No More Names on Asphalt: Demand Action Before the Next Death

City investigators found NYPD cops abuse parking placards. Enforcement is weak. Complaints go ignored. Self-enforcement zones shield officers from tickets. The city lacks coordination. The system breeds danger for people on foot and bike. Calls for reform mount.

On April 3, 2024, the Department of Investigation released a report mandated by Local Law 6 of 2020. The law required NYPD to evaluate placard abuse and illegal parking hotspots. The report, titled 'Long-Awaited Placard Report Reveals Widespread Abuse by NYPD,' found rampant misuse of city-issued parking placards, little oversight, and near-total lack of enforcement against police officers. Council Member Lincoln Restler called placards 'a public safety risk and nuisance.' The DOI recommends ending self-enforcement zones, adopting digital permits, and requiring real proof before closing 311 complaints. The NYPD failed to complete required evaluations. The report exposes a system that puts vulnerable road users at risk by allowing illegal parking to go unchecked, especially near stationhouses. The DOI urges reforms to restore public trust and protect people outside cars.

• Long-Awaited Placard Report Reveals Widespread Abuse by NYPD, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-03

Broadway Stages, a major donor and opponent of street safety, wants to seize part of Monitor Street for its own use. The company blocked bike lanes before. Advocates and Council Member Restler push back, saying public streets must stay public.

On March 28, 2024, Broadway Stages, a Brooklyn film studio, moved to demap a section of Monitor Street in Greenpoint for a private backlot. The proposal, which must pass the city's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) and City Council, follows the company's past opposition to the McGuinness Boulevard safety redesign and bike lanes on Monitor Street. The matter summary states the company wants 'safe access between production facilities.' Council Member Lincoln Restler, who supported the McGuinness safety overhaul, was not informed of the plan and said, 'public land should be for the public.' Broadway Stages president Gina Argento argued bike lanes would be unsafe due to truck traffic, despite DOT data showing bike lanes reduce injuries. Local advocates accuse the company of using political influence to block safety projects and privatize public space.

• Company That Fought McGuinness Safety Project Wants to Seize Bklyn Street for Private Backlot, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-28

Council wants signs at every school door. Paint on the street. Metal overhead. Drivers warned: children cross here. The bill sits in committee. Kids walk. Cars speed. The city waits.

Int 0714-2024 sits before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 19, 2024, the bill would require the Department of Transportation to paint and install overhead school safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing safety signs near schools.' Council Member Susan Zhuang leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Gennaro, Won, Hanif, Gutiérrez, Louis, Cabán, Restler, Farías, Banks, and Riley as co-sponsors. The bill aims to alert drivers to the presence of school-aged children and pedestrians. It remains in committee, with no vote or enactment date set. The measure targets a simple truth: children cross streets, drivers often do not see them. Signs alone will not stop cars, but they mark danger.

• File Int 0714-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Council Member Ossé blasted DOT for stalling the Bedford Ave protected bike lane. Promises broken. Cyclists still risk death. Community boards back the lane. City drags its feet. Injuries rise. Politics blocks safety. Streets stay dangerous.

On March 19, 2024, Council Member Chi Ossé publicly condemned the Department of Transportation for failing to install the promised protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The DOT had pledged completion in late 2023, but the project remains stalled with no timeline. Ossé stated, 'They brought this to the community board and there was an outpouring of support for this protected bike lane.' The matter was discussed with Community Boards 3 and 8, and local officials, schools, and businesses support the project. Council Member Lincoln Restler accused Mayor Adams of putting politics over public safety, saying, 'Mayor Adams has decided that he cares more about who he thinks is going to vote for him in 2025 than our lives.' The delay leaves cyclists exposed to ongoing danger, with injuries on the rise. The DOT’s call for more 'community engagement' is seen as a smokescreen for inaction. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Ossé: Bedford Ave. Bike Lane is Stuck in DOT’s ‘Community Engagement’ Purgatory, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-19

Manolos Trucking killed twice in six months. Sixty violations. No real punishment. Council Member Restler demands action. Oversight is weak. Dangerous trucks roam free. Pedestrians pay the price. The company stays silent. The city looks away.

