Steel Rules, Children Die—Albany Stalls

Illegally parked cars endanger people on foot and bike. Res 1024-2025 urges Albany to pass A.5440. Cameras ticket owners who flout posted rules. Fines escalate. Goal: clear lanes and crosswalks. Make streets less hostile to people, not cars.

Res 1024-2025 sits in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced and referred August 14, 2025. The resolution urges passage of State bill A.5440, which, in the Council’s words, "imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York." Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, by Assemblymember Steven Raga, authorizes a six-year camera pilot to ticket owners for posted parking-rule violations caught by street or vehicle-mounted cameras. Fines start at $50 and rise to $250 for repeaters, with a $25 late penalty. DOT must publish a two-year report. The aim: fewer illegal blockers, safer space for people outside cars.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Council pushes Albany to pass A.5440. Owner liability when cars flout posted rules. Cameras to curb illegal parking that endangers people. Less chaos. More space for those on foot and bike.

Res 1024-2025 is a Council resolution now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025 and referred the same day. It “calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5440, which imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York.” Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, sponsored by Assemblymember Steven Raga, would pilot camera enforcement (on city vehicles or along streets) for posted parking rules, with owner fines from $50 to $250 and a six-year term, plus a two-year public report. The aim: curb illegal parking that endangers people outside cars and clogs the street.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Council pushes Albany to pass A.5440. Owner liability when cars flout posted rules. Cameras to curb illegal parking that endangers people. Less chaos. More space for those on foot and bike.

Res 1024-2025 is a Council resolution now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025 and referred the same day. It “calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5440, which imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York.” Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, sponsored by Assemblymember Steven Raga, would pilot camera enforcement (on city vehicles or along streets) for posted parking rules, with owner fines from $50 to $250 and a six-year term, plus a two-year public report. The aim: curb illegal parking that endangers people outside cars and clogs the street.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Sets a 60-day clock for DOT to install traffic calming or control on streets by schools once a study says yes. Exempts major projects. Students walk there. Delay leaves them in the path of cars.

Int 1353-2025 was introduced on August 14, 2025. Referred that day to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Status: in committee. It orders DOT to install any traffic calming or control device next to a school within 60 days of a study. Major transportation projects are exempt. The bill says: “the department shall complete the installation… by no later than 60 days.” Sponsors: Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Farah N. Louis, and Lincoln Restler. Louis is the primary sponsor. The focus is school frontage, where children and caregivers move on foot.

• File Int 1353-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Int 1353-2025 forces DOT to move fast near schools. When a traffic study finds a calming or control device is needed, installation must finish within 60 days. The bill was referred to the Transportation and Infrastructure committee on Aug. 14, 2025.

Int. No. 1353 (status: Committee) was introduced and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Aug. 14, 2025 (agenda and first vote listed Aug. 14, 2025). The matter is titled: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the time permitted for the installation of a traffic calming device or traffic control device on any street adjacent to a school." It was introduced by Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez and cosponsored by Tiffany Cabán, Lincoln Restler and Farah N. Louis. The bill would "complete the installation... by no later than 60 days after the department issues such traffic study determination." It takes effect immediately.

• File Int 1353-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Illegally parked cars endanger people on foot and bike. Res 1024-2025 urges Albany to pass A.5440. Cameras ticket owners who flout posted rules. Fines escalate. Goal: clear lanes and crosswalks. Make streets less hostile to people, not cars.

Res 1024-2025 sits in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced and referred August 14, 2025. The resolution urges passage of State bill A.5440, which, in the Council’s words, "imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York." Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, by Assemblymember Steven Raga, authorizes a six-year camera pilot to ticket owners for posted parking-rule violations caught by street or vehicle-mounted cameras. Fines start at $50 and rise to $250 for repeaters, with a $25 late penalty. DOT must publish a two-year report. The aim: fewer illegal blockers, safer space for people outside cars.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Hidden plates beat the cameras. Pedestrians lose. Cyclists lose. Int 1358-2025 would yank city parking permits from plate cheats. It also targets permit misuse and big unpaid fines. A strike at impunity that puts people on foot and bike at risk.

