Thirteen Dead, Still No Action: How Many More?

Council members push to end jaywalking penalties. Supporters cite biased enforcement. Critics warn of danger for pedestrians. The bill faces debate as traffic deaths fall but injuries persist. The city weighs safety against fairness in street crossings.

On July 22, 2023, Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse introduced a bill to legalize jaywalking in New York City. The measure, supported by Council Members Tiffany Caban and Shahana Hanif, aims to 'greenlight pedestrians to freely cross streets outside the crosswalk or without obeying traffic signals.' The bill responds to claims of biased enforcement against Black and Latino New Yorkers. Council Majority Leader Joseph Borelli and Councilwoman Joann Ariola oppose the bill, warning it could endanger pedestrians. The bill has not yet advanced to committee or received a hearing. The NYPD and Mayor's office are reviewing the legislation. The debate highlights the tension between enforcement fairness and the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users. No formal safety analysis has been provided.

• Far-left NYC Council Dems push to legalize jaywalking, nypost.com, Published 2023-07-22

Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

A man on a motorcycle hit an SUV on Caton Avenue. He flew from the bike and struck the pavement head-first. He died at the scene. The SUV driver was not hurt. The crash left the street scarred and silent.

A 35-year-old man riding a motorcycle slammed into the side of an SUV on Caton Avenue near Dahill Road in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the motorcyclist was unlicensed and not wearing a helmet. He was ejected from the motorcycle, struck his head, and died on the street. The SUV driver was unharmed. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The data also notes the motorcyclist disregarded traffic control. The crash involved a motorcycle and an SUV, both traveling straight. The impact was severe, with the motorcycle hitting the SUV's right side doors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643200 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan cut across Flatbush. The scooter hit hard. The rider flew, smashed down, leg torn and bleeding. He lay conscious, broken on the street. Driver errors stacked up. The city kept moving. Blood marked the morning.

A crash unfolded near 450 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. A sedan made an improper turn across the lane. A motorscooter, heading straight, struck the car. The scooter rider, a 46-year-old man, was ejected and suffered severe bleeding from his leg. According to the police report, 'Turning Improperly' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' were listed as contributing factors. The scooter rider wore no helmet or protective gear, as noted in the report, but the primary causes were driver errors. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

The city’s Ninth Street redesign faces sharp criticism after a cyclist’s death. Family and advocates say the plan skips key safety fixes. Jersey barriers leave gaps. Pedestrian islands and bike signals are missing. The city delays. Danger remains.

On May 19, 2023, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) latest redesign proposal for Ninth Street in Gowanus drew fire at a Community Board 6 meeting. The plan, discussed in the Transportation and Public Safety Committees, adds buffer-protected bike lanes and some jersey barriers, but skips driveways and omits pedestrian islands, raised intersections, and bicycle signals. Maxime Le Munier, whose wife Sarah Schick was killed by a truck driver on Ninth Street, said, “What we want is to guarantee everyone’s safety, and it seems like it’s going to fall short.” Community Board 6 Transportation Chair Doug Gordon and Public Safety Chair Jerry Armer echoed calls for stronger, faster action. Council Member Hanif hosted a recent event on the issue. The committees unanimously approved the DOT proposal with conditions: more pedestrian safety, more traffic calming, and a comprehensive plan for all of Ninth Street. DOT has not set a timeline. Schick’s family is suing the city for $100 million, alleging negligence.

• Widowed Husband of Slain Cyclist Says Ninth Street Redesign ’Falls Short’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-19

An e-bike hit a woman in the head near 4th Avenue and 6th Street. She was not in the road. Blood ran from deep cuts. She stayed conscious. The e-bike kept going. The street stayed raw and loud.

A 38-year-old woman was struck in the head by an e-bike near 4th Avenue and 6th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, she was not in the roadway at the time of the crash. The impact left her with severe lacerations, but she remained conscious. The e-bike showed no damage and continued south. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The data also notes 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' but the woman was not in the road. The crash underscores the risk when drivers fail to yield, even off the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624826 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

DOT will add a protected bike lane to a lethal stretch of Ninth Street. The move follows the death of cyclist Sarah Schick. Advocates and Council Member Hanif say the plan is not enough. They demand bolder action. The danger remains.

On April 28, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled a proposal to add a protected bike lane to Ninth Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The plan, presented ahead of a Brooklyn Community Board 6 meeting, follows the January death of Citi Bike rider Sarah Schick. The DOT's concept removes parking between Second and Third avenues to create a five-foot, buffer-protected bike lane in each direction. Council Member Shahana Hanif called the protected lane 'imperative' but said, 'getting this bike lane done is the first step towards a more serious look at this corridor.' Transportation Alternatives organizer Kathy Park Price said, 'We did the bare minimum... we can and should do more.' Schick’s widowed husband, Maxime Le Munier, blamed DOT inaction for her death. Advocates and Hanif urge a full corridor redesign, including one-way conversion, but DOT claims this is not feasible now. The plan is only a start. The threat to cyclists and pedestrians persists.

