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

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

A 12-year-old girl bled from the neck after a truck hit her on Flushing Avenue. The driver, distracted, drove straight. The truck showed no damage. The child did. She stayed conscious. Steel met flesh. The street bore witness.

A 12-year-old pedestrian was struck and injured by a 2019 Isuzu chassis cab truck on Flushing Avenue. According to the police report, the girl bled from the neck at the intersection but remained conscious. The driver, a 26-year-old man, was traveling straight ahead when the crash occurred. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The truck sustained no visible damage, but the child suffered severe bleeding. No other injuries were reported among the vehicle occupants. The data does not mention any actions by the pedestrian as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger posed by distracted driving to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605132, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda sedan struck a 14-year-old boy in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The car’s bumper tore his leg. Blood pooled on Broadway. The driver, distracted, did not stop. The boy stayed awake, bleeding in the cold street.

A 14-year-old boy was hit by a Honda sedan at the corner of Broadway and 282 in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the boy was crossing the intersection when the car’s left front bumper struck his lower leg, causing severe bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 28-year-old woman, was not injured and did not remain at the scene. The boy was conscious after the crash. The police report highlights driver distraction as the primary error. No other contributing factors are listed before the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4600749, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A moped slammed into a turning pickup at Grand and Graham. The rider, helmeted, flew and landed hard. His head was crushed. He died at 45. The pickup’s side was dented. The street fell silent. Another life lost to traffic violence.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of Grand Street and Graham Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a man riding a moped struck the side of a pickup truck as it turned. The moped rider, age 45, was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. He wore a helmet. The pickup’s right side doors were dented. The driver of the pickup, age 28, was not reported injured. Both vehicles were traveling west; the pickup was making a right turn. The police report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the data. The crash left one man dead and a city street quiet once more.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4593865, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The Council passed Int 0291-2022, forcing city agencies to map, plan, and report on greenways. The law demands annual updates and public engagement. It aims to carve out safe, car-free corridors for walkers and cyclists. The mayor returned it unsigned.

Int 0291-2022, now Local Law 115 of 2022, was enacted by the City Council on November 27, 2022. The bill came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, first introduced April 28, 2022. The law's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a citywide greenway plan.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by dozens of co-sponsors including Rivera, Hudson, and others. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor on October 27, 2022. The law orders the Department of Transportation and Parks to identify, map, and report on greenways, and to consult with community boards. Proposals for new greenway segments or repairs must be presented to affected communities within 60 days. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law. The measure compels the city to plan and maintain safe routes for non-drivers, with regular public reporting and accountability.

• File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27

Council Member Alexa Avilés pushes new rules for last-mile trucking. Trucks choke Red Hook and Sunset Park. Narrow streets shake. Residents breathe fumes. The bill demands safer, smarter routes. Data and daylighting aim to protect people, not just freight.

On September 30, 2022, Council Member Alexa Avilés (District 38) introduced a package of bills targeting last-mile trucking regulation. The measures, revived in committee, seek to redesign truck routes and gather data on facilities run by Amazon, FedEx, and UPS. The matter aims to 'reduce congestion and emissions, improve safety and increase visibility,' especially in overburdened neighborhoods like Red Hook and Sunset Park. Avilés, the lead sponsor, calls for systematic changes: 'We really need to look systematically at more improved routes to ensure people are safe.' The bills would require the Department of Transportation to daylight intersections and the Department of Environmental Protection to install air monitors on heavy-use roads. Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsors a related bill for public truck-route data. The legislation draws support from industry and advocates, all seeking safer streets and cleaner air for vulnerable New Yorkers.

• Trio of council bills seeks to regulate last-mile trucking routes, crainsnewyork.com, Published 2022-09-30

Council filed a bill to study truck route compliance and GPS mapping. The measure called for tracking trucks off-route, web-based maps, and new street designs. Avilés led, with Gutiérrez and others co-sponsoring. The session ended before action. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0721-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 29, 2022. The bill required the Department of Transportation to study truck drivers’ compliance with city truck routes and to assess integrating truck maps with GPS technology. The matter’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a truck route GPS study.' Alexa Avilés sponsored the bill, joined by Gutiérrez, Hanif, Restler, Brooks-Powers, Hudson, Krishnan, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill called for measures like converting two-way streets to one-way, posting truck route signs, and outreach to the trucking industry. The study’s results were to be posted online and sent to the council by January 1, 2023. The bill was filed at session’s end, with no further action. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0721-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-09-29

A man rode south on Maspeth. A turning vehicle struck him. He flew. Steel crushed his leg. The helmet stayed on. The street held its breath. Brooklyn stayed silent.

A 45-year-old man riding a bike south on Maspeth Avenue at Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn was struck by a vehicle making an improper turn. According to the police report, 'A vehicle turned into him. He flew. His leg crushed beneath steel.' The cyclist suffered crush injuries to his knee and lower leg. The crash report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was ejected from his bike. The report notes he wore a helmet, but the primary cause remains the driver's improper turn. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4557237, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A truck killed Danny Vidal, a 30-year-old delivery worker, on Morgan Avenue. Family, friends, and officials gathered in Bushwick. They mourned. They demanded action. The street’s painted bike lanes offer no protection. The city’s failure left Vidal exposed. Calls for barriers rose.

