Rego Park: Blood on the Boulevard, Silence from City Hall

Council bill targets obscured plates. It would yank city parking permits from holders caught parking, stopping, or driving with defaced tags. Misuse and unpaid fines already trigger revocation. Referred to Transportation and Infrastructure.

Int 1358-2025 was introduced on August 14, 2025 and sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure the same day. Status: in committee. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden. The bill amends Admin Code Section 19-166.1 to add revocation for obscured or defaced plates: "any violation relating to the parking, standing, stopping, or operating of a motor vehicle with an obscured or defaced license plate." Existing triggers remain: three permit misuse violations; any Section 19-166 violation; or more than $350 unpaid. Revocations follow NYPD procedures for Section 14-183 permits and DOT procedures for others. Matter title: "revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates."

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

Holden targets ghost plates. Int 1358-2025 would yank city-issued parking permits when drivers hide or deface tags. Referred to Transportation. Ghost plates dodge enforcement. People walking and biking feel the hit.

Int 1358-2025 is an Introduction now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025, and referred the same day. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30). The bill amends Administrative Code 19-166.1 to add plate-tampering to permit revocation triggers. It quotes its purpose plainly: “the revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates.” It would strip permits from individuals found guilty of parking, standing, stopping, or operating a vehicle with an obscured plate. No vote yet. The move targets a loophole that lets drivers mask identity and dodge accountability. When scofflaws skate, people outside cars pay.

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

Holden targets ghost plates. Int 1358-2025 would yank city-issued parking permits when drivers hide or deface tags. Referred to Transportation. Ghost plates dodge enforcement. People walking and biking feel the hit.

Int 1358-2025 is an Introduction now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025, and referred the same day. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30). The bill amends Administrative Code 19-166.1 to add plate-tampering to permit revocation triggers. It quotes its purpose plainly: “the revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates.” It would strip permits from individuals found guilty of parking, standing, stopping, or operating a vehicle with an obscured plate. No vote yet. The move targets a loophole that lets drivers mask identity and dodge accountability. When scofflaws skate, people outside cars pay.

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

Council bill targets obscured plates. It would yank city parking permits from holders caught parking, stopping, or driving with defaced tags. Misuse and unpaid fines already trigger revocation. Referred to Transportation and Infrastructure.

Int 1358-2025 was introduced on August 14, 2025 and sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure the same day. Status: in committee. Sponsor: Council Member Robert F. Holden. The bill amends Admin Code Section 19-166.1 to add revocation for obscured or defaced plates: "any violation relating to the parking, standing, stopping, or operating of a motor vehicle with an obscured or defaced license plate." Existing triggers remain: three permit misuse violations; any Section 19-166 violation; or more than $350 unpaid. Revocations follow NYPD procedures for Section 14-183 permits and DOT procedures for others. Matter title: "revocation of city-issued parking permits for violations related to obscured or defaced license plates."

• File Int 1358-2025, 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

A driver struck a man crossing 155th Street near JFK. The driver fled. The man died at Jamaica Hospital. Police search for answers. Seventeen killed in Queens South this year. The toll climbs.

Gothamist (2025-08-13) reports a 52-year-old man was killed crossing 155th Street and South Conduit Avenue near JFK Airport at 2:30 a.m. The driver fled. Police said, "the driver hit the 52-year-old man as he crossed" and left the scene. No vehicle description was released. NYPD data shows 17 traffic deaths in Queens South this year, up from 13 last year. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the persistent issue of hit-and-run drivers in the area.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Pedestrian Near JFK, Gothamist, Published 2025-08-13

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834568 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

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

SUV hit a 69-year-old man crossing with the signal. He suffered a shoulder injury. The crash happened at Long Island Expressway and Junction Boulevard. No driver errors listed. System failed to protect.

A 69-year-old man was hit by an SUV while crossing with the signal at Long Island Expressway and Junction Boulevard. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered an abrasion and upper arm injury. The SUV was making a left turn. The report lists no specific driver errors, only 'Unspecified' contributing factors. The driver was licensed and uninjured. The system left a pedestrian exposed at a busy intersection, with no clear cause named in the official record.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834192 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Two cars collided on Woodhaven Boulevard. A sedan struck the back of an SUV. Two people suffered head injuries. Police cite following too closely as the cause.

A sedan crashed into the rear of an SUV on Woodhaven Boulevard at 62 Road in Queens. Two people, a 60-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man, suffered head injuries and whiplash. According to the police report, 'Following Too Closely' was the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling east. The sedan hit the SUV's back end. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4832585 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man on 101st Street. The driver sped off after an encounter at the window. Police found the victim with severe trauma. He died at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the New York Post (2025-08-01), a 23-year-old man died after being run over on 101st Street and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. The article reports, "Sonalall approached the driver's side window and flashed what appeared to be a gun, startling the motorist, who then drove off, striking Sonalall." The Queens District Attorney's Office did not charge the driver, citing fear for his life. The incident highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used in moments of conflict. No charges were filed, raising questions about how self-defense is interpreted in car-related deaths.

