Aug 9 - The Coney Island casino's EIS predicts thousands more cars, gridlocked roads, and crushed parking. Pedestrians and cyclists face higher exposure and danger.

Bill number: none. Status: Environmental Impact Statement filed Aug. 9, 2025. Committee: Community Advisory Committee (CAC); CAC met July 30. The EIS states: 'Proposed Coney Island casino would likely clog local roads with heavy traffic and overwhelm public parking.' Justin L. Brannan is noted for introducing a ferry-feasibility bill last fall. CAC member Marissa Solomon said mitigation measures likely won’t be enough. Assemblyman Charles Fall criticized risks to pedestrians. Developers offered transit incentives. Safety analysts warn the casino is projected to dramatically increase motor vehicle traffic and parking demand, worsening congestion and exposure risk for pedestrians and cyclists; mitigation focuses on flow, not street safety, and leaves vulnerable road users bearing the burden.

• Proposed Coney Island casino could bring heavy traffic, overwhelm parking, according to environmental impact study, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-09

Jul 24 - A distracted driver struck on 86th Street. A young woman suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The crash left her unconscious. Police cite driver inattention as the main cause.

A 24-year-old woman operating a motorized vehicle on 86th Street at West 7th Street in Brooklyn was severely injured. According to the police report, she suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was found unconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other injuries were specified for the vehicle occupants. The data does not mention helmet use or signals as factors. The crash underscores the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830338 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 18 - Council Member Justin Brannan moves to stop delivery apps from axing workers at will. The bill targets silent firings. No more robot bosses. Human over algorithm. Status: introduced.

"A big consequence that we saw is that delivery workers are often deactivated from the platforms without any notice or any explanation." -- Justin L. Brannan

On July 18, 2025, Council Member Justin Brannan introduced Intro 1332 to the New York City Council. The bill, now pending committee assignment, would require delivery app companies to give a reason before deactivating workers. Brannan says, 'A big consequence that we saw is that delivery workers are often deactivated from the platforms without any notice or any explanation.' The measure aims to end algorithmic firings and protect gig workers from sudden job loss. However, the event text is too vague to determine a direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists, as it does not specify any concrete policy or regulatory change affecting vulnerable road users.

• New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 18 - Cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, as she crossed Cropsey Avenue. She died. Her aide survived. Driver charged with failure to yield and due care. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

Gothamist (2025-07-18) reports a 95-year-old woman, Mayya Gil, died after a cargo van hit her and her home health aide while they crossed Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, Thimothe Andre, was charged with two counts of failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Police said Andre struck both victims while turning. Gil died at the hospital; her aide survived. The article notes, 'NYPD data shows 100 people have died in city traffic crashes so far this year.' The case highlights persistent risks for pedestrians and the consequences of driver inattention at city intersections.

• Brooklyn Pedestrian Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 15 - A car spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The driver lost control. Madisyn Ruiz, 21, died. Two boys hurt. Tire marks linger. The driver faces charges. The family mourns. The system failed to protect.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-15), Madisyn Ruiz, 21, was killed when her boyfriend, Zachary Cando, lost control of a 2023 Genesis G80 while 'doing donuts' in the Gateway Center parking lot. Ruiz was sitting by the curb when struck. Two nephews, ages 12 and 17, were also injured. Cando told police he 'lost control' during the stunt. He was arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes, 'Days later, circular tire tracks were still visible in the parking lot.' This crash highlights the dangers of reckless driving in public spaces and raises questions about parking lot safety and enforcement.

• Driver Doing Donuts Kills Girlfriend, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 11 - A BMW tore through a Brooklyn crosswalk before dawn. Two pedestrians, Kex Un Chen and Faqui Lin, died on impact. Their bodies thrown to the sidewalk. The driver fled. Police arrested him hours later.

CBS New York (2025-07-11) reports two pedestrians, Kex Un Chen, 80, and Faqui Lin, 59, were killed at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park. Surveillance video shows a BMW speeding through the crosswalk while the victims had the right of way. The driver, Juventino Anastasio Florentino, 23, was arrested and faces charges including manslaughter, reckless driving, and leaving the scene. Councilmember Alexa Aviles called for 'serious investments in safety enhancements' on Third Avenue. Residents say crashes are common on this stretch, highlighting ongoing systemic danger.

• Two Killed In Sunset Park Crosswalk, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 9 - A judge let the city shift Bedford Ave’s bike lane. The fight pits safety for walkers against safety for cyclists. Cars, bikes, and people cross paths. Danger remains. The city moves ahead.

NY Daily News (2025-07-09) reports Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo lifted a restraining order, letting NYC move a protected bike lane on Bedford Ave, Brooklyn. The city cited pedestrian risk from fast bikes and e-bikes, showing videos of children struck while crossing. Opponents argued removing the protected lane exposes cyclists to cars and claimed the city gave poor notice. The article quotes a resident: 'irreparable harm would come to neighborhood residents if the lane were no longer protected by parked cars.' The ruling highlights ongoing tension between street design, driver behavior, and vulnerable road users.

