District 34: Trucks, turns, and a dead‑end on safety

May 1 - A sedan hit a 72-year-old man at Saint Nicholas and Gates. The right bumper struck his head. Blood pooled on the street. He lay conscious, bleeding under the sun. Driver inattention led to the crash. The city’s danger pressed in.

A 72-year-old man was struck by a sedan while crossing at the intersection of Saint Nicholas Avenue and Gates Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 72-year-old man crossing against the light. The right bumper hit his head. Blood pooled on the pavement. He lay conscious, bleeding, beneath the sun.' The pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The sedan was traveling straight ahead when it hit the man. The data also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' but the primary driver error remains inattention. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4625492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - A driver killed Katherine Harris on Atlantic Avenue. Politicians demand mid-block crossings, daylighted intersections, and curb extensions. They call the street a speedway. They blame city inaction. They vow to push for changes. The city promises only to study.

On May 1, 2023, after the death of Katherine Harris, Brooklyn Heights Council Member Lincoln Restler and State Senator Andrew Gounardes called for urgent safety fixes on Atlantic Avenue. At a rally, Restler said, "It is wrong how deadly this strip is." The officials demand mid-block crossings, daylighted intersections, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, and safer pedestrian space near BQE ramps. Borough President Antonio Reynoso criticized city resistance to reallocating street space, saying, "They drag their feet because they don’t want to do the inevitable." The Department of Transportation has agreed only to study new crosswalks. The bill is not yet formal legislation but marks a push for action after years of delay. No safety analyst assessment is available.

• In Wake of Death, Pols Want Mid-Block Crossings, Safer Atlantic Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-01

Apr 28 - A sedan hit a westbound e-bike head-on in Brooklyn. The 27-year-old rider flew off, bleeding from the face. He lay conscious on the street. The car’s rear panel crumpled. Driver inattention and failure to yield marked the crash.

A sedan traveling south on Roebling Street struck a westbound e-bike head-on near South 4th Street in Brooklyn. The 27-year-old e-bike rider was ejected and suffered severe facial bleeding, but remained conscious on the pavement. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' were listed as contributing factors. The sedan’s left rear quarter panel was damaged. The report notes the e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, but this was not listed as a cause. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupants. The crash underscores the danger posed by driver distraction and failure to yield on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624364 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 27 - Brooklyn’s Age-Friendly Task Force released ten sharp recommendations. The focus: safer sidewalks, better bus driver training, and more housing for older adults. Council Member Crystal Hudson backed the push. The plan aims to cut danger for Brooklyn’s aging population.

On March 27, 2023, the Age-Friendly Brooklyn Task Force released ten policy recommendations to make Brooklyn safer and more inclusive for its 352,000 residents aged 65 and older. The initiative, supported by Council Member Crystal Hudson, Chair of the City Council Committee on Aging, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, narrows 33 ideas to ten urgent actions. The report calls to 'ensure safe, clean, well-maintained sidewalks with well-lit intersections,' and to 'provide training to MTA bus drivers on working with older riders and riders with disabilities.' Hudson stated, 'We have to do all we can to ensure that our communities are responsive to the needs of our aging population.' The recommendations target housing, transportation, and public safety, aiming to reduce risks for older pedestrians and transit users.

• BP’s Age-Friendly Task Force releases 10 recommendations for an age-inclusive Brooklyn, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-03-27

Mar 9 - A diesel truck turned right on Morgan Avenue. Its front quarter struck a 56-year-old cyclist. The man was thrown from his bike. He died under the streetlight. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. The street stayed silent after.

A 56-year-old man riding a bike south on Morgan Avenue near Johnson Avenue was killed when a diesel truck turned right and its front quarter struck him. According to the police report, 'A 56-year-old man pedaled south. A diesel truck turned right. Its front quarter crushed his head. He wore no helmet. He was thrown from the bike. He died there, alone, under the streetlight.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The cyclist was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries. Helmet use is noted only after the driver errors. The crash left one man dead and a city street marked by loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4611702 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 23 - Council grilled DSNY for dragging its feet on commercial waste zone reform. Delays keep rogue haulers on the street. Reckless driving and deaths persist. Members pressed for urgency. DSNY offered shifting timelines. The city’s most vulnerable remain at risk.

On February 23, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the delayed rollout of commercial waste zone reform, first mandated by law in 2019. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) admitted the overhaul would not start until late 2024, with citywide coverage years away. The matter, described as a fix for a 'free-for-all system that led to reckless driving and fatalities,' remains stalled. Council Members Lincoln Restler and Julie Menin pressed DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch on the slow pace and shifting deadlines. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who introduced the original legislation, stressed the need for clear guidance. StreetsPAC’s Eric McClure highlighted the deadly consequences of delay. DSNY opposes a bill from Council Member Sandy Nurse to create a working group to address these setbacks. The ongoing delay leaves vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous private carting trucks.

