Five Dead, Four Hundred Hurt: Abreu, Don’t Wait—Fix the Streets Now

A Chevy SUV backed into a parked Chrysler on West 126th. No damage to either car. The driver, a 35-year-old woman, died behind the wheel. The street was quiet. The crash left one dead. The city held its breath.

A Chevy SUV, driven by a 35-year-old woman, backed into a parked Chrysler SUV near 479 West 126th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A Chevy SUV backed into a parked Chrysler. No damage. No seatbelt. The woman driving, 35, died behind the wheel.' The crash resulted in the death of the driver. The police report lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No other injuries were reported. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, as noted after the driver errors. The parked Chrysler sustained no damage. The street was still. The loss was total.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668437, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Sanitation trucks now lift curbside bins in West Harlem. No more sidewalk trash bags. Ten blocks and fourteen schools lose parking, gain cleaner streets. Rats lose ground. Council Member Abreu and DSNY back the change. Some residents cheer. Others worry about access.

On September 15, 2023, New York City launched a containerized garbage collection pilot in West Harlem. The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) rolled out mechanical lifts on trucks to empty curbside containers, covering ten residential blocks and fourteen schools. The pilot aims to 'eliminate sidewalk trash bags, combat rats, and reclaim public roadway space from private car storage.' Council Member Shaun Abreu and DSNY officials publicly supported the program, with Abreu stating, 'Rats are a huge problem uptown, and we’ll never get the problem under control as long as we’re just throwing bags on the sidewalk.' Jonathan Viguers, DSNY assistant commissioner, acknowledged the removal of parking spaces as necessary. The initiative is part of Mayor Adams's anti-rat campaign. While some residents praise cleaner sidewalks, others raise concerns about accessibility and overflow. The city may expand the program, but faces cost and political hurdles.

• First Trash of History: City Starts Containerized Garbage Collection In West Harlem, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-15

Council calls for harsher punishment when e-scooter riders flee crash scenes. The resolution urges Albany to act. It also pushes to include e-bikes. Lawmakers say stiffer penalties could keep more drivers at the scene. Vulnerable road users stand to gain.

Resolution 0750-2023 was filed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 14, 2023, and closed at session's end on December 31, 2023. The measure urges the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.1679/S.561, which would 'increase the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident involving an e-scooter and further calls upon the New York State Legislature to include e-bikes in such legislation.' Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Gale A. Brewer, Shaun Abreu, Lynn C. Schulman, and Amanda Farías backed the resolution. The bill would raise penalties for e-scooter hit-and-runs from a violation to a misdemeanor or felony, and seeks to add e-bikes to the law. The council argues this could keep more crash-involved riders at the scene, helping protect pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Res 0750-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-09-14

A sedan sped north on Riverside Drive, fleeing police. The unlicensed driver slammed into steel. The car’s front end crumpled. The man, fifty, suffered neck crush injuries. Aggression and speed ruled the moment. The road answered with violence.

A 2003 Toyota sedan, driven by an unlicensed fifty-year-old man, crashed at Riverside Drive and West 114th Street while fleeing police. According to the police report, the vehicle struck hard at speed, leaving the driver conscious but with severe neck crush injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The car’s right front bumper took the impact, and the center front end was destroyed. The driver was the sole occupant. No mention of helmet or signal use appears in the report. Systemic danger rose as speed and rage collided on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658262, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle slammed southbound on Henry Hudson Parkway. The rider flew. Two sedans struck. One driver had no license. The man, forty-two, died from head wounds. Helmet on. It did not matter. The road fell silent.

A deadly crash unfolded on Henry Hudson Parkway. According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling southbound struck hard, ejecting its forty-two-year-old rider. Two sedans then hit. One sedan driver was unlicensed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor for both the motorcycle and sedans. The motorcyclist wore a helmet, but suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. The narrative states, 'Southbound on Henry Hudson Parkway, a motorcycle hit hard and the rider flew. He wore a helmet. It didn’t matter. Two sedans struck. One driver had no license. The man, 42, died from head wounds. The road stayed quiet.' The crash highlights the lethal consequences of unsafe speed and unlicensed driving.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4651573, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council pushed for 500 solar-lit crosswalks. The bill demanded action—100 new devices each year. It called for a hard look at results. But the session ended. The bill died. Streets wait. Pedestrians keep crossing in the dark.

