Williamsburg Bleeds While City Hall Turns Back

Garbage piles choke sidewalks. Rats swarm. Pedestrians dodge filth. Council Member Sandy Nurse calls the city’s trash crisis ‘unprecedented.’ She demands full funding for sanitation. She backs organics recycling, pay-as-you-throw, and fewer cars. The city stalls. Streets stay dangerous.

On March 22, 2022, the City Council held a hearing on sanitation, waste management, and budget cuts. Council Member Sandy Nurse (District 37) led the charge, declaring, ‘the cuts to Sanitation cannot be negotiated, must be fully funded,’ and warning of an ‘unprecedented sanitation crisis.’ The hearing, covered in the article ‘TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy,’ spotlighted stalled reforms like containerized waste, mandatory organics recycling, and pay-as-you-throw. Nurse and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso demanded immediate action and opposed further cuts. The debate exposed how trash piles and budget slashes endanger pedestrians, block sidewalks, and worsen city life. The article’s conclusion: real safety and cleanliness require investment in transit, clean streets, and fewer cars.

• TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-03-22

North Brooklyn leaders and advocates demand real protection for cyclists on Grand Street. Plastic posts failed. Cars park in the lane. Crashes mount. They want Jersey barriers, hardened entrances, and an end to chaos. The city must act before more lives are lost.

On March 4, 2022, North Brooklyn officials and activists sent a letter to the Department of Transportation demanding a true protected bike lane on Grand Street. The letter, backed by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Julia Salazar, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and Council Members Lincoln Restler and Jennifer Gutierrez, called for 'protective jersey barricades and measures taken at each intersection to stop cars from entering the protected bike lane.' The group condemned the current plastic delineators, noting, 'From day one, the Grand Street bike lane has failed to keep people safe.' Since 2019, 67 cyclists have been injured and 196 crashes reported. The letter urges the city to replace weak barriers, fix dangerous entrances, and finally deliver safety for vulnerable road users. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Adams are now under pressure to act.

• North Brooklyn Seeks Some of that Jersey Barrier Magic on Grand Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-04

North Brooklyn leaders and advocates demand real protection for cyclists on Grand Street. Plastic posts failed. Cars park in the lane. Crashes mount. They want Jersey barriers, hardened entrances, and an end to chaos. The city must act before more lives are lost.

On March 4, 2022, North Brooklyn officials and activists sent a letter to the Department of Transportation demanding a true protected bike lane on Grand Street. The letter, backed by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Julia Salazar, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and Council Members Lincoln Restler and Jennifer Gutierrez, called for 'protective jersey barricades and measures taken at each intersection to stop cars from entering the protected bike lane.' The group condemned the current plastic delineators, noting, 'From day one, the Grand Street bike lane has failed to keep people safe.' Since 2019, 67 cyclists have been injured and 196 crashes reported. The letter urges the city to replace weak barriers, fix dangerous entrances, and finally deliver safety for vulnerable road users. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Adams are now under pressure to act.

• North Brooklyn Seeks Some of that Jersey Barrier Magic on Grand Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-04

A private garbage truck driver ran over and killed a 62-year-old man at Flatbush and Atlantic. The intersection is notorious for crashes. Only 27 percent of city garbage trucks have side guards. City delays on safety measures continue to cost lives.

On March 4, 2022, a private sanitation truck driver killed a pedestrian at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic avenues in Brooklyn, near Barclays Center. The incident highlights ongoing failures in city safety policy. The intersection is described as 'very dangerous,' with fast turns and drivers not yielding. Only 27 percent of the city’s 5,860 heavy garbage trucks have side guards, despite a 2019 city deal requiring them by 2024. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, then a Council Member, said, 'side rails should be installed sooner.' Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives called for 'bold action' and criticized city officials for delaying redesigns and safety steps. The private carting industry remains under scrutiny after repeated fatal crashes. No council bill number is attached, but the event underscores the urgent need for systemic change to protect pedestrians.

• Private Garbage Truck Driver Kills Pedestrian at Dangerous Brooklyn Intersection, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-04

North Brooklyn leaders and advocates demand real protection for cyclists on Grand Street. Plastic posts failed. Cars park in the lane. Crashes mount. They want Jersey barriers, hardened entrances, and an end to chaos. The city must act before more lives are lost.

