Fifteen Dead. Thousands Hurt. Who Will Stop the Bleeding?

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso throws his weight behind Council Member Lincoln Restler’s bills to speed up street redesigns and punish drivers who block bike lanes. He calls for more protected bike lanes, a finished greenway, and streets built for people, not cars.

On February 20, 2023, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso voiced strong support for Council Member Lincoln Restler’s Intro 417 and Intro 501. Intro 417 aims to 'change the approval process of bike lanes and major transportation projects in the community boards,' cutting delays. Intro 501 would fine drivers who block bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants, with civilians able to report violations and receive a portion of the fine. Reynoso said, 'Those are two pieces I’d love to see pushed absolutely.' He also champions protected bike lanes, a comprehensive bike network, and the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Reynoso’s stance is clear: streets must be safer for people walking and biking. He wants action after recent traffic violence and supports more open streets. The plaza outside Borough Hall is now a park, closed to cars. Reynoso’s priorities put vulnerable road users first.

• A Presidents’ Day Interview with Brooklyn Borough Prez Antonio Reynoso, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-20

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study bike traffic each year. The law would have mapped busy bike routes, flagged gaps in protection, and pushed safety fixes. The session ended. The bill died. Cyclists wait. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0926-2023, introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to conduct and publish an annual study on bicycle activity. The bill’s summary states: “The department shall conduct and submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council and post conspicuously on the department's website an annual study on bicycle activity.” Council Members Amanda Farías, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, Tiffany Cabán, Crystal Hudson, Kevin C. Riley, and Lynn C. Schulman sponsored the measure. The bill would have identified the most biked streets and bridges, noted which lacked protected lanes, and demanded safety recommendations. The council filed the bill at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill’s failure leaves cyclists exposed, with no citywide data push to guide urgent fixes.

• File Int 0926-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council filed a bill to force a city study on truck and delivery traffic from last mile warehouses. The bill targets congestion, collisions, and harm to neighborhoods. It demands hard numbers on vehicle flow, street damage, and danger to people outside cars.

Int 0923-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Member Alexa Avilés, with over thirty co-sponsors, sought a city study on the impact of truck and delivery traffic from last mile facilities. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to conducting a study of the impact that truck and delivery traffic generated by last mile facilities have on local communities and infrastructure.' The bill required the Department of Transportation to report on delivery vehicle volumes, parking, congestion, collisions, and pedestrian injuries near these hubs. It called for identifying the most affected streets and estimating the costs and possible fixes. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without passage.

• File Int 0923-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study street design that blocks or deters trucks from residential streets. The bill called for a report on making streets less accessible to commercial vehicles. It died at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0924-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to study and report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential neighborhoods. The matter’s title reads: 'A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of transportation to study street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsored the bill, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The report was due by December 31, 2023. The bill was filed at the end of session with no report issued. The measure aimed to examine street redesign, traffic calming, and camera enforcement to keep trucks out of residential areas, but it stalled before any impact reached the street.

• File Int 0924-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council called on maritime importers to cut truck traffic and use marine vessels for last mile deliveries. Trucks choke streets, foul air, and endanger lives. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain crowded. The danger rolls on.

Res 0501-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 16, 2023, and closed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The resolution urged, in its own words, 'top maritime importers to New York City ports to commit to making the City’s streets greener by reducing truck traffic and using marine vessels for last mile deliveries throughout the boroughs.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsored, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate Williams, and others. The bill cited the city’s reliance on trucks—89% of freight—fueling congestion, pollution, and risk for everyone outside a vehicle. The Council pointed to pilot programs like Blue Highways as a way to clear streets and cut emissions. But the resolution was filed without action. Trucks still rule the road.

• File Res 0501-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council filed a bill to study e-bike charging stations for food delivery workers. The plan called for a task force to weigh cost, location, and fire risk. The bill died at session’s end. Delivery workers remain exposed. No action. No safety.

Int 0927-2023, introduced February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to create a task force to study the feasibility of building charging stations for e-bikes used by food delivery workers. The bill’s summary states: 'A Local Law in relation to establishing a task force to study the feasibility of building charging stations for bicycles with electric assist to be used by food delivery workers.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Cabán, Farías, Hudson, Hanif, Richardson Jordan, Ayala, Nurse, Avilés, Won, and Brewer. The task force would have reviewed costs, locations, funding, and fire risks tied to lithium-ion batteries. The bill was filed at the end of session, leaving delivery workers without new protections or infrastructure.