• Council to DSNY Commish: Move Faster on Rogue Carting Biz, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-23

Feb 22 - A flatbed truck turned left on Boerum Street. The front end struck a 70-year-old woman working in the road. Her arm was crushed. Blood soaked her sleeve. She stood in shock. The truck’s engine idled. The street stayed silent.

A 70-year-old woman was working in the roadway on Boerum Street when a flatbed truck turned left and struck her with its front end. According to the police report, 'the front end crushed her arm. She stood in shock, blood rising through her sleeve, the engine still warm behind her.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors by the driver. The woman suffered crush injuries to her upper arm and shoulder. No helmet or signal use is mentioned as a factor. The crash highlights the danger posed by large vehicles moving at unsafe speeds near people working in the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607999 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 22 - City delays overhaul of commercial trash pickup. Streets stay dangerous. Trucks keep killing. Councilmember Restler slams the slow pace. Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso demands worker safety. The pilot starts late 2024. Full reform waits. Lives hang in the balance.

Bill 2019, the commercial waste zone reform, faces another setback. The Department of Sanitation announced on February 22, 2023, that the citywide overhaul will not begin until late 2024, with a pilot program in one zone. The reform, first set under Mayor de Blasio, aims to fix inefficiency, worker mistreatment, environmental harm, and traffic carnage. The matter summary notes at least 43 deaths and 107 injuries from commercial garbage trucks in nine years. Councilmember Lincoln Restler called the timeline 'extremely slow' and said delays undermine the law's worker and environmental justice goals. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, sponsor of the 2019 bill, stressed that safety improvements for workers are essential and overdue. The pilot zone is still undetermined. Full implementation will roll out across 20 zones over two years, but for now, the danger remains.

• Overhaul of private trash pickup in NYC delayed until 2024, gothamist.com, Published 2023-02-22

Feb 21 - The BQE slices through North Brooklyn, choking streets with noise and fumes. City leaders have tools to force state DOT to the table but hold back. Advocates demand Adams use his power. The highway’s shadow falls hardest on those walking and biking nearby.

This opinion piece, published February 21, 2023, calls on Mayor Adams to wield the city’s legal leverage over the state Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The article, titled 'Mayor Adams Has Leverage to Force a Reluctant State DOT to Budge on the BQE,' details how city DOT can veto regional transportation plans and must approve state highway projects within city limits. Jon Orcutt, former city DOT official, urges Adams to push for a full corridor plan and not settle for piecemeal fixes. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso are named as officials demanding state DOT return to the process. The BQE has long divided North Brooklyn, bringing pollution and danger to dense neighborhoods. Advocates want the city to use its power to protect residents and vulnerable road users from the harms of urban highways.

• OPINION: Mayor Adams Has Leverage to Force a Reluctant State DOT to Budge on the BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-21

Feb 20 - Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso throws his weight behind Council Member Lincoln Restler’s bills to speed up street redesigns and punish drivers who block bike lanes. He calls for more protected bike lanes, a finished greenway, and streets built for people, not cars.

On February 20, 2023, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso voiced strong support for Council Member Lincoln Restler’s Intro 417 and Intro 501. Intro 417 aims to 'change the approval process of bike lanes and major transportation projects in the community boards,' cutting delays. Intro 501 would fine drivers who block bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants, with civilians able to report violations and receive a portion of the fine. Reynoso said, 'Those are two pieces I’d love to see pushed absolutely.' He also champions protected bike lanes, a comprehensive bike network, and the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Reynoso’s stance is clear: streets must be safer for people walking and biking. He wants action after recent traffic violence and supports more open streets. The plaza outside Borough Hall is now a park, closed to cars. Reynoso’s priorities put vulnerable road users first.

• A Presidents’ Day Interview with Brooklyn Borough Prez Antonio Reynoso, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-20

Feb 16 - A Chevy SUV crashed on Humboldt Street. The driver lost focus. The road was slick. Metal buckled. Three people inside were hurt. Blood pooled. The crash left wounds and silence behind.

A 1997 Chevy SUV crashed on Humboldt Street. Three occupants were injured. According to the police report, 'the driver was distracted. The road was slick.' The front passenger, a 50-year-old man, suffered severe head bleeding. The driver, age 48, had minor head bleeding. A 20-year-old rear passenger was bruised. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, along with 'Pavement Slippery.' All injured occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. The SUV’s center front end was crushed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash shows the danger when attention lapses and roads turn slick.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606355 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 13 - A box truck swung wide on Meserole. Steel met steel. The parked sedan crumpled. The driver, trapped and conscious, suffered neck injuries. The truck rolled on. The street stayed silent. Flesh paid for a turn gone wrong.