On March 12, 2024, Council Member Lincoln Restler condemned Manolos Trucking after two fatal pedestrian crashes in New York City within six months. The company racked up over 60 reckless driving tickets—red lights, speeding, more. The Business Integrity Commission issued six violations since 2019. Yet, penalties remain minimal: a small fine for a hood ornament, missing paperwork. The driver in the latest fatality faces no charges, despite video showing the pedestrian had the right of way. Restler declared, 'We need much stricter oversight of the private sanitation and construction truck companies that are operating in New York City.' He added, 'Companies like Manolos Trucking should not be allowed to do business in New York City.' The company did not respond to requests for comment. Oversight is lax. Dangerous trucks keep rolling. Vulnerable New Yorkers keep dying.

• Jersey Firm In Two Fatal Crashes Has Many Violations, Yet Almost No Punishment, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-12

Council members push to ban moving billboards. These rolling ads distract drivers and endanger people on foot and bike. The bill locks in an existing rule. It aims to keep city streets clearer and safer for all.

Bill Int 0541-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 7, 2024, it seeks to ban moving billboards in New York City. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to banning moving billboards." Council Members Erik D. Bottcher (primary sponsor), Justin L. Brannan, Gale A. Brewer, and Lincoln Restler back the measure. The bill would codify an existing rule—34 RCNY 4-12(j)—that already makes these billboards illegal. By writing the ban into the administrative code, the council aims to close loopholes and strengthen enforcement. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known hazard: mobile ads that pull attention from the street and put vulnerable road users at risk.

• File Int 0541-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council bill Int 0504-2024 orders DOT to fix NYCHA sidewalks first, starting with senior housing. The bill demands public reports on repairs and timelines. Lawmakers push for faster, clearer action where broken concrete endangers lives.

Int 0504-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on March 7, 2024. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York city housing authority.' Council Members Alexa Avilés (primary sponsor), Shaun Abreu, Farah N. Louis, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Lincoln Restler, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, and Shahana K. Hanif back the measure. The bill forces DOT to fix sidewalks at NYCHA senior housing first, then other NYCHA sites. DOT must also publish repair lists and schedules. The move targets dangerous, crumbling sidewalks where NYCHA residents—especially seniors—face daily risk.

• File Int 0504-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council moves to block sight-seeing buses from bus lanes at rush hour. The bill targets morning and evening peaks. No more tour bus stops clogging lanes. Streets clear for city buses and people on foot. Action aims to cut chaos.

Int 0543-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 7, 2024, the bill would 'prohibit sight-seeing buses from using bus lanes between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays.' Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary sponsor, District 33) and Justin L. Brannan (co-sponsor, District 47) back the measure. The Department of Transportation would also be barred from authorizing any sight-seeing bus stops in bus lanes during those hours. The bill responds to crowding and obstruction in bus lanes, aiming to keep routes clear for city buses and vulnerable road users. No safety analyst assessment is available yet.

• File Int 0543-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council bill Int 0542-2024 forces DOT to act fast. Traffic study answers must come within 60 days when council members or boards ask for new signals or signs. No more endless waits. The clock starts. Streets can’t wait.

Int 0542-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, and is now laid over 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 requiring that traffic study determinations be issued no later than 60 days from the date a traffic control device is requested by a city council member or community board.” Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Brooks-Powers, and Vernikov. Their bill demands the Department of Transportation deliver traffic study decisions within 60 days of a request. Right now, there’s no set timeline. The bill aims to end delays, forcing the city to move faster when lives are at stake. The measure would take effect 120 days after enactment.