• File Int 0927-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

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

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

Eighteen Brooklyn officials demand state DOT address BQE’s full deadly stretch. They reject piecemeal fixes. They call out decades of harm. The state’s refusal leaves neighborhoods exposed. The city’s hands are tied. The highway’s danger remains. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 10, 2023, eighteen Brooklyn lawmakers issued a joint letter demanding New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) participate in comprehensive planning for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The statement, prompted by a Streetsblog report, reads: "We ask that the NYS DOT remember the daily harms caused by the BQE in its current state—not just the crumbling cantilever section—and join us at the table in search of a solution." The group includes Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Dan Goldman, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, state Sens. Jabari Brisport, Julia Salazar, Kristen Gonzalez, Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Members Bobby Carroll, Maritza Davila, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Emily Gallagher, Jo Anne Simon, Marcela Mitaynes, and Council Members Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Lincoln Restler. Senator Gounardes called the state’s refusal to join the city’s visioning process “unacceptable and irresponsible.” The lawmakers stress that the BQE’s harms—crashes, pollution, division—stretch from Bay Ridge to Greenpoint. Without state action, only city-owned segments see attention. The city’s efforts are limited. The state’s inaction leaves systemic danger unaddressed.

• Brooklyn Pols Demand the State ‘Come to the Table’ on the BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-10

Council bill Int 0900-2023 sought to crack down on sidewalk parking in M1 zones. It raised fines for businesses and ordered a study, then installation, of bollards. The bill aimed to keep sidewalks clear for people, not parked cars. Filed, not passed.

Int 0900-2023 was introduced on February 2, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to enhancing penalties for sidewalk parking and installing bollards in M1 zoning districts.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor), Alexa Avilés, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Kristin Richardson Jordan, and Lincoln Restler backed the measure. The bill increased penalties for businesses parking on sidewalks in M1 zones—$150 for a first offense, $500 for a second, $1,000 for more. It required DOT to study and install bollards to block cars from sidewalks. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023, without becoming law. The measure focused on keeping sidewalks open and safe for people, not vehicles.

• File Int 0900-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-02

Council called on the MTA to train non-police subway staff to handle mental health crises. The resolution followed deadly incidents on tracks. Sponsors said clear protocols could save lives. The bill was filed at session’s end. No direct safety review.

Resolution 0484-2023 was introduced on February 2, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill called for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide non-police staff in the subway system with training and protocols for dealing with mentally ill customers. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide non-police staff working in the subway system with training and a protocol for handling issues with mentally ill customers.' Council Members Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Kevin C. Riley, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler, and Farah N. Louis sponsored the resolution. The bill was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst reviewed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Res 0484-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-02

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

A sedan veered left on Atlantic Avenue. An e-scooter kept straight. Steel struck flesh. The rider flew, hit pavement, knee torn wide. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, helmeted, leg split open. The car's bumper cracked.

A sedan and an e-scooter collided on Atlantic Avenue near Council District 33. The sedan veered left while the e-scooter continued straight. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. The impact threw the 34-year-old e-scooter rider to the ground, causing severe lacerations and a torn knee. The rider was ejected and remained conscious, wearing a helmet. The sedan’s left front bumper was damaged. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s driver. The crash shows the danger when drivers lose focus and veer into the path of vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4599050, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

Council bill Int 0858-2022 would force the city’s DOT to probe every serious crash. The bill demands quick action, deep analysis, and public reporting. It targets street design flaws and driver behavior. Lawmakers filed it, but the session ended before passage.

Int 0858-2022, introduced December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to overhaul how New York City investigates vehicle collisions. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Shekar Krishnan, Charles Barron, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Lincoln Restler, and Rita C. Joseph, required the Department of Transportation to investigate all serious vehicular crashes. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions.' The bill would have expanded the definition of serious crashes, set strict investigation timelines, and mandated detailed public reports. It also called for reviews of street design and infrastructure at crash sites, with recommendations for safety improvements. The bill was filed at the end of the session and did not become law.

• File Int 0858-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council pushed for a map showing every crossing guard post. The NYPD would have to put it online. The bill died in committee. Streets stay opaque. Kids and elders cross in the dark.

