No More Names on the List: End the Killing on Atlantic Avenue Now
District 35: Jan 1, 2022 - Jun 4, 2025
The Toll: Lives Lost, Families Broken
In District 35, the street is a gauntlet. In the last twelve months, four people were killed and nine suffered serious injuries in crashes. Nearly 700 were hurt. The dead include a 101-year-old woman crossing with the light, a 55-year-old man mowed down at midnight, and a woman struck after stepping out of a taxi. These are not just numbers. They are mothers, sons, neighbors.
On April 8, Taibel Brod tried to cross Brooklyn Avenue with the walk signal. An unlicensed driver turned left and hit her. She died in the hospital. Her son recalled, “She walked every morning from Crown Heights to Brookdale Hospital. She used to feed patients there for many years.”
A week later, a man tried to cross Washington Avenue at Fulton. A Ford Explorer slammed into him and kept going. He died before sunrise. Police called it the second fatal hit-and-run in Brooklyn in a week.
The Pattern: Cars, Trucks, and Unkept Promises
SUVs and cars did most of the killing. In three years, they caused more than three-quarters of pedestrian deaths and serious injuries here. Trucks, motorcycles, and bikes add to the toll. The streets are wide. The signals are short. The danger is constant.
The Response: What Crystal Hudson Has Done—and Not Done
Council Member Crystal Hudson has backed bills to build protected bike lanes, daylight intersections, and legalize crossing mid-block. She voted to end jaywalking tickets and co-sponsored the SAFE Streets Act. She called for more crossing guards and curb extensions after a child was killed by a city tow truck. But when it came to Atlantic Avenue—the deadliest stretch—she stopped short of demanding a full redesign. The city says to wait two more years for real change. The bodies keep coming.
The Next Step: No More Waiting
Every day of delay is another risk. Call Council Member Hudson. Demand a full redesign of Atlantic Avenue, daylighting at every corner, and protected lanes where people walk and ride. Do not wait for another name to join the list.
Citations
▸ Citations
- Woman Killed Exiting Taxi In Brooklyn, ABC7, Published 2025-03-01
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727579, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-04
- Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23
- Hit-And-Run Kills Brooklyn Pedestrian, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-17
- File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26
- DOT: Safety Improvements on Atlantic Avenue? Wait Two More Years, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-06
- Unlicensed Driver Kills Pedestrian in Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-24
- BP Reynoso: DOT Must Open its Street Safety Toolkit on Atlantic Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-29
- Community Board Wants Protected Bike Lane on Empire Blvd., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-26
- Vision? Zero: Prospect Heights Seeks Daylighting for a Neighborhood with None, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-14
- Council Member Crystal Hudson Demands More Street Safety Projects, Including Ashland Pl., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-30
- Unlicensed Driver Kills Brooklyn Matriarch, New York Post, Published 2025-04-24
▸ Other Geographies
District 35 Council District 35 sits in Brooklyn, Precinct 77.
It contains Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights (South).
▸ See also
Traffic Safety Timeline for Council District 35
Res 0002-2022Hudson co-sponsors resolution to expand MTA on-demand paratransit pilot.▸City Council calls for Albany to extend and expand the MTA On-Demand E-Hail Paratransit Pilot. The resolution demands fare parity, no ride caps, and equal service for disabled New Yorkers. Lawmakers say current limits are unjust and restrict mobility.
Resolution 0002-2022, filed at session's end, came before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 10, 2022. The measure urges passage of S.4037/A.5896, which would 'extend and expand the scope of the MTA On-Demand E-Hail Paratransit Pilot Program.' Council Member Justin L. Brannan led sponsorship, joined by Ayala, Menin, Louis, Hanif, Hudson, Bottcher, Farías, Brooks-Powers, and Brewer. The resolution slams service caps and fare surcharges, calling them 'inequitable and unjust.' It demands that paratransit users get the same fare, hours, and ride freedom as subway and bus riders. The bill would end rationing and financial barriers for disabled New Yorkers who rely on Access-A-Ride. The Council’s action highlights the systemic barriers faced by vulnerable road users and presses for equal, unrestricted access.
-
File Res 0002-2022,
NYC Council – Legistar,
Published 2022-02-10
Hudson Opposes Harmful Removal of Willoughby Open Street▸City workers tore down Willoughby Avenue’s open street. No warning. Residents erupted. Protesters filled the street. By nightfall, signs returned. DOT called it a miscommunication. The street is vital for walkers and cyclists. The city’s actions left scars.