• File Int 0542-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Drivers rack up tickets for blocking street sweepers. Fines are low. Many ignore them. Council Member Restler and Assembly Member Simone push bills to hike penalties. The city’s old crackdown expired. Lawmakers want real consequences for repeat scofflaws.

Council Member Lincoln Restler introduced a bill to raise fines for drivers who fail to move cars during alternate-side parking. The bill would increase the penalty to $100 for a second offense within a year and require towing after three violations in 12 months. Assembly Member Tony Simone submitted a state bill to double fines after the tenth violation, up to five times the current cap. The matter targets 'the worst repeat offenders of parking tickets.' Manhattan safe streets activist Jehiah Czebotar analyzed city data, finding that 77 percent of street-sweeping tickets go to repeat offenders, with 37 percent to drivers who got at least six tickets. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program expired last year, leaving a gap in enforcement. Lawmakers say fines must deter, not just be a cost of doing business.

• ‘Cheaper than a Garage’: Meet the Drivers Who Get Repeat Tickets for Not Moving Their Cars, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-05

Council Member Bottcher slammed city agencies for slow action on electrified Citi Bike docks. Riders face dead batteries, empty docks, and mounting frustration. The city promised a pilot last year. Still, the streets wait. The delay leaves e-bike users stranded.

On February 29, 2024, Council Member Erik Bottcher called out the Department of Transportation and Con Edison for failing to deliver electrified Citi Bike docks in his Manhattan district. The electrified dock pilot, meant to launch late last year, is months behind schedule. Bottcher wrote, 'I urge the Department of Transportation and Con Edison to expedite the electrification of [Citi Bike] stations for the purpose of charging the pedal-assist bikes.' Council Member Lincoln Restler of Greenpoint echoed the demand, calling the project 'an exciting opportunity' for better reliability. DOT claims to be working on it; ConEd says their role is limited. The delay leaves e-bike riders without charged bikes, as workers must swap batteries by hand. The new Lyft contract will double e-bikes, making efficient charging urgent. No formal safety analysis was provided, but the lack of charged bikes keeps vulnerable riders off the street and in harm's way.

• Manhattan Pol Upset at Delayed Rollout of Electrified Citi Bike Docks, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-29

Council moves to outlaw driving with fake or expired plates. The bill sets fines and a short grace period for expired tags. Lawmakers say this targets scofflaws who dodge accountability. The measure now sits with the Public Safety Committee.

Int 0177-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Restler, Won, Brewer, Schulman, Ung, Marte, Hudson, Avilés, De La Rosa, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill makes it unlawful to drive with fake or expired plates, including temporary ones. Civil penalties apply, but drivers with expired plates get a 10-day window to fix the issue. The bill aims to close loopholes that let reckless drivers evade detection and accountability. It awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 0177-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to form an advisory board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must join. The board will send reports twice a year to city leaders. The aim: track, review, and recommend guard placement. Streets near schools stay dangerous.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced February 28, 2024, it calls for an advisory board on school crossing guard deployment. The board would include the NYPD, Department of Transportation, and Department of Education. According to the bill summary: 'Such advisory board would be responsible for submitting biannual reports, relating to recommended deployment of school crossing guards, to the Mayor, the City Council Speaker and the Police Commissioner.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, Won, Cabán, Riley, Farías, Restler, Williams, Narcisse, Banks, Louis, Brooks-Powers, Marmorato, and the Bronx Borough President. The bill demands city agencies work together, but it does not guarantee more guards or safer crossings. The danger for children at city intersections remains.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill pushes DOT to open streets wider and longer on busy holidays. Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July Fourth, Labor Day, Halloween—cars barred, people free. Community groups get a say. Streets shift from danger to refuge, if the city acts.

Int 0270-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city law to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic. The bill’s summary reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. The bill directs DOT to seek community input for more activation days. Applications for these special activations follow the same review as regular Open Streets. The measure aims to give pedestrians and cyclists more space and time, cutting car risk when crowds surge.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants NYPD to show where crossing guards stand. The bill orders a map online. Streets are dangerous. Kids cross in chaos. The public will see the gaps. The city must face the truth in plain sight.

