Four Dead, Nine Broken—The Blood Price of Inaction in District 34

Council members want 500 corridors lit for walkers each year. The bill demands bright sidewalks—no less than 1 footcandle. Most corridors must connect, forming safer, well-lit routes. The measure sits in committee, waiting for action. Darkness remains a threat.

Int 0079-2024, introduced on February 8, 2024, sits 'Laid Over in Committee' with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures,' would require the transportation commissioner to install sidewalk lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, each lit to a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux). At least 450 corridors must be contiguous to others with new or existing lighting. Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and many others. The bill aims to cut through the city’s darkness, demanding light for those on foot. It remains stalled in committee, its promise unrealized.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Council eyes danger at school gates. Bill orders a citywide study on raised crosswalks, intersections, and speed reducers near schools. Streets choke with cars. Children cross. The city stalls. The bill sits in committee. Lives hang in the balance.

Int 0095-2024, introduced February 8, 2024, sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill demands a study on 'the feasibility of installing raised crosswalks, raised intersections, and speed reducers at intersections and roadways adjacent to schools.' Council Member Julie Menin leads, joined by Schulman, Hudson, Brooks-Powers, Riley, Lee, Louis, Restler, and Gutiérrez as sponsors. The bill would repeal and replace Section 19-189 of the city code, requiring the Department of Transportation to report crash data and feasibility findings to the Mayor and Council Speaker. After the study, the Commissioner may install traffic-calming measures where possible. The bill remains 'Laid Over in Committee' as of June 25, 2024. No safety analyst note is available, but the bill targets systemic risk where children walk and drivers speed.

• File Int 0095-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

A moped slammed into a parked SUV on Cypress Avenue. The unlicensed rider, 41, was trapped, legs crushed, conscious in the cold. The moped’s front end folded. No other people were present. Metal and bone tangled in the night.

A violent crash unfolded on Cypress Avenue near Centre Street in Queens when a moped collided with the rear of a parked SUV, according to the police report. The report states the moped's front end 'folded in' from the impact, leaving the 41-year-old unlicensed rider trapped with crushed legs. The rider was conscious at the scene, suffering severe lower leg injuries. Police records confirm the SUV was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. The report notes the moped operator was 'unlicensed,' and lists 'unspecified' as contributing factors, but does not cite any victim behavior as a cause. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when vulnerable road users and stationary vehicles collide on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4698391, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1276-2023 would force taxis and for-hire cars to post bold warnings on every passenger door. The message is simple: look for cyclists before you open. The bill died at session’s end. The danger remains. Cyclists keep getting hit.

Int 1276-2023 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 20, 2023. The bill required 'taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door.' Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary sponsor, District 33) and Jennifer Gutiérrez (co-sponsor, District 34) led the push. The Taxi and Limousine Commission would have provided the decals at no cost. The bill was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. No safety analyst note was provided, but the measure aimed to cut down on dooring crashes—sudden, violent, and often deadly for cyclists. The risk persists. The city failed to act.

• File Int 1276-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-12-20

Two sedans crashed head-on in Brooklyn. Metal tore. A 37-year-old man, driving straight, crushed his shoulder. He stayed conscious. The street fell silent, broken by pain. Failure to yield and a bad turn set the stage for injury.

Two sedans collided head-on at 267 Vandervoort Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one sedan was making a left turn while the other went straight. The impact was severe. A 37-year-old male driver suffered a crushed shoulder but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The crash left the street quiet, marked by the sound of pain. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors. The data points to driver error as the cause of the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680282, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A truck turned left on Morgan Avenue. A cyclist rode straight. Steel hit flesh. The rider, 23, flew and crashed. His leg split open. His knee burst. No helmet. Blood on blacktop. The truck kept rolling. The street stayed silent.

A truck making a left turn struck a cyclist traveling straight near 222 Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn. The 23-year-old cyclist was ejected and suffered severe injuries to his knee and lower leg, including a severe burn. According to the police report, 'A truck turned left. A bike came straight. Steel met skin. The cyclist, 23, flew. His leg tore open. His knee split.' The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but the report centers driver inattention and poor visibility as primary causes. The crash left the cyclist conscious but badly hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673366, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 1215-2023 orders new signs. Bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters get clear warnings: stay off sidewalks, park paths, and boardwalks. Fines and penalties spelled out. Filed at session’s end. No change yet for street safety.

