Fort Greene Bleeds—How Many More Must Die Before City Hall Acts?

Jul 29 - A pickup driver going south on Ashland Place hit a woman crossing near Lafayette. She suffered bruises across her body and stayed conscious. Police listed all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' Three passengers in the truck were not hurt.

A driver in a 2020 Toyota pickup traveling south on Ashland Place hit a 42-year-old woman who was crossing midblock near Lafayette Avenue. According to the police report, the woman suffered contusions to her entire body and was conscious at the scene. Police listed all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction were recorded in the report. Three passengers, including two teenagers, were not injured. Police noted the driver was going straight ahead. The report recorded the point of impact at the truck’s right rear quarter panel and no vehicle damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831387 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

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 22 - Delivery workers get safe battery swaps. No more charging in cramped apartments. Fire risk drops. The city acts. Workers breathe easier. Streets grow safer for all.

On July 22, 2025, a new e-bike battery swap hub opened at Ebbets Field Apartments in Brooklyn. The project, supported by Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest and Council Member Crystal Hudson, brings seven PopWheels cabinets to the complex. Streetsblog NYC reports: 'Delivery workers who live in Brooklyn's Ebbets Field Apartments can now swap their dead e-bike batteries for charged ones without leaving their apartment complex.' Con Edison funded fire-safe infrastructure. The safety analyst notes this move cuts unsafe charging, supports delivery workers, and boosts safety for vulnerable road users. No council bill number or committee details apply.

• E-Bike Battery Swap Hub Backed by Con Edison Opens At Ebbets Field Apartments, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 22 - Delivery workers get safe battery swaps. No more charging in cramped apartments. Fire risk drops. The city acts. Workers breathe easier. Streets grow safer for all.

""I am proud to be here as a resident... We had a fire that blew out an apartment and brought a lot of fear to the building. For far too long families have lived in fear because they're not charging safely."" -- Phara Souffrant Forrest

On July 22, 2025, a new e-bike battery swap hub opened at Ebbets Field Apartments in Brooklyn. The project, supported by Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest and Council Member Crystal Hudson, brings seven PopWheels cabinets to the complex. Streetsblog NYC reports: 'Delivery workers who live in Brooklyn's Ebbets Field Apartments can now swap their dead e-bike batteries for charged ones without leaving their apartment complex.' Con Edison funded fire-safe infrastructure. The safety analyst notes this move cuts unsafe charging, supports delivery workers, and boosts safety for vulnerable road users. No council bill number or committee details apply.

• E-Bike Battery Swap Hub Backed by Con Edison Opens At Ebbets Field Apartments, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-22

Jul 19 - The driver of a PA-registered sedan turned right on Navy Street and hit a 33-year-old male cyclist riding west. The cyclist suffered elbow and lower-arm abrasions and was conscious at the scene. Police recorded failure to yield.

On Navy Street in Brooklyn a PA-registered sedan made a right turn and struck a westbound cyclist. The cyclist, a 33-year-old man, suffered injuries to his elbow and lower arm and complained of an abrasion. He remained conscious at the scene. According to the police report, "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" is listed as the contributing factor. The bike was going straight ahead. The sedan struck the cyclist at the sedan's right front quarter panel. The report notes the cyclist wore a helmet. Police recorded no other contributing factors and vehicle damage was reported as none.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830050 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

Jul 18 - A sedan hit a woman crossing S Oxford Street with the signal. She suffered a leg injury. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. System failed to protect her.

A sedan making a left turn on S Oxford Street in Brooklyn struck a 40-year-old woman as she crossed with the signal. She suffered an abrasion to her lower leg and foot. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The driver, a 61-year-old woman, was licensed and wore a seatbelt. No injuries were reported for vehicle occupants. The report highlights driver inattention and failure to yield as key factors in this intersection crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829405 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

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 17 - FEMA slashes $351 million. State sues. Flood defenses stall. Streets flood. Pedestrians and cyclists face rising water. Danger lingers. No fix yet.

