Bushwick’s Blood Price: How Many More Must Die Before We Act?

Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-05-23

A 33-year-old male sedan driver suffered elbow and lower arm injuries in a collision on Flushing Avenue. The SUV, driven by a female making a left turn, struck the sedan’s right front bumper. Lane marking issues contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling westbound on Flushing Avenue was struck by an SUV making a left turn eastbound. The sedan’s driver, a 33-year-old male, was injured with elbow and lower arm trauma and complained of whiplash. Both vehicles sustained damage to their right front areas. The report lists 'Lane Marking Improper/Inadequate' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors were specified. The sedan driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. The crash highlights the dangers posed by poor lane markings in complex traffic maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4530637 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Senate and Assembly passed S 1078. New drivers must now learn how to avoid hitting people on foot or bike. Law aims to cut crashes at the root—before drivers get the keys.

Bill S 1078, introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2021, requires pedestrian and bicyclist safety instruction in the drivers pre-licensing course. The bill moved through committee and passed the Senate and Assembly, with key votes on May 20, 2021, February 1, 2022, May 16, 2022, and May 23, 2022. The matter summary reads: 'Requires instruction in pedestrian and bicyclist safety as part of the drivers pre-licensing course.' Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, joined by Bailey, Biaggi, Brisport, Cleare, Comrie, and others. The measure targets driver ignorance, a root cause of deadly crashes, by putting vulnerable road users at the center of driver education.

• File S 1078, Open States, Published 2022-05-16

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 2022-05-16

A new report shows most NYC road deaths happen when speed cameras are off. Advocates and officials push Albany to let the city run cameras all day, every day. The state stalls. Lives hang in the balance. The data is clear. Action lags.

Senate Bill 5602, still pending in Albany, would let New York City control and expand speed camera enforcement to 24/7. The Transportation Alternatives report, 'Speeding Doesn’t Sleep,' warns that 59 percent of city road deaths occur when cameras are off. The report urges full-time operation, noting cameras cut speeding by 72 percent where installed. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez calls passage 'very important.' Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Governor Hochul support local control. Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives says, 'We need Albany to allow New York City to operate speed safety cameras 24/7 so every neighborhood is protected from speeding drivers every hour of the day, every day of the week.' Despite strong public support, the legislature has not acted. The evidence is stark: when cameras are off, people die.

• Yet Another Report Makes Clear Case for City Control of Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-10

A sedan hit a 21-year-old woman crossing Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn. She suffered fractured knee and leg. The car’s right front quarter panel took the impact. The driver was licensed. No driver errors listed.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old female pedestrian was struck by a westbound sedan while crossing Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn, outside an intersection. She suffered fractures and dislocations to her knee and lower leg. The impact damaged the sedan’s right front quarter panel. The driver was licensed and going straight ahead. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. No helmet or signaling factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4525128 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A 24-year-old woman was injured when a motorcycle hit her at a Brooklyn intersection. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The pedestrian was conscious and treated for contusions. No driver errors were reported.

According to the police report, a motorcycle collided with a 24-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection of Knickerbocker Avenue and Stockholm Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. She remained conscious after the crash. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The motorcycle had no occupants other than the driver, and no details on driver license status or vehicle damage were provided. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The pedestrian was at the intersection when struck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4521825 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Manhattan and Brooklyn borough presidents pressed DOT to let Citi Bike add more e-bikes. They say more e-bikes mean fewer cars, safer streets. DOT did not commit. The cap stands. Riders wait. The city’s car problem grows.

On April 7, 2022, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso sent a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) urging it to raise the 20 percent cap on e-bikes in the Citi Bike fleet. The matter, titled 'Manhattan and Brooklyn Borough Presidents Ask DOT To Raise Cap on E-Bikes in Citi Bike Fleet,' argues that 'increasing the availability of Citi Bike electric bikes is essential' for shifting commuters out of cars. Levine and Reynoso both support expanding e-bike access and public subsidies for Citi Bike, opposing the current pricing structure. DOT acknowledged the request but did not promise action. The council members stress that more e-bikes mean more safe, reliable trips for New Yorkers, especially for short journeys that now fill city streets with cars.

