Staten Island Bleeds: Carr Votes, Neighbors Die

Council bill orders DOT to study speed bumps at camera sites. If possible, bumps go in within a year. Annual reports track danger and decide if cameras stay. Carr, Louis, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino back the move. Streets may slow. Lives may change.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it commands the Department of Transportation to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. The bill reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), David M. Carr, Sandra Ung, Robert F. Holden, Joann Ariola, and Vickie Paladino sponsor the measure. If DOT finds a location suitable, it must install a raised speed reducer within a year. DOT must also report annually, track changes in dangerous driving, and recommend if cameras are still needed. The bill aims to force physical changes where drivers speed, not just rely on cameras. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

A Mercedes SUV struck a 61-year-old man crossing Capodanno Boulevard. Head trauma, internal bleeding, death in the cold dark. Police cite driver inattention. The street offered no crosswalk, no light, only danger and silence.

A 61-year-old man was killed while crossing Capodanno Boulevard near Lincoln Avenue in Staten Island. According to the police report, the man stepped into the street where there was 'no light, no crosswalk.' A northbound Mercedes SUV struck him head-on. The pedestrian suffered head trauma and internal bleeding and died at the scene. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the crash. The SUV's point of impact was the center front end, consistent with a direct collision. The report notes the pedestrian was 'crossing, no signal, or crosswalk,' but lists driver inattention as the primary cause. The deadly outcome unfolded on a street lacking basic pedestrian infrastructure, with driver error at its core.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693584, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan hit a 19-year-old man walking with traffic. His head bled on the pavement near a parked dump truck. The car’s front end crumpled. He lay still. The street fell silent. Impact left him unconscious and bleeding.

A 19-year-old pedestrian was struck by a sedan while walking with traffic on Richmond Road near Baltic Avenue in Staten Island. According to the police report, 'A sedan struck him head-on. His head bled on the pavement beside a parked dump truck. The car’s front end crumpled. He lay still.' The young man suffered a head injury with severe bleeding and was found unconscious. The police report lists 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as a contributing factor in the crash. No driver errors such as speeding or failure to yield are noted in the data. The dump truck was parked and not involved in the movement. The crash left one vulnerable road user gravely hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681109, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council passed a law to overhaul city truck routes. The bill orders daylighting at intersections and new signage. It aims to cut crashes, boost visibility, and shrink truck miles. Sponsors demand safer streets for people on foot and bike. Change is now law.

Int 0708-2022, now Local Law 171 of 2023, was enacted by the City Council on December 16, 2023, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to redesigning the city truck route network," requires the Department of Transportation to redesign truck routes to "improve safety, increase visibility, reduce traffic congestion, and reduce vehicle miles traveled." Council Member Tiffany Cabán led as primary sponsor, joined by dozens of co-sponsors. The law mandates daylighting—removing parking near intersections—to clear sight lines for drivers and protect people crossing. DOT must consult with safety groups, residents, and businesses, and replace truck route signage for better clarity. The law sets deadlines: initial report by November 2023, implementation by June 2024, and new signage by July 2024. This overhaul targets the deadly risk trucks pose to vulnerable road users at city intersections.

• File Int 0708-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-11-15

Council passed Int 1164-2023. The law forces DOT to map out where street safety money goes. It tracks past investment, crash rates, and who gets left behind. The city must show its work, district by district. No more hiding the gaps.

Int 1164-2023, now enacted, amends the city code to require an 'investment roadmap' in every Streets Master Plan starting December 1, 2026. The bill moved through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passing on October 19, 2023, and became law on November 19, 2023. The law states: 'The department shall prioritize and promote...the safety of all street users...and improving equity in infrastructure investment.' Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley (primary), with Brooks-Powers, Narcisse, Hanif, Brewer, Restler, and Rivera as co-sponsors, the bill demands DOT report, by neighborhood, on safety infrastructure investment, crash rates, and demographics. It shines a light on which districts get safety upgrades and which are left exposed. The roadmap aims to close the gap for underserved areas, forcing transparency and accountability for every dollar spent on street safety.

