Flatbush Bleeds While City Hall Delays

Two sedans slammed head-on near Schenectady. Parked cars crumpled. A young man, half-ejected, crushed across the wheel. Airbag limp. Eyes open. The street silent, broken glass everywhere. Brooklyn’s night split by steel and pain.

Two sedans collided head-on on Snyder Avenue near Schenectady Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, parked cars were struck and shattered. A 25-year-old male driver suffered crush injuries and was partially ejected from his vehicle. He was found conscious, his body broken across the wheel, with the airbag deployed. The report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factor for the crash. No specific driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are noted in the data. The impact left the street littered with debris and silence. No blame is assigned to the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4643034, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan sped down Utica Avenue. It hit a 63-year-old man crossing the street. Blood pooled. Parked cars crumpled. The man suffered a head wound. The street fell silent. Unsafe speed left its mark.

A 63-year-old man was crossing Utica Avenue near 1656 when a speeding sedan struck him in the head. According to the police report, 'A 63-year-old man, crossing without a signal, struck in the head by a speeding sedan. Blood pooled on the street. Parked cars crumpled.' The crash left the pedestrian with severe lacerations and a serious head injury. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. Several parked vehicles were damaged in the impact. The data shows no other contributing factors from the pedestrian. The crash underscores the danger of speeding vehicles to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4635124, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushed a surcharge on for-hire rides. Money would help drivers switch to wheelchair-accessible and electric vehicles. Few cabs serve disabled riders. Fewer run on clean power. The bill stalled. Disabled New Yorkers and the city’s air wait.

Resolution 0638-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It called on the New York State Legislature and Governor to create a surcharge for for-hire vehicles (FHVs), with funds aimed at expanding wheelchair-accessible and all-electric FHVs. The matter was introduced May 25, 2023, and filed at session’s end, never reaching enactment. The resolution’s title: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the New York State Governor to sign, legislation that would create a surcharge for for-hire vehicles (FHVs) that would go towards funding the expansion of wheelchair accessible and all-electric FHVs.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), Amanda Farías, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, and Shahana K. Hanif sponsored the measure. The bill noted that only 4,858 of 95,129 FHVs were wheelchair accessible in 2022, and just 1% were all-electric. The measure aimed to close these gaps, but died in committee.

• File Res 0638-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-05-25

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

Council bill Int 1028-2023 demanded hard numbers. It called for the city to track every crash, injury, and fatality involving e-bikes and scooters. The bill died in committee. The data remains scattered. Vulnerable road users stay in the dark.

Int 1028-2023 was introduced on April 27, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the NYPD and Department of Transportation to publish detailed data on electric bicycle and scooter use, including crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The official summary read: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting data about electric bicycles and electric scooters.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Marjorie Velázquez, Sandy Nurse, Kevin C. Riley, and Gale A. Brewer backed the measure. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote. If passed, it would have forced the city to break out crash data by vehicle type, borough, and precinct—shining a light on the toll for riders and pedestrians. Instead, the city keeps counting in the dark.

• File Int 1028-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

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

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

The council passed a law forcing DOT to install traffic calming devices near senior centers. At least fifty new devices each year. Streets where elders walk will see more barriers between them and speeding cars. The city must report every installation.

Bill Int 0679-2022, now Local Law 63 of 2023, was enacted on May 29, 2023, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of traffic calming devices in senior pedestrian zones.' Council Member Darlene Mealy sponsored the bill, joined by co-sponsors including Amanda Farías, Tiffany Cabán, and others. The council voted overwhelmingly in favor on April 27, 2023. The law requires the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department for the Aging, to annually install at least one traffic calming device in each designated senior pedestrian zone, with a minimum of fifty devices citywide per year. DOT must report installation locations to the council every year. The law aims to slow traffic and protect older pedestrians where they are most at risk.

• File Int 0679-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-27

Council bill Intro 417 aims to cut red tape. It slashes the waiting period for new bike lanes from months to weeks. DOT backs the move. Advocates say delays cost lives. The bill puts safety over bureaucracy. The fight for safer streets continues.

Intro 417, sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler, was discussed at a City Council hearing on April 26, 2023. The bill seeks to repeal an old law that forces the Department of Transportation (DOT) to give extended notice to community boards before installing bike lanes. The current rule requires a 90-day notice and a 45-day wait after a hearing. Intro 417 would cut this to just 14 days. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez told the Council, 'We love Lincoln Restler's bill,' and called the old law 'unnecessarily burdensome.' The bill's summary states it would 'put bike lanes on the same community outreach and installation schedule as other street projects.' Council Member Farah Louis raised concerns about less community input, but DOT officials stressed that the process would still involve boards and electeds—just faster. Bike advocates and DOT say the change is vital to meet safety targets and reduce cyclist injuries, which drop by over 30 percent where bike lanes are built.

• DOT: We ‘Love’ Repeal of the Notorious Law that Delays Bike Lane Installation, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-26

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 68-year-old man bled from the head on Newkirk Avenue. An SUV’s front end crumpled. Unsafe speed shattered the calm. The man drifted, semiconscious, on the asphalt. The street stood still, marked by violence and silence.

