No More Casualties: Dyker Beach Bleeds While Politicians Stall

• Breaking: Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Cyclist in Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-09-27

• Woman fatally struck by 18-wheeler truck in hit-and-run crash in Brooklyn, ABC7, Published 2025-09-19

• Brooklyn road rage attack: Man brutally stabbed over double-parked car, cops say, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-09-08

Aug 16 - On 92nd and Seventh, a northbound sedan struck a stopped car. A bad accelerator. Metal to metal. Three passengers hurt, including a child. Doors crumpled. Brooklyn heard it. Streets bear the bruise.

A Toyota sedan traveling north on 7 Ave hit a Honda sedan that was stopped in traffic at 92 St. Three passengers were injured: a 13-year-old boy with arm bruising, a 49-year-old woman with back pain, and a 59-year-old woman with body pain. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Accelerator Defective.” The moving driver’s car struck the left front bumper; the stopped car took damage to its left side doors. Driver errors and conditions cited in the data point to equipment failure. Only after that, safety equipment notes show lap belts and harnesses for several occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4835388 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Aug 11 - Summer Streets expands. Streets close to cars for weekends. Crowds swell and bikes and feet fill the asphalt. The city dangles more, but the reach is small. Where cars vanish, walking and cycling flourish; most streets remain unchanged.

"The tallest subway station in NYC is finally getting an elevator. The Smith-9th St station in Gowanus is nearly 90' high. Soon, you'll be able to take an elevator to get there." -- Andrew Gounardes

File number: none. Status: statement, not legislation. Committee action: none. On August 11, 2025, David Meyer published a Streetsblog NYC piece and wrote, "Summer Streets is bigger and better than ever and New Yorkers are begging for more." There is no council bill or sponsor. Meyer praises the expansion while criticizing its limited scale. A safety analyst notes: "Expanding Summer Streets increases car-free space, encourages mode shift to walking and cycling, and demonstrates the safety and enjoyment possible with reduced vehicle traffic, supporting system-wide safety and equity for vulnerable road users." The car-free weekends run Aug. 16 in Manhattan and Aug. 23 in Brooklyn and the Bronx, showing safety gains that remain localized.

• Monday’s Headlines: All Hail Summer Streets Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 11 - MTA will add elevators to Smith‑9th Street, ending a brutal 90‑foot climb. The change opens the station to seniors and people with disabilities. More transit riders may mean fewer cars, cutting pedestrian and cyclist exposure to traffic danger.

"the station will get elevators as part of the MTA's approved $68.4 billion capital plan for 2025-2029" -- Andrew Gounardes

Bill number: none — this is an MTA capital plan project. Status: announced Aug. 11, 2025. Committee: N/A. Key dates: funded in the MTA’s approved $68.4 billion 2025–2029 capital plan. The announcement quotes the article title: "Tall order: Smith-9th Streets subway station, city’s highest, to get elevators." State Sen. Andrew Gounardes said, “With elevators coming to the Smith-9th Street station, that’s finally going to change.” Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon praised the MTA for prioritizing accessibility. Safety analysts note: improved subway accessibility encourages mode shift from driving to transit, reducing pedestrian and cyclist exposure to traffic danger and supporting safer, more equitable streets.

• Tall order: Smith-9th Streets subway station, city’s highest, to get elevators, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 11 - Elevators planned for Smith‑9th Street, NYC's tallest station. Stairs end. Riders with limited mobility win. NYCHA residents and seniors regain access to jobs and care. Project cuts forced walking or biking along hazardous routes and shifts trips onto public transit.

"the addition of elevators will make the subway accessible to all." -- Andrew Gounardes

Bill/file number: none. Status: MTA announced planned installation on August 11, 2025. Committee: none listed. BKReader ran the piece titled "Brooklyn’s Steepest Subway Stop to Get a Lift," noting "The MTA will install an elevator at the Smith-9th Street station." State Senator Andrew Gounardes praised the plan. Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon backed it. NYCHA leaders voiced support. MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo called the stop the clearest case for access. Installing elevators improves transit accessibility for people with mobility challenges, reducing reliance on walking or cycling along potentially hazardous routes and supporting an equitable, safe mode shift to public transit.

• Brooklyn’s Steepest Subway Stop to Get a Lift, BKReader, Published 2025-08-11

Aug 10 - State officials will add elevators to Smith-9th Street station, ending a brutal 90‑foot climb. The lifts expand access and push riders toward transit — cutting pedestrian and cyclist exposure to street car traffic and easing danger for vulnerable users.