• File Int 1164-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-19

Council passed a law forcing DOT to report cars with unreadable plates dodging cameras. The bill targets drivers hiding their plates from red light and speed cameras. Reports must show where, when, and how plates go unseen. Data goes public, every quarter.

Int 0712-2022, now enacted as Local Law 155 of 2023, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the full Council on October 19, 2023. The law, sponsored by Gale A. Brewer with co-sponsors including Erik D. Bottcher, Lincoln Restler, and others, amends the city code to require the Department of Transportation to report on vehicles with license plates unreadable by photo violation monitoring systems. The law’s title states it is 'in relation to reporting on motor vehicles with license plates that are unreadable by photo violation monitoring systems.' DOT must post quarterly reports showing the time, location, and reasons plates evade cameras—whether by concealment, distortion, or missing tags. The law aims to expose drivers who dodge automated enforcement, shining light on a loophole that puts pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The reports must be public and sent to the Mayor and Council Speaker.

• File Int 0712-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-10-19

A 2016 Audi tore north on Steuben Street. The driver, alone, slammed into something hard. His chest crushed. He died in the seat as dawn broke. Unsafe speed ended his life. Metal and flesh met with fatal force.

A single-car crash on Steuben Street, Staten Island, killed a 30-year-old man driving a 2016 Audi sedan. According to the police report, the Audi sped north before striking an object. The driver, belted in and alone, suffered fatal chest injuries and was found unconscious. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The impact crushed the front of the vehicle and the driver's chest. No other people were involved or injured. The data shows the driver was licensed and wearing a seatbelt. The crash underscores the lethal consequences of unsafe speed, as documented in the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4661428, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota turned left on Forest Avenue. A Ford came straight. Metal crashed. Glass burst. The Toyota driver, a 26-year-old woman, bled from the head. Her view was blocked. Alcohol lingered. Both cars crumpled. Time stopped.

A crash unfolded at Forest Avenue and Decker Avenue. According to the police report, a Toyota sedan turned left while a Ford SUV drove straight. The two vehicles collided, shattering glass and crumpling metal. The 26-year-old woman driving the Toyota suffered severe head lacerations. Police noted her view was obstructed and alcohol was involved. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. Driver inattention and distraction also played a role. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both vehicles damaged and the Toyota driver injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4654934, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan drifted south on 14th Avenue. It slammed into three parked cars. Metal tore. A 49-year-old woman inside the moving car died. The street fell silent. No one else was hurt. The crash left wreckage and grief.

A sedan traveling south on 14th Avenue in Brooklyn struck three parked vehicles. According to the police report, 'A southbound sedan veered into parked cars. Metal screamed. A 49-year-old woman inside did not survive.' The crash killed the woman, who was the only occupant of the moving vehicle. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The three parked vehicles were unoccupied. The impact left the parked cars damaged and the driver dead at the scene. The police report does not mention helmet or signal use as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652991, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

The Council passed a law forcing DOT to map every bike lane, hazard, and obstruction. Cyclists and pedestrians get a clear look at danger. The searchable map must show blocked lanes, crash sites, and repairs. No more hiding unsafe streets.

Int 0289-2022, now Local Law 124 of 2023, was enacted by the City Council on September 3, 2023, after passing the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The law requires the Department of Transportation to publish a monthly-updated, searchable map of all city bike lanes. The map must show obstructions, construction, crash patterns, shared paths, conflict points, resurfacing, parking, bike share docks, open streets, repair shops, and reporting tools. The bill’s matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to develop a map of bicycle infrastructure conditions.' Council Member Crystal Hudson sponsored the bill, joined by Rivera, Sanchez, Stevens, Yeger, Restler, Avilés, and others. The law brings sunlight to hidden hazards, giving vulnerable road users the facts they need to see the city’s dangers in plain sight.

• File Int 0289-2022, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

Council pushed DOT to study raised speed bumps at speed camera spots. If feasible, bumps would go in within a year. Annual reports would track danger and say if cameras are still needed. The bill died at session’s end. No action. No change.

