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

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study street design that blocks or deters trucks from residential streets. The bill called for a report on making streets less accessible to commercial vehicles. It died at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0924-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to study and report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential neighborhoods. The matter’s title reads: 'A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of transportation to study street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsored the bill, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The report was due by December 31, 2023. The bill was filed at the end of session with no report issued. The measure aimed to examine street redesign, traffic calming, and camera enforcement to keep trucks out of residential areas, but it stalled before any impact reached the street.

• File Int 0924-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council called on maritime importers to cut truck traffic and use marine vessels for last mile deliveries. Trucks choke streets, foul air, and endanger lives. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain crowded. The danger rolls on.

Res 0501-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 16, 2023, and closed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The resolution urged, in its own words, 'top maritime importers to New York City ports to commit to making the City’s streets greener by reducing truck traffic and using marine vessels for last mile deliveries throughout the boroughs.' Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez sponsored, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate Williams, and others. The bill cited the city’s reliance on trucks—89% of freight—fueling congestion, pollution, and risk for everyone outside a vehicle. The Council pointed to pilot programs like Blue Highways as a way to clear streets and cut emissions. But the resolution was filed without action. Trucks still rule the road.

• File Res 0501-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

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

Council called on the MTA to train non-police subway staff to handle mental health crises. The resolution followed deadly incidents on tracks. Sponsors said clear protocols could save lives. The bill was filed at session’s end. No direct safety review.

Resolution 0484-2023 was introduced on February 2, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill called for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide non-police staff in the subway system with training and protocols for dealing with mentally ill customers. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide non-police staff working in the subway system with training and a protocol for handling issues with mentally ill customers.' Council Members Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Kevin C. Riley, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler, and Farah N. Louis sponsored the resolution. The bill was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst reviewed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Res 0484-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-02

NYPD officers took over Classon Playground in Clinton Hill, blocking kids from play. Police parked personal cars on park land, shutting out families. Council Member Crystal Hudson questioned the move. The cars are gone now, but the damage lingers.

On January 29, 2023, NYPD officers from the 88th Precinct parked their personal vehicles in Classon Playground, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. The move blocked public access to recreation space. Council Member Crystal Hudson responded, stating, 'We believe this was done in anticipation of potential protests, though it’s hard to understand the correlation.' She pledged to contact both the 88th Precinct and the Parks Department about this recurring practice. The NYPD later claimed the parking was temporary, meant to protect vehicles from possible vandalism. Local parents expressed anger at losing playground space. No council bill was filed, but the incident highlights how police actions can strip vulnerable road users—children and families—of safe public space.

• SPACE HOGS: NYPD Cops Seize Clinton Hill Playground — Again!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-29

Council bill Int 0879-2023 would force DOT to install bollards at rebuilt sidewalks, curb extensions, and ramps. The law targets spots where cars strike. It demands a study, annual reports, and clear rules. Filed at session’s end. No action yet.

Int 0879-2023 was introduced on January 19, 2023, in 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 installation of bollards at reconstructed sidewalks, curb extensions and pedestrian ramps,” was sponsored by Council Members Brooks-Powers, Krishnan (primary), Stevens, Hanif, Hudson, Richardson Jordan, Riley, and the Manhattan Borough President. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install bollards at reconstructed sidewalks, curb extensions, and pedestrian ramps, especially where accessibility upgrades are made. It mandates a study on bollard effectiveness in high pedestrian areas and demands annual reporting on installations and requests. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, with no enactment. The measure aims to harden pedestrian space, forcing the city to act where cars threaten walkers and wheelchair users.

• File Int 0879-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-01-19

Steel crushed flesh on Vanderbilt Avenue. An Audi SUV hit hard. The driver died, buckled in. His passenger, trapped, survived with crush wounds. Distraction ruled the wheel. The street fell silent. Metal and blood marked the spot.

