No More Names on the List: End the Killing on Atlantic Avenue Now

A Mercedes sat parked on Fulton Street. It rolled forward, silent and slow, into a box truck. The woman inside, 56, never moved again. Her seatbelt held her. The truck bore no mark. Death came quiet, unannounced.

According to the police report, a parked Mercedes sedan rolled forward near 777 Fulton Street in Brooklyn at 9:04 a.m. The car struck a box truck, which sustained no visible damage. The sole occupant of the Mercedes, a 56-year-old woman, was found dead inside, still restrained by her lap belt. The report states, 'A parked Mercedes rolled forward into a box truck. The woman inside, 56, never moved again. Her seatbelt held her still. The truck bore no mark. The street stayed quiet. Death came without a sound.' No contributing factors were specified for either vehicle or driver. The data lists the cause as 'Unspecified.' The box truck was parked and undamaged. The focus remains on the unexplained movement of the parked vehicle and the fatal outcome for its driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703686, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill targets cars blocking bike lanes, sidewalks, and hydrants within half a mile of schools. Fines set at $175. Civilians can report violations. DOT must act on complaints. Council aims to clear paths for people, not cars.

Int 0080-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after its introduction on February 8, 2024. 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," creates a new civil penalty for vehicles blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants within 2,640 feet of a school. The penalty is $175 per violation. The Department of Transportation must launch a civilian reporting program. If DOT prosecutes a case using civilian evidence, the complainant gets 25% of the proceeds. Council Member Carlina Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Joseph, Menin, Nurse, Hudson, Brannan, Farías, Brewer, Salaam, Hanif, Avilés, Won, Bottcher, Krishnan, Gutiérrez, Marte, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill aims to keep streets clear for vulnerable road users, especially near schools.

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

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

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

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

Council calls for state law to fail cars at inspection if plates are damaged or blocked. Obstructed plates let reckless drivers hide. Cameras miss them. Streets grow more dangerous. The bill targets this loophole. It sits in committee. Action is pending.

Resolution 0026-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The measure urges the New York State Legislature and Governor to require inspectors to fail any vehicle with a damaged or obstructed license plate. The resolution states: 'Obstructed and defaced license plates prevent cameras and law enforcement from identifying traffic offenders and impedes safe operating conditions on the road.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Lynn C. Schulman, Sandra Ung, Crystal Hudson, and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers back the bill. They want to close a gap that lets drivers dodge red light and speed cameras. The bill aims to stop offenders from hiding behind unreadable plates. It remains in committee, awaiting further action.

• File Res 0026-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

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

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

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

A man rode north on Rogers Avenue. The pavement broke beneath him. He flew from his e-bike. His head struck the street. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He died there, alone, in the morning light.

A 37-year-old man riding an e-bike north on Rogers Avenue was killed after hitting defective pavement. According to the police report, the rider was ejected from his bike, struck his head, and died from severe bleeding. The report lists 'Pavement Defective' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The crash caused fatal head injuries. The police note the rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is mentioned only after the systemic hazard of broken pavement. No other vehicles or people were involved. The street failed him. The city failed him.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692318, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Jeep rear-ended a diesel truck on Atlantic Avenue. The SUV’s front crumpled. The truck barely moved. An 88-year-old woman, belted in the front seat, died inside the wreck. She never made it out. Impact was sudden. Death was total.

A Jeep SUV struck the rear of a diesel tractor truck on Atlantic Avenue near Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A Jeep rear-ended a diesel truck. The SUV’s front folded. The truck barely moved. An 88-year-old woman, belted in the front seat, died. Her body shattered inside the car. She never got out.' The crash killed the elderly front-seat passenger. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as a contributing factor. The passenger was wearing a lap belt and harness. No driver errors by the truck operator are listed. The force of the collision left the SUV destroyed at the front, while the truck sustained rear-end damage but remained largely unmoved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681770, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

No Prospect Heights intersection meets daylighting law. Parked cars choke corners. A child died. Locals demand action. Council Member Hudson calls for daylighting near schools. The mayor stalls. Crashes mount. Streets stay dangerous. Residents want the city to act now.

On November 14, 2023, the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council released a survey showing none of the neighborhood’s 54 intersections meet state daylighting standards. The group, led by Gib Veconi, demands the Adams administration finish the Underhill Avenue bike boulevard and support the Vanderbilt Avenue open street. Council Member Crystal Hudson called for daylighting all intersections within a half-mile of a school, covering all 54 intersections. The matter summary states, 'No intersections in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, are clear of parked cars as required under state law.' Veconi and the council cite recent pedestrian deaths, including a 7-year-old killed by an NYPD tow truck driver whose view was blocked by parked cars. The mayor’s office has delayed safety projects, citing outreach concerns. Residents and advocates say the city’s exemption from state daylighting law leaves streets unsafe, with 180 crashes and 75 injuries reported this year. They urge City Hall to act before another tragedy.

• Vision? Zero: Prospect Heights Seeks Daylighting for a Neighborhood with None, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-14

A city tow truck driver killed 7-year-old Kamari Hughes in Fort Greene. Residents and Councilmember Crystal Hudson blame Mayor Adams for unsafe streets. Promised reforms stalled. Crossing guards unfilled. Bike lanes abandoned. Cyclist deaths climb. City Hall defends its record.