A box truck making a right turn on Meserole Street in Brooklyn struck a parked sedan. According to the police report, the truck 'turned wrong.' The sedan's driver, a 42-year-old man, was conscious but suffered crush injuries to his neck. The crash left the sedan's front end mangled. The truck showed no damage and continued on. Police list 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor. No errors are attributed to the sedan driver. Other occupants in the vehicles were listed but did not report injuries. The crash highlights the danger when large vehicles turn without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605615 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 10 - 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

Feb 3 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 27 - The Adams administration stalled a 2019 law to overhaul private carting. Key staff quit. Only half the jobs are filled. Streets stay dangerous. Trucks keep rolling. Council members and advocates demand action. The city drags its feet. Lives hang in the balance.

""There are significant delays to this process. Covid was the original reason why we had to postpone, but now the city is operating in full, why continue with delays on the implementation?"" -- Antonio Reynoso

Local Law 199 of 2019, meant to create 20 commercial waste zones and cut deadly truck traffic, faces delays under the Adams administration. The Department of Sanitation claims it needs more time to avoid mistakes and cost spikes. Council Member Antonio Reynoso questioned, 'Covid was the original reason why we had to postpone, but now the city is operating in full, why continue with delays on the implementation?' Justin Wood, an advocate, warned, 'Yet another tragic fatality involving a private sanitation truck shows the urgent need to fully implement the new commercial waste zones system.' Staff departures and unfilled positions cripple progress. Council Member Sandy Nurse lamented the loss of key leadership. The city says it remains committed, but the streets tell another story. A Council hearing is set to address the ongoing risk.

• EXCLUSIVE: Adams Administration Has Delayed Commercial Waste Reform That’s Required by Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-27

Jan 27 - The Adams administration stalled a law to overhaul private carting. Streets stay dangerous. Trucks keep rolling. The city missed deadlines. No new zones. No relief. Advocates warn: every delay risks another life. The law waits. So do the people.

On January 27, 2023, the city delayed implementation of Local Law 199 of 2019, which would create 20 commercial waste zones and limit private carters. The law, introduced by then-Council Member Antonio Reynoso, aimed to cut truck miles and improve safety. The Department of Sanitation, led by Commissioner Jessica Tisch, missed deadlines for the program’s rollout. Council Member Sandy Nurse, District 37, voiced concern over lost expertise and stalled progress. Reynoso pressed, 'Why continue with delays?' Advocates, like Justin Wood, pointed to another fatal sanitation truck crash as proof of urgent need. The law has no set deadline, leaving the city under no obligation to act quickly. Each day of delay keeps dangerous trucks on city streets, putting vulnerable road users at risk.

• EXCLUSIVE: Adams Administration Has Delayed Commercial Waste Reform That’s Required by Law, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-01-27

Jan 25 - Advocates call on Mayor Adams to back open streets, curb car use, and fund transit. They urge permanent outdoor dining, end to parking mandates, and more space for people. The message is clear: put safety and public space before cars.

On January 25, 2023, advocates released a statement ahead of Mayor Adams’s State of the City address. The statement, titled 'What the Livable Streets Movement Wants from Thursday’s State of the City Address,' urges the city to prioritize open streets, permanent outdoor dining, and public transit. The group calls for eliminating parking mandates and expanding Summer Streets to Brooklyn and Queens. They demand automated curb enforcement and a reduction in the city’s vehicle fleet. Borough Presidents Antonio Reynoso and Donovan Richards support the Summer Streets expansion. The statement insists, 'Leadership should be celebrating [public transit] and investing in it above all else.' The advocates reject half-measures and marketing campaigns. They want policies that move people out of cars and reclaim streets for vulnerable road users.

• What the Livable Streets Movement Wants from Thursday’s State of the City Address, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-25

Jan 24 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 28 - 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 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 14 - City plans to widen the BQE, restoring three lanes each way. Locals and advocates slam the move. They wanted fewer cars, less pollution, and safer streets. Officials focus on beautification. Vulnerable road users remain at risk. The fight continues.

On December 14, 2022, the city unveiled plans to redesign the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), proposing to restore three lanes of traffic in each direction. The Department of Transportation cited federal and state rules for the widening. The plan, discussed in a public meeting, drew sharp criticism. The matter summary reads: 'proposing three similar options for a redesign that will restore three lanes of traffic in each direction, with a park on top.' Liz Denys of Bridges 4 People called out the city for ignoring creative ideas and failing to reduce car and truck traffic. William Meehan criticized the focus on beautification over safety. Council Member Lincoln Restler urged a reduction in car impacts, while Borough President Antonio Reynoso condemned the neglect of environmental justice. Advocates say the plan keeps vulnerable road users in danger and misses a chance to make streets safer.

• Locals Don’t Love the City’s Long-Awaited Re-Widening of Crumbling BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-14