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

A man on a bike hit a parked sedan on Fulton Street. He flew off, landed hard. Blood spilled from his arm. Flesh torn, pain sharp. He stayed awake. The street was cold, silent. The car did not move.

A 27-year-old man riding a bike crashed into a parked sedan near 733 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his arm. The sedan was parked at the time of the crash. No contributing driver errors were listed in the report. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted after the absence of driver errors. Two occupants were inside the sedan but were not injured. The street was quiet after the impact, the cyclist conscious but hurt. The report lists all contributing factors as unspecified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532206, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Member Crystal Hudson paused DOT’s push to make Willoughby Avenue’s open street permanent. She cited vague community concerns, called for a reassessment, and stressed consensus. Data shows fewer crashes and more people walking and biking since the street opened.

On May 16, 2022, Council Member Crystal Hudson sent a letter to Willoughby Avenue Neighbors United, urging a reassessment of the Willoughby Avenue Open Street plan. The Department of Transportation (DOT) postponed its presentation on making the open street permanent after Hudson raised concerns. The matter summary states: 'implementation – especially the 'Limited Local Access' model – and communication... has been flawed.' Hudson, who has supported open space and pedestrian safety, now emphasizes community engagement, saying, 'Every voice, including dissenting voices, must be heard.' She suggests changes to better accommodate all residents. Data shows the open street is safer, with fewer crashes and more non-drivers using the space. Hudson’s stance highlights the tension between safety gains and demands for broader consensus.

• WILLOUGHOBAD? Progressive Council Member Has Problems with Popular Open Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-18

A sedan veered south on Nostrand Avenue. The car’s right front slammed into a 49-year-old man walking with traffic. His leg split open. He stayed conscious. The driver failed to see, failed to yield, failed to stop.

A sedan traveling south on Nostrand Avenue struck a 49-year-old man who was walking along the roadway with traffic. According to the police report, the sedan changed lanes and its right front hit the pedestrian, causing severe lacerations to his leg. The man remained conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The driver did not see the pedestrian and did not stop in time. The impact tore flesh and left the victim with serious injuries. No other vehicles or persons were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4528807, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council Members Hudson and Hanif call on DOT to fix Grand Army Plaza. They want protected bike lanes, speed bumps, and better signals. Community groups back them. The plaza stays dangerous for walkers and cyclists. DOT promises a review. Action is overdue.

On May 11, 2022, Council Members Crystal Hudson and Shahana Hanif sent a letter to the Department of Transportation urging immediate safety upgrades at Grand Army Plaza. The matter, titled 'Brooklyn Pols: Fix Grand Army Plaza and Make it Safer,' calls for more protected bike lanes, speed bumps, improved traffic signals, and completion of stalled capital work. The councilmembers cited ongoing crashes, injuries, and community complaints about dangerous conditions. They requested a comprehensive traffic study and highlighted support from over 2,000 neighbors and local advocacy groups. DOT responded that it would review the letter and meet with the community. The push comes as past improvements have failed to end the threat to pedestrians and cyclists. Hudson and Hanif’s action keeps pressure on the city to fix a deadly crossroads.

• Brooklyn Pols: Fix Grand Army Plaza and Make it Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-11

Council bill Int 0256-2022 would force NYPD to count every time an officer uses a car to control someone. The law closes a reporting loophole. Police vehicles are now named as weapons. The bill was filed at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0256-2022, introduced April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety, sought to amend the city code to require NYPD to report when officers use a motor vehicle as force. The bill’s matter title reads: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to use of force incidents involving police department use of a motor vehicle.” Council Member Althea V. Stevens led as primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Hudson, Williams, Restler, Krishnan, and others. The bill would have added 'use of a motor vehicle to gain control of a subject' as a reporting category. It was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. This measure aimed to expose police vehicle violence by demanding full transparency in use-of-force reporting.

• File Int 0256-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28

Council bill Int 0261-2022 would force the city to build curb extensions at deadly crossings. Five intersections per borough, every year. The aim: block cars from parking near crosswalks, boost pedestrian sightlines, and cut crashes where people walk.

