No More Studies—Stop the Street Slaughter Now

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

Brooklyn and Queens leaders want car-free Summer Streets beyond Manhattan. They urge the city to open roads for people, not cars. Advocates back them. The city says it will review. Families, children, and communities stand to gain space and safety.

On September 12, 2022, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards called for expanding the 'Summer Streets' program to their boroughs. They wrote to Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, stating, 'Every year, we see how much New Yorkers enjoy the car-free street and associated activities, and we are writing to ask you to bring this beloved event to our respective boroughs in 2023.' The Department of Transportation said it would review the request. Advocates like Juan Restrepo and Jackson Chabot joined the call, demanding more hours and borough-wide access. Community groups stressed the benefits for families and children. The program is described as cost-effective, crime-free, and vital for community building. No formal council bill or vote yet, but the push is clear: open streets for all, not just Manhattan.

• Brooklyn, Queens Beeps Want ‘Summer Streets’ Too!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-09-12

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

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

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

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

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

A new report shows most NYC road deaths happen when speed cameras are off. Advocates and officials push Albany to let the city run cameras all day, every day. The state stalls. Lives hang in the balance. The data is clear. Action lags.

Senate Bill 5602, still pending in Albany, would let New York City control and expand speed camera enforcement to 24/7. The Transportation Alternatives report, 'Speeding Doesn’t Sleep,' warns that 59 percent of city road deaths occur when cameras are off. The report urges full-time operation, noting cameras cut speeding by 72 percent where installed. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez calls passage 'very important.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Governor Hochul support local control. Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives says, 'We need Albany to allow New York City to operate speed safety cameras 24/7 so every neighborhood is protected from speeding drivers every hour of the day, every day of the week.' Despite strong public support, the legislature has not acted. The evidence is stark: when cameras are off, people die.

• Yet Another Report Makes Clear Case for City Control of Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-10

Manhattan and Brooklyn borough presidents pressed DOT to let Citi Bike add more e-bikes. They say more e-bikes mean fewer cars, safer streets. DOT did not commit. The cap stands. Riders wait. The city’s car problem grows.

On April 7, 2022, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso sent a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) urging it to raise the 20 percent cap on e-bikes in the Citi Bike fleet. The matter, titled 'Manhattan and Brooklyn Borough Presidents Ask DOT To Raise Cap on E-Bikes in Citi Bike Fleet,' argues that 'increasing the availability of Citi Bike electric bikes is essential' for shifting commuters out of cars. Levine and Reynoso both support expanding e-bike access and public subsidies for Citi Bike, opposing the current pricing structure. DOT acknowledged the request but did not promise action. The council members stress that more e-bikes mean more safe, reliable trips for New Yorkers, especially for short journeys that now fill city streets with cars.

• Manhattan and Brooklyn Borough Presidents Ask DOT To Raise Cap on E-Bikes in Citi Bike Fleet, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-07

Garbage piles choke New York sidewalks. Rats swarm. Pedestrians dodge filth. Council Member Sandy Nurse and Borough President Antonio Reynoso push for organics recycling and fair funding. City agencies stall. Mayor Adams sends mixed signals. Streets stay dangerous for those on foot.

On March 22, 2022, the New York City Council’s Sanitation Committee debated the city’s trash crisis. The hearing, covered by Streetsblog NYC, spotlighted Council Member Sandy Nurse and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. Nurse demanded full funding for sanitation, calling the crisis 'unprecedented.' Reynoso urged immediate action on 'save-as-you-throw' and mandatory organics recycling, saying, 'We have full authority to implement both.' The matter title reads: 'TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy.' The committee reviewed stalled pilot programs and budget cuts. Nurse stressed the need for equitable services and investment in public transit and clean streets. The debate exposed political inertia and underfunding, leaving sidewalks hazardous for pedestrians and failing neighborhoods most at risk.

• TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-22

Garbage piles choke sidewalks. Rats swarm. Pedestrians dodge filth. Council Member Sandy Nurse calls the city’s trash crisis ‘unprecedented.’ She demands full funding for sanitation. She backs organics recycling, pay-as-you-throw, and fewer cars. The city stalls. Streets stay dangerous.

