No Deaths, No Mercy: Cypress Hills Bleeds While Leaders Stall

SUV turned left and struck an eastbound motorscooter in Brooklyn. The motorscooter driver, 24, suffered knee and leg injuries. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield as causes.

According to the police report, a southbound SUV making a left turn on Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn struck an eastbound motorscooter. The 24-year-old motorscooter driver was injured, suffering contusions and bruises to his knee and lower leg. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed; the motorscooter driver held a permit. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4759141 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill slashes legal parking time for big rigs. Ninety minutes max for tractor-trailers. Three hours for other commercial trucks. Streets clear faster. Heavy metal moves on.

Int 1069-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced September 26, 2024. The bill reads: "reducing the maximum time commercial vehicles may park." Sponsored by Kevin C. Riley and 23 others, it limits parking to three hours for most commercial vehicles, and 90 minutes for tractor-trailers, unless signs say otherwise. The law takes effect 120 days after passage. Council aims to keep streets less clogged by oversized trucks. No safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets long-term truck storage on city streets.

• File Int 1069-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

Two sedans slammed head-on on Wyona Street. Seven people hurt. Bodies battered. Shock and pain. Police blame driver distraction. Metal twisted. Lives shaken.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on at 11:20 AM on Wyona Street in Brooklyn. Both cars suffered center front-end damage. Seven people were injured: the male driver and six passengers, ages 1 to 34. All victims reported pain, nausea, and shock. None were ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. No victim actions contributed. The crash shows the danger when drivers lose focus. Helmet or signal use is not listed as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755994 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A distracted driver hit a 36-year-old man crossing Fulton Street at Logan Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered a neck injury and shock. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian at the center front end while traveling westbound straight ahead.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:10 AM on Fulton Street near Logan Street in Brooklyn. A 36-year-old male pedestrian was crossing with the signal when he was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained damage to the same area. The pedestrian suffered a neck injury and was in shock but had no visible complaints. The police report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not blamed for the crash, emphasizing the driver's failure to maintain attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755989 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Three sedans collided in a northbound chain reaction on Highland Boulevard. The driver of a 2004 Acura suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cite following too closely as the cause, with vehicles slowing or stopping before impact.

According to the police report, a chain-reaction crash occurred on Highland Boulevard in Brooklyn at 8:11 PM. Three vehicles traveling northbound were involved: a 2004 Acura sedan, a 2017 Audi SUV, and a 2021 Kia sedan. The Acura driver, a 38-year-old man wearing a lap belt, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious after the crash. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as the primary driver error contributing to the collision. All vehicles were slowing or stopping before impact, with the Acura striking the rear of the Audi and the Kia striking the Acura. The Acura's point of impact was center front end, while the Audi was hit center back end. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior, focusing solely on driver errors and vehicle positions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753147 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

On Hemlock Street, a sedan and e-bike fleeing police collide. The e-bike rider, 31, is torn at the neck, blood pooling. Doors crumple. Sirens echo. Unsafe speed drives the chaos. Brooklyn’s street absorbs the shock.

According to the police report, a sedan and an e-bike collided on Hemlock Street near Etna Street in Brooklyn during a police pursuit. Both vehicles were fleeing police at the time of the crash. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor. The e-bike rider, a 31-year-old man, suffered severe neck lacerations and was conscious at the scene. The police narrative describes a violent impact: 'The e-bike rider, 31, strikes hard. No helmet. Neck torn. Blood pools. Doors crumple. Sirens wail.' The sedan sustained damage to its right side doors, while the e-bike impacted the left front bumper. The focus remains on the excessive speed and the peril of high-velocity chases, as detailed in the official account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750146 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Lawmakers say Hochul broke the law. They filed a brief. They argue the governor has no right to halt congestion pricing. The MTA Board, not Albany, holds the power. The pause sows confusion. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On August 23, 2024, a group of New York State legislators—Assembly Members Phil Steck and Andrew Hevesi, State Senator Julia Salazar, and former Assembly Member Dick Gottfried—filed a legal brief against Governor Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing. The matter, as described: “the legislature never gave her or any governor the power to do away with the traffic toll.” The brief cites the 2019 Traffic Mobility Act, arguing only the Traffic Mobility Review Board and the MTA can make such decisions. The lawmakers warn that letting the governor override the MTA would “make impossibly opaque the actual responsibility for MTA decisions.” Their action supports the MTA Board’s independence and opposes executive interference. No safety analyst has assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the legislators’ stance highlights the risk of political meddling in life-and-death street policy.