Int 0261-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, 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 requiring curb extensions at certain dangerous intersections,' was sponsored by Council Members Hanif (primary), Menin, Hudson, Stevens, Ayala, Abreu, Krishnan, Nurse, and Riley. The bill required the Department of Transportation to identify intersections with high pedestrian crash rates and install curb extensions—prohibiting parking within 15 feet of crosswalks—at a minimum of five such intersections in each borough per year. The measure was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. Curb extensions are designed to increase pedestrian visibility and reduce deadly conflicts at crossings, directly targeting systemic dangers faced by people on foot.

• File Int 0261-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28

Council members and advocates rallied at City Hall. They demanded $3.1 billion for the Streets Master Plan. Traffic deaths surged 44 percent in early 2022. The mayor’s budget falls short. The city stalls. Streets remain deadly. The call: fund safety now.

On April 22, 2022, more than a dozen City Council members and advocates gathered at City Hall to demand full funding for the Streets Master Plan. The plan, passed in 2019, requires hundreds of miles of protected bike lanes, bus lanes, and safer sidewalks. Council Member Alexa Avilés led the call: "We want $3.1 billion, a little tiny fraction of the [nearly $100-billion] city budget, to make sure our streets belong to us, and to make sure New Yorkers are safe." Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers, Carlina Rivera, Lincoln Restler, Sandy Nurse, Chi Ossé, Crystal Hudson, Shekar Krishnan, and Amanda Farías joined her. Traffic fatalities rose 44 percent in the first quarter of 2022, the deadliest start since Vision Zero began. The mayor’s proposed $98.5-billion budget did not allocate significant funds for the plan. Advocates say the city must act now to stem the bloodshed on its streets.

• Pols and Advocates to Mayor: Put More Money Into the Streets Master Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-22

A police van struck and killed Anthony Smith on Eastern Parkway. The Civilian Complaint Review Board launched an investigation. Smith’s sister and Council Member Crystal Hudson demand the officers be fired. The NYPD stays silent. The Attorney General also investigates.

On April 20, 2022, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) opened an investigation into the death of Anthony Smith, who was killed by an NYPD van on Eastern Parkway. The matter, described as a 'police-involved traffic fatality and official response,' has drawn sharp criticism. Julie Floyd, Smith’s sister, demands the officers be fired, stating, 'If one of us runs a red light... there's a risk of us getting shot.' Council Member Crystal Hudson echoed the call for termination. The NYPD has not commented, only placing the driver on modified duty. The state Attorney General’s office is also investigating, as required in police-involved deaths. Vehicle crashes, especially those involving NYPD, drive up city settlement costs. The case spotlights the lack of police accountability in traffic violence.

• CCRB Opens Probe into Police Driver Who Killed Man on Eastern Parkway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-20

An NYPD officer killed Ronald Smith on Eastern Parkway. Witnesses say the cop sped and ran a red. The NYPD hid details. The officer now sits on modified duty. Council Member Hudson demands firing. Investigations crawl. The city pays for silence.

On April 7, 2022, an NYPD officer fatally struck Ronald Smith, 53, on Eastern Parkway. The officer, accused of speeding and running a red light, was placed on modified duty. The Internal Affairs Bureau and the state Attorney General opened investigations. The NYPD refused to release crash details or the officer's name. Council Member Crystal Hudson issued a blistering statement demanding the officer's termination, not desk duty. The matter summary states, 'The police officer who was driving the NYPD vehicle that fatally struck a man...has been placed on modified duty.' The NYPD's lack of transparency is routine. Truths surface only after lawsuits. In 2020, vehicle crashes cost the city $142 million. Police settlements are a heavy burden. The system shields its own, leaving families to seek answers in court.

• NYPD Driver Who Killed Man on Eastern Parkway is Placed on Modified Duty, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-15

Council bill Int 0172-2022 would force DOT to warn communities before changing open streets. Sixty days’ notice. Four weeks for comments. Two weeks for answers. Streets can’t shift without neighbors knowing. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay uncertain.

