Greenpoint Bleeds—Demand Safe Streets Now

DOT cuts Bedford Slip’s car-free hours. The plaza, once open all week, will now close to cars only on weekends. Locals and advocates wanted more. Businesses pushed back. Most neighbors don’t own cars. The fight for safe space continues.

On August 13, 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it would end 24/7 pedestrianization of Bedford Slip in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The decision, not a council bill but a DOT action, follows a six-week trial during the G train shutdown. DOT will allow car-free hours only on weekends from late September through year’s end. The matter summary: 'DOT Rejects 24-7 Open Street for ‘Bedford Slip,’ Preferring Weekend-Only Hours.' Council Member Lincoln Restler, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, and Rep. Nydia Velázquez supported a permanent plaza. Katie Denny Horowitz of the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance vowed to keep pushing for full-time closure. DOT spokeswoman Mona Bruno said the agency is working with residents on a long-term vision. Most local households rely on transit, biking, or walking. The decision leaves vulnerable road users with less protection during the week.

• DOT Rejects 24-7 Open Street for ‘Bedford Slip,’ Preferring Weekend-Only Hours, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-13

North Brooklyn residents and lawmakers demand DOT keep Bedford Slip car-free. The plaza, born of subway repairs, became a haven for pedestrians. Over 3,100 back it. Officials urge permanence. Opponents’ safety fears never came true. The fight for public space continues.

On August 10, 2024, North Brooklynites rallied to keep the temporary pedestrian plaza at Bedford Slip, a half-block offshoot of Bedford Avenue north of Nassau Avenue, car-free. The Department of Transportation (DOT) had closed the street to traffic during G train repairs, but plans to reopen it to vehicles. The matter, described as a push to 'continue this vital public space project as a permanent fixture,' drew support from Rep. Nydia Velázquez and State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, who sent letters urging DOT to make the plaza permanent. Local organizations, businesses, and over 3,100 petitioners back the effort, citing increased community use and safety. Previous concerns about traffic and safety did not materialize. The plaza is part of a broader movement to reclaim streets for pedestrians in Greenpoint and Williamsburg.

• ‘Save the Slip’: North Brooklynites Urge DOT to Keep Temporary Plaza, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-10

A 45-year-old female bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries when an SUV struck her on Nassau Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the cyclist bruised but conscious, with no ejection from the bike.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:30 on Nassau Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2019 SUV traveling west struck a southbound bicyclist on the left side doors. The bicyclist, a 45-year-old woman wearing a helmet, sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV driver, also female and licensed in New York, caused the impact with the right front quarter panel of her vehicle. The bicyclist’s own error or confusion is noted but secondary to the driver’s failure to maintain attention. The SUV sustained no damage, while the bike was damaged on the left side doors. The bicyclist remained conscious and was not ejected from her vehicle.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741482 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 68-year-old bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a collision caused by unsafe lane changing. The impact struck the center front end of the bike near Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred near 854 Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn at 12:10 PM. The bicyclist, a 68-year-old male, was traveling north going straight ahead when the collision happened. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error. The bicyclist was struck on the center front end of his bike and sustained abrasions to his knee and lower leg, classified as injury severity 3. He was conscious and not ejected from the bike. The other vehicle involved was a parked 2013 Kia, which sustained no damage. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the bicyclist's behavior or safety equipment. The crash highlights the dangers posed by unsafe lane changes in Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738585 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A forklift driver, unlicensed and distracted, rear-ended a stopped sedan on Manhattan Avenue. The sedan driver, a 54-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and shock. Heavy equipment, unchecked, struck in city traffic.

According to the police report, a forklift operated by an unlicensed male driver struck the rear of a stopped sedan on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn at 7:40 AM. The sedan’s driver, a 54-year-old woman, sustained a back injury and was in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, pointing to the forklift operator’s failure to control the vehicle. The forklift driver’s unlicensed status is noted. The sedan driver was properly restrained and not ejected. No contributing factors were attributed to the sedan driver. This crash exposes the danger of inattentive, unlicensed operation of heavy vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737046 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Steel met steel on Greenpoint Avenue. A sedan and SUV collided head-on, metal folding, glass shattering. Speed ruled the moment. A 62-year-old man, belted in, suffered crushing injuries across his body. The parked box truck stood untouched, silent witness.