Bill Int 1120-2023, filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to force the Department of Transportation to assess at least 100 speed camera locations per year for raised speed reducer feasibility. Introduced July 13, 2023, and sponsored by Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary), Kevin C. Riley, Kalman Yeger, Amanda Farías, and David M. Carr, the measure required DOT to install raised speed reducers within a year where feasible, then report annually on danger indicators and recommend if cameras should remain. The official summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' The bill was filed at the end of session on December 31, 2023. No raised speed reducers will be installed under this law. Vulnerable road users remain exposed at these crossings.

• File Int 1120-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-07-13

Council grilled NYPD on ghost plates. Fake tags dodge cameras, tickets, and tolls. Towing is up, but tow yards are full. Staten Island’s David Carr offered space. Enforcement lags. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price for every undetected car.

On June 27, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee held a hearing on enforcement of ghost plates and related bills. The session focused on a package to increase fines for phony or expired plates and penalize sellers of illegal tags. Deputy Chief Michael Pilecki told the committee, 'Any vehicle bearing one of these fraudulent plates instantly becomes undetectable to nearly every aspect of street level enforcement.' Council Member David Carr (District 50) offered Staten Island tow pound space to help the NYPD, which faces a shortage after the Manhattan pound closed. The NYPD reported towing is up 192% for covered plates, but limited storage stalls progress. The bills, sponsored by Oswald Feliz, aim to close loopholes that let reckless drivers evade detection, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to danger.

• NYPD honcho tells council that it faces obstacles in fight against ‘ghost plates’, amny.com, Published 2023-06-27

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

A Yamaha motorcycle smashed into a Chevy SUV making a U-turn on Poly Place. The 21-year-old rider, helmeted but unlicensed, was thrown and killed. Improper turning and lane use by drivers led to the fatal crash. The SUV driver survived.

A violent collision unfolded on Poly Place near the VA hospital. According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck the left rear quarter panel of a Chevy SUV as the SUV made a U-turn. The 21-year-old motorcycle rider, who wore a helmet but was unlicensed, was thrown from his bike and killed. The SUV driver, a 54-year-old man, survived. Police listed 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors. The report notes the rider's helmet use only after citing driver errors. The impact shattered the rider's body. No pedestrians or other bystanders were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4620581, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Toyota sedan turned left on Hylan Boulevard. The driver failed to yield. He struck a man crossing outside the crosswalk. The impact was direct. The man’s head hit the asphalt. Blood pooled. He did not wake.

A 2013 Toyota sedan, making a left turn on Hylan Boulevard at Seaview Avenue, struck a 48-year-old man who was crossing outside the crosswalk. According to the police report, 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The sedan hit the pedestrian head-on. The man suffered severe head injuries and was left unconscious, bleeding on the street. The driver, a 73-year-old man, was licensed and remained at the scene. The report lists no contributing factors for the pedestrian. The crash underscores the lethal risk when drivers fail to yield and lose focus at busy crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605701, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Volvo SUV crashed into an ambulance on 15th Avenue. The impact threw a woman in the back. Her head struck metal. Blood pooled. She lay stunned, wounded. The cause: driver inattention. The street echoed with sirens and silence.

A Volvo SUV slammed into the rear of a Mercedes ambulance on 15th Avenue. According to the police report, 'A Volvo SUV slammed into the back of a Mercedes ambulance. In the rear, a 37-year-old woman, unbelted, struck her head. Blood spilled. She lay in shock.' The crash left the rear passenger with severe head lacerations and shock. The police data lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. No other driver errors were cited. The report notes the injured woman was not using safety equipment, but this is mentioned only after the primary cause: driver inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4603372, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Steel clashed on Capodanno Boulevard. A box truck turned left. A sedan drove straight. The sedan’s front caved. Inside, a 35-year-old man bled, neck broken, part of him gone. The truck stood untouched. The street bore the wound.

A violent crash struck near 253 Capodanno Boulevard in Staten Island. According to the police report, a box truck made a left turn as a sedan traveled straight. The sedan’s front end crumpled on impact. The 35-year-old male sedan driver suffered a broken neck and an amputation but stayed conscious. The box truck driver, a 61-year-old man, was not hurt. Police list 'Turning Improperly' as the contributing factor. The sedan driver wore a lap belt and harness, but the report centers on the improper turn. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The truck showed no damage. The crash left the sedan and its driver broken.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4600638, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15