• Judge Clears Bedford Ave Bike Lane Move, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 8 - Two new elevators rise at Bay Ridge-95th Street. Barriers fall. Riders once shut out now enter. Subway access grows. Streets outside still threaten, but inside, movement is free. Each upgrade shifts the city’s balance.

"This is a great example of working with the MTA on bringing accessibility to the far reaches of the outer boroughs and reminding folks that the ADA is not just a suggestion, it's actually the law." -- Justin L. Brannan

On July 8, 2025, the MTA opened two ADA-compliant elevators at Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn. The project, backed by federal funds, finished under budget. Council Member Justin Brannan, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis all praised the upgrade. Quemuel Arroyo, MTA’s chief accessibility officer, called it 'a crucial connection.' The new elevators mark the third Brooklyn station made accessible this year. Improved subway access encourages walking and cycling to transit, boosting safety for vulnerable users by increasing their numbers and visibility. The MTA must reach 95% accessibility by 2055.

• MTA opens two elevators at newly-accessible Bay Ridge-95th Street station, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-08

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 29 - An SUV struck and killed eight-year-old Mordica Keller as he crossed Eastern Parkway with his sister. The driver stayed. Blood stained the concrete. The boy died at Kings County Hospital. The street claimed another child.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-29), eight-year-old Mordica Keller was killed by a black Honda Pilot while crossing Eastern Parkway at Albany Street with his sister. The 69-year-old driver, heading south, remained at the scene. Police said, "They were walking, he was crossing the street with his sister." The driver had a green light, and no arrest has been made. The incident highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians at busy intersections. The investigation continues.

• SUV Kills Boy Crossing Crown Heights Street, New York Post, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 24 - A teen on a moped slammed into a turning car in Midwood. He flew off, struck hard, died at the hospital. His passenger survived, hurt. The driver stayed. No arrests. Another moped rider died days before. Streets remain deadly.

NY Daily News (2025-06-24) reports a 17-year-old died after his moped collided with a Genesis G80 driven by a 71-year-old man making a left turn on East 8th St. in Brooklyn. Police said the moped 'slammed into' the car, then hit a parked Honda Odyssey. Both the teen and his passenger suffered trauma; the teen died at Maimonides Medical Center. The car driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made, and the NYPD Highway District Collision Squad is investigating. The article also notes a separate fatal moped crash days earlier involving a drunk, unlicensed driver. These incidents highlight persistent risks for vulnerable road users and ongoing gaps in street safety.

• Teen Killed, Man Critical In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-24

Jun 22 - An SUV hit a cyclist on Neptune Avenue. The rider suffered head wounds and shock. Police list injuries as severe. No driver errors named. The street saw blood and fear.

A cyclist, age 26, was struck by an SUV on Neptune Avenue near Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist suffered head injuries and severe lacerations, and was in shock. The SUV's right front bumper hit the cyclist. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The police report notes the cyclist's safety equipment as unknown. The crash left the cyclist injured, while the SUV occupants were not reported as seriously hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823927 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 22 - A moped rider died in Bay Ridge. A driver, drunk and unlicensed, struck him at dawn. The crash left another man broken. The street ran red. The city counts its dead. The system failed to keep danger off the road.

Gothamist (2025-06-22) reports a fatal crash at Third Avenue and 67th Street in Brooklyn. Police say Leslie Moreno, 29, drove intoxicated and without a license when her Acura collided with a moped carrying two men. Joel Mota, 22, died from head and torso injuries. His passenger suffered multiple fractures. Moreno was arrested and hospitalized in stable condition. The article notes, 'Moreno was driving west on 67th Street while Mota was driving south on Third Avenue, and he hit her passenger-side door.' NYPD data shows 13 motorized two-wheeler deaths citywide so far this year. The crash highlights persistent risks from unlicensed, impaired drivers and the vulnerability of riders on city streets.

• Unlicensed Drunk Driver Kills Moped Rider, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-22

Jun 21 - A moped slammed into a sedan on 3rd Avenue. One rider died. Another was thrown and fractured his arm. Both drivers were unlicensed and inexperienced. Brooklyn streets claimed another life.

