Prospect Heights Bleeds While City Hall Waits

May 5 - Candidates faced the facts. Buses crawl. Streets choke. Each hopeful promised faster rides, more lanes, tougher enforcement. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. No action yet. No relief for those on foot or bike. Words, not change.

On May 5, 2025, Streetsblog NYC hosted a mayoral forum focused on bus service. The event, titled 'Decision 2025: Mayoral Question 2 Seeks Answers on Slow Buses,' asked candidates how they would fix New York’s slowest-in-the-nation bus system. Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, Whitney Tilson, Zellnor Myrie, and Zohran Mamdani answered. They called for more bus lanes, stronger enforcement, and faster service. No council bill was introduced; this was a public policy test, not legislation. According to the safety analyst, the event discussed bus speeds but did not specify any policy action affecting pedestrians or cyclists, so no direct safety impact can be assessed. The debate showed urgency but left vulnerable road users waiting for real change.

• Decision 2025: Mayoral Question 2 Seeks Answers on Slow Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-05

May 4 - A volunteer EMT hit a 19-year-old crossing McDonald Avenue. The crash happened at night. Lights and sirens blared. The young man suffered severe head trauma. Medics rushed him to the hospital. The driver stayed. Police are investigating.

According to NY Daily News (2025-05-04), a Hatzolah volunteer EMT driving a smart car struck a 19-year-old pedestrian at McDonald Avenue and Avenue P in Brooklyn around 1:20 a.m. The article states, “The 39-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a smart car for the ambulance service, going north on McDonald Ave., lights and sirens on, when he struck the pedestrian as he was crossing.” The pedestrian suffered critical head injuries and was transported to Maimonides Hospital. The driver remained at the scene. Police are investigating the crash. The incident highlights the risks faced by pedestrians, even when emergency vehicles are present. No charges have been filed as of publication.

• EMT Strikes Pedestrian On McDonald Ave, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-04

May 2 - Streetsblog grilled mayoral hopefuls on congestion pricing. The question was sharp. Congestion pricing cuts traffic. What comes after? Candidates must answer. Streets stay deadly. Pedestrians and cyclists wait for action. The city’s future hangs in the balance.

On May 2, 2025, Streetsblog NYC launched a mayoral policy debate, pressing candidates on congestion pricing. The event was not a council bill, but a public challenge. Streetsblog asked: 'Now that congestion pricing is operating in New York City, what should the city government do to build on its success in reducing Manhattan traffic?' Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, and Whitney Tilson responded, each supporting congestion pricing and further transit investment. Streetsblog’s demand was clear—protect vulnerable road users. The safety analyst notes that congestion pricing reduces car traffic, lowers crash risk for pedestrians and cyclists, encourages mode shift, and opens the door for street redesigns that put vulnerable users first. The debate underscores urgency: congestion pricing helps, but more must be done to make streets safe for all.

• Decision 2025: Our Mayoral Questionnaire Begins … With a Question on Traffic, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-02

May 2 - Mayoral hopefuls call for more bus lanes, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian space. They defend congestion pricing. They want fewer cars, more transit, and safer streets. Each promises to fight federal threats and push for citywide changes that put people first.

This is a candidate policy statement for the 2025 mayoral race, published May 2, 2025, by Streetsblog NYC. The questionnaire asks, 'Now that congestion pricing is operating in New York City, what should the city government do to build on its success in reducing Manhattan traffic?' Scott Stringer, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Brad Lander, and Whitney Tilson all support congestion pricing, bus rapid transit, protected bike lanes, and pedestrianization. Stringer promises a full bus network overhaul and more protected lanes. Myrie vows to defend congestion pricing from federal attacks. Ramos pushes for Bus Rapid Transit in all boroughs. Lander calls for pedestrianizing Lower Manhattan. Tilson wants dynamic pricing and expansion citywide. The candidates agree: fewer cars, more transit, safer streets for all.

• Decision 2025: Our Mayoral Questionnaire Begins … With a Question on Traffic, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-02

May 1 - Council passes law. Taxis and for-hire cars must post bold warnings on rear doors. Riders face the message: look for cyclists before swinging the door. A move to cut dooring. City acts. Cyclists stay in the crosshairs.

