Prospect Heights Bleeds While City Hall Waits

• Brooklyn police pursuit ends with pedestrian struck, alleged teenage car thief caught, amny, Published 2025-09-14

Aug 28 - The driver of a RAM pickup turned right onto Flatbush Ave and hit a 24-year-old woman crossing with the signal. The truck’s right front bumper struck her. She suffered chest injuries and reported internal pain. Police recorded failure to yield.

The driver of a RAM pickup turned right from 7 Ave onto Flatbush Ave and hit a 24-year-old woman who was crossing with the signal. She was conscious and suffered chest injuries and internal complaints. The pickup’s right front bumper was the point of impact. According to the police report, contributing factors included "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." Police recorded Failure to Yield by the driver. Pedestrian error is listed after the driver failure in the report. The driver was licensed and remained as an occupant on scene. The truck was traveling south before the turn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838838 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 23 - Two men killed crossing Third Avenue. A driver sped through a red light, fled. Eighty hurt or dead since 2018. Residents rally. Promised fixes stalled. Danger remains. Children cross nine lanes to reach school.

Gothamist (2025-07-23) reports Sunset Park residents and officials demand safety upgrades on Third Avenue after a hit-and-run killed two men. Police say the driver "sped through a red light" and fled. Since 2018, drivers have killed or seriously injured 80 people on this two-mile stretch. A redesign with protected bike lanes was approved but stalled. State Sen. Gounardes criticized the city's response: "We should all be offended... the response... is a sign that says: 'be careful.'" The article highlights the need for enforcement and infrastructure, noting children must cross nine lanes daily.

• Sunset Park Demands Safer Third Avenue, Gothamist, 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 19 - Two cyclists crashed at Grand Army Plaza. One man, 64, suffered a fractured arm. Police cite driver inattention. The street saw blood and broken bone. Danger rides with distraction.

Two men riding bikes collided at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. According to the police report, one cyclist, age 64, was injured with a fractured arm and dislocation. The other, age 37, was not seriously hurt. Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. Both cyclists were traveling straight ahead before impact. The report notes the injured cyclist wore a helmet. Systemic danger persists where focus lapses and vulnerable road users meet.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828864 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 18 - Cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, as she crossed Cropsey Avenue. She died. Her aide survived. Driver charged with failure to yield and due care. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

Gothamist (2025-07-18) reports a 95-year-old woman, Mayya Gil, died after a cargo van hit her and her home health aide while they crossed Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, Thimothe Andre, was charged with two counts of failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Police said Andre struck both victims while turning. Gil died at the hospital; her aide survived. The article notes, 'NYPD data shows 100 people have died in city traffic crashes so far this year.' The case highlights persistent risks for pedestrians and the consequences of driver inattention at city intersections.

• Brooklyn Pedestrian Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, 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 - The driver of an SUV disregarded traffic control and hit a 29-year-old woman on a bicycle at Underhill Ave and Bergen St in Brooklyn. She was ejected and suffered shoulder and upper-arm injuries and abrasions. Police listed Traffic Control Disregarded.

A 29-year-old woman riding a bicycle was struck and ejected at Underhill Ave and Bergen St in Brooklyn. She suffered shoulder and upper-arm injuries and abrasions and remained conscious. According to the police report, "Traffic Control Disregarded" was listed as a contributing factor. Police recorded traffic control disregarded by the driver of an SUV traveling south; the bicyclist was traveling west and was ejected. The victim’s listed contributing factor is "Unspecified." The report records the SUV’s point of impact as left side doors and notes the bicyclist sustained an abrasion to the shoulder/upper arm.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827838 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - An SUV turned left on Washington Ave. The driver struck a cyclist. The cyclist was ejected and injured. Police cite driver inattention. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

A cyclist riding south on Washington Ave was struck by an SUV making a left turn from Dean St. The cyclist, a 25-year-old woman, was ejected and suffered abrasions to her entire body. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as a contributing factor. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupants. The crash underscores the risk faced by cyclists when drivers fail to pay attention. Helmet use was not specified in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830038 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 15 - A car spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The driver lost control. The machine struck Madison Ruiz as she sat by the curb. She died at the hospital. The driver faces criminal charges.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-15), Madison Ruiz, 21, was killed when Zachary Cando, 24, lost control of a Genesis G80 while 'doing donuts' in a Gateway Plaza parking lot. The article states Cando 'lost control' and struck Ruiz as she sat by the curb. Police charged Cando with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The incident highlights the risks of reckless driving in public spaces and raises questions about parking lot safety and enforcement.

• Driver Doing Donuts Kills Brooklyn Woman, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-15

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 - Two sedans collided on Carlton Avenue. Four passengers suffered injuries to back, neck, and arm. Both cars were heading west. No clear cause named. The street bore the brunt.