• DOT Unveils ‘Concepts’ For Deadly Ninth Street, But Advocates Want Something Bolder, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-28

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams sidestepped backing Sammy’s Law, which would let New York City set its own speed limits. As cyclist deaths mount, other council members press for action. Adams cites other priorities. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. Streets stay deadly.

On April 12, 2023, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams declined to support Sammy’s Law, a state bill allowing New York City to control its speed limits. The bill, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a reckless driver in 2013, has stalled in Albany despite mounting pressure. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez introduced a resolution urging passage, co-sponsored by Shahana Hanif and Lincoln Restler. Adams, however, said, 'We’re going to let the state do what the state does in response to Sammy’s Law,' and focused on other budget priorities. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, called for pairing lower speed limits with street redesigns in neglected neighborhoods. As children and cyclists die in record numbers, the council’s inaction leaves vulnerable New Yorkers at risk. The law would not lower limits automatically, but grant the city authority to act.

• Speaker Adams Still Won’t Come Out in Support of Sammy’s Law, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-12

City Council pushed forward a battery buy-back and tough lithium-ion rules. Delivery workers’ safety and livelihoods hung in the balance. Lawmakers targeted sellers, not riders. The bills aimed to stop deadly fires without punishing those who rely on e-bikes to survive.

On March 2, 2023, the New York City Council advanced a package of lithium-ion battery safety bills. Council Member Keith Powers introduced the buy-back bill, which creates a citywide program for defective or uncertified batteries. Powers said, "We don't want to penalize businesses and workers without thinking about this strategically." The Council also moved bills from Oswald Feliz, Gale Brewer, Alexa Avilés, and Robert Holden. These measures ban uncertified batteries, require fireproof charging containers, mandate public education, and order FDNY reporting on battery fires. Speaker Adrienne Adams clarified the bills target commercial sellers, not workers. Shahana Hanif urged that policy must "keep workers" at the center. The Council and delivery workers’ union stressed that tech companies, not workers, should bear costs. The FDNY opposed the reporting bill over resource concerns. The legislation aims to curb battery fires while protecting delivery workers who depend on e-bikes.

• Streetsblog Gets Action: Battery ‘Buy-Back’ Program and Other Lithium-Ion Bills Advance in Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-02

A Lexus sedan hit a man walking with traffic near 621 Hicks Street. The car’s front end crumpled. The man lay bleeding from the head, silent under the streetlight. The street was cold. The impact was sudden. The danger was real.

A southbound Lexus sedan struck a 36-year-old man walking with traffic at the intersection near 621 Hicks Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A southbound Lexus struck a 36-year-old man walking with traffic. The sedan’s front crumpled. The man lay bleeding from the head, silent on the asphalt, under the streetlight’s cold glow.' The pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The data lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The crash highlights the risk pedestrians face at intersections, especially at night. No helmet or signal use is mentioned in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607398 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Toyota’s brakes failed on Coney Island Avenue. The car slammed into two stopped sedans. Metal twisted. A 51-year-old man’s face was crushed. Children and adults hurt. Sirens cut the night. The street echoed with pain and steel.

On Coney Island Avenue near Avenue C in Brooklyn, a Toyota sedan’s brakes failed and it crashed into two sedans stopped in traffic. According to the police report, 'A Toyota’s brakes failed. It plowed into two stopped sedans. Metal crumpled. A 51-year-old man sat belted, his face crushed. Six others waited in silence, the night split by sirens and bent steel.' The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the contributing factor. Injuries included a 51-year-old man with facial crush injuries, a 79-year-old woman with a fractured leg, and several children and adults with pain to the head, back, and legs. The crash left at least seven people injured. No driver or passenger actions contributed except for the mechanical failure noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606313 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

DOT keeps school street safety spending secret. Councilmember Rita Joseph demands answers. Streets with schools see more crashes, more injuries. The agency refuses to break out costs or salaries. Families and advocates call for transparency. Children remain at risk.

