Williamsburg Bleeds While City Hall Turns Back

Red Hook chokes on truck fumes. Lawmakers move. The Clean Deliveries Act aims to cut emissions from sprawling e-commerce warehouses. Kristen Gonzalez and others demand action. Diesel trucks crowd narrow streets. Pollution and danger rise. Residents pay the price.

Bill: Clean Deliveries Act. Announced November 29, 2023. Status: Proposed. Committee: Not specified. Lawmakers, including State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez (District 59), call for strict regulation of emissions from last-mile e-commerce warehouses. The bill would require environmental reviews for warehouses over 50,000 square feet, mandate plans to cut air pollution, and push for zero-emission delivery vehicles. Gonzalez said, 'The unchecked growth of large warehouses in neighborhoods across NYC has worsened air quality, noise pollution, and traffic safety for everyday New Yorkers.' Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes, a co-sponsor, highlighted the link between warehouse traffic, pollution, and traffic violence. The Red Hook Business Alliance and community advocates back the bill, citing heavy truck traffic, poor air, and threats to safety in working-class neighborhoods. The legislation aims to hold warehouse operators accountable and protect residents from the mounting toll of delivery-driven pollution and danger.

• Lawmakers say influx of e-commerce warehouses has spiked greenhouse gas emissions in Red Hook, urge regulation, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-11-29

Mayor Adams gutted the McGuinness Blvd. safety plan. Two lanes each way remain. Bike lanes go unprotected. Crossing distances stretch. Local leaders say nothing changed for people on foot. Cyclists dodge cars and illegal parking. The danger stays. The fight continues.

On November 29, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams’s administration scaled back the Department of Transportation’s original McGuinness Boulevard redesign. The DOT’s first plan would have cut traffic lanes and added a parking-protected bike lane. Adams ordered a weaker version after business pushback. The compromise left two car lanes in each direction during the day. Elected officials—U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Council Member Lincoln Restler—sent a letter urging DOT to restore the full safety plan, writing, “Nothing has been done to improve conditions for pedestrians.” Advocates say the new design increases crossing distances and leaves cyclists and pedestrians exposed. DOT says work will continue into 2024. The boulevard remains dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Eric Adams’s McGuinness Blvd. Capitulation Did ‘Nothing’ for Pedestrians, Greenpoint Pols Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-29

A taxi made a right turn at high speed and crashed into a parked vehicle in Brooklyn. The taxi driver, a 50-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The parked vehicle sustained damage to its center back end.

According to the police report, a 2023 Tesla taxi was making a right turn in Brooklyn when it collided with a parked vehicle. The taxi driver, a 50-year-old man, was injured with contusions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor. The parked vehicle was damaged at the center back end. The taxi driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4684129 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A sedan struck a moped on Hope Street. Both men on the moped were ejected. They suffered head and back injuries. Obstructed view and unsafe speed fueled the crash. Metal twisted. Lives changed in seconds.

According to the police report, a sedan heading west on Hope Street collided with a northbound moped. Both moped occupants, two 29-year-old men, were ejected and suffered serious head and back injuries. The report lists "View Obstructed/Limited" and "Unsafe Speed" as contributing factors. The sedan’s left front bumper and the moped’s center front end were damaged. The moped driver wore a helmet; the passenger had no safety equipment. The sedan was driven by a licensed woman from Connecticut. No fault is attributed to the injured moped riders.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680258 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A sedan traveling north struck a westbound e-bike on Kent Avenue in Brooklyn. The 21-year-old bicyclist suffered a shoulder and upper arm contusion. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The rider was conscious and not ejected.

According to the police report, a sedan and an e-bike collided on Kent Avenue in Brooklyn. The bicyclist, a 21-year-old male, was injured with a contusion to his shoulder and upper arm but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists unsafe speed as a driver error contributing to the crash. The sedan and e-bike both had front right bumper impacts. The bicyclist was riding without safety equipment. No other contributing factors were specified. The crash involved a sedan traveling north and an e-bike traveling west, both going straight ahead before the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680303 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Council weighed a citywide bridge vending ban. Residents and tour guides demanded swift removal. Vendors pleaded for compromise. Council Member Restler pushed for designated spaces, not a blanket ban. DOT has no timeline. The fight pits safety and space against livelihoods.