On March 4, 2022, North Brooklyn officials and activists sent a letter to the Department of Transportation demanding a true protected bike lane on Grand Street. The letter, backed by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Julia Salazar, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and Council Members Lincoln Restler and Jennifer Gutierrez, called for 'protective jersey barricades and measures taken at each intersection to stop cars from entering the protected bike lane.' The group condemned the current plastic delineators, noting, 'From day one, the Grand Street bike lane has failed to keep people safe.' Since 2019, 67 cyclists have been injured and 196 crashes reported. The letter urges the city to replace weak barriers, fix dangerous entrances, and finally deliver safety for vulnerable road users. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and Mayor Adams are now under pressure to act.

• North Brooklyn Seeks Some of that Jersey Barrier Magic on Grand Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-04

Cyclists dodge cars on Grand Street. Plastic bollards fail. Drivers block lanes. Restler and activists push for concrete barriers. Seventy injuries since 2019. DOT delays. Riders wait. Danger remains. Lives at risk until real protection arrives.

On March 3, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined activists to demand the Department of Transportation install concrete barriers on the Grand Street bike lane. The push follows years of crashes—67 cyclist injuries and 196 total crashes since 2019—despite so-called 'protected' lanes. The matter, titled 'Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane,' highlights how plastic bollards fail to stop drivers from blocking lanes, forcing cyclists into traffic. Restler, along with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, State Senator Julia Salazar, and Borough President Antonio Reynoso, signed a letter urging Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez to act. The DOT has started hardening some lanes citywide, but Grand Street remains unprotected. Activists say, 'We knew the omission of protective jersey barriers would lead to dangerous conditions back in 2019 and we have witnessed that prediction come tragically true throughout 2021.' The call is clear: real barriers, not broken promises.

• Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-03-03

Cyclists dodge cars on Grand Street. Plastic bollards fail. Drivers block lanes. Restler and activists push for concrete barriers. Seventy injuries since 2019. DOT delays. Riders wait. Danger remains. Lives at risk until real protection arrives.

On March 3, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined activists to demand the Department of Transportation install concrete barriers on the Grand Street bike lane. The push follows years of crashes—67 cyclist injuries and 196 total crashes since 2019—despite so-called 'protected' lanes. The matter, titled 'Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane,' highlights how plastic bollards fail to stop drivers from blocking lanes, forcing cyclists into traffic. Restler, along with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, State Senator Julia Salazar, and Borough President Antonio Reynoso, signed a letter urging Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez to act. The DOT has started hardening some lanes citywide, but Grand Street remains unprotected. Activists say, 'We knew the omission of protective jersey barriers would lead to dangerous conditions back in 2019 and we have witnessed that prediction come tragically true throughout 2021.' The call is clear: real barriers, not broken promises.

• Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-03-03

Cyclists dodge cars on Grand Street. Plastic bollards fail. Drivers block lanes. Restler and activists push for concrete barriers. Seventy injuries since 2019. DOT delays. Riders wait. Danger remains. Lives at risk until real protection arrives.

On March 3, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined activists to demand the Department of Transportation install concrete barriers on the Grand Street bike lane. The push follows years of crashes—67 cyclist injuries and 196 total crashes since 2019—despite so-called 'protected' lanes. The matter, titled 'Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane,' highlights how plastic bollards fail to stop drivers from blocking lanes, forcing cyclists into traffic. Restler, along with Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, State Senator Julia Salazar, and Borough President Antonio Reynoso, signed a letter urging Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez to act. The DOT has started hardening some lanes citywide, but Grand Street remains unprotected. Activists say, 'We knew the omission of protective jersey barriers would lead to dangerous conditions back in 2019 and we have witnessed that prediction come tragically true throughout 2021.' The call is clear: real barriers, not broken promises.

• Activists and electeds ask DOT to add better barriers to Grand Street bike lane, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-03-03

A 55-year-old woman was struck by a sedan on Berry Street in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, driven aggressively, hit her in the lower leg and foot. She suffered bruises and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling straight ahead on Berry Street in Brooklyn struck a 55-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises, and remained conscious after the collision. The report lists aggressive driving and road rage as contributing factors to the crash. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its center front end. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4506781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

A 61-year-old bicyclist was struck on Hope Street in Brooklyn. The sedan was parked before impact. The rider suffered a fractured shoulder and dislocation. Confusion by the bicyclist contributed to the crash. The driver was licensed; the cyclist was not.