Int 0870-2022 was introduced on December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to require the NYPD to post a map of all crossing guard locations on its website. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting on crossing guard deployment.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks led as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Louis, Joseph, Farías, Restler, Hudson, Ung, Avilés, and the Bronx Borough President. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote. If passed, it would have shed light on where the city protects its most vulnerable at the curb. Instead, the public remains in the dark about guard coverage at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0870-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council bill sought more car-free streets on busy holidays. It would have let neighborhoods close roads for crowds and events. The measure died in committee. Streets stay open to traffic. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed.

Int 0859-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 21, 2022. The bill aimed to require the Department of Transportation to allow special Open Streets activations on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The matter summary reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan led as primary sponsor, joined by Julie Menin, Farah N. Louis, Julie Won, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Alexa Avilés, Lincoln Restler, Shahana K. Hanif, and Rita C. Joseph. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill’s failure leaves vulnerable road users at risk during the city’s busiest days.

• File Int 0859-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council members push Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. The resolution died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed.

Resolution 0441-2022, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, called on the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass S.315/A.1416. This would let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets in the Open Streets program. The matter, titled 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass...S.315/A.1416, which would authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program,' was sponsored by Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Farah N. Louis, Lincoln Restler, Amanda Farías, Julie Won, Carlina Rivera, and Crystal Hudson. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The measure aimed to protect pedestrians and cyclists by slowing traffic where people gather. But with the bill stalled, Open Streets remain at risk from fast-moving vehicles.

• File Res 0441-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

A Tesla turned left on Tillary. Its bumper hit a woman crossing Jay. She fell hard. Blood pooled. Lacerations marked her body. She stayed conscious. The street kept moving. The car showed no damage. The woman bore the cost.

A woman, age 50, was struck and injured by a Tesla sedan making a left turn at the corner of Tillary Street and Jay Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A woman crossed against the light. A Tesla turned left. The bumper struck her full. She dropped hard. Blood pooled. Lacerations tore her body. She stayed awake. The street did not blink.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to her entire body but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The Tesla’s left front bumper made contact, but the vehicle sustained no damage. No other driver errors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4591105, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-19

City plans to widen the BQE, restoring three lanes each way. Locals and advocates slam the move. They wanted fewer cars, less pollution, and safer streets. Officials focus on beautification. Vulnerable road users remain at risk. The fight continues.

On December 14, 2022, the city unveiled plans to redesign the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), proposing to restore three lanes of traffic in each direction. The Department of Transportation cited federal and state rules for the widening. The plan, discussed in a public meeting, drew sharp criticism. The matter summary reads: 'proposing three similar options for a redesign that will restore three lanes of traffic in each direction, with a park on top.' Liz Denys of Bridges 4 People called out the city for ignoring creative ideas and failing to reduce car and truck traffic. William Meehan criticized the focus on beautification over safety. Council Member Lincoln Restler urged a reduction in car impacts, while Borough President Antonio Reynoso condemned the neglect of environmental justice. Advocates say the plan keeps vulnerable road users in danger and misses a chance to make streets safer.

• Locals Don’t Love the City’s Long-Awaited Re-Widening of Crumbling BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-14

Intro 501 cracks down on cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, hydrants, and sidewalks near schools. The bill lets civilians report violations and collect a cut of fines. Council Member Restler says this is about safety, not money. Streets stay clear. Lives stay safe.

Intro 501, sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler, is pending before the City Council. The bill imposes a $175 penalty for parking, stopping, or standing in bike lanes, bus lanes, or in front of hydrants within 1,320 feet of a school. Civilians who report violations receive 25% of collected fines. The measure has 26 co-sponsors, a council majority. Restler introduced the bill to address what he calls a 'public safety risk' from illegal parking: 'These cars illegally obstruct pedestrian space, endanger cyclists, and block accessibility.' He stresses, 'The point of Intro 501 is to effectively deter dangerous parking that block bike lanes, bus lanes and sidewalks—not to generate revenue.' The bill aims to swiftly address the widespread danger posed by cars obstructing vulnerable road users. Debate continues, but the council is expected to vote next year.

• Civilian Enforcement: A Get-Rich-Quick Scheme That Also Makes the City Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-09