Int 1358-2025 is in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on August 14, 2025, with same‑day referral. Primary sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. Co-sponsor: Robert F. Holden. The bill quotes its aim as the “revocation of city‑issued parking permits” for “obscured or defaced license plates.” It would also revoke permits for three misuse violations, any §19‑166 violation, or unpaid violations over $350. Status: Committee. Agenda date: August 14, 2025. Obscured plates block identification and undermine camera enforcement that protects people walking and cycling. This bill goes at that shield and the culture of permit misuse that lets drivers dodge accountability.

• File Int 1358-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Astoria shopkeepers fight a protected bike lane on 31st Street. They claim city plans threaten their business and public safety. The lawsuit lands in Queens Supreme Court. The city faces pushback, progress stalls.

NY1 reported on August 11, 2025, that over a dozen Astoria business owners filed suit to block a protected bike lane on 31st Street. The petition, lodged in Queens Supreme Court, claims the redesign from 36th Avenue to Newton Avenue would 'hurt their day-to-day operations and jeopardize public safety.' Owners accuse the city of acting in an 'arbitrary and capricious' way, moving forward despite objections. The case highlights ongoing tension between street safety projects and local business concerns. The outcome could shape future protected bike lane installations citywide.

• Astoria Businesses Sue Over Bike Lane, NY1, Published 2025-08-11

A truck killed a man on Morgan Avenue. Neighbors rally. They demand the city fix the street. Four dead since 2022. The city stalls. The danger grows. Lives hang in the balance.

"Far too many preventable crashes have taken place on Morgan Ave in recent years. We must do more to ensure walkers, cyclists, and drivers are able to use Morgan Ave safely. I will continue working with local electeds and NYC DOT to increase protected bike lanes and visible crossings here and around the city." -- Emily Gallagher

On August 6, 2025, a 56-year-old man was killed crossing Morgan Avenue by a Freightliner truck. The crash, reported by Paul Frangipane and Kirstyn Brendlen, marks the fourth fatality since 2022. Community leaders like Juan Serra and Meryl Laborde urge the city to add protected bike lanes, crosswalks, and daylighting. Assembly member Emily Gallagher called for more action, saying, 'Far too many preventable crashes have taken place on Morgan Ave.' Despite workshops and letters, the city has not acted. No council bill has been filed. According to safety analysts, there is no direct safety impact yet—only calls for change, not action.

• ‘Another neighbor is dead’: After fatal Morgan Avenue crash, locals urge city to take action, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-11

A sedan struck on Heyward Street. Two inside hurt. Bruises, pain, confusion. Metal and flesh meet. Brooklyn street, another mark left.

A sedan crashed on Heyward Street near Wythe Avenue in Brooklyn. Two occupants, a 65-year-old man driving and a 68-year-old woman in the front seat, suffered injuries to their arms and legs. According to the police report, both were conscious with contusions and bruises. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The right front bumper took the impact. The crash left two people hurt, but the cause remains unclear in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833640 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Another pedestrian killed on Morgan Avenue. Three deaths in three years. Advocates rally. City stalls. No redesign. The street stays deadly. The call for change grows louder.

On August 7, 2025, Sophia Lebowitz and street safety advocates renewed demands for a Morgan Avenue redesign after a third pedestrian death in three years. Streetsblog NYC reports: 'renewing calls from advocates for the city to redesign the dangerous street.' Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, State Sen. Julia Salazar, and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher back the push. Advocates want a protected bike lane, mid-block crossings, and safer loading zones. Despite meetings and official letters, the city has not acted. The safety analyst notes: advocacy alone brings no immediate safety change, but it could spark future improvements. The danger remains until the city moves.

• Three Years, Three Deaths: Advocates Want DOT To Make Morgan Avenue Safe, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

Another pedestrian killed on Morgan Avenue. Three deaths in three years. Advocates rally. City stalls. No redesign. The street stays deadly. The call for change grows louder.

On August 7, 2025, Sophia Lebowitz and street safety advocates renewed demands for a Morgan Avenue redesign after a third pedestrian death in three years. Streetsblog NYC reports: 'renewing calls from advocates for the city to redesign the dangerous street.' Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, State Sen. Julia Salazar, and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher back the push. Advocates want a protected bike lane, mid-block crossings, and safer loading zones. Despite meetings and official letters, the city has not acted. The safety analyst notes: advocacy alone brings no immediate safety change, but it could spark future improvements. The danger remains until the city moves.