• Man Killed By Driver In Queens Street, New York Post, Published 2025-08-01

A sedan hit a cyclist on 62 Drive near Queens Boulevard. The rider suffered leg injuries. Police cite failure to yield. The street saw pain, shock, and the weight of steel against flesh.

A 21-year-old cyclist was injured when a sedan struck him on 62 Drive at Queens Boulevard in Queens. According to the police report, the crash involved a bike traveling west and a sedan making a right turn. The cyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver of the sedan was not reported injured. No other contributing factors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831958 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A motorcycle slammed into a truck on the Long Island Expressway. The rider, age 24, was ejected and killed. Others survived. The crash left a body broken, a city shaken.

A 24-year-old motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a tractor truck on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. According to the police report, the motorcycle was changing lanes when it struck the right side of the truck. The rider was ejected and suffered fatal crush injuries. Other occupants in the involved vehicles, including a driver in an SUV and the truck operator, were not seriously hurt. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' The deceased rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830329 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

SUV and motorcycle collided on 63rd Drive. One rider suffered a head injury. Police cite traffic control ignored. Streets failed to protect the vulnerable.

A station wagon SUV and a motorcycle crashed on 63rd Drive at Carlton Street in Queens. According to the police report, both vehicles disregarded traffic control. A 19-year-old male motorcycle driver suffered a head injury. The SUV driver, a 59-year-old woman, was not injured. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the main contributing factor. No other contributing factors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829320 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A sedan veered on 63rd Road. Metal struck metal. A passenger took the blow. His leg bruised. Streets stayed loud. The system failed to protect him.

A crash on 63rd Road in Queens left a 37-year-old front passenger injured with a leg contusion. According to the police report, a sedan was involved in a collision caused by 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper.' The impact struck the right front quarter panel and left front bumper. The injured passenger was conscious. The report lists improper lane usage as the driver error. No other contributing factors were cited. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights the danger of improper lane changes on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826544 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

A 15-year-old boy fell from a 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. He landed on the tracks. Medics rushed him to Bellevue. He died. The city mourns another young life lost to the subway’s hard edge.

According to amny (July 8, 2025), Carlos Oliver, 15, died after falling from atop a 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. Police found him on the tracks around 2:45 a.m. and he was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital. The article quotes NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow: “This was as avoidable as it is tragic.” The MTA has updated its “Ride Inside, Stay Alive” campaign, broadcasting warnings every 10 to 15 minutes along the 7 line. The incident highlights ongoing risks in the subway system and the need for effective deterrence and safety measures.

• Teen Dies Falling From 7 Train, amny, Published 2025-07-08

A sedan hit a 70-year-old woman crossing Austin Street. She suffered a leg injury. The driver and another occupant were not hurt. No driver errors listed. The street remains dangerous.

A BMW sedan traveling north struck a 70-year-old woman as she crossed Austin Street in Queens. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk. She sustained a contusion to her lower leg and foot but remained conscious. The driver, a 36-year-old man, and another occupant were not injured. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826679 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

City aims to carve bike lanes into 31st Street. Merchants fear lost access. Residents cite danger. DOT points to dozens hurt, two killed. The street stays deadly. The fight over space continues.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-05), the NYC Department of Transportation plans to narrow lanes and add bike paths on 31st Street in Astoria, Queens. The DOT cites 126 injured vehicle occupants, 33 injured pedestrians, 24 injured cyclists, and two deaths from 2020 to 2024, calling it 'one of the most dangerous streets in Queens.' Business owners warn the changes will block deliveries and threaten livelihoods. Residents worry about access and safety, especially for the elderly and students. The plan highlights the tension between street redesigns and the needs of vulnerable road users.

• City Bike Lane Plan Sparks Queens Clash, New York Post, Published 2025-07-05

A sedan hit a cyclist on Horace Harding Expressway. The rider, a 27-year-old woman, suffered arm injuries. The crash left her bruised. No driver errors were listed in the police report.

A sedan and a bicycle collided on Horace Harding Expressway near 97 Place in Queens. The cyclist, a 27-year-old woman, was injured, sustaining a contusion to her arm. According to the police report, both vehicles were going straight ahead. No specific driver errors or contributing factors were listed in the report. The sedan showed no damage, while the bike was struck on its left front quarter panel. The cyclist was conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825698 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-18

Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30