On November 16, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on a proposed ban on street vending across all 789 city bridges. The Department of Transportation (DOT) seeks to prohibit vendors from pedestrian paths, bike lanes, and bridge approaches. The matter, described as a 'span ban,' drew strong public support for restrictions. Council Member Lincoln Restler, representing Brooklyn, stated, 'I am a strong supporter of vending, but it should go in designated spaces... the Brooklyn Bridge is not the place for it.' He thanked DOT for acting to eliminate vending on the bridge, but called for more vendor licenses elsewhere. Vendors and advocates argued the ban is too harsh, urging specific rules instead of a blanket prohibition. DOT will review public comments before finalizing the rule. No timeline has been set.

• Bridge Vending Ban Gains Public Support As Vendors Beg For Compromise, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-16

Council Member Alexa Avilés calls for a full redesign of the city’s truck route map. Trucks flood neighborhoods, endanger lives, and choke streets. Introduction 708 demands safer, smarter routes. The bill has strong support. The city’s map has not changed since the 1970s.

Introduction 708, sponsored by Council Member Alexa Avilés, seeks a sweeping overhaul of New York City’s outdated truck route map. The bill, now before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was highlighted in an op-ed published November 13, 2023. Avilés, as committee chair, wrote, 'An overhaul of our truck route map is long overdue. We must pass Introduction 708 for the sake of our communities and all New Yorkers.' The measure would require the Department of Transportation to redesign truck routes to improve safety, visibility, and reduce congestion and emissions. It also mandates input from neighborhoods, environmental groups, and industry. Avilés leads a coalition of 40 co-sponsors, with support from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The bill responds to the surge in freight traffic, which has battered streets and put vulnerable communities—often communities of color—at risk. The current map, unchanged since the 1970s, routes heavy trucks through residential areas, increasing danger for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Op-Ed | NYC’s truck routes haven’t changed since the 1970s. It’s time for an overhaul., amny.com, Published 2023-11-13

E-scooter and bike slammed head-on in Brooklyn. Young woman on scooter took the hit to her face. Blood on the street. Police blamed confusion between riders. Both vehicles wrecked at the front.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old woman riding an e-scooter collided head-on with a cyclist on Union Avenue in Brooklyn. The e-scooter rider suffered facial injuries and minor bleeding. Police listed 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as the main contributing factor. Both the e-scooter and the bike were traveling straight before the crash. The report notes no safety equipment was used by the e-scooter rider. No driver errors like failure to yield or distraction were cited. The crash left both vehicles damaged at the front.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678534 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A moped rider was hit by a sedan making an improper U-turn in Brooklyn. The 19-year-old driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The sedan struck the moped’s left front bumper with its right side doors. The rider was conscious and bruised.

According to the police report, a moped traveling west was struck on its left front bumper by a sedan making an improper U-turn traveling north on Broadway in Brooklyn. The 19-year-old moped driver was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists contributing factors as "Other Vehicular" and "Turning Improperly," indicating driver error by the sedan operator. The moped driver was not ejected and remained conscious. No safety equipment was noted. The sedan’s right side doors were damaged in the collision. The report does not assign fault to the moped rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678518 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A sedan struck a box truck on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan driver, 31, suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries. Police cited unsafe lane changing and failure to yield right-of-way. The driver was not ejected but went into shock.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male sedan driver collided with a box truck on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The sedan impacted the truck's center front end with its left rear bumper. The driver sustained upper arm and shoulder injuries and was in shock at the scene. The report lists unsafe lane changing and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound and going straight ahead before the crash. The sedan had two occupants, and the truck had one. The sedan driver was licensed and not ejected from the vehicle. No other safety equipment or victim actions were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677239 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

City and Lyft will double e-bikes and cap prices, but leave most neighborhoods stranded. No new public money. Electrification pilot starts. Advocates slam lack of expansion. Riders outside core zones stay shut out. System grows in power, not reach.