• Three Years, Three Deaths: Advocates Want DOT To Make Morgan Avenue Safe, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

SUV door swung open. Cyclist thrown, hip torn. Driver distracted. Blood on Flushing Avenue. System failed to shield the rider.

A cyclist riding west on Flushing Avenue was ejected and suffered severe hip lacerations after colliding with the left-side doors of a parked SUV. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The cyclist, age 28, wore a helmet but was thrown from his bike and injured. The SUV driver’s distraction led to the crash. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832900 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A Nissan SUV struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider flew to the pavement. The driver fled. The bike’s red light blinked in the dark. Police arrested the unlicensed driver two hours later. The rider remains critical.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-31) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver in a Nissan SUV struck a 65-year-old e-bike rider on Second Ave. near 15th St., leaving the cyclist with serious head trauma. The driver fled, drove on the sidewalk, and later took the SUV to a car wash. He confessed to police after turning himself in two hours later, saying he fled because he lacked a license. The article notes, 'He now faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license.' The NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The crash highlights persistent dangers from unlicensed drivers and gaps in enforcement.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-31

A Nissan struck a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. The rider fell, hit his head, and lay critical as the red light blinked. The unlicensed driver fled. Police arrested him two hours later.

West Side Spirit (2025-07-30) reports a 21-year-old unlicensed driver hit a 65-year-old e-biker on Second Ave. near 14th St., leaving the rider with serious head trauma. The driver fled, but police arrested him two hours later, charging him with "leaving the scene of an accident that caused serious injury and driving without a license." The crash shut down Second Ave. between 14th and 15th Streets. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad continues to investigate. The article highlights the dangers posed by unlicensed drivers and the consequences of fleeing crash scenes.

• Unlicensed Driver Hits E-Biker, Flees Scene, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-07-30

Thin string, nearly invisible, sliced at necks and faces. Cyclists struck crossing Marine Parkway Bridge. Injuries mount. No answers. Danger lingers. System fails to clear the path.

Gothamist (2025-07-25) reports multiple cyclists injured by string stretched across the Marine Parkway Bridge walkway. Victims described sudden pain and red marks. One cyclist landed in intensive care in June. The NYPD said no criminality was suspected and has not identified the source. The MTA forbids cycling on the path, but most riders do not dismount due to the narrow walkway. The article quotes Angel Montalvo: "I felt pain, but I didn't know what it was." The recurring hazard exposes gaps in bridge safety and enforcement, leaving vulnerable users at risk.

• Cyclists Injured By Hidden String On Bridge, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-25

A truck turned left on Bedford Avenue and hit a cyclist going straight. The cyclist, a 24-year-old woman, suffered abrasions. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield.

A Ford truck making a left turn on Bedford Avenue at Wallabout Street struck a cyclist riding straight. The 24-year-old woman on the bike was injured, suffering abrasions to her entire body. According to the police report, both 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' contributed to the crash. The truck driver, a 34-year-old man, was not reported injured. The cyclist was not using any listed safety equipment, but the report centers driver errors as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828658 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

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

A delivery worker stopped on Lincoln Ave. A driver clipped his open door. Words turned to blows. The driver pulled a pipe, struck hard, then fled. The worker went to the hospital. Police seek the attacker.

NY Daily News (2025-07-12) reports a 36-year-old grocery delivery worker was attacked on Lincoln Ave. in Cypress Hills after a driver struck his open car door. The two argued. The driver "opened his hatchback, pulled out a pipe, and lunged at the victim, striking him repeatedly." The attacker fled. Police released images of the suspect. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the dangers faced by workers on city streets and the potential for minor collisions to escalate into violence.

• Grocer Beaten With Pipe In Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-12

A car sped down Third Avenue. Two men, one with a cart, one with a cane, crossed. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police arrested the driver hours later.

ABC7 reported on July 11, 2025, that two men, aged 59 and 80, were killed by a hit-and-run driver at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Surveillance showed the car "speeding southbound" and not braking before impact. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving. The victims, Kex Un Chen and Faqiu Lin, were likely headed to a local food pantry. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless driving and the vulnerability of pedestrians, especially near essential services.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11