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

Council bill Int 0500-2022 would kill private vehicle parking permits. All existing permits get revoked. Only disabled drivers and union contracts are spared. The bill targets abuse and privilege. It died in committee. Streets stay dangerous.

Int 0500-2022 was introduced on June 2, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill sought to "prohibit the issuance of private vehicle parking permits and revoke such existing permits," with exceptions for people with disabilities and collective bargaining agreements. Council Member Christopher Marte led as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Brewer, Joseph, Nurse, Cabán, Avilés, Bottcher, Won, Ossé, and Richardson Jordan, plus the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill aimed to end a system that let private cars claim curb space, fueling illegal parking and danger for those on foot or bike. It was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote. The status quo remains: permits still shield drivers, while vulnerable road users face the risk.

• File Int 0500-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-02

Council filed a bill to force the city to study dangerous driving. The measure called for annual reports on driver behavior tied to crashes, injuries, and deaths. The bill died at session’s end. No action, no data, no change for the vulnerable.

Int 0415-2022 was introduced on May 19, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation, with the NYPD and other agencies, to conduct an annual study of dangerous driving behaviors linked to crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a study of dangerous driving.' Council Members Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Keith Powers, Gale A. Brewer, Rita C. Joseph, Sandy Nurse, Shekar Krishnan, Lincoln Restler, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Marjorie Velázquez, and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Borough Presidents sponsored the bill. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. Without passage, the city remains without mandated, public-facing data on the patterns that put pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

• File Int 0415-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-19

Council bill Int 0401-2022 would force the city to install speed humps on streets bordering parks over one acre. The measure targets reckless driving near green spaces. The transportation committee filed the bill at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0401-2022 was introduced in the City Council on May 19, 2022, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by sixteen co-sponsors. The bill would have required the Department of Transportation to install speed humps on all roadways next to parks at least one acre in size, unless the DOT commissioner found installation unsafe or inconsistent with guidelines. The bill was filed without passage at the end of the session. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0401-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-05-19

Council and advocates demand action. Delays in commercial waste zones keep deadly trucks on city streets. Overlapping routes, reckless haulers, and missing side guards kill and injure. Reform stalls while lives hang in the balance. Urgency grows. No more excuses.

On May 2, 2022, the City Council’s Sanitation Committee, chaired by Council Member Sandy Nurse, held a hearing on the delayed implementation of commercial waste zones, a reform established by a 2019 law. The matter, titled 'Advocates Warn Against Further Delays on Commercial Waste Zones,' drew sharp criticism after the Department of Sanitation granted private carters a three-month extension to comply with new requirements. Nurse stated, 'Our communities cannot afford any more delays.' Advocates and Families for Safe Streets highlighted the deadly toll: reckless commercial haulers have killed more than two dozen people in recent years. The reform aims to cut truck traffic, reduce pollution, and require life-saving side guards on heavy trucks by 2024. Lauren Pine, a crash survivor, said, 'Commercial waste zone reform can not come fast enough.' The hearing underscored that every delay keeps vulnerable New Yorkers at risk.

• TRASH TALK: Advocates Warn Against Further Delays on Commercial Waste Zones, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-02

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 tried to create an Office of Pedestrians. The bill died in committee. No new office. No new power. Pedestrians remain at risk. The city missed a chance to stand up for those on foot.

Int 0288-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill aimed to establish an Office of Pedestrians, led by a mayoral appointee, to advise on safety and act as a bridge between walkers and city agencies. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of pedestrians.' Council Member Althea V. Stevens sponsored the bill, with Julie Won, Sandy Nurse, Shekar Krishnan, Lincoln Restler, and Carlina Rivera as co-sponsors. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote or enactment. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill’s failure means no dedicated city office for pedestrian safety. The city keeps walking, unprotected.

• File Int 0288-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-28

Council bill Int 0224-2022 would bar sightseeing buses from bus lanes during rush hours. The measure targets weekday mornings and evenings. Sponsors say it keeps lanes clear for city buses. The bill stalled, filed at session’s end.