• Manhattan and Brooklyn Borough Presidents Ask DOT To Raise Cap on E-Bikes in Citi Bike Fleet, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-04-07

An e-bike rider was ejected and suffered a head injury after a side impact with an SUV on Central Avenue. The rider was semiconscious with a concussion. The SUV struck the bike’s front center, hitting the rider’s right side.

According to the police report, a 49-year-old male e-bike rider was injured and ejected in a collision with a 2020 Jeep SUV on Central Avenue. The rider suffered a head injury and concussion and was semiconscious at the scene. The crash involved the SUV striking the right side doors while the e-bike was hit at the center front end. The report lists driver errors including "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." The rider was wearing a helmet, but the report does not list it as a contributing factor. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver failures to obey traffic controls and yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512733 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

Garbage piles choke New York sidewalks. Rats swarm. Pedestrians dodge filth. Council Member Sandy Nurse and Borough President Antonio Reynoso push for organics recycling and fair funding. City agencies stall. Mayor Adams sends mixed signals. Streets stay dangerous for those on foot.

On March 22, 2022, the New York City Council’s Sanitation Committee debated the city’s trash crisis. The hearing, covered by Streetsblog NYC, spotlighted Council Member Sandy Nurse and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. Nurse demanded full funding for sanitation, calling the crisis 'unprecedented.' Reynoso urged immediate action on 'save-as-you-throw' and mandatory organics recycling, saying, 'We have full authority to implement both.' The matter title reads: 'TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy.' The committee reviewed stalled pilot programs and budget cuts. Nurse stressed the need for equitable services and investment in public transit and clean streets. The debate exposed political inertia and underfunding, leaving sidewalks hazardous for pedestrians and failing neighborhoods most at risk.

• TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-22

Garbage piles choke New York sidewalks. Rats swarm. Pedestrians dodge filth. Council Member Sandy Nurse and Borough President Antonio Reynoso push for organics recycling and fair funding. City agencies stall. Mayor Adams sends mixed signals. Streets stay dangerous for those on foot.

On March 22, 2022, the New York City Council’s Sanitation Committee debated the city’s trash crisis. The hearing, covered by Streetsblog NYC, spotlighted Council Member Sandy Nurse and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. Nurse demanded full funding for sanitation, calling the crisis 'unprecedented.' Reynoso urged immediate action on 'save-as-you-throw' and mandatory organics recycling, saying, 'We have full authority to implement both.' The matter title reads: 'TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy.' The committee reviewed stalled pilot programs and budget cuts. Nurse stressed the need for equitable services and investment in public transit and clean streets. The debate exposed political inertia and underfunding, leaving sidewalks hazardous for pedestrians and failing neighborhoods most at risk.

• TRASH CITY: Here’s Why New York is So Filthy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-03-22

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

A box truck turning right struck a 24-year-old male e-bicyclist going straight. The rider was ejected and suffered bruises and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The truck showed no damage. Failure to yield caused the crash.

According to the police report, a box truck making a right turn collided with an e-bike traveling straight on Bushwick Avenue. The 24-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The truck sustained no damage. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as the contributing factor. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash. No other contributing factors or safety equipment details were noted. The driver of the truck did not yield to the bicyclist, leading to the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4512385 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

A sedan struck a 28-year-old male bicyclist on Suydam Street in Brooklyn. The cyclist suffered a head abrasion but was conscious and not ejected. The sedan's right side doors were damaged. Driver inattention caused the crash.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Suydam Street collided with a bicyclist traveling east. The bicyclist, a 28-year-old man, sustained a head abrasion and remained conscious. The sedan's right rear quarter panel impacted the bike's front center. The driver of the sedan was licensed and had three occupants. The crash was caused by driver inattention or distraction. No other contributing factors were listed. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The report does not indicate any fault or error on the part of the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4536391 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-08

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

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