• State Legislators Say They Never Gave Hochul the Power to Pause Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-23

A 29-year-old man suffered arm injuries and shock after a sedan struck him while crossing a marked crosswalk on Bushwick Avenue. The driver was making a right turn and failed to pay attention, causing the collision without vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male pedestrian was injured on Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn at 16:05 while crossing a marked crosswalk without a signal. The driver, a licensed female operating a 2021 sedan, was making a right turn and was cited for driver inattention and distraction. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was reported to be in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, along with 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion.' The vehicle sustained no damage, and the point of impact showed no visible damage, indicating the collision impact was likely low-speed but sufficient to cause injury. The report emphasizes the driver's failure to maintain attention during the turn as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749322 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A 65-year-old male driver suffered back injuries and whiplash after an SUV struck a parked vehicle on Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash involved improper lane usage by the moving vehicle, causing left-side damage and injury to the driver.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn at 19:25. The collision involved a 2013 Acura SUV traveling east that struck a parked vehicle. The contributing factor cited was "Passing or Lane Usage Improper," indicating driver error in lane management. The 65-year-old male driver of the moving vehicle was injured, sustaining back injuries and whiplash, and was conscious at the scene. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. Damage was reported on the left side doors of the moving SUV and on the left front quarter panel of the parked vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746795 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A distracted driver failed to yield, striking a 44-year-old man crossing Atlantic Avenue with the signal. The impact fractured the pedestrian's lower leg and foot, leaving him incoherent and severely injured at the intersection in Brooklyn late at night.

According to the police report, at 22:54 on Atlantic Avenue near Warwick Street in Brooklyn, a vehicle traveling west struck a pedestrian at the intersection. The pedestrian, a 44-year-old man, was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper, which sustained damage. The pedestrian suffered severe injuries including fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was reported incoherent at the scene. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. No other vehicle or driver details were provided. The pedestrian's crossing with the signal was noted but not listed as a contributing factor. This crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction and failure to yield to pedestrians legally crossing the street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743622 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped traveling east collided with a parked SUV on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. The impact ejected a 46-year-old female passenger from the moped, causing abrasions and lower leg injuries. The driver’s failure to avoid the parked vehicle led to the crash.

According to the police report, a moped traveling east on Fulton Street struck the left side doors of a parked 2022 SUV. The moped’s front center end collided with the SUV’s left side, resulting in significant vehicle damage. The moped carried two occupants, including a 46-year-old female passenger seated in the middle rear seat who was ejected during the crash. She sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was conscious after the incident. The SUV was stationary at the time, indicating the moped driver failed to yield or maintain control to avoid the parked vehicle. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to the passenger or note any victim behaviors. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors involving parked vehicles in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4741162 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan ignored traffic control and struck a 15-year-old bicyclist on Crescent Street. The boy suffered knee and leg injuries. The driver’s disregard for signals brought pain and shock to a vulnerable rider.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Crescent Street in Brooklyn struck a 15-year-old male bicyclist who was heading south. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, showing the driver failed to obey traffic signals or signs. The impact injured the bicyclist’s knee, lower leg, and foot, leaving him in shock. The sedan’s center front end was damaged. No other contributing factors were listed. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic control, causing direct harm to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738976 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan struck a moped from behind on Logan Street in Brooklyn. The moped driver suffered a severe leg injury, including fracture and dislocation. Police cited the sedan driver's failure to maintain safe distance as the cause of the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:00 pm on Logan Street in Brooklyn. A sedan traveling south struck the rear center of a moped also heading south. The moped driver, a 43-year-old man, was injured with a fractured, distorted, and dislocated lower leg, knee, and foot. The report identifies "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the moped. The moped driver was not ejected and remained conscious. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. This collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in maintaining safe following distances on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736861 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

Albany lawmakers walked away. The MTA’s billion-dollar gap remains. No deal. No new funding. Subway upgrades, electric buses, and station fixes hang in the balance. Riders, not drivers, face the cost. Streets stay clogged. Danger lingers for all outside a car.

"The governor is pointing an unloaded gun at us and asking to give her the ammunition to shoot us and our constituents." -- Julia Salazar

On June 7, 2024, New York’s legislature ended its session without plugging the MTA’s multi-billion-dollar budget hole. The gap opened when Governor Hochul halted Manhattan’s congestion pricing. The bill, discussed but not passed, would have replaced lost revenue—$1 billion a year meant for transit upgrades. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, mentioned in the debate, said, 'Our conference is reticent to commit a billion dollars annually for the next 15 years without having some understanding in place as to how we're going to deal with congestion as well.' Lawmakers could not agree on new taxes or a legislative IOU. The inaction leaves critical MTA projects—like electric buses and accessible stations—at risk. Vulnerable road users lose most: less transit means more cars, more danger, and fewer safe options for those on foot, bike, or bus.

• NY lawmakers won’t tackle Hochul-created MTA budget hole, for now, gothamist.com, 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