No More Studies—Stop the Street Slaughter Now

Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential blocks. The bill sits in committee. Streets should shelter people, not heavy traffic.

Int 0114-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on 'the utility and feasibility of using street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It demands a clear look at how design can push trucks off streets where people walk, bike, and live.

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

Brooklyn officials push to evict judges’ cars from Columbus Park. Four designs scrap the parking lot, add green space, playgrounds, and a skatepark. Streets may get bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and bus lanes. No timeline yet. The park could finally belong to people.

On February 28, 2024, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Lincoln Restler, with business leaders, unveiled proposals to remove the judicial parking lot at Columbus Park. The plan, discussed at a community meeting, would replace the lot with public amenities—open greenery, playgrounds, a skatepark, and restrooms. Architects from WXY presented four designs, all eliminating the judges’ parking. The proposal also calls for safer streets: protected bike lanes on Adams Street, expanded sidewalks, narrowed roads, bus lanes, and possible pedestrianization of Johnson Street. Council Member Restler declared, 'Parks should be for people, not for parking.' Residents voiced support, calling the lot a 'vestige of another era.' The officials will gather more public feedback before submitting a formal proposal. No timeline has been set.

• Parking or Parkland? Brooklyn Judges Could Lose their Perk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants near schools. Civilian complaints trigger fines. Streets clear, danger cut. Council moves to protect the vulnerable.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 8, 2024, the bill creates a $175 penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of schools. The Department of Transportation must set up a civilian reporting program. If a civilian complaint leads to a fine, the complainant gets 25 percent of proceeds. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to hazardous obstruction by vehicles and civilian complaints.' Council Member Carlina Rivera leads, joined by Restler, Ayala, Joseph, Menin, and others. The bill aims to keep paths clear for those most at risk.

• File Int 0080-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

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

Five years after passage, the city’s commercial waste overhaul crawls forward. Only one zone starts in 2024. Fewer trucks, fewer miles, but delays keep danger rolling. Streets still wait for safer rigs. Cyclists and pedestrians remain exposed.

Bill creating the Commercial Waste Zone program, sponsored by Antonio Reynoso, passed in 2019 after deadly crashes involving private haulers. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced on January 31, 2024, that only one of twenty zones—Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst—will launch this year. The law aims to cut truck miles in half, add backup cameras, GPS, and safety training. DSNY spokesperson Joshua Goodman said contracts target safety and worker protections. Reynoso urged ongoing oversight, saying, 'It is important that DSNY continuously reassess implementation and course correct as needed.' Yet, delays persist, especially on installing guard rails to prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being swept under trucks. Justin Wood of NYLPI voiced concern over the slow rollout. The program promises fewer trucks and safer streets, but for now, most neighborhoods wait.

• Long-Delayed Business Waste Program to Start Later This Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-31

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Seven Brooklyn officials urge DOT to clear cars from corners. They want boulders, planters, and bike corrals—not just paint. Their call follows deadly crashes. They press the city to use state law and federal funds. DOT promises review. Advocates back the push.

On January 17, 2024, seven Brooklyn elected officials—including Council Member Shahana Hanif, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Members Marcela Mitaynes, Jo Anne Simon, Robert Carroll, and State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Andrew Gounardes—issued a joint letter to the NYC Department of Transportation. They called for 'universal daylighting with hardened materials such as boulders, planters, and bike corrals' at intersections. The officials cited recent fatal crashes and urged the city to opt into a state law banning parking within 20 feet of corners. They want federal funds used for these changes. The group opposes DOT’s slow pace and reliance on paint, demanding physical barriers. Community board leaders and advocates support the move. DOT says it will review the letter and remains committed to evidence-based daylighting.

• Seven Brooklyn Electeds Join Growing Calls For Universal Daylighting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-17

Conduit Avenue kills. Brooklyn and Queens borough presidents call it urgent. They want DOT to turn this deadly, crash-heavy road into a safe corridor. In less than two years, 1,321 crashes. Seventy pedestrians and 14 cyclists hurt. Five dead. DOT silent.

On December 14, 2023, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pressed the Department of Transportation to overhaul Conduit Avenue. Their letter called for a transformation of the avenue, described as "one of the most dangerous and non-inclusive roadways in the entire city." The officials urged DOT to prioritize traffic safety, cycling and mass transit infrastructure, pedestrian walkability, and green space. Between January 2022 and December 2023, Conduit Avenue saw 1,321 crashes, injuring 880 people—including 70 pedestrians and 14 cyclists—and killing five. Three intersections are listed as DOT pedestrian safety priorities, but the corridor itself is not. Richards and Reynoso have formed a task force and are pushing for action. DOT has not commented.

