Simcha Felder’s Silence Is Deadly: How Many More Must Die?

Council passed a law forcing DOT to daylight at least 100 intersections a year. No parking near corners. Physical barriers like planters or bike corrals will block cars. High-crash spots get priority. The city must report progress. Streets change. Lives depend on it.

Int 0854-2022, now enacted as Local Law 66 of 2023, passed the City Council on April 27, 2023, after review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law requires the Department of Transportation to 'implement daylighting at a minimum of 100 intersections a year,' meaning no parking within 15 feet of corners. High-crash intersections must be prioritized unless deemed infeasible. DOT must also install physical daylighting features, such as planters or bike corrals, where possible. Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hudson, Ossé, and others. The law took effect 90 days after enactment. DOT must report annually on locations and reasons for any exceptions. This measure targets the blind spots that kill and injure pedestrians and cyclists at intersections. The city’s streets will see more open corners and fewer hiding places for danger.

• File Int 0854-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

Council passed a law forcing DOT to study deadly and serious pedestrian crashes every three years. Reports must go to community boards, the mayor, and the public. The bill aims to expose patterns, speed up fixes, and keep pressure on city agencies.

Bill Int 0805-2022, now Local Law 65 of 2023, was enacted by the City Council and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law was introduced on October 27, 2022, passed on May 29, 2023, and returned unsigned by the mayor. The bill amends the administrative code to require the Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive study of all pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries every three years, instead of every five. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian safety reporting.' Sponsors include Alexa Avilés (primary), Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Tiffany Cabán, Lynn C. Schulman, Kalman Yeger, Farah N. Louis, Lincoln Restler, Darlene Mealy, Eric Dinowitz, Linda Lee, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Carlina Rivera, Mercedes Narcisse, and Rita C. Joseph. The law mandates that crash reports and recommendations be sent to council members, community boards, and made public. This change increases transparency and keeps the focus on the deadly toll of cars in New York City.

• File Int 0805-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

Council bill Int 1030-2023 would force DOT to show its hand. Every traffic signal and speed bump request, tracked online. Status, reason, and timeline—no more black box. The bill died in committee, but the demand for sunlight remains.

Int 1030-2023 was introduced on April 27, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to post details of all traffic control device and speed reducer requests on a public website. The matter summary reads: 'The required website would include, but need not be limited to, the following information: case number, general topic, issue, status, resolution, reason for approval or denial of traffic control device, and if approved, the timeline for completion.' Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, joined by 21 co-sponsors including Williams, Hanif, and Yeger. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided, but the measure aimed to end secrecy around life-saving street changes. Public access to this data could expose delays and denials that keep streets deadly.

• File Int 1030-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

The Council passed a resolution urging Albany to fully fund the MTA. Lawmakers want more frequent, reliable, and affordable transit. They warn of a looming fiscal cliff. Without action, riders face service cuts. The vote backs millions who depend on buses and trains.

Resolution 0460-2023 was adopted by the City Council on April 27, 2023, after review by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The resolution calls on the New York State Legislature and Governor to 'fully fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in the State’s upcoming Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.' Council Member Farah N. Louis sponsored the measure, joined by over thirty co-sponsors. The committee vote was unanimous among present members. The resolution highlights the MTA’s critical role for millions of New Yorkers and warns of a 'looming fiscal cliff' as federal aid dries up. The Council insists that full funding is needed to prevent service cuts and keep transit affordable and frequent. The measure references the 'New York City in Six' plan, pushing for buses and trains every six minutes. The Council’s action centers the needs of riders—especially those with no other way to move safely through the city.

• File Res 0460-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

Council moved to ban driving with fake or expired plates. Civil fines would hit drivers hard. Sponsors spanned the city. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed to untraceable cars and reckless drivers.

