Eight Dead, Thousands Hurt. Brooklyn Streets Are Killing Fields—Who Will Stop the Bloodshed?

Mayor Adams wants Randy Mastro, a foe of bike lanes and congestion pricing, to lead the Law Department. Council members push back. Mastro’s record signals danger for pedestrians and cyclists. His history favors cars. The fight over his confirmation has begun.

On April 18, 2024, a New York Times report revealed Mayor Adams’s intent to appoint Randy Mastro, former Giuliani deputy mayor, as head of the city’s Law Department. Mastro is known for opposing bike lanes and congestion pricing, having fought the Prospect Park West bike lane and represented New Jersey against congestion pricing. Council Members Sandy Nurse and Tiffany Caban voiced strong opposition, with Caban declaring, 'No way in hell I vote to confirm Randy Mastro.' Joe Borelli, a congestion pricing opponent, supported the move, saying, 'I want more people who think like me on congestion pricing in City Hall.' The appointment signals a car-first agenda. Council resistance is fierce. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, bus riders—face greater risk if Mastro’s priorities shape city policy.

• Randy Mastro Aspires to Join Mayor’s Inner Circle of Congestion Pricing Foes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-18

A moped struck a stopped sedan on Eastern Parkway. The 24-year-old rider, helmeted, sat upright, bleeding from the head. Night air thick with shock, his silence echoed off Pacific Street. Brooklyn’s streets claimed another body, crushed and still.

According to the police report, a moped traveling south on Eastern Parkway near Pacific Street collided with the right side doors of a sedan that was stopped in traffic. The 24-year-old moped rider, who was wearing a helmet, suffered head injuries described as 'crush injuries' and was found in shock, upright and bleeding. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors in the crash. The sedan sustained damage to its right side doors, while the moped’s center front end was crushed. The police narrative notes the rider did not fall from the moped but remained silent and injured at the scene. The systemic danger of inattentive driving and inexperience is underscored by the severe injury to the vulnerable moped operator.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716060, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0504-2024 orders DOT to fix NYCHA sidewalks first, starting with senior housing. The bill demands public reports on repairs and timelines. Lawmakers push for faster, clearer action where broken concrete endangers lives.

Int 0504-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on March 7, 2024. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing priority for sidewalk repairs at developments operated by the New York city housing authority.' Council Members Alexa Avilés (primary sponsor), Shaun Abreu, Farah N. Louis, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Lincoln Restler, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, and Shahana K. Hanif back the measure. The bill forces DOT to fix sidewalks at NYCHA senior housing first, then other NYCHA sites. DOT must also publish repair lists and schedules. The move targets dangerous, crumbling sidewalks where NYCHA residents—especially seniors—face daily risk.

• File Int 0504-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council bill pushes DOT to open streets wider and longer on busy holidays. Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July Fourth, Labor Day, Halloween—cars barred, people free. Community groups get a say. Streets shift from danger to refuge, if the city acts.

Int 0270-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city law to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic. The bill’s summary reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. The bill directs DOT to seek community input for more activation days. Applications for these special activations follow the same review as regular Open Streets. The measure aims to give pedestrians and cyclists more space and time, cutting car risk when crowds surge.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill Int 0255-2024 demands NYPD track every time officers use cars as weapons. No more hiding behind vague reports. The city must count each incident. Data will show the toll. Vulnerable New Yorkers deserve the truth.

Int 0255-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "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," forces the NYPD to add 'use of a motor vehicle to gain control of a subject' as a specific reporting category in quarterly and annual use of force reports. Council Member Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Hudson, Won, Hanif, Bottcher, Brewer, Avilés, Abreu, Ossé, Krishnan, Williams, Cabán, Nurse, Sanchez, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill targets a gap: current NYPD reports do not name motor vehicles as a means of force. This change brings police violence by car into the light, exposing patterns that endanger pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0255-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill demands 100 miles of protected bike lanes each year for six years. Streets will change. Barriers will rise. Cyclists will get space. The city moves to shield riders from cars. The pace quickens. Safety, not talk, hits the pavement.

Int 0271-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced on February 28, 2024, the bill orders the Department of Transportation to install 100 miles of protected bike lanes per year for six years. The matter title 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 leads as primary sponsor, joined by Carlina Rivera, Farah N. Louis, Shahana K. Hanif, Chi A. Ossé, Gale A. Brewer, Tiffany Cabán, Sandy Nurse, Crystal Hudson, Yusef Salaam, Erik D. Bottcher, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Oswald Feliz, Julie Won, and Rita C. Joseph. The bill’s summary states protected lanes 'increase cycling and ensure the safety of New Yorkers.' If passed, the law will force the city to build real protection for people on bikes, not just paint. The measure aims to cut risk for cyclists and push back against deadly streets.