On August 17, 2022, Councilmember Sandy Nurse (District 37) joined a vigil for Danny Vidal, a delivery worker killed by a truck on Morgan Avenue. The event, covered by brooklynpaper.com, highlighted the area’s deadly record: 126 crashes, 158 injuries since 2011. The matter title reads, 'He was only 30: Family and friends gather to mourn Danny Vidal, deliverista killed in Bushwick.' Nurse called the city’s inaction 'a failure of our city government to protect these lives.' Councilmember Jennifer Gutierrez stressed that Bushwick’s industrial character does not excuse neglect. Attendees, including Los Deliveristas Unidos and the Workers Justice Project, demanded protected bike lanes, traffic lights, and barriers. The unprotected, painted lanes failed to shield Vidal. Advocates pressed the city to act before more lives are lost.

• ‘He was only 30’: Family and friends gather to mourn Danny Vidal, ‘deliverista’ killed in Bushwick, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-08-17

A BMW SUV tore down Myrtle Avenue. The driver moved too fast. A 74-year-old man tried to cross. The front end hit him. His body broke on the asphalt. He died there, under the streetlights. The driver did not slow down.

A BMW SUV struck and killed a 74-year-old man crossing Myrtle Avenue. According to the police report, the SUV was traveling east at unsafe speed when its front end hit the pedestrian, who was not in a crosswalk. The man suffered fatal injuries to his entire body and died at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The data does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by speeding drivers to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4555865, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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

A man on a motorbike crashed into a turning truck on Morgan Avenue. He was thrown from the bike. His head hit the pavement. He died at the scene. The truck kept moving. The crash left one dead. Streets stayed silent.

A deadly crash unfolded on Morgan Avenue. According to the police report, a man riding a motorbike collided with a truck that was making a left turn. The rider, unlicensed and without a helmet, was ejected from his bike. His head struck the pavement, resulting in fatal injuries. The truck, a large carry-all, sustained no damage and its driver was not hurt. Police cited 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor in the crash. The report notes the rider had no helmet, but only after listing the driver error. No other injuries were reported. The impact ended one life and left the street unchanged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4552549, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study deadly intersections and add signals that give walkers a head start or full crossing time. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay risky. Pedestrians wait for action.

Bill Int 0578-2022, introduced July 14, 2022, aimed to amend city law to improve safety at pedestrian crossings. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reviewed it, but the bill was filed without passage at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to improving safety at pedestrian crossings in the city.' Council Members Robert F. Holden (primary sponsor), Ari Kagan, Justin L. Brannan, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, Kalman Yeger, Rita C. Joseph, and Tiffany Cabán sponsored the bill. It would have required DOT to audit the city’s deadliest intersections and consider installing leading pedestrian intervals and exclusive pedestrian phases—signals proven to protect people on foot. The bill’s failure leaves dangerous crossings unchanged.

• File Int 0578-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

Council bill Int 0596-2022 would force DOT to repair broken curbs when streets get resurfaced. Curbs shape the border between sidewalk and street. Broken curbs trip walkers, let cars mount sidewalks, and endanger the frail. The bill died in committee.

Int 0596-2022 was introduced on July 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to repair any curb deemed a safety hazard during street resurfacing. The matter summary reads: 'requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Schulman, Brewer, Dinowitz, Krishnan, Narcisse, Menin, Yeger, Avilés, Nurse, Gutiérrez, Riley, Brannan, Sanchez, and Louis. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. Broken curbs are a daily threat to pedestrians, especially the elderly and disabled. The bill would have forced the city to address these hazards as part of routine work, but the effort stalled.

• File Int 0596-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

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

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

A sedan turned right on Flushing Avenue. A cyclist rode straight. Metal struck flesh. The cyclist flew, hit the pavement, head bleeding. He was conscious but hurt. The car’s side was smashed. The bike twisted, silent in the street.

A sedan and a cyclist collided at Flushing Avenue and Troutman Street in Queens. According to the police report, the sedan turned right while the cyclist went straight. The cyclist, a 30-year-old man, was ejected and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan’s right side was damaged; the bike’s front end was crushed. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary causes cited are the driver’s failure to yield and inattention. The crash left the cyclist injured and the scene marked by twisted metal and blood.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4539372, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilians can report violators. Each offense draws a $175 fine. The city pays whistleblowers a cut. The bill stalled. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0501-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 2, 2022. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints to the department of transportation for hazardous obstruction violations,' aimed to create a new civil penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 1,320 feet of a school. The penalty: $175 per violation, enforced through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Civilians, except city employees, could file complaints and receive 25% of collected fines. The Department of Transportation would support this with a phased-in reporting program and annual public reports. Council Member Carlina Rivera led as primary sponsor, joined by over two dozen co-sponsors. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0501-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-02

Council members blasted the city for failing children on school streets. They called the danger 'egregious.' Streets near schools see more crashes, more injuries. Lawmakers want more crossing guards, speed bumps, and car-free hours. The city must act. Kids’ lives hang in the balance.

On June 1, 2022, New York City Council members held a press conference in response to a Streetsblog report exposing high crash rates near schools. The event, not tied to a specific bill, saw Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Julie Menin, Alexa Avilés, and Carlina Rivera demand urgent safety upgrades. The matter summary reads: 'City lawmakers and transportation and education advocates expressed outrage over a recent Streetsblog report on dangerous school streets, demanding the city do more to prevent drivers from harming children outside schools.' Lawmakers called the findings 'egregious' and 'unconscionable.' They urged more crossing guards, traffic calming, and car-free hours. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez signaled openness to restricting cars during key times. The council’s stance is clear: the city’s inaction puts children, especially those of color, at deadly risk. Lawmakers want swift, systemic change.

• Outraged Lawmakers and Advocates Urge City Action over Unsafe School Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-01