Night streets, hard hits: East New York’s ledger of harm

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 8 - A sedan hit an eight-year-old boy in a marked crosswalk at Glen Street. The child suffered a fractured leg. Police cite obstruction or debris as a factor. The car’s front end took the impact. The driver was licensed and uninjured.

An eight-year-old pedestrian was struck by a sedan while crossing at the intersection of 154 Glen Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the child was in a marked crosswalk with no signal when the crash occurred. The boy suffered a fracture and dislocation to his lower leg and foot. The sedan, a 2023 Tesla, was traveling west and struck the child with its center front end. Police list 'Obstruction/Debris' as a contributing factor in the crash. No injuries were reported for the driver, who was licensed and wearing a seatbelt. The report does not mention any driver error beyond the cited obstruction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818877 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jun 6 - Court Street bleeds from double parking and swerving cars. Cyclists and walkers dodge danger daily. DOT will cut a lane, add a protected bike path, and shrink space for reckless driving. Fewer lanes, fewer crashes. Safety, not speed, takes the street.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-06-06) reports the Department of Transportation will install a protected bike lane on Brooklyn’s Court Street, a corridor plagued by double parking and sideswipe crashes. DOT’s Chris Brunson said, “The narrower street width for vehicles will de-incentivize double parking on the corridor.” The redesign removes a travel lane, adds a protected bike lane, and aims to curb driver behavior that leads to crashes. Between 2022 and 2024, 165 crashes on this mile-long stretch caused one death and injured 15 cyclists and 23 pedestrians. Most pedestrian injuries happened while crossing with the light, showing drivers failed to yield. The plan targets excess road capacity and prioritizes vulnerable users on a Vision Zero Priority Corridor.

• DOT Plans Protected Bike Lane Court Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-06

Jun 2 - Two cars collided on Pitkin Avenue near Conduit Boulevard. One driver, a 48-year-old man, suffered a bruised shoulder. Police cite driver inattention. Three others, including a child, escaped injury. Metal met metal. Streets stayed dangerous.

A crash involving a sedan and an SUV unfolded on Pitkin Avenue at Conduit Boulevard in Brooklyn. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling west when they collided, striking center front to center back. A 48-year-old male driver sustained a contusion to his upper arm. Three others—a 36-year-old male driver, an 11-year-old male passenger, and a 38-year-old female passenger—were not reported injured. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or contributing factors were noted. The crash highlights the ongoing risks faced by vehicle occupants on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818169 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 28 - A pickup and an SUV crashed on Blake Avenue. One driver, age seventy, suffered a shoulder injury. The police report lists traffic control disregarded as a factor. Metal bent. Streets failed. The system let danger through.

A collision between a station wagon/SUV and a pickup truck occurred on Blake Avenue at Hemlock Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved two drivers: a seventy-year-old man who was injured in the shoulder and an eighteen-year-old man. The report states, “Traffic Control Disregarded” as a contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The seventy-year-old driver was not ejected and remained conscious. The vehicles sustained damage to the left side doors and front bumper. The data does not list any helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash highlights the ongoing risk when drivers disregard traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816216 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for seniors. More elders could ride. Streets may see more slow, unprotected cyclists. Danger from cars remains. Bill sits in committee. No safety fixes for traffic threats.

Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' requires the Department of Transportation to set lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The measure aims to boost senior cycling but does not address street safety or car violence. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes bill for cheaper bike share for New Yorkers over 65. More seniors could ride. The city’s streets may see older cyclists in the mix. The committee now holds the bill.

Bill Int 1288-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced May 28, 2025, and re-referred June 4, it mandates a discounted bike share rate for seniors 65 and older. The bill’s title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.” Council Member Farah N. Louis leads, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, and Menin. The Department of Transportation would require bike share operators to offer this rate. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council bill pushes for discounted bike share rates for New Yorkers 65 and up. The move aims to open city streets to older riders. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. No safety review yet.

Int 1288-2025 was introduced on May 28, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for seniors, defined as those 65 or older. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors.' Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, and Gutiérrez. The bill was re-referred to committee on June 4, 2025. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes a bill to cut bike share costs for New Yorkers over 65. The measure aims to open city cycling to more seniors. The committee now weighs its next move.

Bill Int 1288-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for seniors,' would require the Department of Transportation to mandate lower bike share rates for those 65 and older. Council Member Farah N. Louis leads as primary sponsor, joined by Marte, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, Banks, Menin, Feliz, Hanks, Avilés, Gutiérrez, and Restler. The bill was re-referred to committee June 4. The move aims to make cycling more accessible for older New Yorkers.

• File Int 1288-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 28 - Council pushes cheaper bike share for students 16 and up. More teens on bikes. Streets shift. Danger remains. The bill sits in committee. Cyclists wait.

Int 1287-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced May 28, 2025. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to set a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older. The matter title reads: "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a discounted bike share rate for public school students aged 16 or older." Council Member Christopher Marte leads as primary sponsor, joined by Louis, Stevens, Brooks-Powers, Ossé, Restler, Powers, Lee, Nurse, Hanif, Brewer, and Banks. The bill was referred to committee and awaits further action. No safety analysis has been provided.

• File Int 1287-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-28

May 27 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-05-27

May 26 - A driver struck Tiffany Cifuni after a fender-bender in Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was pregnant. The driver dragged her down a one-way street, crashed again, then fled. Cifuni’s family mourns. The street holds the mark of violence and loss.