A 2021 Audi SUV traveling west on Vanderbilt Avenue near Pacific Street crashed front-first. The 70-year-old male driver died at the scene, restrained by a lap belt and harness. His 60-year-old female passenger, also buckled in, suffered crush injuries but survived. According to the police report, 'Distraction at the wheel' was a contributing factor. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The SUV was demolished. The crash left one dead, one injured, and a street marked by silence.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594304, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Brooklyn council members pressed NYC Parks to lift the e-bike ban in Prospect Park. They called the ban unjust. They said e-bikes are not trucks. They want safer, fairer access for riders, families, and workers. The fight is not over.

On December 28, 2022, Councilmember Rita Joseph (District 40), along with Shahana Hanif and Crystal Hudson, urged NYC Parks to allow e-bikes in Prospect Park. The matter, titled 'E-Bikes Are Not Allowed in Prospect Park, But These BK Pols Think They Should Be,' centers on a letter sent December 20 to the Parks Commissioner. The council members wrote, 'The parks department has no justification for classifying e-bikes in the same category as SUVs or trucks.' They condemned the blanket ban, arguing it blocks access for delivery workers and families. Joseph and her colleagues oppose the current ban and the classification of e-bikes as motor vehicles. Their action highlights the need for policies that protect and include vulnerable road users, not punish them.

• E-Bikes Are Not Allowed in Prospect Park, But These BK Pols Think They Should Be, bkreader.com, Published 2022-12-28

Councilmember Rita Joseph and colleagues demand the Parks Department lift the e-bike ban in Prospect Park. They say the rule punishes workers and families. E-bikes are legal on city streets. The ban blocks access and forces riders into danger elsewhere.

On December 22, 2022, Councilmember Rita Joseph (District 40) joined Crystal Hudson and Shahana Hanif in urging the Parks Department to repeal the Prospect Park e-bike ban. The matter, titled 'Brooklyn pols call for repeal of Prospect Park e-bike ban,' highlights how the current policy keeps e-bikers out of the park, even after citywide legalization. The councilmembers wrote, 'E-bike users include delivery workers who keep us fed, families on cargo bikes, individuals recovering from surgery, older adults, people who live in areas with fewer public transit options, those who want to limit their carbon footprint by not driving cars, and so many more.' They argue the ban unfairly targets vulnerable riders and blocks access for those who rely on e-bikes for work and daily life. The Parks Department’s stance forces e-bike users onto more dangerous streets, undermining safety and equity. The councilmembers call for a new, inclusive policy shaped by community input.

• Brooklyn pols call for repeal of Prospect Park e-bike ban, amny.com, Published 2022-12-22

Council pushed for a map showing every crossing guard post. The NYPD would have to put it online. The bill died in committee. Streets stay opaque. Kids and elders cross in the dark.

Int 0870-2022 was introduced on December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to require the NYPD to post a map of all crossing guard locations on its website. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting on crossing guard deployment.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks led as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Louis, Joseph, Farías, Restler, Hudson, Ung, Avilés, and the Bronx Borough President. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote. If passed, it would have shed light on where the city protects its most vulnerable at the curb. Instead, the public remains in the dark about guard coverage at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0870-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council members push Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. The resolution died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed.

Resolution 0441-2022, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, called on the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass S.315/A.1416. This would let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets in the Open Streets program. The matter, titled 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass...S.315/A.1416, which would authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program,' was sponsored by Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Farah N. Louis, Lincoln Restler, Amanda Farías, Julie Won, Carlina Rivera, and Crystal Hudson. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The measure aimed to protect pedestrians and cyclists by slowing traffic where people gather. But with the bill stalled, Open Streets remain at risk from fast-moving vehicles.

• File Res 0441-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Three Brooklyn council members want e-bikes back in Prospect Park. They say the current ban lumps e-bikes with trucks and SUVs. They argue e-bikes help New Yorkers move without cars. The Parks Department’s rule, they say, sends the wrong message.