According to the police report, a 61-year-old male bicyclist traveling south on Hope Street collided with a parked sedan that was struck on its left side doors. The bicyclist sustained a fractured and dislocated shoulder, classified as a severe injury. The report lists the bicyclist's confusion as the contributing factor, described as "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion." The sedan driver was licensed and operating legally. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment and was the sole occupant of the bike. The crash highlights the dangers posed by rider error and confusion in traffic interactions, with no driver errors noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4507915 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14

Senate Bill S6929, pushed by Sen. Luis Sepulveda, passed committee. It demands more red tape before bike lanes or racks go in. Critics say it slows safety. Advocates rally to block it. The city wants faster, not slower, bike upgrades.

Senate Bill S6929, sponsored by Sen. Luis Sepulveda, passed the Cities Committee and now faces fierce opposition. The bill requires the NYC Department of Transportation to give extra notifications and presentations to community boards and local officials before installing or removing bike lanes or racks. The matter summary reads: 'require the NYC DOT to provide additional notifications and presentations.' Advocacy groups, including Bike New York, are preparing testimony to stall the bill before it reaches the Senate floor or Assembly Cities Committee. Critics argue the DOT already must notify community boards under the 'Fidler rule,' and that this bill would gum up the process, delaying life-saving bike infrastructure. A legislative source called the bill 'boneheaded.' Public polls show strong support for more bike lanes, with only a small minority opposed. The city is seeking to streamline—not slow—bike safety upgrades.

• To the Barricades! Grassroots Effort Needed to Blunt ‘Boneheaded’ Bike Block Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-01

Brooklyn lawmakers tell developers: no more parking mandates. They want special permits to drop parking. They say parking rules drive up costs, block affordable homes, and fuel car use. The message is clear—build for people, not for cars.

On March 1, 2022, Brooklyn politicians announced a push to eliminate mandatory parking minimums for new developments. The action is not a formal bill, but a policy stance led by Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Council Member Lincoln Restler. The group, including Council Members Jennifer Gutierrez, Crystal Hudson, Chi Osse, Sandy Nurse, Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Rita Joseph, and Farah Louis, demands that developers seeking zoning changes first apply for a special permit to waive parking requirements. Restler said, 'Developers need our consent and approval, and we are telling them, plainly, that they have to file for a special permit to end parking requirements.' Reynoso added, 'You don't need to do that anymore.' Avilés called parking mandates a barrier to affordable housing and climate action. The group argues that parking minimums raise construction costs, encourage car use, and block green space. Restler warned he is 'far more likely to vote no' on projects without a parking waiver. Advocates and policy experts back the move, and related state legislation is pending.

• Brooklyn Pols Tell Developers to Eliminate Parking or Else, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-01

Restler and city leaders stood at Brooklyn Borough Hall. They demanded faster buses, more lanes, and real enforcement. Riders choke on slow service. Cars clog bus lanes. The call: redesign routes, expand service, and put riders first. No more stalling.

On February 28, 2022, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined borough presidents and advocates at Brooklyn Borough Hall to demand urgent action on New York City’s bus system. The event, titled 'Borough beeps join city transit advocates for better bus service,' spotlighted stalled promises and called for Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul to deliver. Restler and others backed the Bus Turnaround Coalition’s push for network redesigns, expanded and more frequent service, all-door boarding, and tougher enforcement in bus lanes. Comptroller Brad Lander stressed that 'expanded bus routes must also match 21st century travel patterns.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso linked better buses to less car dependence and climate action. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez pledged 150 new miles of busways and lanes. The campaign aims to speed up buses, cut car dominance, and put vulnerable road users first.

• Borough beeps join city transit advocates for better bus service, gothamist.com, Published 2022-02-28

Emily Gallagher and 38 others push Albany for $200 million to build greenways in New York City. They say rural areas got the last big trail fund. Advocates call for safe, connected routes. City agencies stay silent. Cyclists wait.

On February 24, 2022, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher and 38 other legislators sent a letter to Albany leaders demanding a $200-million fund for greenway construction in New York City. The letter, led by Gallagher and Senator Alessandra Biaggi, states: "Greenways improve safety for the thousands of New Yorkers who rely on cycling in their work or as part of their daily commute, including delivery workers." Gallagher argues, "$200 million is the amount of money it would take to make it safe and functional." The push follows the Empire State Trail program, which sent most of its funds to rural areas. Advocates like Terri Carta and Jon Orcutt stress the need for a comprehensive, citywide network and dedicated funding. The city DOT and Parks Department did not comment. The bill aims to address high costs, slow progress, and safety gaps for vulnerable road users in underserved neighborhoods.

• City Electeds to Albany Leaders: We Want Some of that Greenway Green, Too!, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-02-24

City and state lawmakers push Albany for $200 million to build greenways in New York City. They say rural areas got the last big pot. Greenways mean safety for cyclists, delivery workers, and pedestrians. Underserved neighborhoods wait. Progress crawls. Funding lags.