A 68-year-old pedestrian was struck by a station wagon/SUV on Newkirk Avenue near East 21st Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the man suffered a severe head injury, was semiconscious, and bled onto the roadway. The SUV’s front end was caved in from the impact. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the crash. No other driver errors were reported. Two vehicle occupants, a 62-year-old man and an infant, were uninjured. The report does not mention helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left a vulnerable road user gravely hurt, exposing the lethal risk of speed on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4609583, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council filed a bill to force a city study on truck and delivery traffic from last mile warehouses. The bill targets congestion, collisions, and harm to neighborhoods. It demands hard numbers on vehicle flow, street damage, and danger to people outside cars.

Int 0923-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Member Alexa Avilés, with over thirty co-sponsors, sought a city study on the impact of truck and delivery traffic from last mile facilities. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to conducting a study of the impact that truck and delivery traffic generated by last mile facilities have on local communities and infrastructure.' The bill required the Department of Transportation to report on delivery vehicle volumes, parking, congestion, collisions, and pedestrian injuries near these hubs. It called for identifying the most affected streets and estimating the costs and possible fixes. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without passage.

• File Int 0923-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

Council filed a bill to force DOT to study street design that blocks or deters trucks from residential streets. The bill called for a report on making streets less accessible to commercial vehicles. It died at session’s end. No action taken.

Int 0924-2023 was introduced on February 16, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill required the Department of Transportation to study and report on using street design to limit or reduce commercial vehicle use in residential neighborhoods. The matter’s 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 sponsored the bill, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The report was due by December 31, 2023. The bill was filed at the end of session with no report issued. The measure aimed to examine street redesign, traffic calming, and camera enforcement to keep trucks out of residential areas, but it stalled before any impact reached the street.

• File Int 0924-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-16

A young, unlicensed woman tore down Nostrand Avenue before dawn. She slammed a BMW into ten parked cars. Her head bled. A child in the front seat suffered chest pain. Metal screamed. The street woke to carnage and inexperience.

A BMW sedan, driven by an unlicensed woman, crashed into ten parked vehicles on Nostrand Avenue before sunrise. According to the police report, the driver was young, unlicensed, and wore no seatbelt. Her head was bleeding, but she remained conscious. A child passenger in the front seat, also unrestrained, suffered chest pain and nausea. The crash left a trail of damaged sedans, SUVs, and a van. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The absence of seatbelts for both driver and child is noted only after driver errors. No other violations or contributing factors are cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605851, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council called on the MTA to train non-police subway staff to handle mental health crises. The resolution followed deadly incidents on tracks. Sponsors said clear protocols could save lives. The bill was filed at session’s end. No direct safety review.

Resolution 0484-2023 was introduced on February 2, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill called for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide non-police staff in the subway system with training and protocols for dealing with mentally ill customers. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide non-police staff working in the subway system with training and a protocol for handling issues with mentally ill customers.' Council Members Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary sponsor), Kevin C. Riley, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Crystal Hudson, Lincoln Restler, and Farah N. Louis sponsored the resolution. The bill was filed at the end of the session on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst reviewed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Res 0484-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-02-02

Council filed a bill to form an advisory board on school crossing guard deployment. The board would unite NYPD, DOT, and DOE. Twice a year, it would report on guard placement. The bill died at session’s end. Streets remain unchanged.

Int 0871-2022 was introduced on December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to create an advisory board with the NYPD, Department of Transportation, and Department of Education to oversee school crossing guard deployment. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment." Council Members Kamillah Hanks (primary sponsor), Althea V. Stevens, Sandra Ung, Amanda Farías, Rita C. Joseph, and Farah N. Louis sponsored the bill, with support from the Bronx Borough President. The board would submit biannual reports to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not become law. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• File Int 0871-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council pushed for a map showing every crossing guard post. The NYPD would have to put it online. The bill died in committee. Streets stay opaque. Kids and elders cross in the dark.

Int 0870-2022 was introduced on December 21, 2022, in the Committee on Public Safety. The bill aimed to require the NYPD to post a map of all crossing guard locations on its website. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting on crossing guard deployment.' Council Member Kamillah Hanks led as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Louis, Joseph, Farías, Restler, Hudson, Ung, Avilés, and the Bronx Borough President. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, without a vote. If passed, it would have shed light on where the city protects its most vulnerable at the curb. Instead, the public remains in the dark about guard coverage at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0870-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council bill sought more car-free streets on busy holidays. It would have let neighborhoods close roads for crowds and events. The measure died in committee. Streets stay open to traffic. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed.

Int 0859-2022 was introduced to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on December 21, 2022. The bill aimed to require the Department of Transportation to allow special Open Streets activations on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The matter summary reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan led as primary sponsor, joined by Julie Menin, Farah N. Louis, Julie Won, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Alexa Avilés, Lincoln Restler, Shahana K. Hanif, and Rita C. Joseph. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023, and did not advance. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill’s failure leaves vulnerable road users at risk during the city’s busiest days.

• File Int 0859-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21

Council members push Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The move aims to slow cars where people walk, bike, and gather. The resolution died at session’s end. Streets remain exposed.

Resolution 0441-2022, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, called on the New York State Legislature and Governor to pass S.315/A.1416. This would let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets in the Open Streets program. The matter, titled 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass...S.315/A.1416, which would authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program,' was sponsored by Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary), Farah N. Louis, Lincoln Restler, Amanda Farías, Julie Won, Carlina Rivera, and Crystal Hudson. The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. The measure aimed to protect pedestrians and cyclists by slowing traffic where people gather. But with the bill stalled, Open Streets remain at risk from fast-moving vehicles.

• File Res 0441-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-12-21