Int 0224-2022 was introduced on April 28, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill sought to amend city law to 'restrict the use of bus lanes by sight-seeing buses.' It would have prohibited sightseeing buses from using bus lanes between 7–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m. on weekdays. The Department of Transportation would also be barred from authorizing sightseeing bus stops in bus lanes during those hours. Council Members Kalman Yeger (primary sponsor), Justin Brannan, Sandy Nurse, Lincoln Restler, and Diana Ayala backed the bill. The measure was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote or enactment. The bill aimed to keep bus lanes clear for transit, reducing congestion and potential conflict with pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0224-2022, 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

City pours $11 million into cleaner streets and bike lanes. New sweepers target debris in protected lanes. Councilwoman Sandy Nurse hails relief for neighborhoods hit by pandemic litter. Cyclists win clear paths. Streets get a fighting chance.

On April 18, 2022, the City announced an $11 million budget allocation for street cleaning and bike lane maintenance. The measure, led by Councilwoman Sandy Nurse of District 37, restores alternate side parking and funds year-round cleaning of protected bike lanes. The official summary states: 'City allocates $11 million to make streets cleaner and improve mobility.' Nurse called the move 'a welcome relief to communities that have faced an unprecedented increase in litter during the pandemic.' The investment covers new equipment and staff, including a pilot fleet of 10 Micromobility Operations Machines to sweep narrow lanes. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine praised the smaller sweepers as 'a win for cyclists.' The funding appears in the Fiscal Year 2023 executive budget. The city aims to keep bike lanes clear, cut debris, and protect vulnerable road users from car intrusion.

• City allocates $11 million to make streets cleaner and improve mobility, amny.com, Published 2022-04-18

Council bill Int 0147-2022 would force DOT to answer traffic device requests in 60 days. No more endless waits. Denials must show crash data and study details. Brannan, Yeger, Won, Restler, Williams, and Nurse back the push. The bill died in committee.

Int 0147-2022 was introduced on April 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to issue a traffic study determination within 60 days of a request for a traffic control device by a council member or community board. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring that traffic study determinations be issued no later than 60 days from the date a traffic control device is requested by a city council member or community board.' Council Members Brannan, Yeger (primary), Won, Restler, Williams, and Nurse sponsored the bill. The measure aimed to end delays and force transparency by requiring denials to include crash data and study summaries. The bill was filed at the end of session and did not become law.

• File Int 0147-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-04-14

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

A 2019 Nissan sat parked on Powell Street. Its left front crushed. Inside, a 39-year-old man lay dead. No movement. No sound. Morning light caught broken glass. One life ended in silence.

A deadly crash took place near 211 Powell Street in Brooklyn. A 2019 Nissan sedan, parked at the curb, was found with its left front crushed. According to the police report, a 39-year-old man was inside the vehicle, unresponsive and not ejected. He showed no signs of life. No other injuries were reported. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors. The cause of the crash remains unspecified in the data. No mention of helmet use or signals appears in the report. The incident ended with one fatality, the driver of the parked car.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4518552, 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

A 21-year-old e-bike rider crashed on Evergreen Avenue near Linden Street. He swerved, lost control, and hit the ground. His leg tore open. Blood pooled on cold asphalt. He screamed, conscious, pain sharp in the winter dusk.

A 21-year-old man riding an e-bike on Evergreen Avenue near Linden Street in Brooklyn was injured after swerving and crashing. According to the police report, 'Evergreen Avenue near Linden Street — A 21-year-old man on an e-bike swerved to avoid nothing, hit the ground hard. No helmet. Torn leg. Blood on the asphalt. He screamed, awake and hurting, as the cold February dusk closed in.' The report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a contributing factor. The rider was partially ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his leg. No other vehicles or people were reported injured. The police noted the absence of a helmet, but only after the contributing factor of reaction to an uninvolved vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4504339, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15