Int 1215-2023 was introduced in the City Council on October 5, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the posting of signs notifying operators of bicycles, bicycles with electric assist, and electric scooters of the prohibition against operating such devices on sidewalks, park walkways, and boardwalks, and of related fines and penalties," would require the Department of Transportation and the Department of Parks and Recreation to post signs warning riders of these restrictions and the consequences. Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Hudson, Hanif, Brewer, Ung, Abreu, Brooks-Powers, Gutiérrez, and Schulman. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No direct safety analysis was provided. The measure aims for clarity, not infrastructure change.

• File Int 1215-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-05

A garbage truck turned right on Morgan Avenue. A cyclist rode straight. The truck’s front caught him. His hand was severed. He stayed upright, awake. Blood marked the street. Helmet still on. The night was silent.

A garbage truck struck a cyclist on Morgan Avenue near Johnson Avenue. The truck turned right as the cyclist continued straight. The truck’s front quarter panel hit the cyclist, severing his hand. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. The cyclist, a 50-year-old man, remained conscious and upright after the crash. He suffered an amputation to his lower arm or hand. The report notes he was wearing a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The crash left blood on the street. The truck was a 2013 Mack, registered in New York.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658658, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 21-year-old cyclist turned left on Union Avenue. An SUV slammed into him head-on. Blood pooled on the street. The bike stood still. The SUV’s front was crushed. The rider bled from the head. He survived, conscious but badly hurt.

A 21-year-old cyclist was seriously injured when a KIA SUV struck him head-on on Union Avenue near South 4th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was making a left turn when the SUV, traveling straight, collided with him. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The cyclist suffered severe head lacerations and was conscious at the scene. The SUV’s front end was crushed. The police report notes the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the driver’s error. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4659097, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man rode east on Broadway. He lost focus. The bike struck. He flew. His head hit the ground. Blood pooled. He lay conscious, bleeding in the dark. The street stayed silent. The city moved on.

A 29-year-old man riding a bike east on Broadway at Marcy Avenue crashed and was ejected from his bike. According to the police report, 'He lost focus. The bike struck. He flew. His head hit hard. Blood pooled on the pavement. He lay conscious in the dark, bleeding and alone.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The cyclist suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The data notes he was unlicensed and wore no helmet, but these are mentioned only after the driver errors. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657974, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A dump truck turned left on Kingsland Avenue. A woman crossed with the light. The truck did not stop. Its wheels crushed her. She died at the scene. The truck showed no damage. The street stayed silent.

A woman was killed at the corner of Kingsland Avenue and Richardson Street when a dump truck turned left and struck her as she crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the truck 'did not stop' and 'her body broke beneath its wheels.' The pedestrian died at the scene from crush injuries. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The dump truck, registered in New Jersey, showed no damage after the crash. The woman was crossing at the intersection with the light. No errors or actions by the pedestrian contributed to the crash, according to the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656161, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two men died. One person vanished into a taxi. The streets outside Brooklyn Mirage stay dark and crowded. Concertgoers demand better lighting, safer taxis, and real security. Councilmember Gutiérrez calls for investment. The city and venue face pressure. Danger lingers in the shadows.

On August 15, 2023, Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez (District 34) responded to public calls for safety improvements outside Brooklyn Mirage, an East Williamsburg concert venue. The matter, titled 'Concertgoers demand changes outside Brooklyn Mirage after recent deaths, kidnapping,' follows two deaths and a reported kidnapping near the venue. Gutiérrez acknowledged the need for 'more investment' and called for better lighting, signage, phone/data connectivity, and accessible public transportation. Patrons cited 'serious concerns regarding the safety of concert attendees,' accusing the venue of 'extreme negligence.' The area suffers from poor lighting and unreliable cell service, especially during crowded events. Gutiérrez and other officials support stronger security, a crackdown on unlicensed taxis, and improved infrastructure. The venue claims cooperation with authorities. The city faces mounting pressure to address systemic dangers for pedestrians and concertgoers.

• Concertgoers demand changes outside Brooklyn Mirage after recent deaths, kidnapping, gothamist.com, Published 2023-08-15

A man on a bike tore into a parked SUV. His arm split open. Blood spilled onto Grand Street. The SUV did not move. The cyclist rode too fast. Shock hit him hard. Brooklyn stood still and watched.

