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

City Hall stalled a Brooklyn bike lane after a real estate giant complained. The block near Two Trees’ garage sits unfinished. DOT staff fume. Protected lanes for cyclists and pedestrians wait. Private interests win. Vulnerable road users lose. The city’s promise stalls.

On August 14, 2023, City Hall intervened in a Department of Transportation (DOT) street redesign, delaying protected bike lanes on Ashland Place and Navy Street in Brooklyn. The project, planned for over a year, aimed to add two-way protected bike lanes and convert some blocks to one-way for cars. According to Streetsblog, 'Officials from the Adams administration have held up part of yet another long-planned street redesign at the behest of a major local business opposed to part of the plan.' Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a top aide to Mayor Adams, reportedly ordered DOT to halt work after Two Trees Management, a powerful real estate company, lobbied against changes near its parking garage. Council member Crystal Hudson did not comment. DOT staff expressed frustration, saying such interference blocks progress for pedestrians and cyclists. The block near Two Trees remains without new markings, while other blocks move ahead.

• Another Street Redesign Delayed After City Hall Intervenes on Behalf of Powerful Private Interests, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-14

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

A Nissan SUV struck a northbound moped from behind on Washington Avenue. The moped rider, helmeted and unlicensed, suffered a shattered pelvis. The SUV’s bumper split. The street fell silent. Driver inattention marked the crash.

A Nissan SUV rear-ended a northbound moped on Washington Avenue. The moped rider, a 50-year-old man, was helmeted but unlicensed. He sustained severe crush injuries to his pelvis and remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, 'A Nissan SUV crushed into the rear of a northbound moped. The rider, 50, unlicensed but helmeted, lay conscious with a shattered pelvis.' The SUV’s bumper split from the impact. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The moped rider’s helmet use is noted, but the primary cause remains the SUV driver’s inattention. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650160, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A van turned right on Rogers Avenue. A 72-year-old woman crossed with the signal. Metal hit flesh. She fell hard. Blood spread on the street. The driver kept going. She lay broken, bleeding, in shock.

A van struck a 72-year-old woman as she crossed Rogers Avenue with the signal. According to the police report, the van was making a right turn when it hit the pedestrian, causing severe bleeding and injuries to her entire body. The report states, 'A van turned right. A 72-year-old woman crossed with the signal. Metal struck her body. She fell. Blood pooled on the pavement. The man drove on.' The listed contributing factor is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The driver did not stop. The woman suffered serious injuries and was left in shock. No mention of helmet or signal use is listed as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4648531, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

A 17-year-old rode north on Bedford Avenue. He struck a parked SUV. His neck was crushed. He wore no helmet. The street was quiet. Blood pooled. He stayed awake. Driver inattention marked the crash.

A 17-year-old male riding a motorcycle north on Bedford Avenue collided with a parked SUV. According to the police report, 'A 17-year-old on a motorcycle struck a parked SUV. No helmet. His neck crushed. He stayed awake. The street was quiet. The boy bled alone.' The teen suffered crush injuries to his neck but remained conscious at the scene. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The data also notes the absence of a helmet, but only after driver inattention. No other people were injured. The SUV was parked and unoccupied. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4629777, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A truck struck and killed Adam Uster on Franklin Avenue. Council Members Crystal Hudson and Chi Osse called his death preventable. Neighbors mourned. The city failed to protect cyclists. The street lacks safe bike lanes. The community demands action. Grief fuels their fight.

On May 5, 2023, Council Members Crystal Hudson (D-Fort Greene) and Chi Osse (D-Bed-Stuy) responded to the killing of cyclist Adam Uster by a truck driver on Franklin Avenue. The matter, titled 'Pols and Neighbors Call For a Safer Franklin Avenue After Killing of Cycling Advocate,' centers on calls for protected bike lanes and urgent safety upgrades. Hudson stated, 'having a protected bike lane would help save lives,' and called Uster's death a 'tragic loss that could have been avoided.' Osse called it 'another preventable tragedy,' blaming the lack of safe infrastructure and reckless driving. Neighbors, including Amy Ko, echoed the need for change, citing frequent crashes and speeding. The Department of Transportation pledged to evaluate upgrades. The community plans a vigil and rally to demand safer streets. No formal bill number or committee status is listed.