• File Int 0271-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council members push for a hard look at last mile delivery hubs. Trucks swarm neighborhoods. Streets clog. Collisions rise. The bill demands data. It targets the city’s growing freight problem. Vulnerable New Yorkers walk these streets. The study could expose the toll.

Int 0113-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it orders the Department of Transportation to study how last mile delivery facilities batter local streets and communities. The bill summary reads: 'estimating the amount of delivery vehicles arriving at or departing from each facility, and the impact that additional vehicle traffic has on parking, street congestion, vehicle collisions and other traffic incidents.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Alexa Avilés, Shekar Krishnan, Amanda Farías, and over twenty others. The bill was referred to committee on the day it was introduced. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the bill’s focus is clear: count the trucks, count the crashes, and show the cost to people on foot and bike.

• File Int 0113-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential neighborhoods. The bill demands a report. Streets packed with trucks endanger walkers and cyclists. The committee holds the bill. No action yet. Pressure mounts.

Int 0114-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, the bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential areas. The matter 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 leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day it was introduced. Streets crowded with trucks put vulnerable road users at risk. The bill seeks data and solutions, but action is pending.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to study charging stations for e-bike delivery workers. The bill forms a task force to weigh cost, location, and fire risk. Delivery riders face battery dangers daily. The city stalls on safe infrastructure. The committee holds the bill.

Int 0194-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill, titled '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,' calls for a task force to examine where and how to build charging stations for e-bike couriers. Council Members Restler (primary sponsor), Gutiérrez, Avilés, Won, Cabán, Marte, Hanif, Nurse, Hudson, Brewer, and Farías back the measure. The task force must review costs, possible third-party funding, station locations, and fire risks from lithium-ion batteries. The bill aims to protect delivery workers, who face daily hazards from unsafe charging and lack of city support. No votes have been held. The bill remains in committee.

• File Int 0194-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council calls on maritime importers to shift last-mile deliveries from trucks to boats. Streets choke on diesel rigs. Noise, fumes, danger follow. Waterways offer relief. The resolution sits in committee. Sponsors demand action. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait.

Res 0053-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The resolution urges '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 leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, Hudson, Salaam, Cabán, Ayala, Restler, Hanif, Won, Brooks-Powers, Nurse, Public Advocate Williams, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The measure responds to freight growth and truck congestion, which fuel pollution and endanger street users. The Council’s call aims to clear trucks from city streets, cut emissions, and make roads safer for everyone outside a car.

• File Res 0053-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council calls for state action on lower speed limits, crash victims’ rights, and safer street design. The resolution pushes Albany to let New York City set its own speed limits and demands stronger protections for people hurt or killed by cars.

Resolution 0090-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it urges the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law'), A.1901 (Crash Victims Bill of Rights), and the full SAFE Streets Act package. 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,’ in relation to allowing New York city to establish a lower speed limit, 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.' Council Member Shahana K. Hanif leads as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Restler, Ossé, Avilés, Sanchez, Krishnan, Rivera, Cabán, Brewer, Abreu, Marte, Brannan, Schulman, Won, Feliz, Bottcher, Nurse, Hudson, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The SAFE Streets Act targets reckless driving, demands safer street design, and gives crash victims more rights. The resolution’s focus is clear: fewer deaths, more justice, safer streets for all.

• File Res 0090-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A Ford struck a parked Nissan on Sheffield Avenue. The driver, a 31-year-old woman, suffered crushing injuries. She remained conscious, battered and broken, in the dark. No contributing factors were cited in the police report.

According to the police report, a 2007 Ford traveling northeast on Sheffield Avenue near Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn collided with a parked 2014 Nissan. The report states, 'A 2007 Ford slammed into a parked Nissan. The woman driving wore no belt. Her body broke against the wheel. She stayed awake, crushed and hurting, held together only by the dark.' The driver, a 31-year-old woman, was the sole occupant and sustained injuries to her entire body, described as 'crush injuries.' She remained conscious after the crash. The police report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors beyond the impact itself. The parked Nissan was unoccupied at the time. The focus remains on the violent collision and the severe harm suffered by the driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706593, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thousands of cars without plates clog New York streets. City agencies barely act. Drivers dodge tickets and accountability. Council Members Nurse and Abreu demand action. The city shrugs. Plateless cars stay. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

Council Member Shaun Abreu introduced a bill in September 2023 to streamline the Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) towing of plateless vehicles. The bill remains stalled after DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch testified against it, citing operational and legal hurdles. The matter, discussed in the Sanitation Committee led by Council Member Sandy Nurse, highlights a citywide crisis: over 51,000 complaints about plateless cars in 2023, but only 1,821 removals. The article quotes Nurse—'Cars with ghost plates are a risk to public safety'—and Abreu, who calls the city’s inaction a repurposing of public space for dumping. Despite a DSNY/NYPD task force, enforcement remains weak. The city’s failure leaves reckless drivers unaccountable and endangers everyone outside a car.