On December 21, 2022, Council Members Shahana Hanif (Park Slope), Crystal Hudson (Prospect Heights), and Rita Joseph (Prospect Lefferts Gardens) issued a public letter urging the Parks Department to end its ban on e-bikes in Prospect Park. The letter states, 'E-bikes are legal to ride on New York City streets and make moving around the city more accessible without adding more pollution and congestion.' The council members oppose the Parks Department’s policy that classifies e-bikes as motor vehicles, grouping them with SUVs and trucks. They argue this ban blocks access for delivery workers, families, older adults, and people with limited transit options. The lawmakers call for a new policy that permits e-bikes while addressing safety concerns, insisting the current rule undermines city values of accessibility and environmental care.

• Three Council Members Whose Districts Surround Prospect Park Demand the Return of E-Bikes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-21

After a driver killed a baby on Gates Avenue, the city built a pedestrian plaza. Neighbors mourned, some protested. Council Member Crystal Hudson backed the plan. DOT pressed on, despite a community board’s ‘no.’ The street changed. The danger remains real.

Brooklyn’s Gates Avenue saw tragedy in September 2021 when a driver killed a 3-month-old and injured others. In response, the Department of Transportation (DOT) moved to create a pedestrian-only plaza between Vanderbilt Avenue and Fulton Street. Brooklyn Community Board 2 voted against the plan in August 2022, but DOT proceeded, as city law does not require board approval. The matter, described as a response to 'the tragedy and the desire to improve safety,' drew over 1,800 petition signatures. Council Member Crystal Hudson, representing District 35, supported the plaza for safety reasons. Despite public outreach and a scaled-back design, some longtime residents felt ignored. DOT promises further safety improvements. The plaza stands as a direct answer to deadly car violence.

• Neighbors Criticize City's Handling of New Gates Ave. Plaza, bkreader.com, Published 2022-11-30

DOT began outreach for a Grand Army Plaza overhaul. The plan aims to carve out more space for people on foot and bike. Council Members Hudson and Hanif pushed for fixes. Advocates want traffic cut and safety raised. Designs come in 2024.

On November 13, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) kicked off public outreach for a major redesign of Grand Army Plaza. The effort, not yet a formal bill, marks the start of a multiyear process with capital funding. The DOT presented plans to 'create more space for pedestrians and cyclists,' and floated ideas to connect Prospect Park’s northern entrance to the Soldiers Memorial Arch. Council Members Crystal Hudson and Shahana Hanif previously called for DOT to address 'signal timing and unprotected bike lanes.' Community advocates and residents voiced strong support for closing parts of the plaza to traffic and improving infrastructure for people walking and biking. The process includes public meetings, surveys, and a traffic study, with preliminary designs expected in 2024. While some residents worry about car access, the push is clear: less traffic, more safety for the vulnerable.

• DOT Kicks Off Outreach on New Grand Army Plaza Fix: ‘Dream Big’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-13

DOT moves to ban cars from Grand Army Plaza. Council members demand urgent fixes. Pedestrians and cyclists face danger daily. Crashes, injuries, broken sidewalks, and chaos define the space. The city promises swift action. Streets for people, not cars.

On November 10, 2022, the NYC Department of Transportation proposed making Grand Army Plaza car-free and connecting it to Open Streets on Vanderbilt and Underhill Avenues. The matter, described as 'NYC DOT proposal for car-free Grand Army Plaza and related street safety improvements,' is not a formal council bill but has drawn council attention. Council Member Shahana Hanif (District 39) and Crystal Hudson pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez to address the plaza’s 'endless traffic, poor sidewalk conditions, broken benches, and overflowing trash cans.' Hanif and Hudson demanded immediate safety upgrades after recent crashes injured pedestrians and cyclists. DOT Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton said, 'We want to take it to the next level... more consistent and better designed public spaces.' The agency is seeking public feedback and plans to draft detailed designs within the year. The proposal aims to end the status quo of danger and disrepair, prioritizing vulnerable road users over cars.