On February 10, 2022, the Adams administration abruptly removed the Willoughby Avenue open street in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. The Department of Transportation cited vague 'local concerns.' The matter sparked immediate protest. Residents and advocates called the open street 'one of the most successful.' Council Member Crystal Hudson responded, saying, 'We are reaching out to the @NYCMayorsOffice and @NYC_DOT to learn more about what happened and how we can remedy the situation.' By evening, DOT reinstalled the barriers, blaming a 'miscommunication.' The open street had high pedestrian and cyclist use, with little car traffic. The sudden removal, then reversal, exposed the city’s shaky commitment to safe streets and community input. No safety analyst assessment was provided.
-
WHAT A DAY: City Erased a Popular Fort Greene Open Street — Then Reinstalled it After Protests,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2022-02-10
3Sedans Collide at High Speed, Teen Killed▸Two sedans slammed together on Eastern Parkway. Metal twisted. An 18-year-old girl in the back seat died. Three others hurt, bodies broken. The crash tore through the night. Sirens wailed. The street stood still.
On Eastern Parkway at Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn, two sedans collided at 2:09 a.m. According to the police report, one car struck the other broadside. An 18-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat was killed. Three others—a 19-year-old male rear passenger, a 20-year-old male front passenger, and an 18-year-old male driver—were injured. A 61-year-old female driver was also hurt. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The impact left one dead and several injured, with the force of the crash shattering bodies and silencing the street. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4500420,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Speeding Sedan Slams Stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway▸A sedan, moving too fast, struck a stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway. Metal tore. A 17-year-old girl bled from the head. Two other young women suffered pain. The night air stayed cold. The crash left scars and silence.
A sedan traveling at unsafe speed crashed into a stopped SUV near Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A speeding sedan struck a stopped SUV. Metal screamed. A 17-year-old girl in the back seat bled from the head.' She suffered severe head lacerations. Two other female passengers, ages 19, reported pain in their back and legs. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The data shows the injured passengers were wearing lap belts or harnesses, except one who had no safety equipment. No driver errors beyond unsafe speed are listed. The SUV was stopped in traffic when hit. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496666,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Sedan Turns Left, Strikes Two Cyclists on Bedford▸A sedan turned left on Bedford Avenue. Its driver was distracted. Two men on a bike took the hit. One bled from the head, conscious but hurt. The other suffered leg injuries. Steel met flesh. The street stayed silent.
Two cyclists were struck by a sedan making a left turn on Bedford Avenue just after midnight. According to the police report, the sedan's driver was inattentive and distracted. The crash left a 53-year-old male cyclist with a severe head injury and bleeding, while a 41-year-old male cyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Both cyclists were conscious after the collision. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors. The 53-year-old was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's failure to pay attention. No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493781,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
City Council calls for Albany to extend and expand the MTA On-Demand E-Hail Paratransit Pilot. The resolution demands fare parity, no ride caps, and equal service for disabled New Yorkers. Lawmakers say current limits are unjust and restrict mobility.
Resolution 0002-2022, filed at session's end, came before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 10, 2022. The measure urges passage of S.4037/A.5896, which would 'extend and expand the scope of the MTA On-Demand E-Hail Paratransit Pilot Program.' Council Member Justin L. Brannan led sponsorship, joined by Ayala, Menin, Louis, Hanif, Hudson, Bottcher, Farías, Brooks-Powers, and Brewer. The resolution slams service caps and fare surcharges, calling them 'inequitable and unjust.' It demands that paratransit users get the same fare, hours, and ride freedom as subway and bus riders. The bill would end rationing and financial barriers for disabled New Yorkers who rely on Access-A-Ride. The Council’s action highlights the systemic barriers faced by vulnerable road users and presses for equal, unrestricted access.
- File Res 0002-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-02-10
Hudson Opposes Harmful Removal of Willoughby Open Street▸City workers tore down Willoughby Avenue’s open street. No warning. Residents erupted. Protesters filled the street. By nightfall, signs returned. DOT called it a miscommunication. The street is vital for walkers and cyclists. The city’s actions left scars.
On February 10, 2022, the Adams administration abruptly removed the Willoughby Avenue open street in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. The Department of Transportation cited vague 'local concerns.' The matter sparked immediate protest. Residents and advocates called the open street 'one of the most successful.' Council Member Crystal Hudson responded, saying, 'We are reaching out to the @NYCMayorsOffice and @NYC_DOT to learn more about what happened and how we can remedy the situation.' By evening, DOT reinstalled the barriers, blaming a 'miscommunication.' The open street had high pedestrian and cyclist use, with little car traffic. The sudden removal, then reversal, exposed the city’s shaky commitment to safe streets and community input. No safety analyst assessment was provided.