Int 0172-2022, filed by the NYC Council and handled by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to amend city law on open streets. Introduced April 14, 2022, the bill required the Department of Transportation to give 60 days’ notice to council members, boards, and local groups before any permanent open street changes. The bill’s summary reads: “notification and community input regarding designation of, removal of and changes to open streets.” Sponsors included Tiffany Cabán (primary), Crystal Hudson, Kamillah Hanks, Oswald Feliz, Farah N. Louis, Kalman Yeger, Sandy Nurse, Shahana K. Hanif, and Althea V. Stevens. The bill mandated a four-week comment window and a two-week response period, plus annual reporting and advance notice for temporary changes. The bill was filed at the end of session, leaving open streets policy unchanged.

• File Int 0172-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-14

Steel crashed on Washington Avenue. Two men, alone in their cars, slammed nose to tail. Both drivers stunned, necks wrenched, pain sharp and sudden. Distraction behind the wheel left them broken and silent in the Brooklyn dark.

Two sedans collided near 971 Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers, a 24-year-old and a 48-year-old, suffered neck injuries and shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling straight when the crash occurred, with one sedan striking the other from behind. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary cause. Both drivers were alone and wore lap belts. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The impact left both men injured, their silence broken by pain. The crash underscores the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4518809, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An NYPD van struck and killed a man standing on Eastern Parkway’s median. Police gave no answers. Witnesses say the van ran a red. Council Member Hudson condemned the NYPD’s disregard for life. Advocates demand real protection, not paint, on deadly Brooklyn streets.

On April 8, 2022, an NYPD van fatally struck a 53-year-old man on Eastern Parkway near Schenectady Avenue. The incident, classified as an official statement on NYPD-involved traffic fatality and street safety policy, drew sharp criticism from Council Member Crystal Hudson, who called out the NYPD’s 'complete disregard for human life' and demanded the release of the driver’s name and termination of involved officers. The matter summary states: 'Police have offered no new details about the fatal crash caused by the driver of an NYPD van.' Transportation Alternatives’ Danny Harris highlighted the city’s failure to redesign this Vision Zero priority corridor, noting that 'paint is not protection.' The group cited five deaths and hundreds of injuries on this stretch in five years. Advocates and council members call for full funding and real street safety improvements, not empty gestures.

• As Outrage Builds, Police Offering No New Details on NYPD Van Crash that Killed Man on Eastern Parkway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-08

A Chevy SUV rolled west on Eastern Parkway. Six inside. A 53-year-old man stepped into the crosswalk. The bumper struck. He fell. He died there. The driver was distracted. The street stayed silent.

A 53-year-old man was killed while crossing Eastern Parkway when a westbound Chevy SUV struck him in the crosswalk. According to the police report, 'A Chevy SUV rolled west. A man, 53, stepped into the crosswalk. The bumper hit. He fell. Six sat inside the car. None reached him. The street held his last breath.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The driver, a 33-year-old man, was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No injuries were reported among the six occupants of the SUV. The impact occurred at the left front bumper. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4517159, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a 28-year-old cyclist at Eastern Parkway and Underhill Avenue. She flew from her bike. Blood pooled from her head. She lay on the asphalt, conscious, eyes open. The car’s bumper bent. The morning light caught the wreckage.

A sedan struck a 28-year-old woman riding her bike on Eastern Parkway at Underhill Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck a 28-year-old cyclist. She flew from her bike. No helmet. Head bleeding. Conscious. The bumper bent. She lay on the asphalt, eyes open, staring up through the morning light.' The cyclist suffered a head injury with severe bleeding. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. No helmet was worn, as noted in the report, but driver errors are primary. Two sedan occupants and a witness were unhurt. The crash left the cyclist injured and the car’s bumper damaged.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4516819, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

EMP Capital wants a 17-story tower at 1034 Atlantic Ave. They promise wider sidewalks, fewer parking spots, and safer crossings. Council Member Crystal Hudson demands a full corridor plan, not piecemeal fixes. Community Board 8 opposes. The city reviews. Lives hang in the balance.

EMP Capital proposes a 17-story, 200-unit mixed-use building at 1034 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn. The project seeks rezoning to waive parking minimums, offering only 20 spaces instead of 90-95. The plan includes wider sidewalks, bioswales, improved crosswalks, and significant bike parking. Council Member Crystal Hudson, though part of a group supporting parking waivers, opposes the project for lacking community input and a comprehensive corridor plan. She said, 'We cannot continue to approve things one by one, without any regard for the full context of the area.' Community Board 8 also objects, favoring a broader MCROWN rezoning. The Department of City Planning and DOT are reviewing the proposal, which has conditional approvals from the Borough President and City Planning. The developers argue their project could model safer, car-reducing development on a deadly corridor.

