Fifteen Dead—How Many More Before City Hall Acts?

A sedan hit a northbound cyclist on State Street near Smith. The rider flew from his bike. His hip shattered on the pavement. Blood pooled. The car kept moving. The street fell silent. One man injured. Metal and flesh collided.

A sedan traveling east on State Street struck a northbound cyclist near Smith Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist, a 29-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and suffered crush injuries to his hip and upper leg. According to the police report, the crash involved 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The sedan's right front quarter panel hit the cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet. The driver, a 59-year-old woman, remained uninjured. No other contributing driver errors were listed in the report. The impact left the cyclist injured and the street stained with blood.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566854, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

Mayor Adams promised hundreds of miles of bike and bus lanes. The city is far behind. Only a trickle of new lanes appear. Councilman Restler demands faster action. Riders and walkers wait. Streets stay dangerous. Progress crawls. The toll mounts.

This progress report, dated September 23, 2022, highlights the city’s failure to meet Mayor Adams’ pledge for 300 miles of protected bike lanes and 150 miles of bus lanes in four years. The Mayor’s Management Report shows only 32 protected bike lane miles and 2 bus lane miles added in fiscal year 2022—far short of the annual targets. Councilman Lincoln Restler, District 33, is quoted: “We’ve approved $904 million for better bus lanes, more pedestrian space, and protected bike lanes and now we need to pick up the pace on implementation.” Restler pledges robust oversight and accountability, pressing the Department of Transportation to deliver. The report details frustration from council members and advocates over missed deadlines, slow progress, and persistent dangers for vulnerable road users. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Mayor Adams’ pledge to build bike and bus lanes falling short, gothamist.com, Published 2022-09-23

Brooklyn leaders stood outside Borough Hall. They demanded congestion pricing. They want fewer cars, cleaner air, safer streets. Council Member Lincoln Restler called it sweeping. He pushed for limited exemptions. The rally came as public comment closed. Pressure mounts for federal approval.

On September 22, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined Brooklyn officials at a rally supporting New York State's congestion pricing plan. The event came as the public comment period for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Central Business District Tolling Program ended. The plan would toll drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street, aiming to cut traffic and pollution. Restler said, “This is a tangible, major, sweeping policy that will dramatically reduce the number of cars and trucks on the street in New York City.” He supported limited exemptions, especially for taxis and for-hire vehicles, but stressed the need to keep cars off the road. The rally urged the Federal Highway Administration to approve the plan, which is expected to shift commuters to mass transit and modernize city infrastructure. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon also backed a taxi carveout.

• Brooklyn pols rally for congestion pricing on eve of public comment period ending, amny.com, Published 2022-09-22

Tom Wright backed congestion pricing at the MTA board. He called it vital. He said it cuts traffic, cleans air, and funds transit. Brooklyn lawmakers joined in. Critics raised minor issues. Supporters said fixes are simple. The push for safer streets continues.

On September 21, 2022, Tom Wright, president of the Regional Plan Association, spoke at the MTA board meeting to support congestion pricing. The statement, titled 'Congestion Pricing Benefits Are Inarguable; Its Minor Problems are Easily Fixable,' urged city, state, and federal leaders to advance the Central Business District Tolling Program. Wright said, 'Congestion pricing will have benefits for communities across the city and region: It will reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. It will raise vital revenue for public transit. It will make the transportation system more equitable.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Lincoln Restler planned a rally in support. The statement acknowledged minor impacts, like increased traffic on select highways, but insisted these can be addressed by electrifying fleets and capping highways. The focus remained on the program’s broad benefits for vulnerable road users and city residents.

• Opinion: Congestion Pricing Benefits Are Inarguable; Its Minor Problems are Easily Fixable, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-21

Council filed a bill to create a parking permit enforcement unit in DOT. The unit would target misuse of city-issued permits. The measure died at session’s end. Streets stay clogged. Danger lingers for those on foot and bike.

Int 0662-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 14, 2022. The bill sought to amend city law by establishing a parking permit enforcement unit within the Department of Transportation. Its summary reads: 'This bill would require the Department of Transportation to create a parking permit enforcement unit that would be dedicated to the enforcement of laws and rules relating to misuse of city-issued parking permits.' The primary sponsor was Kristin Richardson Jordan, joined by Amanda Farías, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Julie Won, Rita C. Joseph, Crystal Hudson, Farah N. Louis, and Lincoln Restler. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, with no further action. No safety analyst assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The city’s permit abuse problem remains unaddressed.