• No License Plates? No Problem! Scofflaw Drivers Remove Tags Yet Rarely Get Caught, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-16

Thousands of cars without plates clog city streets. Enforcement is weak. Only a fraction get towed. Council Member Sandy Nurse calls ghost plates a public safety risk. The city’s response is slow. Vulnerable road users pay the price for inaction.

On January 16, 2024, the City Council held an oversight hearing on traffic enforcement for plateless vehicles. The Sanitation Committee, chaired by Council Member Sandy Nurse (District 37), led the debate. The hearing focused on the city’s failure to remove unregistered, plateless cars. In 2023, over 51,000 complaints were filed, but only 1,821 cars were towed. Nurse said, 'Cars with ghost plates are a risk to public safety.' Council Member Shaun Abreu pushed for a bill to streamline the Department of Sanitation’s towing process, but DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch opposed it, citing legal and operational hurdles. The NYPD and DSNY formed a task force, but advocates and councilmembers say it is not enough. The city’s lack of action leaves vulnerable road users exposed to reckless, untraceable drivers.

• No License Plates? No Problem! Scofflaw Drivers Remove Tags Yet Rarely Get Caught, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-01-16

A man pushes a stalled Tesla on Conduit Boulevard. An unlicensed Nissan SUV slams into him from behind. His leg is crushed and torn open, blood steaming on wet pavement. The impact leaves him semiconscious, mangled by steel and speed.

At 4:03 a.m. on Conduit Boulevard near Forbell Street, a man pushing a stalled Tesla was struck from behind by a Nissan SUV, according to the police report. The report identifies the SUV driver as unlicensed and cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Pavement Slippery' as contributing factors. The collision impacted the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the Tesla. The victim’s leg was crushed, resulting in severe injury and amputation. The man was not at an intersection and was engaged in pushing the vehicle when hit. The police report does not list any victim behavior as contributing to the crash. The incident highlights driver error and hazardous road conditions as the cause of this violent collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694065, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Gale Brewer rejects Holden’s e-bike registration push. She calls it ineffective and burdensome. Brewer backs bills for safer batteries and worker training. Thirty-one groups join her. Critics warn registration means more stops, fewer bikes, and more danger for riders.

On November 13, 2023, Council Member Gale Brewer (D-Upper West Side) publicly opposed Council Member Bob Holden’s proposed e-bike registration bill. The bill, not yet passed, would require every e-bike in New York City to be registered with the Department of Transportation. Brewer stated, “I do not believe a blanket e-bike registration rule will make streets safer, nor is NYC DOT equipped to establish, manage or enforce it.” She instead sponsors Intro. 1168, mandating safe lithium-ion batteries for delivery workers, and Intro. 1163, requiring worker training and identification. Thirty-one organizations endorsed Brewer’s approach, calling Holden’s bill “ineffective, dangerous, expensive, short-sighted, and bureaucratically complicated.” Council Members Rita Joseph and Sandy Nurse also withdrew support. Opponents argue the registration bill could suppress e-bike use, increase police stops in communities of color, and worsen traffic violence. Holden dismissed these concerns, insisting his bill is vital for safety.

• Key Upper West Side Pol Gale Brewer Comes Out Against E-Bike Registration Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-13

A Toyota turned right on Highland Boulevard. The driver bled from his eye. The woman beside him gashed at the head. Both lived. Alcohol and speed drove the crash. Metal and flesh paid the price.

Two people were injured when a Toyota sedan crashed near Highland Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the car turned right and struck hard, leaving the driver with severe eye lacerations and the front passenger with a deep head wound. Both occupants were conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The narrative notes alcohol on their breath and speed in their wake. No other vehicles or road users were involved. The crash underscores the danger when drivers combine alcohol and speed behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668678, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Metal screamed on Atlantic Avenue. Two sedans crashed. Chaos spread. Eight vehicles tangled. A man on foot caught the storm. Blood spilled. His body cut deep. He stayed awake. The street fell silent around him.

A violent crash erupted on Atlantic Avenue near Essex Street. Two sedans collided, setting off a chain reaction that involved eight vehicles. A 35-year-old man, walking at the intersection, was struck and suffered severe lacerations across his body. According to the police report, 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' fueled the initial collision. One driver was unlicensed. The report lists no errors by the pedestrian. The force of the crash left the man conscious but badly hurt. The scene was chaos—metal, glass, and blood on the street. The police report details the carnage but does not blame the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663855, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15