Int 1151-2023, introduced August 3, 2023, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, aimed to require the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years—a total of 500. The bill also ordered a study comparing these devices to unlit signs, probing their power to deter traffic violations and mapping out logistical hurdles. The matter summary reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and over thirty others. The bill was filed at session’s end on December 31, 2023. No safety analyst note was provided. The city’s crosswalks remain unchanged. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• File Int 1151-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-08-03

A Honda swung wide in a U-turn. A cyclist rode straight. Steel struck flesh. The rider hit the pavement. Blood pooled on his arm. Skin split. The street held him. No helmet. Manhattan’s traffic did not slow.

A crash at West 131st Street and Amsterdam Avenue left a 27-year-old cyclist injured. According to the police report, a 2006 Honda sedan made a wide U-turn as the cyclist traveled straight. The collision sent the cyclist to the ground with severe lacerations to his arm. The report notes, 'A 2006 Honda swung wide in a U-turn. A cyclist rode straight. No helmet. No sound. Flesh met steel.' The cyclist was conscious but suffered significant injuries. The data lists no specific driver errors, but the sedan's U-turn placed the cyclist in harm’s way. The report mentions the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, but this detail appears after the description of the crash and driver actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653691, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A flatbed truck turned right. A woman on a bike rode straight. Steel struck bone. She flew, then fell. Her leg crushed beneath the weight. Shock took her. The truck rolled on, untouched.

A flatbed truck struck a 53-year-old woman riding her bike at the corner of West 110th Street and Columbus Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, the truck turned right while the cyclist continued straight. The impact ejected her from the bike, crushing her leg and leaving her in shock. The police report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors were cited. The cyclist suffered serious injuries to her lower leg and foot. No mention of helmet use or signaling was made in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634122, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Council backs home rule for Sammy’s Law. The move lets New York City set speed limits below 25 mph. Lawmakers and advocates say lower speeds mean fewer deaths. The bill honors Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a reckless driver. The vote puts safety first.

Bill: Home rule message for Sammy’s Law. Status: Poised for passage by the City Council on May 24, 2023. Committee: State and Federal Legislation, chaired by Council Member Shaun Abreu. The measure, titled 'City Council Poised to Pass ‘Home Rule’ Message for Sammy’s Law on Thursday,' lets New York City lower speed limits below 25 mph. Council Member Jen Gutierrez announced the Council’s intent to pass it, calling it crucial for safety. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'The city's ability to control the speed limits on its streets plays a crucial role in delivering traffic safety.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Mayor Eric Adams, and State Senator Andrew Gounardes all support the move. The bill honors Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a reckless driver. Data cited shows lower speed limits increase pedestrian survival. Advocates stress urgency to protect New Yorkers.

• City Council Poised to Pass ‘Home Rule’ Message for Sammy’s Law on Thursday, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-24

Sanitation wants to box up trash. That means tearing up 150,000 parking spots. The city will spend big. Car owners howl. Advocates call it bold. A pilot starts in Manhattan. Council Member Abreu backs it. Change comes slow, but the city may never look the same.

On May 8, 2023, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) released a sweeping proposal to containerize New York City’s sidewalk trash. The plan, not yet a formal bill, launches with a pilot in Manhattan’s Community Board 9, supported by Council Member Shaun Abreu, who declared, “We’re going to start containerizing our trash.” The DSNY report claims containerization could work in 89% of the city but demands a major overhaul: 150,000 curbside parking spots repurposed, hundreds of millions spent on new trucks and bins. The matter summary notes, 'New York City can containerize its sidewalk garbage, but doing so will require a major overhaul of the sanitation system.' Advocates like Christine Berthet call it transformative; others, like car owners, bristle at lost parking. The plan faces political headwinds, but if realized, it could mark a historic shift for city streets.

• ANALYSIS: Waste Containerization Will Be Big Lift, But Could Be Historic Change for Trash City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-08

A 25-year-old man on an e-bike crashed into a parked SUV on Convent Avenue. He struck metal at speed. He hit the pavement and died. Unsafe speed marked the crash. The Harlem street fell silent. The loss was final.