A violent head-on crash unfolded on Greenpoint Avenue at Kingsland Avenue, involving a sedan and an SUV. According to the police report, both vehicles were 'going straight ahead' when they collided, crushing the front ends of both cars. The report states that a 62-year-old man, driving one of the vehicles and wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained severe crush injuries to his entire body. The police report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors to the crash. A box truck was parked nearby and was not involved in the collision. The data does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of driver speed and aggression, leaving a driver injured and vehicles destroyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Pro-safety candidates swept North Brooklyn primaries. Voters backed the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Opponents, funded by Broadway Stages, lost every race. Assemblymember Gallagher called for Mayor Adams to finish the job. The city’s delay keeps the boulevard deadly for walkers and riders.

On June 28, 2024, North Brooklyn’s primary elections became a referendum on the McGuinness Boulevard redesign. Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, a vocal supporter of the lane-reduction plan, defeated challenger Anathea Simpkins, who was backed by anti-redesign group Keep McGuinness Moving. Gallagher secured over 75 percent of the vote, declaring, “North Brooklyn demands Mayor Adams finish the job and make McGuinness safe.” Down-ballot, street safety advocates Luke Ohlson and Jenna Bimbi also won, both endorsed by Make McGuinness Safe. Opponents, including Broadway Stages executives, lost every race. Despite a partial redesign last year, the city has stalled on completing safety improvements. The election results send a clear mandate: voters want action to protect pedestrians and cyclists on McGuinness Boulevard.

• Safety for McGuinness Blvd. Was a Winning Issue for Greenpoint Pols, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-28

Emily Gallagher crushed her opponent. She stood with Greenpoint. She backed ripping out car lanes and building protected bike lanes on McGuinness Boulevard. The street is deadly. Locals cheered. The fight for safer streets just got muscle.

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, representing District 50, won her primary on June 28, 2024. The race centered on the future of McGuinness Boulevard, a street known for danger. Gallagher supported 'removing vehicle lanes and adding protected bike lanes to the historically dangerous McGuinness Boulevard.' Her challenger opposed these changes. Gallagher's victory signals strong support for street redesign. Greenpointers celebrated, seeing her win as a mandate for safety. The measure was not a formal council bill, but Gallagher’s stance and win put political weight behind protected bike lanes and fewer car lanes. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the community’s reaction shows the stakes for vulnerable road users.

• Early Addition: People really want to buy luxury apartments in Gowanus, toxic canal be damned, gothamist.com, Published 2024-06-28

Assembly Members Emily Gallagher and Robert Carroll denounce the governor’s move to halt congestion pricing. They call it a blow to transit, air quality, and city life. Their words cut through: New York’s streets belong to people, not cars.

On June 7, 2024, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher (District 50) joined Robert Carroll in a public statement opposing Governor Hochul’s indefinite delay of congestion pricing. The op-ed, titled 'Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It,' argues the governor’s action is 'effectively a cancellation.' Gallagher and Carroll stress that congestion pricing is essential for funding the MTA and improving public transit. They write, 'Congestion pricing does both and there is no fair or viable alternative way to fund the MTA’s capital needs at this juncture.' The statement warns that the delay will shelve critical projects and worsen conditions for all who rely on safe, accessible streets. Gallagher’s stance is clear: the city’s future depends on prioritizing transit and public space over traffic and private cars.

• Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-06-07

Two Assembly members slam the governor’s move to halt congestion pricing. They call it a blow to transit, air quality, and city life. They say New York needs fewer cars, more trains, and streets for people, not traffic. The fight continues.

Assembly Members Robert Carroll and Emily Gallagher issued a public statement on June 7, 2024, supporting congestion pricing and condemning Governor Hochul’s indefinite delay of the program. The statement, published as an op-ed, argues, 'the Governor’s announcement to indefinitely delay implementation is effectively a cancellation of congestion pricing.' Carroll and Gallagher, both long-time supporters, stress that congestion pricing is vital for funding the MTA’s capital needs and for reducing traffic and pollution. They warn that the governor’s move will stall key transit projects and harm New Yorkers who rely on public transportation. The members urge Democrats to embrace the policy, stating, 'It is past time for New York to join such cities as London, Milan, Stockholm, and Singapore and implement congestion pricing without further delay.' The statement does not mince words: the city’s future depends on streets for people, not cars.

• Two Assembly Pols: Congestion Pricing is Good Policy — Democrats Should Embrace It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-07

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28