On March 22, 2022, the City Council held a hearing on sanitation, waste management, and budget cuts. Council Member Sandy Nurse (District 37) led the charge, declaring, ‘the cuts to Sanitation cannot be negotiated, must be fully funded,’ and warning of an ‘unprecedented sanitation crisis.’ The hearing, covered in the article ‘TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy,’ spotlighted stalled reforms like containerized waste, mandatory organics recycling, and pay-as-you-throw. Nurse and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso demanded immediate action and opposed further cuts. The debate exposed how trash piles and budget slashes endanger pedestrians, block sidewalks, and worsen city life. The article’s conclusion: real safety and cleanliness require investment in transit, clean streets, and fewer cars.

• TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-03-22

North Brooklyn leaders and advocates demand real protection for cyclists on Grand Street. Plastic posts failed. Cars park in the lane. Crashes mount. They want Jersey barriers, hardened entrances, and an end to chaos. The city must act before more lives are lost.

On March 4, 2022, North Brooklyn officials and activists sent a letter to the Department of Transportation demanding a true protected bike lane on Grand Street. The letter, backed by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Julia Salazar, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and Council Members Lincoln Restler and Jennifer Gutierrez, called for 'protective jersey barricades and measures taken at each intersection to stop cars from entering the protected bike lane.' The group condemned the current plastic delineators, noting, 'From day one, the Grand Street bike lane has failed to keep people safe.' Since 2019, 67 cyclists have been injured and 196 crashes reported. The letter urges the city to replace weak barriers, fix dangerous entrances, and finally deliver safety for vulnerable road users. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Adams are now under pressure to act.

• North Brooklyn Seeks Some of that Jersey Barrier Magic on Grand Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-04

A private garbage truck driver ran over and killed a 62-year-old man at Flatbush and Atlantic. The intersection is notorious for crashes. Only 27 percent of city garbage trucks have side guards. City delays on safety measures continue to cost lives.

On March 4, 2022, a private sanitation truck driver killed a pedestrian at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic avenues in Brooklyn, near Barclays Center. The incident highlights ongoing failures in city safety policy. The intersection is described as 'very dangerous,' with fast turns and drivers not yielding. Only 27 percent of the city’s 5,860 heavy garbage trucks have side guards, despite a 2019 city deal requiring them by 2024. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, then a Council Member, said, 'side rails should be installed sooner.' Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives called for 'bold action' and criticized city officials for delaying redesigns and safety steps. The private carting industry remains under scrutiny after repeated fatal crashes. No council bill number is attached, but the event underscores the urgent need for systemic change to protect pedestrians.

• Private Garbage Truck Driver Kills Pedestrian at Dangerous Brooklyn Intersection, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-04

Cyclists dodge cars on Grand Street. Plastic bollards fail. Drivers block lanes. Restler and activists push for concrete barriers. Seventy injuries since 2019. DOT delays. Riders wait. Danger remains. Lives at risk until real protection arrives.

On March 3, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined activists to demand the Department of Transportation install concrete barriers on the Grand Street bike lane. The push follows years of crashes—67 cyclist injuries and 196 total crashes since 2019—despite so-called 'protected' lanes. The matter, titled 'Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane,' highlights how plastic bollards fail to stop drivers from blocking lanes, forcing cyclists into traffic. Restler, along with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, State Senator Julia Salazar, and Borough President Antonio Reynoso, signed a letter urging Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez to act. The DOT has started hardening some lanes citywide, but Grand Street remains unprotected. Activists say, 'We knew the omission of protective jersey barriers would lead to dangerous conditions back in 2019 and we have witnessed that prediction come tragically true throughout 2021.' The call is clear: real barriers, not broken promises.

• Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-03-03

Senate Bill S6929, pushed by Sen. Luis Sepulveda, passed committee. It demands more red tape before bike lanes or racks go in. Critics say it slows safety. Advocates rally to block it. The city wants faster, not slower, bike upgrades.