A deadly crash unfolded at 3rd Avenue and 67th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a moped and a sedan collided. The 22-year-old moped driver was killed. His 21-year-old passenger was ejected and suffered a fractured arm. The sedan driver, a 29-year-old woman, reported neck pain. Both drivers were unlicensed. The report lists 'Driver Inexperience' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. No other factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821960 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jun 20 - A Brooklyn political boss fights a judge’s order to keep the Bedford Avenue bike lane. Crash and injury numbers fell after the redesign. The city faces pressure to defend protections for cyclists. The battle exposes the city’s fractured safety priorities.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 20, 2025, that Frank Seddio, a Brooklyn Democratic leader and Board of Elections commissioner, is appealing a court order that blocks the city from removing part of the Bedford Avenue bike lane. Seddio claims the lane will only shift location and disputes the safety benefits, arguing, 'The bike lane will still exist, but merely shift to an alternative location in the road.' He also questions crash data, citing seasonal differences: 'The change in accident and injury rates is better explained by seasonal weather patterns.' Streetsblog notes that after the redesign, crashes dropped by 18–19% and injuries by 25–26%. The case highlights ongoing tension between local political power, city notification procedures, and efforts to protect cyclists and pedestrians through street design.

• Brooklyn Power Broker Fights Bike Lane Ruling, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-20

Jun 18 - A judge stopped the city from tearing out three blocks of protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The order holds until August. Cyclists and pedestrians keep their shield, for now. The city’s plan waits in limbo.

NY1 reported on June 18, 2025, that a judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Adams administration’s plan to remove three blocks of protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn. The city had announced the removal would happen by the end of June. The order blocks any changes until a court hearing on August 6. According to NY1, the restraining order 'prevents the city from altering three blocks of a protected lane along Bedford Avenue, on the border of Bedford-Stuyvesant and South Williamsburg.' The case highlights the tension between city policy and street safety for vulnerable road users. No driver actions are cited, but the move would have reduced protection for cyclists and pedestrians.

• Judge Halts Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal, NY1, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 15 - Steel slammed steel in Brooklyn before dawn. A Chevy hit a Volvo, then a police car. Four people hurt. Two were NYPD. The driver of the Chevy was arrested. Sirens silent. Lights flashing. Streets left scarred.

ABC7 reported on June 15, 2025, that a three-car crash at Avenue U and Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn injured four people, including two NYPD officers. The article states, “Police say a 25-year-old man was traveling north on Coney Island Avenue in a Chevrolet Suburban when he collided with the driver of a Volvo traveling west on Avenue U.” The impact pushed the Chevy into a marked police car, which had its lights on but no sirens. The 25-year-old Chevy driver was arrested at the scene. Both his passengers and two officers were hospitalized in stable condition. No injuries were reported in the Volvo. The incident highlights the dangers at busy intersections and the risks faced by all road users, including police. Authorities continue to investigate the cause.

• Brooklyn Three-Car Crash Injures Four, ABC7, Published 2025-06-15

Jun 11 - Parents in Greenpoint want cars out. A cyclist died at Monitor and Driggs. Children walk and bike to PS 110. The street stays dangerous. The city has not acted. Families wait. The threat of cars remains.

Streetsblog NYC reported on June 11, 2025, that parents at Public School 110 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, are calling for a Paris-style school street to protect children. Their plan would turn Monitor Street into a cul-de-sac with a pedestrian plaza, add mid-block crossings, and close a slip lane to block cut-through traffic from the BQE. The push follows a fatal crash at Monitor and Driggs, where a driver killed 73-year-old cyclist Teddy Orzechowski. Streetsblog notes, 'Streets outside schools have higher crash and injury rates than the city average.' Most PS 110 families walk or bike, but the city has not responded to the proposal. The article highlights the persistent risk from drivers using local streets as shortcuts.

• Brooklyn Parents Demand Safer School Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-11

May 26 - A firetruck and motorcycle met at Avenue U and Flatbush. Sirens screamed. Metal struck metal. The rider fell. Medics rushed him to Brookdale. He died. The driver stayed. Police circled the scene. The city’s streets claimed another life.

According to NY Daily News (published May 26, 2025), a 30-year-old motorcyclist died after colliding with an FDNY truck at Avenue U and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn late Sunday night. The article states, “The fire truck had its lights and sirens blaring, cops said.” The victim was traveling west on Avenue U; the firetruck was heading south on Flatbush. The FDNY driver, age 49, remained at the scene. Police are investigating. No names have been released. The crash highlights the dangers at busy intersections, even when emergency vehicles use lights and sirens. The incident underscores the risks faced by all road users in New York City’s complex traffic environment.

• Motorcyclist Dies in FDNY Truck Collision, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 25 - A pregnant woman stood in the street after a fender bender. The other driver hit her, dragged her, then sped off. She died at the scene. The driver fled on foot. Family waits for answers. The street holds the silence.

ABC7 reported on May 25, 2025, that a 32-year-old pregnant woman was killed in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, after a traffic incident at Van Buren Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard. The article states, "Authorities say a female driver slammed into the victim as she stood in the roadway after a traffic incident." The victim, Tiffany Cifuni, had exited her SUV following a minor collision and approached the other vehicle. The driver then accelerated, dragging Cifuni and driving the wrong way before striking parked cars and fleeing on foot. The crash highlights the dangers of post-collision interactions and reckless driving. Police continue to search for the suspect.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Crash, ABC7, Published 2025-05-25