On February 24, 2022, a coalition of 39 New York senators and Assembly members, led by Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, called on Albany leaders to create a $200-million fund for city greenways. The letter urges the Assembly Speaker and Senate Majority Leader to match the Empire State Trail’s rural funding. The lawmakers write, 'Greenways improve safety for the thousands of New Yorkers who rely on cycling in their work or as part of their daily commute, including delivery workers.' Gallagher says, 'This $200 million is the amount of money it would take to make it safe and functional.' The group stresses that underserved neighborhoods need these routes most. Advocates cite decades of slow progress since the 1993 master plan. They demand city, state, and federal resources to build and maintain a safe, connected greenway network.

• City Electeds to Albany Leaders: We Want Some of that Greenway Green, Too!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-24

Police arrested Tariq Witherspoon for killing teacher Matthew Jensen in a McGuinness Boulevard hit-and-run. The street has claimed dozens of lives. Activists and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher demand urgent redesign. City pledges $39 million. Interim fixes are in place. Danger remains.

On February 22, 2022, police arrested Tariq Witherspoon for the hit-and-run death of Matthew Jensen on McGuinness Boulevard. Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, representing District 50, responded to the arrest, stating, 'Victims of vehicular homicide rarely see an arrest made in their case.' Gallagher credited the Highway District Collision Investigation Squad and the 94th Precinct for their persistence. The Make McGuinness Safe Coalition called the street 'a highway cutting our community in two,' blaming systemic failure for repeated deaths. After Jensen's killing, then-mayor Bill de Blasio pledged $39 million for a full redesign of the boulevard. Interim safety measures, like shorter light cycles and a new crosswalk, have been installed, but the city has not released final plans. The Coalition urges leaders to act so 'Matt Jensen's is the last death on McGuinness.'

• Police arrest driver who killed teacher Matthew Jensen in McGuinness Boulevard hit-and-run, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-02-22

A speeding driver killed Matthew Jensen, a teacher, on McGuinness Boulevard. Police arrested Tariq Witherspoon, charging him with homicide and reckless driving. The crash reignited demands for a safer street. The city’s promised redesign remains stalled. Grief and anger fill Greenpoint.

This case centers on the fatal hit-and-run that killed Matthew Jensen on McGuinness Boulevard in May 2021. On February 22, 2022, police arrested Tariq Witherspoon, charging him with criminally negligent homicide, reckless driving, and leaving the scene. The matter sparked renewed urgency for street safety. As the article states, 'Parents and teachers at the school had a huge rally... to demand that the city finally redesign McGuinness Boulevard for safety—a request that dates back more than a decade.' Council Member Steve Levin and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher have both called for action. Gallagher said, 'We must reform the way we use the roads and how we design them so that when drivers make mistakes... they don't kill people.' Despite a $40-million redesign promise from then-Mayor de Blasio, the project remains in planning. The community continues to demand real change to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

• Cops Say They’ve Arrested the Hit-and-Run Driver Who Killed a Beloved Teacher on McGuinness Blvd, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-22

State officials want answers from cyclists. They ask how, where, and why people ride. The survey digs into barriers, habits, and needs. Planners say the data will shape safer, fairer streets. Results will go public. Cyclists’ voices count.

On February 17, 2022, New York State launched the first New York Bike Census, a voluntary survey led by NYSERDA and Urban Cycling Solutions. The effort is described as 'an unprecedented effort to collect detailed data on bicycle transportation across the state.' The survey asks about riding frequency, infrastructure, barriers, and connections to transit. Assembly Member Robert Carroll and State Senator Julia Salazar have backed related legislation for an e-bike rebate program. The survey’s results will be shared with governments and advocacy groups. Officials say the data will help planners and policymakers 'invest in safer, more equitable multimodal streets.' No direct safety impact assessment was provided, but the project aims to inform future improvements for vulnerable road users.

• New York State Wants To Know Everything About Your Cycling Habits, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-02-17

A motorcycle struck the left rear quarter panel of a sedan on Berry Street in Brooklyn. The motorcyclist was ejected and suffered neck injuries. The driver was in shock and complained of pain. Unsafe speed was a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a motorcycle traveling north on Berry Street collided with the left rear quarter panel of a westbound sedan. The motorcyclist, a 27-year-old male driver, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained neck injuries with a severity level of 3. He was reported to be in shock and complained of pain or nausea. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4501420 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-14