A 27-year-old man riding a bike crashed into the side of a parked SUV near 639 Grand Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A 27-year-old man on a bike struck the side of a parked SUV. His arm split open. Blood poured. No helmet. The SUV stood still. The bike moved too fast. Shock took him.' The cyclist suffered a severe arm injury and was in shock. The police listed 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The report also noted 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The SUV was parked and unoccupied at the time of impact. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as stated in the report, but this was not listed as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653597, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford SUV struck a 25-year-old e-bike rider head-on on Harrison Place. The rider flew from the saddle, hit the pavement, head split open. He lay semiconscious, bleeding, alone in the dark. Traffic control ignored. Streets unforgiving.

A Ford SUV hit a 25-year-old e-bike rider head-on near Harrison Place and Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV disregarded traffic control and struck the cyclist, who was ejected and suffered severe head lacerations. The rider was semiconscious and bleeding at the scene. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's failure to obey traffic signals and improper lane usage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651884, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Two bodies pulled from Newtown Creek. Council Member Gutiérrez demands action. Industrial zones draw crowds but lack lights, signs, transit. Politicians push for safety. Danger stalks dark streets. City must fix deadly gaps before more lives are lost.

On August 4, 2023, Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez (District 34) led a call for increased nightlife safety in industrial areas after two men died near Brooklyn Mirage. The matter, titled 'After two bodies recovered from Newtown Creek, pols petition for more nightlife safety measures in industrial areas,' highlights the lack of lighting, signage, connectivity, and public transportation in the Industrial Business Zone (IBZ). Gutiérrez, joined by U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Members Maritz Davila and Emily Gallagher, and State Senator Julia Salazar, urged a full investigation and demanded urgent infrastructure upgrades. Gutiérrez said, 'We remain committed to enhancing public safety and ensuring that the nightlife community operates and maintains responsible practices.' The push centers vulnerable road users—pedestrians and nightlife patrons—who face systemic danger in neglected, poorly lit streets.

• After two bodies recovered from Newtown Creek, pols petition for more nightlife safety measures in industrial areas, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-04

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

A cyclist rode east on North 7th. A woman stepped from behind a parked car. His front wheel hit her. She fell. Her head struck the pavement. Blood pooled. The cyclist kept riding. She lay still, unconscious.

A 66-year-old woman was struck by a man riding a bike on North 7th Street. According to the police report, the cyclist rode east as the woman stepped from behind a parked car. His front wheel hit her, causing her to fall and strike her head on the pavement. Blood pooled as she lay unconscious. The cyclist did not stop. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The woman suffered head injuries and was left motionless at the scene. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are specified in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645388, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A cyclist slammed into the back of a stopped SUV on South 4th Street. He flew headfirst, hit the ground, and bled from the skull. Thirty-three years old. No helmet. Blood pooled on Brooklyn pavement. He was conscious, injured, and alone.

A 33-year-old cyclist was injured after colliding with the rear of a stopped SUV near 163 South 4th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist 'hit the back of a stopped SUV. No helmet. He flew headfirst, hit the ground. Blood pooled on the pavement. Conscious, bleeding from the skull.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The SUV was stopped in traffic at the time of impact. The absence of a helmet is noted in the report, but driver errors are cited as primary causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4645632, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Residents filled the street. They called out Mayor Adams for backtracking on the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Parents, advocates, and local officials demanded safer crossings. They named business interests as the obstacle. The crowd stood firm: safety over profit, lives over traffic.

On July 8, 2023, Greenpoint residents rallied to support the McGuinness Boulevard safety redesign. The event followed Mayor Adams' reversal of a previously approved plan, which came after a fatal 2021 hit-and-run. The rally, organized by Make McGuinness Safe, drew support from Council Members Jennifer Gutierrez and Lincoln Restler. The matter, titled 'Greenpoint to Mayor: We Are the Residents and We Support a Safer McGuinness!', saw speakers denounce the influence of the Argento family and Broadway Stages, who opposed the redesign to protect business interests. Residents cited high crash and injury rates, especially for children crossing to local schools. DOT is now refining the plan based on community feedback. The message was clear: Greenpoint wants action, not delay, to protect vulnerable road users.

• Greenpoint to Mayor: We Are the Residents and We Support a Safer McGuinness!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-08