-
WHAT A DAY: City Erased a Popular Fort Greene Open Street — Then Reinstalled it After Protests,
Streetsblog NYC,
Published 2022-02-10
3Sedans Collide at High Speed, Teen Killed▸Two sedans slammed together on Eastern Parkway. Metal twisted. An 18-year-old girl in the back seat died. Three others hurt, bodies broken. The crash tore through the night. Sirens wailed. The street stood still.
On Eastern Parkway at Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn, two sedans collided at 2:09 a.m. According to the police report, one car struck the other broadside. An 18-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat was killed. Three others—a 19-year-old male rear passenger, a 20-year-old male front passenger, and an 18-year-old male driver—were injured. A 61-year-old female driver was also hurt. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The impact left one dead and several injured, with the force of the crash shattering bodies and silencing the street. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4500420,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Speeding Sedan Slams Stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway▸A sedan, moving too fast, struck a stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway. Metal tore. A 17-year-old girl bled from the head. Two other young women suffered pain. The night air stayed cold. The crash left scars and silence.
A sedan traveling at unsafe speed crashed into a stopped SUV near Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A speeding sedan struck a stopped SUV. Metal screamed. A 17-year-old girl in the back seat bled from the head.' She suffered severe head lacerations. Two other female passengers, ages 19, reported pain in their back and legs. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The data shows the injured passengers were wearing lap belts or harnesses, except one who had no safety equipment. No driver errors beyond unsafe speed are listed. The SUV was stopped in traffic when hit. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496666,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Sedan Turns Left, Strikes Two Cyclists on Bedford▸A sedan turned left on Bedford Avenue. Its driver was distracted. Two men on a bike took the hit. One bled from the head, conscious but hurt. The other suffered leg injuries. Steel met flesh. The street stayed silent.
Two cyclists were struck by a sedan making a left turn on Bedford Avenue just after midnight. According to the police report, the sedan's driver was inattentive and distracted. The crash left a 53-year-old male cyclist with a severe head injury and bleeding, while a 41-year-old male cyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Both cyclists were conscious after the collision. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors. The 53-year-old was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's failure to pay attention. No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493781,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
City workers tore down Willoughby Avenue’s open street. No warning. Residents erupted. Protesters filled the street. By nightfall, signs returned. DOT called it a miscommunication. The street is vital for walkers and cyclists. The city’s actions left scars.
On February 10, 2022, the Adams administration abruptly removed the Willoughby Avenue open street in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. The Department of Transportation cited vague 'local concerns.' The matter sparked immediate protest. Residents and advocates called the open street 'one of the most successful.' Council Member Crystal Hudson responded, saying, 'We are reaching out to the @NYCMayorsOffice and @NYC_DOT to learn more about what happened and how we can remedy the situation.' By evening, DOT reinstalled the barriers, blaming a 'miscommunication.' The open street had high pedestrian and cyclist use, with little car traffic. The sudden removal, then reversal, exposed the city’s shaky commitment to safe streets and community input. No safety analyst assessment was provided.
- WHAT A DAY: City Erased a Popular Fort Greene Open Street — Then Reinstalled it After Protests, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-10
3Sedans Collide at High Speed, Teen Killed▸Two sedans slammed together on Eastern Parkway. Metal twisted. An 18-year-old girl in the back seat died. Three others hurt, bodies broken. The crash tore through the night. Sirens wailed. The street stood still.
On Eastern Parkway at Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn, two sedans collided at 2:09 a.m. According to the police report, one car struck the other broadside. An 18-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat was killed. Three others—a 19-year-old male rear passenger, a 20-year-old male front passenger, and an 18-year-old male driver—were injured. A 61-year-old female driver was also hurt. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The impact left one dead and several injured, with the force of the crash shattering bodies and silencing the street. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4500420,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Speeding Sedan Slams Stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway▸A sedan, moving too fast, struck a stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway. Metal tore. A 17-year-old girl bled from the head. Two other young women suffered pain. The night air stayed cold. The crash left scars and silence.
A sedan traveling at unsafe speed crashed into a stopped SUV near Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A speeding sedan struck a stopped SUV. Metal screamed. A 17-year-old girl in the back seat bled from the head.' She suffered severe head lacerations. Two other female passengers, ages 19, reported pain in their back and legs. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The data shows the injured passengers were wearing lap belts or harnesses, except one who had no safety equipment. No driver errors beyond unsafe speed are listed. The SUV was stopped in traffic when hit. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496666,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Sedan Turns Left, Strikes Two Cyclists on Bedford▸A sedan turned left on Bedford Avenue. Its driver was distracted. Two men on a bike took the hit. One bled from the head, conscious but hurt. The other suffered leg injuries. Steel met flesh. The street stayed silent.