• File Int 0662-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-09-14

DOT will daylight intersections, ban left turns, and add pedestrian space on McGuinness Boulevard. Eleven pedestrians and four cyclists have died here since 1995. Advocates demand a full redesign. The city promises more action after these quick fixes.

On August 31, 2022, the Department of Transportation announced interim safety improvements for McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint. The street has seen 1,594 crashes, 44 cyclist injuries, 67 pedestrian injuries, and three deaths since 2013. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher announced the changes, which include daylighting intersections, banning left turns at key avenues, and adding painted pedestrian extensions. Gallagher said, 'Quick, iterative incremental changes will be a great way to reduce injuries and fatalities rather than waiting for an entire overhaul.' Council Member Lincoln Restler praised the upgrades as 'a step in the right direction.' Bronwyn Breitner of Make McGuinness Safe Coalition called for a full-scale redesign, reallocating space from cars to people. The city will revisit the corridor plan this winter after installing these measures in the fall.

• DOT Will Give Deadly McGuinness Boulevard Some Safety Fixes Before Full Redesign, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-31

A Cadillac SUV tore north on Cadman Plaza West. The driver lost control. Steel slammed forward. The driver, 60, trapped and incoherent. In the back, a 76-year-old woman crushed. No belts. No warning. One dead, one broken. Silence followed.

A Cadillac SUV sped north on Cadman Plaza West near Furman Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV was traveling at unsafe speed when it crashed. The 60-year-old male driver was trapped and incoherent, suffering crush injuries. In the right rear seat, a 76-year-old woman was also trapped and killed, her body crushed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. Neither occupant wore safety equipment, as noted after the driver errors. The crash left one dead and one injured. The scene was steel, silence, and loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557775, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

A sedan struck a cyclist head-on on Kent Avenue. The cyclist flew, hit the pavement, head first. Blood pooled. He was conscious, barely. Traffic control was ignored. The street was quiet. The man bled in the sun.

A sedan collided head-on with a cyclist on Kent Avenue. The cyclist, a 39-year-old man, was ejected and landed head first, suffering severe bleeding and a head injury. According to the police report, 'Traffic control was ignored.' The sedan's driver and another occupant were not reported injured. The crash data lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the driver's failure to obey traffic controls. The impact left the cyclist conscious but gravely hurt, bleeding on the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4556016, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

Council moved to put NYCHA sidewalks first in line for repairs. Seniors get top priority. Non-NYCHA emergencies still jump the queue. The bill died at session’s end. Broken walks remain. Vulnerable tenants wait. Streets stay rough. Danger lingers.

Int 0604-2022 was introduced on August 11, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill aimed to 'establish priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York City Housing Authority,' giving first priority to senior-only NYCHA buildings, then to other NYCHA sites. Emergencies at non-NYCHA properties could override this order, with required notification to local officials. The bill required DOT to report on completed and pending NYCHA sidewalk repairs by June 30, 2023. Council Member Alexa Avilés sponsored the bill, joined by Abreu, Brooks-Powers, Restler, Hanif, Won, Nurse, Gutiérrez, and Sanchez. The measure was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without enactment. Sidewalk hazards at NYCHA developments persist, leaving vulnerable residents exposed.

• File Int 0604-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-08-11

Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse backs a dedicated bus lane on Flatbush Avenue. She joins Mayor Adams and others, pushing for faster, safer rides. Riders wait too long. Streets choke with traffic. The city moves to act, despite driver backlash and parking fears.

On August 9, 2022, Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse (District 46) endorsed the Flatbush Avenue dedicated bus lane proposal. The plan, a priority for the Adams administration and MTA, aims to speed up the B41 bus from Downtown Brooklyn to Marine Park. Narcisse and Councilmember Rita Joseph joined Mayor Eric Adams at a press conference, riding the B41 and speaking with riders. Narcisse said, “People are suffering waiting 30 minutes, 40 minutes, it’s unfair to the riders.” She stressed that better bus service could cut down on illegal dollar vans. The Department of Transportation, led by Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, has started community engagement. Some community boards worry about lost parking, but Rodriguez called their role advisory, saying, “we want to hear what the riders want.” Narcisse acknowledged driver backlash but insisted on the need for faster, reliable transit.

• Flatbush Avenue bus lane proposal gains support of key electeds, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-08-09

A Hyundai with a federal placard and illegal plate covers sat untouched in Lower Manhattan. NYPD agents hesitated, citing placard privilege and jurisdiction. Only after pressure did they issue a ticket. Council Member Restler now pushes a bill for citizen enforcement.

