Park Slope Bleeds While Leaders Stall—Demand Streets That Protect People, Not Cars

A man fell onto Prospect Park subway tracks during a fight. The train struck him. He died at the scene. Police questioned the other person. The platform became a place of sudden death.

NY Daily News (2025-07-30) reports a man died after falling onto the tracks at Prospect Park station during a fight. Police said, "As the fight escalated, he landed on the train tracks and was struck by an oncoming train." The victim suffered fatal head trauma. The other person involved was taken into custody for questioning. No charges were filed at the time. The article does not specify if the man fell or was pushed. The incident highlights the dangers of open subway platforms and the risks faced by riders in moments of conflict.

• Man Dies After Fall Onto Subway Tracks, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-30

A sedan turned wrong on Fourth Avenue. The car struck a cyclist riding straight. The cyclist suffered injuries. Police cite improper turning. The street stayed dangerous. Pain lingered.

A sedan making a right turn collided with a northbound cyclist at Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. The 32-year-old cyclist was injured, reporting pain and shock. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' The sedan's right front bumper struck the cyclist, who was riding straight. No other contributing factors were listed. The driver’s error—improper turning—put the cyclist in harm’s way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830653 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A dump truck turned left on 4th Ave. A sedan backed up. Metal struck metal. One driver suffered a back injury. Police cite obstructed view and other vehicular factors.

A dump truck making a left turn collided with a sedan backing up on 4th Avenue at 7th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one driver, a 65-year-old woman, was injured and suffered a back injury. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained bumper damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report highlights driver errors but does not mention helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831104 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

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

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

A sedan struck a cyclist on 7th Avenue. The crash left the rider bruised and hurt. Police cite unsafe speed and tailgating. The street turned violent in a blink.

A sedan traveling south on 7th Avenue in Brooklyn collided with a cyclist, injuring the 27-year-old rider’s upper arm and shoulder. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Following Too Closely.' The cyclist suffered a contusion but remained conscious. The report lists no helmet or signal issues for the cyclist. The impact highlights the danger when drivers speed and fail to keep distance. The crash underscores the risks faced by people on bikes in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831099 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A moped and pick-up truck collided on Flatbush Ave. Aggressive driving and tailgating led to injury. One man suffered leg wounds. The street saw shock, pain, and chaos. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A crash on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn involved a moped and a pick-up truck. According to the police report, aggressive driving and following too closely caused the collision. A 35-year-old male moped driver was injured, suffering wounds to his lower leg and foot and experiencing shock. The pick-up truck and moped were both stopped in traffic before the crash. Police listed 'Following Too Closely' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported injured. The system allowed danger to reach the vulnerable on a busy city street.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829949 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A car struck an 11-year-old boy by a Brooklyn playground. He survived. Police search for answers. The street stays dangerous.

ABC7 reported on July 19, 2025, that an 11-year-old boy was hit by a car near a playground on Bedford Avenue in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Friday. The boy is in stable condition. Police are investigating the circumstances. The article states, "There is no word yet on how the accident happened." No details on driver actions or charges have been released. The incident highlights the ongoing risk to children near city streets and playgrounds.

• Child Hit Near Sheepshead Bay Playground, ABC7, Published 2025-07-19

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

An SUV struck an e-bike on Dean Street. The cyclist suffered a leg injury. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Streets remain hazardous for those outside cars.

An SUV collided with an e-bike on Dean Street in Brooklyn. The 46-year-old male cyclist was injured, suffering pain and a leg injury. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was a contributing factor. The SUV's front end hit the e-bike's right front quarter panel. The report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a factor. No helmet use was noted for the cyclist, but this was not listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the persistent dangers faced by cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828044 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A sedan hit a child and an adult crossing with the signal on 8th Avenue. Both suffered injuries. Police cite driver inattention. Impact was at the center front. The street did not protect them.

A sedan making a left turn on 8th Avenue struck a 3-year-old boy and a 38-year-old woman as they crossed with the signal at the intersection with 7th Street. Both pedestrians were injured—one in the head, one in the back—and experienced shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor. The impact occurred at the center front of the sedan. The driver was licensed and uninjured. The report also lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion,' but the pedestrians were crossing with the signal. Systemic danger remains for those on foot.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828041 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A driver spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The car struck a woman on the curb. She died at the hospital. Police charged the driver with negligent homicide. The lot was left scarred. The city mourns another loss.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-16), Zachary Cando, 24, was 'doing the dangerous spinning trick' known as donuts in a Gateway Center parking lot when he lost control and hit Madisyn Ruiz, 21, who was sitting nearby. Ruiz died after being rushed to the hospital. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes the car was 'badly dented in the front.' The crash highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and the need for stronger deterrents in parking lots.