Two cyclists were struck by a sedan making a left turn on Bedford Avenue just after midnight. According to the police report, the sedan's driver was inattentive and distracted. The crash left a 53-year-old male cyclist with a severe head injury and bleeding, while a 41-year-old male cyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Both cyclists were conscious after the collision. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors. The 53-year-old was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's failure to pay attention. No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493781,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Two sedans slammed together on Eastern Parkway. Metal twisted. An 18-year-old girl in the back seat died. Three others hurt, bodies broken. The crash tore through the night. Sirens wailed. The street stood still.
On Eastern Parkway at Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn, two sedans collided at 2:09 a.m. According to the police report, one car struck the other broadside. An 18-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat was killed. Three others—a 19-year-old male rear passenger, a 20-year-old male front passenger, and an 18-year-old male driver—were injured. A 61-year-old female driver was also hurt. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors. The impact left one dead and several injured, with the force of the crash shattering bodies and silencing the street. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4500420, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Speeding Sedan Slams Stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway▸A sedan, moving too fast, struck a stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway. Metal tore. A 17-year-old girl bled from the head. Two other young women suffered pain. The night air stayed cold. The crash left scars and silence.
A sedan traveling at unsafe speed crashed into a stopped SUV near Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A speeding sedan struck a stopped SUV. Metal screamed. A 17-year-old girl in the back seat bled from the head.' She suffered severe head lacerations. Two other female passengers, ages 19, reported pain in their back and legs. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The data shows the injured passengers were wearing lap belts or harnesses, except one who had no safety equipment. No driver errors beyond unsafe speed are listed. The SUV was stopped in traffic when hit. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496666,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
Sedan Turns Left, Strikes Two Cyclists on Bedford▸A sedan turned left on Bedford Avenue. Its driver was distracted. Two men on a bike took the hit. One bled from the head, conscious but hurt. The other suffered leg injuries. Steel met flesh. The street stayed silent.
Two cyclists were struck by a sedan making a left turn on Bedford Avenue just after midnight. According to the police report, the sedan's driver was inattentive and distracted. The crash left a 53-year-old male cyclist with a severe head injury and bleeding, while a 41-year-old male cyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Both cyclists were conscious after the collision. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors. The 53-year-old was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's failure to pay attention. No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493781,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A sedan, moving too fast, struck a stopped SUV on Eastern Parkway. Metal tore. A 17-year-old girl bled from the head. Two other young women suffered pain. The night air stayed cold. The crash left scars and silence.
A sedan traveling at unsafe speed crashed into a stopped SUV near Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A speeding sedan struck a stopped SUV. Metal screamed. A 17-year-old girl in the back seat bled from the head.' She suffered severe head lacerations. Two other female passengers, ages 19, reported pain in their back and legs. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The data shows the injured passengers were wearing lap belts or harnesses, except one who had no safety equipment. No driver errors beyond unsafe speed are listed. The SUV was stopped in traffic when hit. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4496666, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15
Sedan Turns Left, Strikes Two Cyclists on Bedford▸A sedan turned left on Bedford Avenue. Its driver was distracted. Two men on a bike took the hit. One bled from the head, conscious but hurt. The other suffered leg injuries. Steel met flesh. The street stayed silent.
Two cyclists were struck by a sedan making a left turn on Bedford Avenue just after midnight. According to the police report, the sedan's driver was inattentive and distracted. The crash left a 53-year-old male cyclist with a severe head injury and bleeding, while a 41-year-old male cyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Both cyclists were conscious after the collision. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors. The 53-year-old was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's failure to pay attention. No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants.
-
Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493781,
NYC Open Data,
Accessed 2025-06-15
A sedan turned left on Bedford Avenue. Its driver was distracted. Two men on a bike took the hit. One bled from the head, conscious but hurt. The other suffered leg injuries. Steel met flesh. The street stayed silent.
Two cyclists were struck by a sedan making a left turn on Bedford Avenue just after midnight. According to the police report, the sedan's driver was inattentive and distracted. The crash left a 53-year-old male cyclist with a severe head injury and bleeding, while a 41-year-old male cyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. Both cyclists were conscious after the collision. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors. The 53-year-old was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the primary cause remains the driver's failure to pay attention. No injuries were reported for the sedan's occupants.
- Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4493781, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15