Bill number: none. Status: included in the MTA's approved $68.4 billion Capital Plan for 2025–2029. Committee: N/A. Key date: announcement Aug 10, 2025. The matter: "New York City's tallest subway station, Smith-9th Street in Gowanus, Brooklyn, will soon have elevators, ending the difficult climb to the platform." State Sen. Andrew Gounardes led the announcement. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon praised the move. MTA chief accessibility officer Quemuel Arroyo said the upgrades push system access past 50%. The MTA must meet a court settlement to make 95% of stations ADA-accessible by 2055. Improved subway accessibility encourages mode shift from driving to transit, reducing pedestrian and cyclist exposure to car traffic and supporting safer, more equitable streets for vulnerable users.

• Tall order: NYC’s tallest subway station to get elevators, putting accessibility on the ascent, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-10

Aug 4 - A car struck and dragged a man fifty feet on Broadway. He died at the scene. The driver fled. Police search for answers. Brooklyn leads the city in pedestrian injuries this year.

Gothamist (2025-08-04) reports a 47-year-old man was killed after being struck and dragged over 50 feet by a northbound car at Broadway and Suydam Street in Bushwick. The driver fled. Police have not released the victim's name and seek information on the vehicle. The article notes, 'It was not immediately clear whether the man was walking in a crosswalk, or who had the right of way.' Brooklyn has the highest number of pedestrian injuries in New York City so far this year, with 228 hurt and two killed through June. The case highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers.

• Bushwick Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-04

Aug 4 - A hotel awning crashed down at Clark Street station. Years of leaks, rot, and stench warned locals. No one fixed it. The city let danger fester. Pedestrians faced the risk. No injuries, but trust is broken.

"Our NYC Buildings engineers are now on site conducting additional inspections of the collapsed awning, and a second similar awning at the building on Clark Street, which is showing similar signs of poor maintenance." -- James S. Oddo

On August 4, 2025, a hotel awning collapsed outside the Clark Street subway station in Brooklyn Heights. The incident, reported by Barbara Russo-Lennon and Lloyd Mitchell, followed 'years of visible disrepair, foul smells and water leaks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler confirmed no timeline for reopening. The Department of Buildings cited the owners for 'Failure to maintain' and ordered demolition. DOB Commissioner James Oddo said engineers are inspecting a second awning showing 'poor maintenance.' The collapse put pedestrians in harm's way. As safety analysts note, such failures in busy areas raise the risk of injury or death for vulnerable road users and discourage walking, undermining city safety goals.

• ‘Not surprised’: Locals say neglect to blame in Clark Street station awning collapse, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-04

Jul 24 - Eighty dead or maimed on Third Avenue since 2018. Sunset Park stands up. Residents, officials, and advocates demand the city end delays. No fixes yet. Danger remains.

""Here we are, once again gathering to mourn another preventable tragedy on our streets. But it doesn't have to be this way,"" -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 24, 2025, Sunset Park residents, Council Member Alexa Avilés, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, Senator Andrew Gounardes, and advocates rallied for urgent street safety fixes on Third Avenue. BKReader reports: 'Fatalities on Third Avenue...are preventable with safety upgrades.' The Department of Transportation's plan has stalled for two years. Avilés called the corridor 'persistently dangerous.' Gounardes said, 'We know how to fix it: safer street design.' No council bill or committee is listed. The event shows strong community demand, but no policy action has been taken. As of now, there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Sunset Park Urges City to Fast-Track Third Avenue Street Fixes, BKReader, Published 2025-07-24

Jul 23 - Two pedestrians killed. Advocates and local leaders demand action. City stalls. Third Avenue stays deadly. Anger and grief fill Sunset Park.

"This is not meant to be a highway. This is where people walk. This is where people live. This is where kids go to school." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 23, 2025, local politicians and advocates rallied at 60th Street and Third Avenue, Sunset Park. They condemned the Adams administration's delay of a DOT safety plan, approved by Community Board 7 in 2023, after a hit-and-run killed two pedestrians. Council Member Alexa Avilés called for real investment. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives called the delay 'unconscionable.' State Sen Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes demanded urgent redesign. The rally's matter: 'demanding the Adams administration implement traffic safety measures on Third Avenue.' Safety analysts note: public rallies like this can push systemic changes, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

• After fatal hit-and-run, local pols and street safety advocates slam delay of Third Avenue safety plan, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-23

Jul 18 - Six speeding tickets. School zones. Gersh Kuntzman calls out Andrew Cuomo. Reckless driving from leaders puts lives at risk. Streets stay dangerous. No answers from Cuomo.

"if the state legislature had passed Sen. Andrew Gounardes's "Stop Super Speeder" bill, would have required Cuomo to get a speed limiter installed into his beloved Dodge." -- Andrew Gounardes

On July 18, 2025, journalist Gersh Kuntzman of Streetsblog NYC criticized former Governor Andrew Cuomo for racking up six speed-camera tickets in city school zones between March and June. Kuntzman wrote, 'That's objectively a horrendous record of reckless driving through city school zones.' He noted that if Sen. Andrew Gounardes's 'Stop Super Speeder' bill had passed, Cuomo would face a mandatory speed limiter. No council bill or committee action is involved. The safety analyst notes this is an individual’s behavior, not a policy change, so there is no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.

• Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 15 - A judge stopped the city from ripping out Bedford Avenue’s protected bike lane. The lane stands. Cyclists and pedestrians keep a shield, for now. The fight over safety on this deadly stretch continues in court.

Gothamist reported on July 15, 2025, that a state appellate judge blocked Mayor Adams from removing the protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. The lane, installed after high crash rates and pedestrian deaths, was set for removal until the court's emergency order. The Department of Transportation admitted, "The City risks legal liability for knowingly reducing safety on a Vision Zero priority corridor." Advocates and families appealed, citing the lane’s role in protecting vulnerable road users. The legal battle highlights the tension between city policy, resident concerns, and the need for proven safety infrastructure.

• Judge Halts Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Removal, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 13 - A 16-year-old on an e-scooter died after a collision with a Hyundai in Staten Island. Head trauma proved fatal. Police are investigating. The driver stayed at the scene. No arrests. Another scooter death followed days later.

The Brooklyn Paper (2025-07-13) reports a fatal crash on June 29 in Staten Island. Sixteen-year-old Nacere Ellis, riding an electric scooter, collided with a westbound Hyundai Tucson. The article states, 'Ellis suffered head trauma as a result of the crash.' The 79-year-old driver remained at the scene. NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the case. No charges have been filed. The report notes a similar fatal scooter crash days earlier in Queens. The incidents highlight ongoing risks for micromobility users and the need for systemic safety measures.

• Teen E-Scooter Rider Killed In Crash, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-07-13

Jul 12 - A crash on Lincoln Avenue turned brutal. One driver struck another with a metal object. The victim landed in the hospital. The assailant fled in a black car. Police hunt for answers.

According to amny (2025-07-12), a traffic crash on Lincoln Avenue in Cypress Hills escalated when a driver "pulled out a metal object and repeatedly struck the victim about the head and body." The victim, 36, was hospitalized in stable condition. The assailant fled in a black vehicle. NYPD released video of the suspect, seeking public help. The incident highlights how post-crash confrontations can turn violent, raising questions about conflict de-escalation and the need for safer streets.

• Driver Attacks Man After Brooklyn Crash, amny, Published 2025-07-12

Jul 11 - A BMW ran a red in Sunset Park. Two men died on the street. The driver fled. Police made an arrest. Blood on the asphalt, lives ended fast.

Patch reported on July 11, 2025, that a hit-and-run driver killed two pedestrians at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Brooklyn. The NYPD said the BMW "sped through a red light" before striking 80-year-old Kex Un Chen and 59-year-old Faqiu Lin. Both men died at the scene. Police later arrested Juventino Anastacio Florentino, charging him with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The crash highlights the lethal risk of red-light running and the ongoing threat to pedestrians in city crosswalks.

• Red Light Run Kills Two Pedestrians, Patch, Published 2025-07-11

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 project has been a long time coming. When I first got into elected office, there was not a single accessible station anywhere in my district... Today we are celebrating the second station in Bay Ridge to have accessibility access." -- Andrew Gounardes

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

Jul 6 - A car turned across Bay Street. The motorcycle struck the door. Jeremy Claudio died. The driver stayed. No arrests. The street stayed open. The city counted another loss.

According to amny (2025-07-06), Jeremy Claudio, 34, died after his motorcycle hit the driver-side door of a Toyota Rav 4 making a K-turn on Bay Street, Staten Island. Police said the driver was "making a K-turn from the northbound lane... into its southbound lane when the collision occurred." The driver remained at the scene and was uninjured. No arrests were made. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The crash highlights risks when drivers turn across traffic, especially on busy city streets.

• Motorcyclist Dies In Staten Island K-Turn Crash, amny, Published 2025-07-06

Jul 4 - A man crossing near Broadway Junction died after a gray Ford hit him. The driver fled. Hours later, a Mustang plowed into six in the Bronx. Both drivers vanished. The city counts 55 pedestrian deaths this year.

NY Daily News (2025-07-04) reports a 36-year-old man was killed crossing Broadway and East New York Ave. in Brooklyn when a gray Ford struck him and fled. Hours later, a Ford Mustang hit six people in the Bronx, then the driver and passenger ran off. The article notes, 'It was the second hit-and-run in the five boroughs in 24 hours.' Police said, 'As of Thursday, 55 pedestrians have been killed by vehicles while crossing city streets.' Both drivers remain at large. The incidents highlight persistent dangers for pedestrians and the ongoing problem of drivers fleeing crash scenes.

• Hit-And-Run Drivers Strike Brooklyn, Bronx, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-04