• Driver Kills Girlfriend Doing Donuts, New York Post, Published 2025-07-16

A judge stopped the city from tearing out Bedford Avenue’s only protected bike lane. The fight over safety and street space continues. Cyclists and pedestrians wait as legal battles stall change.

Streetsblog NYC reported on July 15, 2025, that an appellate judge halted Mayor Adams’s plan to remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue. Judge Ventura issued a restraining order after Transportation Alternatives and Baruch Herzfeld appealed the city’s move. The city had planned to start demolition after complaints from local leaders, but the court’s order blocks any changes until further review. Streetsblog quotes Ben Furnas: 'The Adams administration is going to have to spend their night preparing their legal case, not ripping out a critical safety project.' The article highlights weak enforcement of parking rules and the city’s reversal against its own DOT’s safety plan. The case underscores how political pressure and lax enforcement can threaten vulnerable road users.

• Court Blocks Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Removal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-15

A car sped down Third Avenue. Two men, one with a cart, one with a cane, crossed. The driver did not brake. Both men died in the street. The car fled. Police arrested the driver hours later.

ABC7 reported on July 11, 2025, that two men, aged 59 and 80, were killed by a hit-and-run driver at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Surveillance showed the car "speeding southbound" and not braking before impact. The driver, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, was arrested and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving. The victims, Kex Un Chen and Faqiu Lin, were likely headed to a local food pantry. The incident highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless driving and the vulnerability of pedestrians, especially near essential services.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Two In Sunset Park, ABC7, Published 2025-07-11

A moped struck a 90-year-old man in Brooklyn. The driver fled. The man died at the hospital. Security video captured the impact. The street claimed another life.

CBS New York (2025-07-10) reports a 90-year-old man died after a moped hit-and-run in Brooklyn. Security footage 'shows the moment the man was struck.' The driver left the scene. The victim died at the hospital. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians and the ongoing danger of drivers who flee. No policy changes or arrests were reported.

• Elderly Man Killed In Brooklyn Hit-Run, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-10

A judge let the city move a protected bike lane off Bedford Avenue. Cyclists lose curbside safety. Adams pushed the change after local protests. Advocates warn the street grows more dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-07-09) reports a state judge allowed Mayor Adams to remove curbside bike lane protections on Brooklyn's Bedford Avenue. The city will shift the lane to the street's center, ending the barrier of parked cars. The move follows protests from local Orthodox Jewish communities and a recent e-bike crash. Advocates sued, arguing Adams bypassed environmental review. The judge ruled the change was not a major project. Transportation Alternatives warns, 'If the Bedford Avenue safety improvements are destroyed, this all but guarantees that there will be blood on Eric Adams' hands.' The decision highlights Adams' pattern of scaling back street safety redesigns.

• Judge Allows Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Change, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-09

A Smart Car struck Dov Broyde, 70, as he crossed Avenue I near his home. Medics rushed him to the hospital. He died. The driver stayed. No charges filed. Brooklyn street claimed another life.

NY Daily News (2025-07-08) reports Dov Broyde, 70, was fatally struck by a Smart Car while crossing Avenue I at E. Fifth St. near Midwood around 9:30 p.m. The article states the driver 'plowed into him' and remained at the scene. No criminal charges were filed at the time. The incident highlights persistent danger for pedestrians in New York City, where 55 have died this year. The crash underscores the ongoing toll of traffic violence and the urgent need for systemic safety improvements.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed Crossing Avenue I, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-08

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

A cyclist slammed into a parked sedan on 7th Avenue. He flew from his bike, hit hard, and suffered arm injuries. The street stayed busy. The crash left the cyclist hurt and shaken.

A 40-year-old cyclist was injured after colliding with a parked sedan on 7th Avenue at Carroll Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions to his arm. The sedan was parked, and its left front bumper was damaged. The report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors were cited. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, as noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4826288 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31

A cyclist riding north on 4th Avenue struck a turning vehicle at Baltic Street. She was ejected and injured. Police cite failure to yield. The crash left her with leg abrasions.

A 24-year-old woman riding a bike north on 4th Avenue collided with a vehicle making a left turn onto Baltic Street. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered abrasions to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No other injuries were reported. The crash highlights the danger faced by cyclists when drivers fail to yield during turns.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825515 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-07-31