Int 0987-2023 was introduced in the New York City Council on April 11, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to prohibit operating a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates, including temporary ones. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle with fraudulent or expired license plates.' Civil penalties ranged from $300 to $1,000, with a 10-day cure period for expired plates. The bill was sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over thirty council members, including Feliz, Salamanca, Powers, Yeger, Menin, and others, as well as the Brooklyn and Bronx Borough Presidents. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• File Int 0987-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

A 23-year-old man crossed 13th Avenue at 50th Street. Two SUVs crashed. One struck him. His body broke under the weight. He died there, in the street, as dusk settled and headlights glared. No driver errors listed.

A 23-year-old man was killed at the intersection of 13th Avenue and 50th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A young man crossed. Two SUVs collided. One struck him. His body shattered under the weight. He died there, in the street, as headlights burned through the dusk.' The crash involved two SUVs, both traveling straight. The pedestrian was at the intersection when he was hit. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No mention of helmet or signal use. The data shows the pedestrian suffered fatal injuries, while vehicle occupants were unhurt. The report documents another fatal intersection for New York’s streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618563, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council bill Int 0883-2023 sought to double fines for e-bike and e-scooter violations. It aimed to restore impoundment powers and repeal recent legal protections. The measure targeted riders, not drivers. The bill died at session’s end. Vulnerable users remain exposed.

Int 0883-2023 was introduced in the City Council on January 19, 2023, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill proposed to amend the administrative code by expanding the definition of 'motorized scooter' to include e-bikes and e-scooters, raising civil penalties for violations from $250 to $500, and restoring impoundment authority. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the operation of motorized scooters, and to repeal subdivision e of section 19-176.2 of such code, relating to operators of electric scooters and bicycles with electric assist.' Council Members Althea V. Stevens (primary sponsor), Robert F. Holden, Inna Vernikov, Joann Ariola, Vickie Paladino, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Kalman Yeger, and James F. Gennaro sponsored the bill. The bill was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. No safety analyst assessment was provided. The bill’s focus was on enforcement and penalties, not on systemic danger from cars.

• File Int 0883-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-01-19

Two SUVs crashed at 17th Avenue and 59th Street. Metal buckled. Glass sliced. A young driver and his passenger bled in their seats. Both stayed conscious. The crash followed a driver ignoring traffic control. The street bore the scars.

Two SUVs collided at the corner of 17th Avenue and 59th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver disregarded traffic control, causing the crash. A 28-year-old man driving and his 29-year-old male passenger suffered severe lacerations but remained conscious, held by lap belts as glass cut their bodies. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the harm when drivers ignore signals and collide at speed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4598382, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council members want voters to decide on the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. The resolution calls for a statewide ballot. Sponsors cite risks to outer-borough communities and doubt traffic will drop. The measure is filed, not enacted. Streets stay dangerous.

Resolution 0419-2022, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges the New York State Legislature to require a statewide ballot proposal before the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s congestion pricing plan—known as the Central Business District Tolling Program—can proceed. Introduced December 7, 2022, and filed at session’s end, the resolution states: “calls upon the New York State Legislature to amend state law to make implementation of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s congestion pricing plan... subject to a statewide ballot proposal.” Council Member Kamillah Hanks led sponsorship, joined by Borelli, Carr, Louis, Yeger, Ariola, and Paladino. The sponsors raise concerns about pollution, health, and traffic impacts on outer-borough communities. The measure questions whether congestion pricing will cut traffic or fund transit improvements. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users is assessed. The bill remains filed, with no further action.

• File Res 0419-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-07

A sedan struck a 23-year-old man riding an e-bike on Fort Hamilton Parkway. The crash threw him from his bike. His head split open. Blood pooled on the street. He died before sunrise. Traffic control was ignored. Distraction played a role.