• Boob Tube: Brooklyn, Queens Leaders Want DOT to Fix Dangerous Conduit Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-14

Mayor Adams gutted the McGuinness Blvd. safety plan. Two lanes each way remain. Bike lanes go unprotected. Crossing distances stretch. Local leaders say nothing changed for people on foot. Cyclists dodge cars and illegal parking. The danger stays. The fight continues.

On November 29, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams’s administration scaled back the Department of Transportation’s original McGuinness Boulevard redesign. The DOT’s first plan would have cut traffic lanes and added a parking-protected bike lane. Adams ordered a weaker version after business pushback. The compromise left two car lanes in each direction during the day. Elected officials—U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Council Member Lincoln Restler—sent a letter urging DOT to restore the full safety plan, writing, “Nothing has been done to improve conditions for pedestrians.” Advocates say the new design increases crossing distances and leaves cyclists and pedestrians exposed. DOT says work will continue into 2024. The boulevard remains dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Eric Adams’s McGuinness Blvd. Capitulation Did ‘Nothing’ for Pedestrians, Greenpoint Pols Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-29

Council Member Alexa Avilés calls for a full redesign of the city’s truck route map. Trucks flood neighborhoods, endanger lives, and choke streets. Introduction 708 demands safer, smarter routes. The bill has strong support. The city’s map has not changed since the 1970s.

Introduction 708, sponsored by Council Member Alexa Avilés, seeks a sweeping overhaul of New York City’s outdated truck route map. The bill, now before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was highlighted in an op-ed published November 13, 2023. Avilés, as committee chair, wrote, 'An overhaul of our truck route map is long overdue. We must pass Introduction 708 for the sake of our communities and all New Yorkers.' The measure would require the Department of Transportation to redesign truck routes to improve safety, visibility, and reduce congestion and emissions. It also mandates input from neighborhoods, environmental groups, and industry. Avilés leads a coalition of 40 co-sponsors, with support from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The bill responds to the surge in freight traffic, which has battered streets and put vulnerable communities—often communities of color—at risk. The current map, unchanged since the 1970s, routes heavy trucks through residential areas, increasing danger for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Op-Ed | NYC’s truck routes haven’t changed since the 1970s. It’s time for an overhaul., amny.com, Published 2023-11-13

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City and Lyft will double e-bikes and cap prices, but leave most neighborhoods stranded. No new public money. Electrification pilot starts. Advocates slam lack of expansion. Riders outside core zones stay shut out. System grows in power, not reach.

On November 6, 2023, the Adams Administration and Lyft announced amendments to the Citi Bike contract, which runs through 2029. The deal, covered in Streetsblog NYC, doubles e-bikes from 10,000 to 20,000 and adds new and replacement classic bikes. The matter summary states, 'No system expansion... you're not going to be able to ride the bikes anywhere new because system expansion was not part of the amendment agreement.' Council members were not directly named, but Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso praised electrification, saying, 'This is exactly the direction we should be moving in—toward greener, safer, and more accessible micromobility options for New Yorkers.' John Tomac of Bike South Brooklyn condemned the lack of expansion: 'We're disappointed that you still can’t ride a Citi Bike in most of New York City.' The contract introduces price caps but avoids public funding. The city’s refusal to expand or subsidize Citi Bike leaves many vulnerable road users in transit deserts, with safer, greener options still out of reach.

• What We Get — And Don’t Get — In The New Citi Bike Deal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-06

A town hall to attack Vision Zero was scrapped after a tow truck driver killed a 7-year-old boy near Fort Greene Park. Borough President Reynoso and Council Member Hudson withdrew, saying the meeting would send the wrong message. The church canceled. Grief and anger filled the street.

On October 27, 2023, a planned anti-Vision Zero town hall was canceled in Brooklyn. The event, organized by Vision Zero opponents, was set to criticize the city's road safety program. But after a tow truck driver killed 7-year-old Kamei Hughes near Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Crystal Hudson withdrew. In their open letter, they wrote, 'Holding a forum where Vision Zero will be criticized in the neighborhood next to where a young boy’s life was lost to traffic violence sends the wrong message to the community and to our borough.' The church, led by Rev. Anthony Trufant, canceled the meeting. Local residents called for more enforcement against reckless drivers. The tragedy underscored the stakes: pedestrian deaths are down, but the toll of traffic violence remains high.