• Pols and Neighbors Call For a Safer Franklin Avenue After Killing of Cycling Advocate, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-05

Council bill Int 1030-2023 would force DOT to show its hand. Every traffic signal and speed bump request, tracked online. Status, reason, and timeline—no more black box. The bill died in committee, but the demand for sunlight remains.

Int 1030-2023 was introduced on April 27, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to post details of all traffic control device and speed reducer requests on a public website. The matter summary reads: 'The required website would include, but need not be limited to, the following information: case number, general topic, issue, status, resolution, reason for approval or denial of traffic control device, and if approved, the timeline for completion.' Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, joined by 21 co-sponsors including Williams, Hanif, and Yeger. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided, but the measure aimed to end secrecy around life-saving street changes. Public access to this data could expose delays and denials that keep streets deadly.

• File Int 1030-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

A box truck drifted off Flushing Avenue and smashed into a parked SUV. The man inside, 38, died on impact. The SUV’s front buckled. The truck stood untouched. Police blamed driver distraction. No one else was hurt.

A fatal crash struck Flushing Avenue near North Oxford Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a box truck veered into a parked SUV. The man inside the SUV, age 38, was killed instantly. The SUV’s front was crushed. The box truck showed no damage. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other injuries were reported. The report notes the SUV occupant was unbelted, but only after citing distraction as the primary cause. The data lists no errors by the victim. The crash underscores the deadly risk when drivers lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4623158, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A BMW sped east on Eastern Parkway. The driver lost focus. Metal smashed. The driver’s leg crushed. Two passengers hurt. Rain slicked the road. Three injured. The night echoed with the sound of steel.

A BMW sedan crashed on Eastern Parkway near Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the 24-year-old driver became distracted and lost control. The car struck an object, crushing the driver’s leg. Two passengers were also injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors. The BMW’s left side doors took the brunt of the impact. All three occupants were hurt. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left three people injured inside the car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4625853, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council moved to ban driving with fake or expired plates. Civil fines would hit drivers hard. Sponsors spanned the city. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed to untraceable cars and reckless drivers.

Int 0987-2023 was introduced in the New York City Council on April 11, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to prohibit operating a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates, including temporary ones. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates.' Civil penalties ranged from $300 to $1,000, with a 10-day cure period for expired plates. The bill was sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over thirty council members, including Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Yeger, Menin, and others, as well as the Brooklyn and Bronx Borough Presidents. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0987-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

The Council called for Albany to pass Sammy’s Law, letting New York City set lower speed limits. The resolution also urged a crash victims bill of rights and stronger street safety laws. Lawmakers want fewer deaths. The bill stalled. Danger remains.

Resolution 0549-2023, filed at session’s end, came from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2023, and pushed by Council Member Shahana K. Hanif as primary sponsor, with Jennifer Gutiérrez and over twenty others co-sponsoring. The resolution urged the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law'), which would let New York City set lower speed limits, and A.1901, a crash victims bill of rights. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422, also known as ‘Sammy’s Law,’ ... and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights, as well as the other bills of the package known as the SAFE Streets Act.' The SAFE Streets Act package also includes safe passing for cyclists and complete street design mandates. The Council’s action highlights the city’s ongoing fight against reckless driving and the urgent need for stronger protections for people on foot, on bikes, and in cars.

• File Res 0549-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

A Yamaha motorcycle hit a turning Ford SUV on Atlantic Avenue. The rider, 24, wore a helmet. He was thrown, crushed, broken under the SUV’s front. Seven in the SUV, including children, were unhurt. The street swallowed another body.

A Yamaha motorcycle slammed into the rear of a Ford SUV making a left turn at Atlantic Avenue and Grand Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the 24-year-old motorcyclist, who wore a helmet, was thrown from his bike and crushed under the SUV’s front, suffering injuries to his entire body. The Ford carried seven occupants, including five children and two adults, none of whom were reported injured. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors for either vehicle. The motorcyclist’s helmet is noted in the data, but the impact proved fatal. The crash shows the deadly force of turning vehicles and the vulnerability of those on two wheels.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618565, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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

Council bill Int 0965-2023 aimed to force the city to build 100 miles of protected bike lanes each year. The bill died at session’s end. Cyclists remain exposed. The city’s pace stays slow. The streets stay dangerous. The need remains.