Senate Bill S6929, sponsored by Sen. Luis Sepulveda, passed the Cities Committee and now faces fierce opposition. The bill requires the NYC Department of Transportation to give extra notifications and presentations to community boards and local officials before installing or removing bike lanes or racks. The matter summary reads: 'require the NYC DOT to provide additional notifications and presentations.' Advocacy groups, including Bike New York, are preparing testimony to stall the bill before it reaches the Senate floor or Assembly Cities Committee. Critics argue the DOT already must notify community boards under the 'Fidler rule,' and that this bill would gum up the process, delaying life-saving bike infrastructure. A legislative source called the bill 'boneheaded.' Public polls show strong support for more bike lanes, with only a small minority opposed. The city is seeking to streamline—not slow—bike safety upgrades.

• To the Barricades! Grassroots Effort Needed to Blunt ‘Boneheaded’ Bike Block Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-01

Brooklyn lawmakers tell developers: no more parking mandates. They want special permits to drop parking. They say parking rules drive up costs, block affordable homes, and fuel car use. The message is clear—build for people, not for cars.

On March 1, 2022, Brooklyn politicians announced a push to eliminate mandatory parking minimums for new developments. The action is not a formal bill, but a policy stance led by Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Lincoln Restler. The group, including Council Members Jennifer Gutierrez, Crystal Hudson, Chi Osse, Sandy Nurse, Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Rita Joseph, and Farah Louis, demands that developers seeking zoning changes first apply for a special permit to waive parking requirements. Restler said, 'Developers need our consent and approval, and we are telling them, plainly, that they have to file for a special permit to end parking requirements.' Reynoso added, 'You don't need to do that anymore.' Avilés called parking mandates a barrier to affordable housing and climate action. The group argues that parking minimums raise construction costs, encourage car use, and block green space. Restler warned he is 'far more likely to vote no' on projects without a parking waiver. Advocates and policy experts back the move, and related state legislation is pending.

• Brooklyn Pols Tell Developers to Eliminate Parking or Else, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-01

Restler and city leaders stood at Brooklyn Borough Hall. They demanded faster buses, more lanes, and real enforcement. Riders choke on slow service. Cars clog bus lanes. The call: redesign routes, expand service, and put riders first. No more stalling.

On February 28, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined borough presidents and advocates at Brooklyn Borough Hall to demand urgent action on New York City’s bus system. The event, titled 'Borough beeps join city transit advocates for better bus service,' spotlighted stalled promises and called for Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul to deliver. Restler and others backed the Bus Turnaround Coalition’s push for network redesigns, expanded and more frequent service, all-door boarding, and tougher enforcement in bus lanes. Comptroller Brad Lander stressed that 'expanded bus routes must also match 21st century travel patterns.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso linked better buses to less car dependence and climate action. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez pledged 150 new miles of busways and lanes. The campaign aims to speed up buses, cut car dominance, and put vulnerable road users first.

• Borough beeps join city transit advocates for better bus service, gothamist.com, Published 2022-02-28

City law now forces DOT to install 500 new loading zones each year. The move aims to curb double parking and ease delivery chaos. The original plan was bigger, but politics cut it down. DOT faces pushback from drivers and boards. Streets stay dangerous.

Bill number not specified. Passed by the City Council in late 2021, this law requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create at least 500 loading zones annually. The measure, authored by then-Council Member Antonio Reynoso, instructs DOT to use neighborhood density and public requests to guide placement. DOT spokesman Vin Barone said, 'We’re expanding our loading zone program to meet the increasing demands of deliveries and cut down on unsafe double parking.' The original bill sought 25% of curb space for loading in dense areas, but the de Blasio administration opposed it. The final law was a compromise. DOT has struggled to site zones in residential neighborhoods due to driver and community board resistance. Transportation Alternatives backed the bill, calling current street use 'inequitable' and harmful to public health, safety, and city goals. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Up Next for DOT: City Law Requires 500 New Loading Zones Every Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-01-14

A sedan struck a parked SUV on Bushwick Place. Metal met stillness. A 27-year-old man, riding outside, took the blow. His leg crushed. He stayed conscious. Driver inattention and inexperience set the scene. The street bore the mark.

A sedan traveling east on Bushwick Place crashed into a parked SUV. According to the police report, a 27-year-old man riding outside the sedan suffered crush injuries to his leg but remained conscious. Several other passengers, including young adults and a child, were involved but did not report serious injuries. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The sedan’s front end struck the SUV’s rear. No safety equipment was used by those riding outside. The crash underscores the danger when drivers lose focus and lack experience behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493867 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04