On January 25, 2023, the City Council, led by Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph (District 40), pressed the Department of Transportation for transparency on school street safety spending. The matter, titled 'How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say,' exposes DOT’s refusal to disclose project costs or School Safety Unit salaries. Joseph expressed disappointment: 'New Yorkers deserve to know how the DOT is working to make school streets safer.' Councilmember Shahana Hanif also criticized DOT’s inability to track safety projects. Despite Commissioner Rodriguez’s promise of 100 safety projects, the agency denied a FOIL request, claiming costs are not tracked. Advocates and families condemned the lack of accountability. The Department of Education also refused to comment. The city’s silence leaves children exposed on dangerous streets.

• How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say., streetsblog.org, Published 2023-01-25

DOT hides the numbers. Streets near schools stay deadly. Councilmembers Joseph and Hanif demand transparency. Families and advocates want answers. The agency claims it cannot track spending. Children walk in danger. The city keeps its secrets.

On January 25, 2023, the City Council Education Committee, led by Chair Rita Joseph, pressed the Department of Transportation (DOT) for details on school street safety spending. The matter, titled 'How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say,' exposes DOT’s refusal to disclose project costs or salaries tied to school safety. Councilmember Shahana Hanif joined Joseph in criticizing DOT’s lack of transparency. Both called for clear tracking of safety improvements around schools. DOT denied a Freedom of Information Law request, claiming no records exist and that costs are not broken out from its $1.3-billion budget. Advocates and families voiced outrage. The Department of Education also refused to discuss spending. The city’s silence leaves children exposed on dangerous streets, with no accountability for safety investments.

• How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-25

Cyclists lay down on Ninth Street where a truck killed Sarah Schick. Their bodies blocked traffic. The city finally promised a redesign. DOT will add signal changes now. For years, officials ignored calls to fix this deadly stretch. Now, pressure mounts.

On January 20, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced plans to redesign the unprotected portion of Ninth Street after a fatal crash. The action followed a 'die-in' protest by cyclists at the site where a truck driver killed Sarah Schick. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'We are making immediate signal adjustments to improve safety in this area. We are also committed to delivering a design solution that makes this stretch of Ninth Street safer for cyclists.' Council Member Shahana Hanif added, 'We know that this corridor has been unsafe for far too long and promises had been made after death after death almost the last 20 years.' The city will unveil a redesign in the coming months and adjust signals now. Advocates blame years of inaction for repeated deaths. The matter remains urgent for all who use Ninth Street.

• FINALLY: DOT Says it Will Redesign Unprotected Portion of Ninth St. as Cyclists Stage ‘Die-In’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-20

Six deaths in 18 years. Ninth Street stays deadly. DOT stops safety at Third Avenue. Advocates and Council Member Hanif demand action. City clings to parking. Cyclists and pedestrians pay the price. No new plans. Danger remains. Lives lost.

Council Member Shahana Hanif and advocates are pressing the Department of Transportation to extend protected bike lanes and pedestrian safety measures on Brooklyn’s Ninth Street after a sixth fatality in 18 years. The DOT halted improvements at Third Avenue, citing commercial needs and parking. The matter, described as 'Councilmember(s) and advocates call for extension of protected bike lanes and pedestrian safety infrastructure on Ninth Street after fatal crash; DOT under scrutiny for inaction,' has not advanced to a formal bill or committee. Hanif met with DOT officials on January 12, 2023, expressing disappointment at the lack of immediate action. Maria Stylianou of Families for Safe Streets called the current half-measures unacceptable. Community members and activists, including Aaron Naparstek and Sarah Goodyear, condemned the city’s prioritization of parking over safety. DOT says it is reviewing the crash but has announced no concrete plans. The street remains hazardous for vulnerable road users.

• SAFETY LAST: DOT Under Fire to Finish Ninth Street Redesign after Sixth Fatality in 18 Years, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-12

A truck driver struck and killed a cyclist on Ninth Street, Brooklyn, where the protected bike lane ends. The victim died at the scene. The street’s design left riders exposed. Eleven cyclists and six pedestrians have been hurt here since 2020.

On January 10, 2023, a cyclist died after a truck driver hit her on Ninth Street near Second Avenue in Gowanus, Brooklyn. The crash happened where the protected bike lane ends and becomes sharrows, leaving riders unprotected. Council Member Shahana Hanif reported the death and said her office is working with NYPD and NYC DOT. Hanif promised to meet with DOT officials, stating, 'We should not have to live this way.' Transportation Alternatives blamed the street design, saying, 'At the location of this crash, the design of Ninth Street creates dangerous conditions for bike riders.' The area west of Third Avenue lacks protection due to DOT’s decision to preserve parking. From 2020 to 2022, eleven cyclists and six pedestrians were injured on this stretch. The crash exposes the deadly cost of prioritizing car volume and parking over safety.

• Cyclist Killed on Unprotected Part of Ninth Street Bike Lane in Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-10

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

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