Int 0965-2023 was introduced on March 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 miles of protected bicycle lanes annually until 2029. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of protected bicycle lanes.' Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Sandy Nurse, Erik D. Bottcher, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Shekar Krishnan, Julie Won, Chi A. Ossé, Tiffany Cabán, Christopher Marte, Crystal Hudson, and Rita C. Joseph. The bill was filed at the end of session, never enacted. The city’s protected bike lane network remains incomplete. Cyclists and other vulnerable road users still face daily risk from cars and trucks. The bill’s failure leaves the city’s most exposed travelers in harm’s way.

• File Int 0965-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-03-16

A sedan struck an SUV at Nostrand and Crown. Metal twisted. A 56-year-old man, trapped behind the wheel, died with crushed legs. Traffic control was ignored. The street did not stop. The crash left silence and broken glass in Brooklyn.

A deadly crash unfolded at the corner of Nostrand Avenue and Crown Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a sedan slammed into a sport utility vehicle. The impact trapped a 56-year-old male driver behind the wheel. He suffered severe leg injuries and died at the scene. The report states, 'Traffic control was ignored. The street did not stop.' The official contributing factor listed is 'Traffic Control Disregarded.' No evidence in the report suggests any error or fault by the victim. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers ignore traffic controls at busy intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612732, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A woman turned left on her bike. A chassis cab hit her with its right front. She flew. Blood poured from her leg. She stayed awake. The truck rolled on, unmarked. Her knee did not.

A 40-year-old woman riding a bike was struck by a chassis cab on Navy Street near Nassau Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was making a left turn when the truck hit her with its right front quarter panel. She was ejected from her bike, suffering severe bleeding and injury to her knee and lower leg, but remained conscious. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The truck showed no damage. The cyclist was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the crash was caused by driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4611231, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study bike traffic each year. The law would have mapped busy bike routes, flagged gaps in protection, and pushed safety fixes. The session ended. The bill died. Cyclists wait. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0926-2023, introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to conduct and publish an annual study on bicycle activity. The bill’s summary states: “The department shall conduct and submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council and post conspicuously on the department's website an annual study on bicycle activity.” Council Members Amanda Farías, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Lincoln Restler, Tiffany Cabán, Crystal Hudson, Kevin C. Riley, and Lynn C. Schulman sponsored the measure. The bill would have identified the most biked streets and bridges, noted which lacked protected lanes, and demanded safety recommendations. The council filed the bill at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill’s failure leaves cyclists exposed, with no citywide data push to guide urgent fixes.

• File Int 0926-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council filed a bill to study e-bike charging stations for food delivery workers. The plan called for a task force to weigh cost, location, and fire risk. The bill died at session’s end. Delivery workers remain exposed. No action. No safety.

Int 0927-2023, introduced February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to create a task force to study the feasibility of building charging stations for e-bikes used by food delivery workers. The bill’s summary states: 'A Local Law in relation to establishing a task force to study the feasibility of building charging stations for bicycles with electric assist to be used by food delivery workers.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Cabán, Farías, Hudson, Hanif, Richardson Jordan, Ayala, Nurse, Avilés, Won, and Brewer. The task force would have reviewed costs, locations, funding, and fire risks tied to lithium-ion batteries. The bill was filed at the end of session, leaving delivery workers without new protections or infrastructure.

• File Int 0927-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council filed a bill to force a city study on truck and delivery traffic from last mile warehouses. The bill targets congestion, collisions, and harm to neighborhoods. It demands hard numbers on vehicle flow, street damage, and danger to people outside cars.

Int 0923-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Member Alexa Avilés, with over thirty co-sponsors, sought a city study on the impact of truck and delivery traffic from last mile facilities. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to conducting a study of the impact that truck and delivery traffic generated by last mile facilities have on local communities and infrastructure.' The bill required the Department of Transportation to report on delivery vehicle volumes, parking, congestion, collisions, and pedestrian injuries near these hubs. It called for identifying the most affected streets and estimating the costs and possible fixes. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without passage.

• File Int 0923-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16