Council Member Lincoln Restler has revived a bill that would let the public directly ticket cars for parking violations. The Department of Transportation opposes this measure. The incident, reported August 5, 2022, highlights weak NYPD enforcement against placard abuse and illegal plate covers. The matter centers on a car parked in a federal zone with obscured plates, a violation of state law. NYPD agents hesitated to act, citing placard status and unclear jurisdiction, but issued a $65 ticket after supervisor intervention. The bill, now in committee, aims to break the cycle of impunity for placard holders. Restler has also called for the elimination of placards entirely, stating, 'there are way too many scofflaw federal officers out there driving way too much to get from their (likely) suburban homes to their free, placard-guaranteed parking space in Lower Manhattan.' The affair exposes systemic failures in protecting pedestrians and cyclists from the dangers of unchecked car privilege.

• FIRST PERSON: How I Got a Traffic Agent to Write a Ticket Against a Placard Perp!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-05

DOT rolled out three redesigns for deadly McGuinness Boulevard. Councilmember Restler and neighbors slammed the weakest plan. They want a lane removed, real protection for people. DOT says nothing is final. The street remains a danger. The fight continues.

On July 7, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation presented three redesign options for McGuinness Boulevard, a notorious crash corridor in Brooklyn. The proposals, discussed at Community Board 1’s Transportation Committee, included: keeping all travel lanes with added bike lanes (Plan A), removing a lane for protected bike lanes and pedestrian islands (Plan B), and a two-way bike lane with a buffer (Plan C). Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) criticized the weakest plan, saying, 'I’m really disappointed that after hearing so clearly from the elected officials in the community, from many thousands of neighborhood residents—that still DOT came forward with this presentation tonight.' Restler and others urged DOT to remove a vehicle lane, citing ongoing deaths and injuries. Over 2,500 residents signed a petition for dramatic change. DOT has not made a final decision and promised more community engagement.

• City transit gurus unveil plans to fix deadly McGuinness Boulevard, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-07-07

Council Member Restler slammed DOT’s weak McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Three killed since 2014. Advocates want fewer lanes, safer crossings, protected bike lanes. DOT’s plans keep traffic flow, ignore calls for real change. Community demands safety, not parking.

On July 1, 2022, the NYC Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) preliminary redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. The matter, titled 'Adams Administration’s McGuinness Redesign Options Underwhelm Street Safety Boosters,' outlined three options: only one would remove travel lanes and add protected bike lanes. Council Member Lincoln Restler, joined by Assembly Member Emily Gallagher and Borough President Antonio Reynoso, criticized DOT’s proposals as 'inadequate.' Restler stated, 'The way we're going to fully connect Greenpoint community and make this street safer is by having less lanes of traffic.' Advocates and residents backed lane reductions and protected bike lanes, citing three deaths since 2014. DOT cited traffic concerns and delayed action. The hearing exposed a rift between community safety demands and DOT’s reluctance to prioritize vulnerable road users over car throughput and parking.

• Adams Administration’s McGuinness Redesign Options Underwhelm Street Safety Boosters, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-01

Over 2,500 neighbors demand a safer McGuinness Boulevard. The petition calls for fewer lanes, wider sidewalks, and a protected bike lane. Community anger follows deadly crashes. The city’s DOT faces pressure to act. The street remains a danger zone.

On June 28, 2022, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and over 2,500 residents backed a petition urging a full redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. The Department of Transportation will present its draft plan to Brooklyn Community Board 1’s Transportation Committee on June 30. The petition, described as a call for 'wider sidewalks and a wider median, a protected bike lane, and eliminating one lane of traffic in each direction,' follows the hit-and-run death of teacher Matthew Jensen. Gallagher stated, 'Our community is speaking loud and clear: no more deaths on McGuinness.' The campaign has support from Councilmember Lincoln Restler and Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The street, a busy four-lane truck route, has seen dozens of crashes and injuries in recent years. Organizers and residents demand urgent action to end the deadly toll on vulnerable road users.

• EXCLUSIVE: More than 2,500 sign petition supporting McGuinness Boulevard redesign ahead of DOT presentation, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-06-28

Council members push to ban non-essential helicopter flights from city-owned helipads. The bill targets tourist and luxury flights, sparing only essential services. Noise, pollution, and safety risks drive the move. The city’s airspace faces a reckoning.