• Exclusive: DOT eyes Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza as NYC's next car-free space, gothamist.com, Published 2022-11-10

The Council passed Int 0291-2022, forcing city agencies to map, plan, and report on greenways. The law demands annual updates and public engagement. It aims to carve out safe, car-free corridors for walkers and cyclists. The mayor returned it unsigned.

Int 0291-2022, now Local Law 115 of 2022, was enacted by the City Council on November 27, 2022. The bill came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, first introduced April 28, 2022. The law's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a citywide greenway plan.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by dozens of co-sponsors including Rivera, Hudson, and others. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor on October 27, 2022. The law orders the Department of Transportation and Parks to identify, map, and report on greenways, and to consult with community boards. Proposals for new greenway segments or repairs must be presented to affected communities within 60 days. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law. The measure compels the city to plan and maintain safe routes for non-drivers, with regular public reporting and accountability.

• File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27

Two e-bikes slam together on Troy Avenue at night. One rider, fifty, thrown hard. Head hits pavement. Blood spills. Lacerations deep. No helmet. No lights. Failure to yield. Silence under the streetlamps.

Two e-bikes collided at speed on Troy Avenue after dark. One rider, age 50, was ejected and struck his head on the pavement, suffering severe lacerations. According to the police report, 'No lights. No yield.' The crash was caused by 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The injured rider wore no helmet, as noted in the data, but the primary factor was the failure to yield. The report lists no other injuries. The street was quiet. The only witness was an occupant, unhurt. The scene was blood and silence under the lamps.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4576034, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A pickup tore down Eastern Parkway. The driver sped, distracted, unlicensed. He struck a 56-year-old man standing in the road. The truck crushed him. The man died on the street. The city fell silent around the wreck.

A 56-year-old pedestrian was killed on Eastern Parkway near Schenectady Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a pickup truck traveling at unsafe speed struck the man head-on as he stood mid-road. The driver was unlicensed and distracted. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pickup’s center front end hit the pedestrian, causing fatal injuries to his entire body. No other injuries were specified for the occupants. The police report details the driver’s lack of license and failure to control speed or attention. The victim died at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575837, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A man on an e-bike slammed into a parked box truck on Schenectady Avenue. He was thrown from the bike. His neck broke. Blood pooled on the street. He died there, alone, under the sun. The crash ended his ride in Brooklyn.

A 48-year-old man riding an e-bike south on Schenectady Avenue near Lincoln Place struck a parked box truck and was ejected. According to the police report, 'A 48-year-old man on an e-bike struck a parked box truck. No helmet. Ejected. Neck broken. Blood pooled on the pavement. He died there, alone, beneath the late morning sun.' The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider was unlicensed. No helmet was used, as noted in the report, but this is mentioned only after the driver error. No other injuries were reported. The parked box truck was not damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4574844, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

DOT shrank plans for Apolline’s Garden. The city dropped slow-street changes and neckdowns. Parking won out over safety. A plaza remains, but the boldest protections are gone. Council Member Hudson was left out. The street stays dangerous for now.

On October 12, 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it would scale back its Apolline’s Garden project, a response to a fatal crash that killed a 3-month-old girl. The original plan would have closed part of Gates Avenue to cars and added traffic-calming features. Instead, DOT scrapped the one-way conversion and neckdowns, citing 'community feedback' and resource limits. DOT spokesman Vin Barone said, 'the project honoring Baby Apolline still creates new public space and safer streets,' but for now, only the Gates Plaza will move ahead. Council Member Crystal Hudson said she was not informed in advance and focused on advocating for the garden. The rollback means fewer protections for pedestrians and leaves the street’s dangers largely unaddressed.

• ‘Apolline’s Garden’ Project Scaled Back after ‘Community Feedback,’ Says DOT, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-10-12