On November 6, 2023, the Adams Administration and Lyft announced amendments to the Citi Bike contract, which runs through 2029. The deal, covered in Streetsblog NYC, doubles e-bikes from 10,000 to 20,000 and adds new and replacement classic bikes. The matter summary states, 'No system expansion... you're not going to be able to ride the bikes anywhere new because system expansion was not part of the amendment agreement.' Council members were not directly named, but Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso praised electrification, saying, 'This is exactly the direction we should be moving in—toward greener, safer, and more accessible micromobility options for New Yorkers.' John Tomac of Bike South Brooklyn condemned the lack of expansion: 'We're disappointed that you still can’t ride a Citi Bike in most of New York City.' The contract introduces price caps but avoids public funding. The city’s refusal to expand or subsidize Citi Bike leaves many vulnerable road users in transit deserts, with safer, greener options still out of reach.

• What We Get — And Don’t Get — In The New Citi Bike Deal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-06

A motorcycle and SUV collided while parked on North 12 Street. Both drivers, a man and a woman, suffered injuries and shock. Impact crushed the motorcycle’s back and the SUV’s front. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a motorcycle and a sport utility vehicle collided while both were parked on North 12 Street near Driggs Avenue in Brooklyn. The motorcycle, driven by a 44-year-old man, was struck at its center back end. The SUV, driven by a 33-year-old woman, was damaged at its center front end. Both drivers suffered unspecified injuries and shock. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No ejections occurred, and no details on safety equipment were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4675388 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A town hall to attack Vision Zero was scrapped after a tow truck driver killed a 7-year-old boy near Fort Greene Park. Borough President Reynoso and Council Member Hudson withdrew, saying the meeting would send the wrong message. The church canceled. Grief and anger filled the street.

On October 27, 2023, a planned anti-Vision Zero town hall was canceled in Brooklyn. The event, organized by Vision Zero opponents, was set to criticize the city's road safety program. But after a tow truck driver killed 7-year-old Kamei Hughes near Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Crystal Hudson withdrew. In their open letter, they wrote, 'Holding a forum where Vision Zero will be criticized in the neighborhood next to where a young boy’s life was lost to traffic violence sends the wrong message to the community and to our borough.' The church, led by Rev. Anthony Trufant, canceled the meeting. Local residents called for more enforcement against reckless drivers. The tragedy underscored the stakes: pedestrian deaths are down, but the toll of traffic violence remains high.

• Anti-Vision Zero Town Hall Postponed After Pols Bail Following Little Boy’s Death, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27

A child died under the wheels of an NYPD tow truck. The mayor dodged questions. He said, “I love New York.” He left. Grieving parents and officials demanded action. The city’s promises rang hollow. Trust in leadership cracked. Streets stayed dangerous.

On October 27, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams faced questions after a 7-year-old was killed by an NYPD tow-truck driver. The event followed his administration’s interruption of several safe street projects. When pressed by a Streetsblog reporter—'Why should New Yorkers trust you to make the city’s streets safer?'—Adams replied, 'I love New York, I love New York,' and left without a substantive answer. The matter, as reported, centers on public frustration: 'Adams had previously promised to do "whatever it takes to keep our streets safe" after the child’s death.' Council Member Crystal Hudson and Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for urgent safety improvements. A Brooklyn parent’s letter demanding action drew 1,800 signatures in days. The mayor’s silence deepened distrust. The city’s vulnerable remain at risk.

• Asked About Street Safety After Child’s Death, Mayor Says, ‘I Love New York!’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-27

A police tow truck driver struck and killed 7-year-old Kamei Hughes in Fort Greene. Witnesses say the driver used a phone. Charges followed. Councilmember Hudson called to expand, not question, street safety programs. A community meeting was postponed after the tragedy.