On July 17, 2025, New York State sued to restore $351 million in FEMA funding for city flood projects. The Trump administration cut these grants, halting drainage upgrades and public housing protections. The matter summary: 'The state is now suing to restore $351 million in funding for projects aimed to upgrade drainage and protect public housing from flooding.' Attorney General Letitia James leads the suit. Mayor Eric Adams backs it. The funding loss threatens projects in Harlem, East Elmhurst, and NYCHA sites. While these upgrades could help street safety, the main goal is not active transportation. Vulnerable road users remain exposed.

• FEMA cuts threaten NYC’s ability to protect against future flash flooding, City & State NY, Published 2025-07-17

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 - The driver of an SUV struck a left-turning motorcycle at Fulton and Lafayette. A motorcycle passenger suffered severe burns and arm injuries. Police recorded "Turning Improperly." The motorcycle driver was unlicensed.

The driver of an SUV struck a motorcycle that was making a left turn at Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn. One motorcycle occupant was injured. According to the police report, the crash involved "Turning Improperly." The SUV was traveling west, going straight, and the point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper. The motorcycle was recorded as making a left turn and suffered center front-end damage. The motorcycle driver is listed as unlicensed. The injured person is a 33-year-old female rear passenger who suffered severe burns and elbow/arm/hand injuries, per the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830061 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

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 12 - DoorDash must pay $16.75 million to New York delivery workers. The payout covers lost tips. Workers have until September 30, 2025, to claim their share. The settlement brings overdue cash, but street dangers remain.

"New York Attorney General Letitia James is calling on DoorDash delivery workers to file claims to receive their share of a $16.75 million settlement before the deadline on Sept. 30, 2025." -- Letitia James

On July 12, 2025, BKReader reported a $16.75 million settlement for DoorDash delivery workers in New York. No council bill number or committee is listed. Attorney General Letitia James called on workers to 'claim their share of a multimillion-dollar settlement.' The settlement follows an investigation into DoorDash's use of tips to subsidize wages. All funds go to eligible Dashers. BKReader urges prompt action before the September 30 deadline. While the settlement may improve financial well-being for delivery workers, it does not directly address street safety, infrastructure, or systemic risks faced by pedestrians and cyclists.

• DoorDash Delivery Workers Urged to Claim Money From $16.75 Million Settlement, BKReader, 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 7 - An SUV ignored traffic control and hit an 18-year-old bicyclist on Clermont Avenue. The rider was ejected and suffered knee and lower-leg injuries and a contusion. Police recorded 'Traffic Control Disregarded.'

An SUV and a bicycle collided on Clermont Avenue at Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. An 18-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured in the knee and lower leg; police noted a contusion. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was the contributing factor. Police recorded 'Traffic Control Disregarded' by the driver. The SUV was southbound and the bicycle westbound; both were reported as going straight ahead. The SUV's left front bumper was damaged. Two occupants in the SUV were involved and not seriously hurt. No other contributing factors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826306 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-10-02

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

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, extending NYC’s school zone speed camera program to 2030. Cameras stay. Streets watch. Danger lingers for kids crossing. Fewer drivers speed. Fewer crashes. Lives spared.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, renewing New York City’s school zone speed camera program through July 1, 2030. The bill, described as 'an extra boost' for automated enforcement, updates home-rule provisions first enacted in 2013. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick sponsored the measure. Both praised the program’s record in cutting speeds and saving lives. Council member Barbara Russo-Lennon supported the renewal. A safety analyst notes the extension is likely to reduce speeds and crashes, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, without burdening vulnerable road users.

• Staying on: New Yorkers react to Hochul’s renewed speed camera program in NYC, AMNY, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signs speed camera law. Enforcement runs to 2030. Cameras slash speeding. Injuries drop. Streets still deadly. Lawmakers split. Pedestrians and cyclists get a fighting chance.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Hochul signed the reauthorization of New York City's speed camera program. The law, with no listed bill number or committee, extends automated enforcement through 2030. Hochul declared, 'Speed cameras save lives and keep New Yorkers safe.' Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill's sponsor, praised the renewal. City data shows a 30 percent drop in severe injuries and a 94 percent fall in speeding at camera sites. Safety analysts confirm: speed cameras cut dangerous driving and protect pedestrians and cyclists without burdening them. Lawmakers remain divided, but the program stands.

• Hochul Signs Speed Camera Reauthorization, Enforcement Continues Through 2030, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - 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