On June 27, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler and colleagues introduced a bill to ban all non-essential helicopter flights from the Wall Street and East 34th Street city-owned helipads. The legislation, discussed in the City Council, exempts NYPD, news, and hospital helicopters. The bill’s matter title: 'Stop the Chop.' Council Members Amanda Farias, Gale Brewer, Shahana Hanif, Alexa Avilés, Crystal Hudson, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Christopher Marte, and Carlina Rivera joined as sponsors. Hanif stated, 'Our airspace is not for sale to the highest bidder and should only be available to essential needs of our city.' The bill responds to mounting complaints—nearly 60,000 since 2010—over helicopter noise and pollution. The proposal aims to cut thousands of flights, reduce greenhouse gases, and restore peace to city parks and neighborhoods.

• OPINION: Here’s How the Council Will ‘Stop the Chop’ in New York, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-27

A sedan turned left at Tillary and Adams. The driver failed to yield. The car’s bumper struck a 72-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood pooled. She lay semiconscious, head bleeding, beneath the car. The street did not forgive.

A 72-year-old woman was struck while crossing Tillary Street at Adams Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn failed to yield the right-of-way and hit her as she crossed with the signal. The impact was to her head, causing severe bleeding and leaving her semiconscious beneath the vehicle. The driver, a 39-year-old man, was licensed and remained at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The woman’s injuries were serious. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540149, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20

Council pushed for bold school safety signs. Painted warnings and overhead alerts near every school entrance. The bill died in committee. Streets stay the same. Children still cross in danger. Drivers keep rolling through.

Int 0555-2022 was introduced on June 16, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to install painted and overhead safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The matter summary reads: 'to alert drivers to the presence of school-aged children and pedestrians.' Council Member Tiffany Cabán led as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Marte, Yeger, Sanchez, Won, Restler, Joseph, Gutiérrez, Ung, Louis, Abreu, and Hanif. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The measure stalled. No new protections for kids on city streets.

• File Int 0555-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-16

Council filed a bill to force big buildings to cut truck chaos. Owners would need plans to shrink deliveries, use off-peak hours, and keep trucks off the street. The bill aimed to create a city office to enforce these rules. Session ended. No law.

Int 0556-2022 was introduced in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 16, 2022. The bill required owners of commercial buildings over 500,000 square feet to submit and carry out delivery and servicing plans. The matter summary reads: 'creating an office of sustainable delivery systems and requiring large generator of truck traffic buildings to produce and implement a delivery and servicing plan.' Council Member Gale A. Brewer sponsored the bill, joined by Rivera, Gutiérrez, Restler, Won, Sanchez, and Cabán. The bill called for on-site loading, delivery reservations, and off-peak scheduling to cut truck traffic and street loading. It would have created a new city office to oversee compliance and penalize violators. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0556-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-16

Councilman Restler wants to rip up thousands of parking placards. He targets abuse by city officials and fake permits. His bill exempts people with disabilities. Another measure rewards whistleblowers. The Council should pass both. The city’s streets demand it.

On June 7, 2022, Councilman Lincoln Restler (District 33) announced legislation to revoke tens of thousands of personal vehicle parking placards, with exemptions for people with disabilities and those covered by collective bargaining. The editorial, titled 'Free perking: Pull back run amok NYC parking placards,' calls out rampant placard abuse: 'End this scam.' Restler’s companion bill would reward whistleblowers who report cheaters with 25% of fines collected. Both measures have four co-sponsors. The editorial urges the Council to pass the bills and for Mayor Adams to sign them. Placard abuse fuels lawless parking, endangering pedestrians and cyclists. The city’s lack of oversight lets drivers block crosswalks and bike lanes. Restler’s push aims to restore fairness and safety to New York’s streets.

• Free perking: Pull back run amok NYC parking placards, nydailynews.com, Published 2022-06-07

A Chevy sedan turned left on Park Avenue. Its bumper hit a man in the intersection. Blood ran from his head. He stood, dazed. The car kept moving. The driver failed to yield. The street stayed dangerous. The man was hurt.

A 37-year-old man was struck by a Chevy sedan while crossing Park Avenue at Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the sedan turned left and its bumper hit the pedestrian in the intersection. The man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, standing upright but in shock. The report states, 'The driver did not yield.' The contributing factor listed is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' No other contributing factors are mentioned. The driver and two passengers in the sedan were not reported as injured. The crash highlights the ongoing danger for pedestrians at city intersections when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4535631, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-20