On October 27, 2023, a fatal crash in Council District 35 left a 7-year-old boy dead. The driver, an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent, faces charges for failing to yield and exercise due care. The incident drew swift response from Councilmember Crystal Hudson, who, alongside Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, withdrew from a planned community meeting meant to critique Open Streets and Vision Zero. Their joint statement read, 'this is not the time to rethink a street safety program that has brought traffic deaths to historic lows in New York City,' and called for expanding, not reconsidering, safety measures. The meeting was postponed out of respect for the victim and to underscore the need for stronger protections for vulnerable road users.

• NYPD tow truck driver arrested after fatally striking 7-year-old boy in Fort Greene, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-10-27

A city tow truck driver struck and killed a 7-year-old boy near Fort Greene Park. Witnesses saw reckless driving. The city exempts itself from daylighting laws. Council Member Hudson and residents demand action. The district faces high crash rates and weak safety measures.

On October 26, 2023, a 7-year-old boy was killed by an NYPD tow truck driver in Brooklyn. The crash happened near Fort Greene Park, where witnesses reported the driver was speeding, using her phone, and dragged the child before stopping. The intersection’s visibility was blocked by a legally parked car, as New York City exempts itself from state daylighting rules. Council Member Crystal Hudson visited the scene, spoke with police and residents, and acknowledged a pattern of reckless tow truck driving. Hudson said, 'This is the worst possible outcome, and, yet, we are forced to reckon with the worst possible outcome at the hands of the NYPD all too often.' Residents demanded speed bumps and crossing guards. The crash came as the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program expired and crossing guard positions were cut. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso called for an end to 'senseless traffic violence.' The district has a high rate of crashes and a history of resistance to safety improvements.

• Every Parent’s Nightmare: Child Killed by NYPD Tow Truck Driver in Brooklyn, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-26

A 48-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured in a collision with an SUV on Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV driver started from parking and hit the cyclist going straight north. The cyclist suffered bruises and arm injuries.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Marcy Avenue in Brooklyn involving a station wagon/SUV and a bicyclist. The SUV driver was starting from a parking spot when he struck the bicyclist traveling north. The bicyclist, a 48-year-old man, was ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed; the bicyclist was unlicensed. The impact occurred at the center front end of both vehicles. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The bicyclist remained conscious after the crash but was injured seriously enough to be documented.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673890 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 39-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured on Lorimer Street in Brooklyn. The SUV driver was parked. The crash caused abrasions and hip injuries. Police cited driver inattention as a factor. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Lorimer Street was ejected and sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg. The other vehicle involved was a 2019 Dodge SUV, occupied by a licensed male driver, who was parked at the time of the crash. The police identified driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. The bicyclist suffered abrasions and was conscious after the crash. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The report does not specify any contributing factors related to the bicyclist or safety equipment. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction even when a vehicle is stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672405 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 43-year-old male bicyclist was injured after a 2014 SUV made a right turn on Borinquen Place in Brooklyn. The bicyclist was ejected and suffered bruises and lower leg injuries. Driver inattention and inexperience contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a 2014 SUV traveling east on Borinquen Place made a right turn and collided with an eastbound bicyclist. The bicyclist, a 43-year-old man, was ejected from his bike and sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and driver inexperience as contributing factors. The SUV's center front end struck the bike's left front bumper. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted and inexperienced drivers turning across bike lanes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671705 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 31-year-old man on a bike was hit by an SUV on Kent Avenue. Both vehicles collided head-on at their left fronts. The cyclist suffered arm abrasions. No driver errors were listed. The crash left both damaged.

According to the police report, a 2017 Dodge SUV and a bicycle collided on Kent Avenue. The 31-year-old male cyclist was injured, suffering abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. Both vehicles were going straight and struck each other at the left front bumper. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The cyclist wore no safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed in New York. The crash caused damage to both vehicles' left front bumpers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671343 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13