crash report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The police narrative describes the rider's helmet splitting and blood pooling on the street as emergency crews arrived. The data does not cite any errors by the motorcyclist. The only listed rider factor is helmet use, noted after the SUV driver's failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4509939, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two SUVs turned left at Cypress and Cooper. A man, 57, crossed with the light. Both vehicles struck him. He bled in the street, his whole body hurt. He stayed conscious, broken, as dusk fell over Queens.

A 57-year-old man was struck by two SUVs while crossing Cypress Avenue at Cooper Avenue in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles were making left turns when they hit the pedestrian, who was crossing with the signal. The man suffered severe bleeding and injuries to his entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for both drivers. No vehicle damage was reported. The pedestrian’s actions—crossing with the signal—are noted, but the primary fault cited is driver failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4502260, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15