This controversy centers on Mayor Eric Adams’ street safety record following the fatal crash that killed 7-year-old Kamari Hughes in Council District 35. The incident, reported on November 3, 2023, highlights Adams’ reversal on key safety policies, including ending the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program and abandoning a planned bike lane on Ashland Place. The Department of Transportation briefly removed a car-free Open Street in Fort Greene, a move traced to City Hall. Councilmember Crystal Hudson, representing District 35, criticized the administration for failing to fill 483 vacant crossing guard positions and for lax speeding enforcement, stating her precinct has 'a long waiting list and not enough crossing guards.' Despite Adams’ claims of 1,000 street redesigns and ongoing efforts, the administration has missed City Council-mandated goals for protected bike and bus lanes. Cycling deaths are at their highest since 2014. DOT touts a record low in pedestrian fatalities and daylighting redesigns, but residents and Hudson say many intersections remain unsafe.

• Crash that killed 7-year-old boy highlights Adams' shaky street safety record in Fort Greene, gothamist.com, Published 2023-11-03

Council Member Crystal Hudson demands urgent street fixes after a tow-truck driver killed Kamari Hughes, age 7. She pushes for bike lanes, crossing guards, and tougher rules. Hudson vows to fight for safer streets in District 35. Advocates watch closely.

On October 30, 2023, Council Member Crystal Hudson issued a forceful call for street safety reforms following the death of Kamari Hughes, a 7-year-old struck by a tow-truck driver. In her statement, Hudson said the tragedy 'underscores the dire need to continue our fight for safer streets in District 35 and across the city.' She outlined demands: finish the Ashland Place bike lane, reauthorize and strengthen the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program, add crossing guards and shift oversight from NYPD to DOT, install bulb-outs and daylighting near schools, speed up DOT review for speed humps, and build more protected bike lanes. Hudson also announced a District 35 Street Infrastructure Advisory Board. She acknowledged past hesitancy but now commits to stronger advocacy. Advocates welcomed her renewed push but remain wary of delays. No formal bill number or committee action yet.

• Council Member Crystal Hudson Demands More Street Safety Projects, Including Ashland Pl., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-30

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 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 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 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

Crystal Hudson faces heat in Brooklyn. Residents demand she defend threatened street redesigns. The city cut a bike lane, may scrap others. Hudson stays neutral, touts her record, but avoids clear support. Advocates want action, not words. Streets remain at risk.

On October 17, 2023, Council Member Crystal Hudson came under fire in her Fort Greene/Clinton Hill district. The Adams administration cut short a protected bike lane on Ashland Place and may roll back other safety projects. At a town hall, Hudson called herself a neutral arbiter, saying, 'My record of supporting and delivering tangible results that make our streets safer and more accessible to cyclists, pedestrians, and all New Yorkers speaks for itself.' She criticized city outreach but did not commit to defending threatened projects. Hudson has co-sponsored Int. 965 for protected bike lanes and funded safety on Flatbush Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue Open Streets. Still, advocates and residents launched a petition, demanding she take a clear stand. Hudson’s legislative record shows support, but her neutrality leaves vulnerable road users exposed as projects hang in the balance.

• ‘What Do You Stand For’: Brooklynites Call on Council Member to Defend Endangered Street Safety Projects, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-17

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

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

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

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

A beloved open street on South Portland Avenue died when DOT withdrew support. Volunteers could not keep cars out. Traffic returned. No city program replaced it. The street lost its safe space. Neighbors mourned. The city moved on.

On October 2, 2023, the closure of the South Portland Avenue open street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, was reported. The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) ended contractor support in spring 2023, citing a shift of resources to higher-need areas and the street's ineligibility for the Public Space Equity Program. The matter summary states, 'A block-long "open street"...ended in spring 2023 after the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) reassigned its contractor elsewhere.' Council Member Crystal Hudson did not comment on the closure. Volunteers, including Phillip Kellogg, Brian Blessinger, and Mike Lydon, voiced frustration and burnout, highlighting the failure of relying on unpaid labor for public safety. No significant local opposition existed. The loss underscores the need for permanent city-backed programs to protect vulnerable road users and maintain safe, car-free spaces.

• Popular Fort Greene Open Street Fizzles After City Pulls Support, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-02

A decade of meetings. Still, Atlantic Avenue stays deadly. City planners released a new framework, but no action. Council Member Crystal Hudson backs safer streets, but the city stalls. Trucks, cars, and danger remain. Vulnerable lives hang in limbo.

On September 5, 2023, the Department of City Planning released a draft framework for the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan. The plan, discussed for over ten years, aims to transform Atlantic Avenue from a car-dominated corridor into a safer, mixed-use area. The report, described as 'exhaustive' by Council Member Crystal Hudson, highlights community demands for deeply affordable housing, safer streets, and better infrastructure. Hudson stated, 'the community surrounding Atlantic Avenue has called for a new vision for this dangerous corridor.' The plan identifies needs like bike boulevards, raised crosswalks, and wider sidewalks. However, the Department of Transportation raised concerns about protected bike lanes due to truck traffic. The rezoning process is set to begin, but major safety changes remain years away. Vulnerable road users must wait as the city delays real action.

• There’s Been a Decade of Public Engagement on Atlantic Ave — and Years More are Coming Before Roadway is Fixed, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-05

A man turned left on Nostrand. His Yamaha smashed hard. The front crumpled. Blood pooled on the street. He stayed conscious. The pavement held him. The city watched, unmoved.

A 50-year-old man riding a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle was injured while turning left at Nostrand Avenue and Sterling Place in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the motorcycle struck hard, crumpling the front. The rider suffered severe head lacerations and remained conscious at the scene. The report notes he wore no helmet. No specific driver errors were listed beyond 'Unspecified' contributing factors. The crash left blood pooling on the street. The incident underscores the violence of impact when a vulnerable road user meets the city’s pavement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661121, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15