No More Blood on Cropsey: Hold Brannan Accountable for Every Broken Body

Council passed a law forcing DOT to install stop signs or signals at every school intersection by 2024. Lawmakers slam DOT for slow action and hiding behind federal rules. Families wait. Streets stay dangerous. Children cross. Cars speed by.

Bill introduced by Council Member Inez Barron in 2018 requires the Department of Transportation to install traffic control devices at every intersection next to a school by September 30, 2024. The law passed the City Council, but implementation drags. The matter summary: 'It requires the city to make sure that every intersection on a block where there is a school, has a traffic sign or a stop signal.' Council Members Justin Brannan and Bob Holden, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, all criticized DOT’s slow pace and reliance on federal MUTCD guidelines. Community Board 14 in Brooklyn faced years of denials before a stop sign appeared. DOT promises compliance, but critics say the agency only acts after tragedy. The law aims to protect children, but bureaucratic inertia keeps danger in the crosswalk.

• New Law May Make School Zones Safer — But Why Does DOT Act So Slowly, Pols Ask, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-16

Council passed a law forcing DOT to install stop signs or signals at every school intersection. Pols slammed DOT for dragging its feet and hiding behind federal rules. Parents and boards want action, not excuses. Kids cross streets. Cars kill.

On March 16, 2022, the City Council passed a school zone traffic safety law. The bill, introduced by Inez Barron, requires the Department of Transportation to install traffic control devices at every intersection next to a school by September 30, 2024. Council Member Justin Brannan, representing District 47, called the law a 'no-brainer,' saying, 'Some of our biggest victories have been getting a traffic signal installed near a busy intersection near a school – that shouldn't be some huge colossal victory.' The law aims to bypass restrictive federal guidelines that block safety fixes. Council members and residents blasted DOT for slow, arbitrary action and years of denied requests, sometimes only reversed after tragedy. The Adams administration promises to redesign 1,000 more intersections, but families and advocates demand faster, decisive protection for children.

• New Law May Make School Zones Safer — But Why Does DOT Act So Slowly, Pols Ask, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-03-16

Council Member Brannan pulled his bill to ban higher parking fees for SUVs. Advocates slammed the move, citing the deadly risk of large vehicles. Brannan admitted the bill’s language missed the mark. He promises changes. The fight over SUV privilege continues.

Intro 0009, sponsored by Brooklyn Council Member Justin Brannan, was introduced on February 10, 2022. The bill would have forced parking garages to charge the same rate for all light-duty vehicles under 8,500 pounds, including SUVs and sedans. Brannan withdrew the bill on February 15, 2022, after backlash from safe-streets advocates. The bill summary stated: 'This bill requires parking garages to charge the same rate for all light duty vehicles weighing 8,500 pounds or less, including sedans, vans, sports utility vehicles, and pick-up trucks.' Brannan said, 'I agree with what the advocates are saying, based on the language on that bill. The language as introduced did not reflect what I was after. We withdrew it to amend it.' He admitted the bill failed to address the dangers of large vehicles. Brannan now seeks a mechanism to charge more for heavier, more dangerous cars, not less.

• Brannan Shelves Bill That Would Forbid Charging SUV Owners More to Park, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-15

Council Member Brannan pushes a bill to ban higher parking rates for SUVs. Critics warn it props up dangerous vehicles. The bill covers all light-duty cars under 8,500 pounds. Debate rages as advocates call for clarity and safety.

On February 14, 2022, Council Member Justin Brannan introduced a bill to the New York City Council. The bill would require commercial parking garages to charge the same rate for all light-duty vehicles under 8,500 pounds, including sedans, vans, SUVs, and pickups. Brannan claims the measure fights arbitrary price-gouging, saying, 'The idea is to make it fair for people who choose to drive.' Critics, like StreetsPAC's Eric McClure, argue the bill subsidizes SUV use and endangers city streets, stating, 'We shouldn’t be bending over backwards to further subsidize someone’s choice to drive an SUV or pickup truck in New York City.' Brannan admits the bill needs revision. The bill’s status and committee assignment remain unclear. No formal safety analysis was provided.

• Brooklyn Pol’s Bill Would Prohibit Higher Parking Costs for SUVs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-14

Council called on the MTA to make every renovated subway station fully accessible. Only a fraction of stations have elevators. Lawmakers want no more half-measures. The resolution was filed at session’s end. Riders with disabilities remain stranded underground.

Resolution 0009-2022 was introduced on February 10, 2022, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to ensure any subway station undergoing enhancement or renovation becomes fully accessible to people with disabilities. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to make any subway stations undergoing enhancement or renovation fully accessible to people with disabilities.' Council Member Darlene Mealy sponsored the resolution, joined by Brannan, Menin, Louis, Yeger, Hanif, Hudson, Marte, Joseph, Riley, and Brooks-Powers. The resolution was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. Only 117 out of 493 subway stations are accessible. The Council’s action highlights the city’s failure to guarantee safe, equal passage for all riders. Elevators and upgrades are overdue. The bill’s filing leaves vulnerable New Yorkers waiting.

• File Res 0009-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-02-10

City Council calls for Albany to extend and expand the MTA On-Demand E-Hail Paratransit Pilot. The resolution demands fare parity, no ride caps, and equal service for disabled New Yorkers. Lawmakers say current limits are unjust and restrict mobility.

Resolution 0002-2022, filed at session's end, came before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on February 10, 2022. The measure urges passage of S.4037/A.5896, which would 'extend and expand the scope of the MTA On-Demand E-Hail Paratransit Pilot Program.' Council Member Justin L. Brannan led sponsorship, joined by Ayala, Menin, Louis, Hanif, Hudson, Bottcher, Farías, Brooks-Powers, and Brewer. The resolution slams service caps and fare surcharges, calling them 'inequitable and unjust.' It demands that paratransit users get the same fare, hours, and ride freedom as subway and bus riders. The bill would end rationing and financial barriers for disabled New Yorkers who rely on Access-A-Ride. The Council’s action highlights the systemic barriers faced by vulnerable road users and presses for equal, unrestricted access.

• File Res 0002-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2022-02-10