A 23-year-old man riding an e-bike was killed when a sedan struck him on Fort Hamilton Parkway near 54th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the e-bike rider was ejected and suffered fatal head injuries, dying at the scene. The report states: 'Traffic control ignored.' Both 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' are listed as contributing factors for the crash. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the driver errors. The sedan's right front quarter panel hit the e-bike. The crash highlights the lethal consequences when drivers disregard signals and lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579733, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The Council passed Int 0291-2022, forcing city agencies to map, plan, and report on greenways. The law demands annual updates and public engagement. It aims to carve out safe, car-free corridors for walkers and cyclists. The mayor returned it unsigned.

Int 0291-2022, now Local Law 115 of 2022, was enacted by the City Council on November 27, 2022. The bill came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, first introduced April 28, 2022. The law's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a citywide greenway plan.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by dozens of co-sponsors including Rivera, Hudson, and others. The Council voted overwhelmingly in favor on October 27, 2022. The law orders the Department of Transportation and Parks to identify, map, and report on greenways, and to consult with community boards. Proposals for new greenway segments or repairs must be presented to affected communities within 60 days. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it became law. The measure compels the city to plan and maintain safe routes for non-drivers, with regular public reporting and accountability.

• File Int 0291-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-10-27

A Mercedes slammed head-on into a man riding an e-scooter on Avenue L. The scooter was destroyed. The rider, thrown from the wreck, died at the scene. Two teens and the car’s driver were hurt. Speed and inexperience fueled the crash.

A 49-year-old man riding an e-scooter was struck head-on by a westbound Mercedes sedan near Avenue L and East 17th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'Speed and inexperience ended him. His body was thrown. He died there.' The e-scooter was crushed. The Mercedes carried three people: a 53-year-old driver and two 16-year-old passengers. All three suffered injuries. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inexperience' as contributing factors. The e-scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but the crash was driven by speed and inexperience behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4572961, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A taxi and sedan collided head-on near Avenue P. The night was thick with alcohol. A woman in the back seat was crushed, her neck injured. The taxi driver had no license. The system failed her. The street stayed dark.

A head-on crash between a taxi and a sedan occurred just after midnight near 273 Avenue P in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'A taxi and a sedan met head-on in the dark. A woman in the back, belted and crushed. Her neck throbbed. The taxi driver had no license. Alcohol hung in the air.' The crash left a 57-year-old female rear passenger injured with neck and crush injuries. The taxi driver was unlicensed. The police report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor. These driver errors—alcohol use and operating without a license—created the conditions for harm. The woman wore a seatbelt, but the system and the drivers failed to protect her.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4561277, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Honda SUV backed up near 60th Street. The e-bike struck hard. The cyclist’s arm bled onto the pavement. Metal crumpled. The night held its breath. One man hurt. The SUV’s rear dented. Brooklyn silent, danger plain.

A Honda SUV, backing unsafely near 1654 60th Street in Brooklyn, collided with a southbound e-bike. The crash left a 33-year-old male cyclist injured, suffering severe bleeding and wounds to his arm. According to the police report, 'Backing Unsafely' was the contributing factor. The SUV’s right rear bumper and quarter panel were damaged. The cyclist, who was driving straight, was not ejected. The SUV driver, a 33-year-old woman, was licensed and uninjured. The report does not list any cyclist errors or helmet use as contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger when drivers back without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4556993, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 21-year-old e-bike rider was hit head-on by an unlicensed SUV on Bay Parkway. He was thrown from his bike, left unconscious and bleeding from the head. Both drivers disregarded traffic control. The crash left the street stained and silent.

A violent crash unfolded on Bay Parkway. According to the police report, a 21-year-old e-bike rider, unlicensed and unhelmeted, was struck head-on by an unlicensed SUV. The rider was ejected, left unconscious, and suffered severe head bleeding. The SUV carried two occupants, both unlicensed. The report states, 'Traffic control disregarded.' This failure to obey traffic signals or signs was listed as the primary contributing factor for all involved. The e-bike rider was not wearing a helmet, but this is noted only after the systemic disregard for traffic control. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers ignore basic rules and operate vehicles without licenses.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4550242, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study deadly intersections and add signals that give walkers a head start or full crossing time. The bill died at session’s end. Streets stay risky. Pedestrians wait for action.