NY Daily News reported on May 26, 2025, that Tiffany Cifuni, 32, was killed after a Chevy Trax rear-ended her on Van Buren St. in Brooklyn. Cifuni exited her vehicle to confront the driver, who then ran her over and dragged her down the street. The driver fled, crashing into two more vehicles before abandoning the car. The article quotes Cifuni’s husband: “I lost my whole family tonight.” Surveillance footage captured the confrontation and the fatal impact. The incident highlights the lethal risk of driver aggression and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes. The driver’s decision to flee and drive the wrong way down a one-way street escalated the harm, underscoring systemic failures in street safety and enforcement.

• Pregnant Woman Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-26

May 22 - A cyclist riding south on Conduit Boulevard was ejected and injured. He suffered a bruised upper arm and shock. The crash left the bike damaged at the back. No driver errors were listed in the police report.

A 40-year-old male bicyclist was injured while riding south on Conduit Boulevard at Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected from his bike and suffered a contusion to his upper arm, along with shock. The bike sustained damage to its center back end. No contributing factors or driver errors were listed in the report. The cyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, as noted in the data. No other injuries or vehicles were detailed in the police report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814818 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 20 - Senate backs S 4045. Repeat speeders face forced installation of speed assistance tech. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers action. Law targets reckless drivers. Streets may get safer for those outside the car.

Senate bill S 4045, sponsored by Andrew Gounardes and co-sponsored by over two dozen senators, passed committee votes on June 11 and June 12, 2025. The bill, titled 'Relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits,' mandates these devices for drivers who rack up eleven or more points in 24 months, or six speed or red light camera tickets in a year. The measure aims to curb repeat dangerous driving. Senators including Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, and others voted yes. The bill targets drivers with a pattern of violations, seeking to cut risk for pedestrians and cyclists by limiting repeat speeding.

• File S 4045, Open States, Published 2025-05-20

May 19 - A sedan struck hard on Dumont Avenue. One passenger suffered neck injury and shock. Four others inside escaped with minor or no injuries. The street stayed quiet. No driver errors listed.

A sedan traveling west on Dumont Avenue in Brooklyn crashed, injuring a 25-year-old male passenger who suffered neck trauma and shock. According to the police report, the vehicle's front end took the brunt of the impact. Four other occupants, including the driver, had unspecified or minor injuries. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report lists no driver errors or contributing factors. The injured passenger was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813929 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 16 - Two sedans crashed on Forbell Street. Three people injured, including a nine-year-old boy. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal and bodies took the hit. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two sedans collided at Forbell Street and 95 Avenue in Brooklyn. Three people were injured: a 57-year-old woman, a 42-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old boy. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The crash left the child and two adults with back, shoulder, and arm injuries. Both vehicles suffered heavy damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not specify which driver disregarded traffic control. Helmet or signal use was not listed as a factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813159 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 16 - A woman walked with the light. A Mercedes struck her. Bones broke. She died in the crosswalk. The driver sped through. The street stayed silent. The city failed to protect her.

Streetsblog NYC reported on May 16, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, died after a driver in a 2025 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 struck her as she crossed Rutland Road at E. 95th Street in East Flatbush. Lafleur was in the crosswalk, with the signal to walk. A witness said, "The lady spin around and sped through." The driver, a 64-year-old woman, has not been charged. The vehicle had one prior violation for blocking a bus lane. The article highlights the lack of immediate accountability and calls for stronger pedestrian protections: "The government should do something, like when people are walking, no cars should be moving."

• Driver Kills Pedestrian In Crosswalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-16

May 15 - A Mercedes turned left onto Rutland Road. The car struck Maurette Lafleur, 68, in the crosswalk. Medics rushed her to the hospital. She died. The driver stayed. No charges. The street stayed open. The danger stayed.

NY Daily News reported on May 15, 2025, that Maurette Lafleur, 68, was killed while crossing Rutland Road at E. 94th St. in East Flatbush. The article states, "Maurette Lafleur was in the crosswalk...when the driver of the 2025 Mercedes-Benz slammed into her." Police said the 64-year-old driver was turning left from E. 95th St. onto Rutland Road when the crash occurred. Lafleur was transported to Kings County Hospital but could not be saved. The driver remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and raises questions about intersection safety and left-turn protocols.

• Mercedes Driver Kills Woman In Crosswalk, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-15

May 13 - SUV swung a U-turn on Lincoln Ave. Sedan struck its side. A 58-year-old passenger suffered neck injuries. Police cite unsafe speed. Streets stay dangerous.

A crash on Lincoln Ave in Brooklyn involved a station wagon/SUV making a U-turn and a sedan traveling straight. According to the police report, the collision was caused by 'Unsafe Speed.' A 58-year-old female passenger in one of the vehicles suffered a neck injury and was in shock. The SUV was hit in the center front end; the sedan was struck on the left side. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Driver error—unsafe speed—was the only contributing factor listed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4813072 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

May 13 - Senate bill S 533 seeks to kill congestion pricing and order a forensic audit of the MTA. The committee vote failed. Streets stay clogged. Danger for walkers and riders lingers.

Senate bill S 533, introduced on May 13, 2025, in committee, aimed to repeal congestion pricing and require an independent audit of the MTA. The bill summary reads: 'Repeals congestion pricing (Part A); directs the metropolitan transportation authority to contract with a certified public accounting firm for the provision of an independent, comprehensive, forensic audit of the authority (Part B).' Primary sponsor Jack M. Martins led the push, joined by George Borrello, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, and others. The committee voted it down. No safety analyst reviewed the bill’s impact on vulnerable road users. The fight over street safety and traffic chaos continues.

• File S 533, Open States, Published 2025-05-13