A 25-year-old man riding an e-bike died after colliding with a parked SUV near Convent Avenue and West 131st Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, 'A 25-year-old man on an e-bike, no helmet, struck a parked SUV at speed. The bike hit metal. He hit pavement. He died there, alone, in the Harlem morning.' The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The SUV was parked and unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other injuries were reported. The police narrative notes the rider was not wearing a helmet, but the primary cause cited was unsafe speed. The crash left a Harlem block marked by sudden loss.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4627295, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

New York City will cut 150,000 free parking spots for trash containers. The pilot starts in West Harlem this fall. The plan clears sidewalks, targets rats, and reclaims space for people. Council member Abreu and advocates back the move. Change is coming.

The Department of Sanitation announced a pilot to eliminate 150,000 free residential parking spaces for trash containerization. The program, starting fall 2023 in West Harlem, covers up to 10 residential blocks and 14 public schools. The DSNY report, with McKinsey input, finds containerization viable for most neighborhoods. The matter aims to 'remove garbage bags from sidewalks' and address public health. Council member Shaun Abreu supports the initiative, calling current practices 'backwards' and endorsing large-scale containerization. Advocates like CHEKPEDS founder Christine Berthet support repurposing parking for trash containers, citing sidewalk access. The city will double trash collection in the pilot area, with $5.7 million allocated. The plan faces challenges in dense areas, but signals a shift toward safer, cleaner streets for all.

• Sanitation: Trash Containerization Can Be Done With a Historic Reuse of Parking; Pilot to Start This Fall, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-03

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 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

The Council called for Albany to pass Sammy’s Law, letting New York City set lower speed limits. The resolution also urged a crash victims bill of rights and stronger street safety laws. Lawmakers want fewer deaths. The bill stalled. Danger remains.

Resolution 0549-2023, filed at session’s end, came from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2023, and pushed by Council Member Shahana K. Hanif as primary sponsor, with Jennifer Gutiérrez and over twenty others co-sponsoring. The resolution urged the State Legislature and Governor to pass S.2422 ('Sammy’s Law'), which would let New York City set lower speed limits, and A.1901, a crash victims bill of rights. The matter title reads: 'Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2422, also known as ‘Sammy’s Law,’ ... and A.1901, enacting a crash victims bill of rights, as well as the other bills of the package known as the SAFE Streets Act.' The SAFE Streets Act package also includes safe passing for cyclists and complete street design mandates. The Council’s action highlights the city’s ongoing fight against reckless driving and the urgent need for stronger protections for people on foot, on bikes, and in cars.

• File Res 0549-2023, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2023-04-11

A man, 28, died inside a parked SUV on West 121st Street. The back end was crushed. No seatbelt. No witnesses. Only silence and the wind. Life ended in a steel cage, the city moving on around him.

A 28-year-old man was found dead in a parked SUV near 425 West 121st Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the SUV's back end was crushed. The man was discovered lifeless, with no seatbelt, and no other injuries specified. The vehicle, a 2022 Hyundai SUV registered in New Jersey, was parked at the time. The report does not list any contributing driver errors or outside factors. No other people were reported injured. The police report notes: 'A man, 28, found lifeless in a parked SUV. No seatbelt. The back end crushed.' The cause of the crash and the events leading up to the impact remain unlisted in the official data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4616027, 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

Steel tore open at West 165th and Broadway. Taxi and BMW slammed head-on. A young man in the back seat bled through his clothes. Three passengers hurt. The street stayed dark. No driver errors listed. The city did not stop.

A taxi and a BMW collided head-on at the corner of West 165th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Three passengers were injured. According to the police report, 'A taxi and a BMW collided head-on. Steel crumpled. A 21-year-old man in the back seat, no belt, bled through his clothes. He stayed conscious. The dark stayed quiet.' The injured included a 21-year-old male passenger with severe bleeding. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. No helmet or signal issues were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4601666, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Ford pickup swung a U-turn on Broadway. Its front bumper struck a 73-year-old man crossing. He fell, crushed and unconscious. The truck kept moving south. The street held him in silence. The man’s body was broken. The city did not stop.

A Ford pickup truck made a U-turn at Broadway and West 100th Street in Manhattan. The truck’s front bumper struck a 73-year-old man crossing the intersection. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his entire body and was left unconscious. The report states, “Failure to Yield Right-of-Way” as the contributing factor. The driver, a 22-year-old man, was licensed and traveling south. The impact left the pedestrian broken and silent in the street. No helmet or signal issues were listed. The crash highlights the deadly risk when drivers fail to yield to people on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594316, 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