Bill Int 0578-2022, introduced July 14, 2022, aimed to amend city law to improve safety at pedestrian crossings. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reviewed it, but the bill was filed without passage at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to improving safety at pedestrian crossings in the city.' Council Members Robert F. Holden (primary sponsor), Ari Kagan, Justin L. Brannan, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, Kalman Yeger, Rita C. Joseph, and Tiffany Cabán sponsored the bill. It would have required DOT to audit the city’s deadliest intersections and consider installing leading pedestrian intervals and exclusive pedestrian phases—signals proven to protect people on foot. The bill’s failure leaves dangerous crossings unchanged.

• File Int 0578-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

Council filed a bill to raise fines for illegal ATV and dirt bike use. First offenses jump to $750. Repeat violations hit $1,500. Lawmakers say the crackdown targets reckless riders. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed.

Int 0591-2022, introduced July 14, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety, aimed to increase fines for unlawful use of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes in New York City. The bill summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to increasing the fines for the unlawful use of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa led as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca, Louis, Brewer, Joseph, Yeger, Dinowitz, and Sanchez. The measure would have raised first-offense fines to $750 and subsequent offenses to $1,500. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. No safety analyst assessment was provided. The city’s most vulnerable—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—remain at risk from illegal vehicle use.

• File Int 0591-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

Council bill Int 0596-2022 would force DOT to repair broken curbs when streets get resurfaced. Curbs shape the border between sidewalk and street. Broken curbs trip walkers, let cars mount sidewalks, and endanger the frail. The bill died in committee.

Int 0596-2022 was introduced on July 14, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to repair any curb deemed a safety hazard during street resurfacing. The matter summary reads: 'requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers sponsored the bill, joined by Schulman, Brewer, Dinowitz, Krishnan, Narcisse, Menin, Yeger, Avilés, Nurse, Gutiérrez, Riley, Brannan, Sanchez, and Louis. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. Broken curbs are a daily threat to pedestrians, especially the elderly and disabled. The bill would have forced the city to address these hazards as part of routine work, but the effort stalled.

• File Int 0596-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-07-14

Council pushed for bold school safety signs. Painted warnings and overhead alerts near every school entrance. The bill died in committee. Streets stay the same. Children still cross in danger. Drivers keep rolling through.

Int 0555-2022 was introduced on June 16, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to install painted and overhead safety signs on every street with a school entrance. The matter summary reads: 'to alert drivers to the presence of school-aged children and pedestrians.' Council Member Tiffany Cabán led as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Marte, Yeger, Sanchez, Won, Restler, Joseph, Gutiérrez, Ung, Louis, Abreu, and Hanif. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The measure stalled. No new protections for kids on city streets.

• File Int 0555-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-06-16

State Senate passed bill to run speed cameras all day, every day. The vote was 51 to 12. Cameras now catch speeders at night and on weekends. Most deaths happen off-hours. Expansion aims to cut deadly crashes citywide.

On May 31, 2022, the State Senate approved a bill to extend and expand New York City's speed camera program. The measure passed 51-12 and now moves to the Assembly. The bill allows cameras to operate 24/7 in nearly 2,000 locations across 750 school zones until July 1, 2025. The matter summary states, 'The proposal to extend New York City's speed camera program for another three years and expand it to run every day and around the clock easily passed.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsored the bill, saying, 'We are going to see a marked reduction in traffic violence on our streets at a time when traffic deaths are at their highest in a decade.' Simcha Felder, Democrat from District 44, voted against. The expansion targets off-hours, which account for 59% of traffic deaths. Speeding dropped 72% and deaths fell 55% where cameras operated. The city pushed for this as fatalities rose under Mayor Adams. Some penalties for repeat speeders were removed during negotiations.

• State Senate votes to approve 24-hour speed cameras in NYC, amny.com, Published 2022-06-01