• Builder Wants Atlantic Ave. Tower to be a Model for Pedestrian-Friendly Development on Deadly Corridor, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-24

Tempers flared as Fort Greene residents clashed over the Willoughby Avenue open street. Barriers vanished without warning, then returned after public outcry. Councilmember Crystal Hudson stood firm. DOT cited rising crash deaths. Most neighbors backed the car-free stretch.

On March 8, 2022, Councilmember Crystal Hudson hosted a heated debate on the Willoughby Avenue open street in District 35. The meeting followed the abrupt, unannounced removal of barriers from the eight-block stretch, which sparked swift backlash. Hudson, joined by DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez, faced vocal opponents worried about lost parking and emergency access. Hudson said, 'This is about more than just open streets, this is about safe streets.' DOT surveys showed 88 percent support for permanent safety changes. Mayor Eric Adams ordered the street restored after learning Hudson opposed its closure. Rodríguez highlighted a spike in traffic deaths, noting, 'We have a responsibility to think about, first of all, protecting our senior citizens.' According to NYC Crash Mapper, 72 people—mostly cyclists and motorists—were injured on this stretch in the past decade, but no deaths. The open streets program, launched during the pandemic, remains popular and aims to protect vulnerable road users.

• Fort Greene locals hash out Willoughby Avenue open street fiasco, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-03-09

A Toyota sedan struck a 68-year-old man on Fulton Street. The car’s right front bumper smashed his head. Blood pooled on the street. The driver did not stop. The man stayed conscious. The sedan vanished into the night.

A 68-year-old man was crossing Fulton Street near No. 773 in Brooklyn when a Toyota sedan hit him with its right front bumper. According to the police report, 'A Toyota sedan struck a 68-year-old man crossing without a signal. The right front bumper hit his head. He bled heavily but stayed awake. The car kept going, straight into the dark.' The pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding but remained conscious. The sedan, traveling east, did not stop after the crash. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No other injuries were reported among the vehicle’s occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4508528, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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

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

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

Willoughby Avenue’s open street vanished, then returned. Mayor Adams denied giving the removal order. DOT blamed miscommunication. NYPD cited emergency access worries. Community members were left confused and upset. The street, popular and busy, was restored the same day.

On February 11, 2022, Mayor Adams addressed the sudden removal of the Willoughby Avenue open street in Fort Greene. The Department of Transportation (DOT) removed the open street, later calling it a 'miscommunication.' Adams stated, 'I called [DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez] and I stated, is this something [the neighborhood's] Councilwoman wants? And once I was told no, I was very clear, put that street back.' Officer Evita Poole of the NYPD’s 88th Precinct raised concerns about emergency vehicle access but denied lobbying for removal. Council Member Carlina Rivera, author of the permanent open streets law, tweeted support. Council Member Crystal Hudson promised a community meeting. The open street was restored the same day, but the incident left residents shaken and highlighted the fragility of safe space for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Mayor Adams Says He Didn’t Give the Order to Erase Fort Greene Open Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-11

Council called on the MTA to make every renovated subway station fully accessible. Only a fraction of stations have elevators. Lawmakers want no more half-measures. The resolution was filed at session’s end. Riders with disabilities remain stranded underground.

Resolution 0009-2022 was introduced on February 10, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to ensure any subway station undergoing enhancement or renovation becomes fully accessible to people with disabilities. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to make any subway stations undergoing enhancement or renovation fully accessible to people with disabilities.' Council Member Darlene Mealy sponsored the resolution, joined by Brannan, Menin, Louis, Yeger, Hanif, Hudson, Marte, Joseph, Riley, and Brooks-Powers. The resolution was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. Only 117 out of 493 subway stations are accessible. The Council’s action highlights the city’s failure to guarantee safe, equal passage for all riders. Elevators and upgrades are overdue. The bill’s filing leaves vulnerable New Yorkers waiting.

• File Res 0009-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-02-10