Int 0447-2024, now in the Committee on Public Safety, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting on crossing guard deployment," demands the NYPD post an online map showing where crossing guards are stationed. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Menin, Salaam, Brewer, Marte, and others, including a request from the Bronx Borough President. The bill is for 'informational purposes only,' but the impact is clear: families and advocates will finally see where the city leaves children exposed. The measure forces transparency. It makes the city’s priorities visible block by block.

• File Int 0447-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill cracks down on car dealers clogging city streets with vehicles for sale or repair. No more stashing cars on sidewalks. Fines and impoundment loom. Dealers must mark cars awaiting repair. Streets clear. Danger drops for those on foot and bike.

Int 0462-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to limiting the parking of motor vehicles by dealers.' Council Members Francisco P. Moya (primary sponsor), Sandra Ung, Lincoln Restler, and Shahana K. Hanif back the measure. It bans dealers from parking, storing, or displaying cars for sale or repair on city streets, except for emergencies. Dealers must display placards on cars awaiting repair or return. Each violation brings fines and possible impoundment. Owners get an affirmative defense if ticketed while their car is with a dealer. The bill aims to clear sidewalks and curbs, reducing hazards for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0462-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill targets private car parking perks. No more city-issued permits for private vehicles without elected plates. Existing permits get revoked. Exemptions for disabled drivers and union contracts. Sponsors push to cut special treatment and reclaim curb space.

Int 0411-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, the bill reads: 'prohibiting the issuance of private vehicle parking permits and revoking such existing permits.' Council Members Julie Won (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, Gale Brewer, Christopher Marte, Erik Bottcher, Alexa Avilés, and the Brooklyn Borough President back the measure. They seek to stop city agencies from issuing parking permits to private vehicles unless the car belongs to an elected official. Permits for people with disabilities and those required by collective bargaining agreements are not affected. The bill repeals several administrative code sections tied to private parking privileges. Action aims to strip away special access, reduce curb abuse, and put public space back in public hands.

• File Int 0411-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants answers. Int 0398-2024 orders DOT and NYPD to study reckless driving every year. They must report what causes crashes, injuries, deaths. The city must post findings and actions. The bill sits in committee. Victims wait for truth.

Int 0398-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill demands the Department of Transportation, with the NYPD and other agencies, conduct an annual study of driving behavior. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a study of dangerous driving.' Sponsors include Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary), Gale A. Brewer, Lincoln Restler, Keith Powers, and both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Borough Presidents. The law would force the city to post a public report each year, naming the behaviors behind crashes, injuries, and deaths, and detailing any interventions. The bill aims to expose the roots of traffic violence and push agencies to act. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0398-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council members push for a hard look at last mile delivery hubs. Trucks swarm neighborhoods. Streets clog. Collisions rise. The bill demands data. It targets the city’s growing freight problem. Vulnerable New Yorkers walk these streets. The study could expose the toll.

Int 0113-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it orders the Department of Transportation to study how last mile delivery facilities batter local streets and communities. The bill summary reads: 'estimating the amount of delivery vehicles arriving at or departing from each facility, and the impact that additional vehicle traffic has on parking, street congestion, vehicle collisions and other traffic incidents.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Alexa Avilés, Shekar Krishnan, Amanda Farías, and over twenty others. The bill was referred to committee on the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the bill’s focus is clear: count the trucks, count the crashes, and show the cost to people on foot and bike.

• File Int 0113-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential neighborhoods. The bill demands a report. Streets packed with trucks endanger walkers and cyclists. The committee holds the bill. No action yet. Pressure mounts.

Int 0114-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, the bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential areas. The matter 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 leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day it was introduced. Streets crowded with trucks put vulnerable road users at risk. The bill seeks data and solutions, but action is pending.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28