• Anti-Vision Zero Town Hall Postponed After Pols Bail Following Little Boy’s Death, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27

A child died under the wheels of an NYPD tow truck. The mayor dodged questions. He said, “I love New York.” He left. Grieving parents and officials demanded action. The city’s promises rang hollow. Trust in leadership cracked. Streets stayed dangerous.

On October 27, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams faced questions after a 7-year-old was killed by an NYPD tow-truck driver. The event followed his administration’s interruption of several safe street projects. When pressed by a Streetsblog reporter—'Why should New Yorkers trust you to make the city’s streets safer?'—Adams replied, 'I love New York, I love New York,' and left without a substantive answer. The matter, as reported, centers on public frustration: 'Adams had previously promised to do "whatever it takes to keep our streets safe" after the child’s death.' Council Member Crystal Hudson and Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for urgent safety improvements. A Brooklyn parent’s letter demanding action drew 1,800 signatures in days. The mayor’s silence deepened distrust. The city’s vulnerable remain at risk.

• Asked About Street Safety After Child’s Death, Mayor Says, ‘I Love New York!’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27

A police tow truck driver struck and killed 7-year-old Kamei Hughes in Fort Greene. Witnesses say the driver used a phone. Charges followed. Councilmember Hudson called to expand, not question, street safety programs. A community meeting was postponed after the tragedy.

On October 27, 2023, a fatal crash in Council District 35 left a 7-year-old boy dead. The driver, an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent, faces charges for failing to yield and exercise due care. The incident drew swift response from Councilmember Crystal Hudson, who, alongside Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, withdrew from a planned community meeting meant to critique Open Streets and Vision Zero. Their joint statement read, 'this is not the time to rethink a street safety program that has brought traffic deaths to historic lows in New York City,' and called for expanding, not reconsidering, safety measures. The meeting was postponed out of respect for the victim and to underscore the need for stronger protections for vulnerable road users.

• NYPD tow truck driver arrested after fatally striking 7-year-old boy in Fort Greene, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-10-27

A city tow truck driver struck and killed a 7-year-old boy near Fort Greene Park. Witnesses saw reckless driving. The city exempts itself from daylighting laws. Council Member Hudson and residents demand action. The district faces high crash rates and weak safety measures.

On October 26, 2023, a 7-year-old boy was killed by an NYPD tow truck driver in Brooklyn. The crash happened near Fort Greene Park, where witnesses reported the driver was speeding, using her phone, and dragged the child before stopping. The intersection’s visibility was blocked by a legally parked car, as New York City exempts itself from state daylighting rules. Council Member Crystal Hudson visited the scene, spoke with police and residents, and acknowledged a pattern of reckless tow truck driving. Hudson said, 'This is the worst possible outcome, and, yet, we are forced to reckon with the worst possible outcome at the hands of the NYPD all too often.' Residents demanded speed bumps and crossing guards. The crash came as the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program expired and crossing guard positions were cut. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for an end to 'senseless traffic violence.' The district has a high rate of crashes and a history of resistance to safety improvements.

• Every Parent’s Nightmare: Child Killed by NYPD Tow Truck Driver in Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-26

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Mayor Adams left Ashland Place unfinished. Cyclists lost a safe route. Advocates, officials, and residents rallied. They blamed City Hall for caving to a developer. The most dangerous block remains untouched. Eighty-eight crashes scar the street. Safety took a back seat.

On October 13, 2023, local officials and advocates criticized Mayor Adams for halting the Ashland Place redesign. The project, led by the Department of Transportation, aimed to create a protected bike lane from the Manhattan Bridge to Barclays Center. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said, "New York City is regressing on meeting its Vision Zero goals ... and stalled street safety improvements, like those slated for Ashland Place, are a part of the reason why." State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Council Member Crystal Hudson joined the outcry, with Hudson lamenting the incomplete corridor for cyclists. The DOT confirmed the southernmost block would not be converted, following objections from developer Two Trees Management. Advocates cited 88 crashes and multiple injuries in two years, with the most dangerous block excluded from improvements. Residents and advocates rallied, accusing the mayor of prioritizing business over public safety. City Hall deflected, blaming e-bikes for rising cyclist deaths.

• Pols, Advocates Slam Mayor Adams for Unfinished Ashland Place, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-13

DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04