Two sedans crashed on Carlton Avenue near Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Four passengers, ages 25 to 43, were injured, suffering back, neck, and arm pain. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when they collided. The report lists all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are cited. One injured passenger was not using safety equipment, as noted after the absence of driver errors. The crash left both vehicles damaged, with impact to the right front quarter panel and left side doors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827554 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 10 - 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

Jul 9 - A moped struck a 90-year-old man crossing in Sheepshead Bay. The rider looked away, hit the man, paused, then fled. The victim lay motionless. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital. He died from his injuries.

ABC7 reported on July 9, 2025, that Zhuo Xie, 90, was killed crossing East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn. The article states, "a man riding a blue moped slammed into Xie and both men fell to the ground." Surveillance video showed the moped rider looking left, not ahead, before impact. The driver checked on Xie, then left the scene. Police said the moped had a green light, but the rider's inattention and failure to remain highlight systemic dangers for pedestrians. The incident underscores risks at intersections and the consequences of hit-and-run crashes.

• Moped Hits Elderly Pedestrian, Flees Scene, ABC7, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 1 - A judge paused city plans to cut a protected bike lane after children were struck crossing. The lane, built after five pedestrian crashes, stays for now. Streets wait. Danger lingers.

NY1 reported on July 1, 2025, that a judge halted the city's move to remove a three-block section of the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The city acted after 'incidents of children exiting school buses, crossing into the lane, and being hit by bikes.' The lane, stretching over two miles, was installed in 2024 following 'years of advocacy and five pedestrian incidents.' The hearing highlights ongoing conflict between street safety for cyclists and pedestrians, and the city's rapid policy shifts in response to crashes.

• Bedford Avenue Bike Lane Faces Review, NY1, Published 2025-07-01

Jun 30 - Albany lawmakers killed a bill to make apps insure delivery workers. DoorDash lobbied hard. Cyclists and walkers left exposed. No coverage. Profits protected. Safety denied.

Bill to require app companies to provide $50,000 insurance for delivery workers, pedestrians, and cyclists was introduced by Assembly Member Robert Carroll. It passed the Senate but died in the Assembly on June 30, 2025, after DoorDash called it 'costly.' Amy Sohn reported the defeat. The bill aimed to cover injuries from crashes and bar retaliation against workers filing claims. DoorDash lobbied against it, backing a weaker bill. The safety analyst notes this defeat reduces accountability and weakens protections for pedestrians and cyclists. Corporate pressure won. Vulnerable road users lost.

• DoorDash Lobbying Sunk Bill to Require Apps to Insure Delivery Workers, 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

Jun 29 - An eight-year-old boy died after a Honda SUV struck him at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. He was dragged under the car. Blood pooled. His sister watched. The driver stayed. No arrest. The city investigates.

NY Daily News (2025-06-29) reports an 8-year-old boy was fatally struck by a 69-year-old Honda Pilot driver at Eastern Parkway and Albany Ave. in Brooklyn. The boy was crossing when hit; witnesses saw him dragged from under the SUV. The article quotes, "I saw the kid being dragged from underneath the car by a woman." The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. NYPD Collision Squad investigates. The crash highlights persistent dangers at city intersections and the lethal risk large vehicles pose to children.

• Child Killed By SUV In Crown Heights, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 26 - Zohran Mamdani beat Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic mayoral nod. He vows faster buses, more bike lanes, and car-free space. Streets remain deadly. Change hinges on action.

Bill number not assigned. On June 26, 2025, Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for NYC mayor. The matter, as reported by Sophia Lebowitz, states Mamdani's platform: 'make buses fast and free, add more protected bike lanes, and increase car-free public space.' Mamdani promises political will for proven safety measures. No specific legislation or committee action yet. The safety analyst notes: 'The event describes a political nomination outcome without reference to any specific transportation policy or legislation, so it has no direct impact on pedestrian or cyclist safety.'

• Here’s What Mamdani Can Steal From Other Candidates To Strengthen His Livable Streets Platform, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-26

Jun 19 - Streetsblog gathered street-safety leaders. They ranked mayoral candidates by their promises for safer streets. No council action. No new law. Just a sharp look at who stands with people, not cars. The city’s future rides on these choices.

On June 19, 2025, Streetsblog NYC published 'Streetsblog Celebrities Reveal Their Mayoral Rankings!' The article asked, 'Who did the legends of the livable streets movement rank for mayor?' and used a ranked-choice simulator to show results. No council bill, vote, or committee action took place. No council members were involved. Instead, advocates like Zohran Mamdani, Brad Lander, Zellnor Myrie, Adrienne Adams, Michael Blake, and Scott Stringer ranked candidates based on their records and promises for safer streets. Streetsblog made no endorsements. According to safety analysts, this event did not create any policy or legislative change for pedestrian or cyclist safety. It simply revealed which candidates street-safety advocates trust to protect vulnerable road users.

• Streetsblog Celebrities Reveal Their Mayoral Rankings!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-19