Int 0193-2024, now law, cleared the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed City Council on May 1, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law...requiring taxis and for-hire vehicles to display a decal warning passengers to look for cyclists when opening the door,' demands clear warning signs on all rear passenger doors. Lincoln Restler led as primary sponsor, joined by Gutiérrez, Hudson, Rivera, Won, and others. The Taxi and Limousine Commission must provide decals at no cost. The law aims to fight dooring, a threat to cyclists citywide. Enacted May 31, 2025, it takes effect in 120 days.

• File Int 0193-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-05-01

Apr 30 - A stolen Porsche sped through Brooklyn. Police set a roadblock. The car veered toward officers. One fired. The driver, struck, crashed again and died at the hospital. The chase ended in Starrett City. No officers or passengers were reported hurt.

Gothamist reported on April 30, 2025, that NYPD officers shot and killed a man driving a stolen Porsche after a chase on the Belt Parkway. Police said the driver, spotted near Brighton Beach, "maneuvered onto the service road in [the] direction of several officers who set up a roadblock to stop this vehicle." When the driver "veered toward one of the officers and nearly hit him," an officer fired, striking the driver. The car continued another mile before crashing again. The driver died at Brookdale Hospital. The incident was captured on police body cameras. Officers were treated at local hospitals but not injured. The article notes this was the fourth fatal police shooting by NYPD in 2025. The event highlights risks of high-speed chases and the dangers posed by fleeing vehicles near roadblocks.

• Police Shoot Driver After Parkway Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-30

Apr 24 - A 101-year-old woman crossed with the light. An SUV turned left. The driver was unlicensed. She died days later. Her family mourns. The street remains the same.

According to the New York Post (April 24, 2025), Taibel Brod, 101, was fatally struck by a 2023 GMC Yukon while crossing Brooklyn Avenue at Montgomery Street in Crown Heights. Police say Brod had the light. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, 65, was unlicensed and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod's grandson: "She was extremely independent till her last day." Brod died less than two weeks after the crash. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers. Shagalow was released with a desk appearance ticket. The case underscores persistent gaps in enforcement and street design that leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• Unlicensed Driver Kills Brooklyn Matriarch, New York Post, Published 2025-04-24

Apr 23 - Taibel Brod crossed with the light. The SUV turned left, struck her. She fell. Two weeks later, she died. The driver had no license. Police charged him. The street stayed open. The city moved on.

NY Daily News reported on April 23, 2025, that Taibel Brod, 101, was killed after an SUV hit her while she crossed Montgomery St. in Crown Heights with the walk signal. The driver, Menachem Shagalow, turned left without a license and struck Brod. Police charged him with aggravated unlicensed operation and failure to exercise due care. The article quotes Brod’s son, who called the crash a "tragedy." Brod died from her injuries nearly two weeks later. The case highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians, especially from unlicensed drivers and left turns at intersections. No changes to the street were reported.

• Unlicensed SUV Driver Kills Brooklyn Elder, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-23

Apr 17 - Six dead in a Jersey City helicopter crash. The noise never stops. Assembly Member Carroll’s bill, A2583, would tax non-essential flights. The aim: cut flights, cut noise, cut harm. Governor Hochul stays silent. The city waits. The damage mounts.

Assembly Bill A2583, sponsored by Brooklyn Assembly Member Robert Carroll, seeks to impose hefty fees on non-essential helicopter flights over New York City. The bill remains pending, with no endorsement yet from Governor Hochul. The Streetsblog article, 'Helicopter Deaths, Fast and Slow,' highlights the recent fatal crash near Jersey City that killed six and draws a stark comparison to the ongoing economic and human toll of helicopter noise. Carroll’s bill is described as the 'gold-standard' for taxing helicopter noise, with estimates that it could reduce flights by 30 to 50 percent. Carroll urges action, calling on the public to pressure Hochul to support the measure. The article underscores that the distress over crash deaths should extend to the daily suffering caused by helicopter noise, which inflicts millions in damages and degrades quality of life for city residents.

• Helicopter Deaths, Fast and Slow, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-17

Apr 16 - A sedan hit a woman crossing with the signal on Flatbush Ave. She suffered a head injury. The driver failed to yield and followed too closely. The street stayed loud. The danger stayed real.

A woman, age 40, was struck by a sedan while crossing Flatbush Ave at 6th Ave in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal and suffered a head contusion. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield right-of-way and followed too closely. The driver was making a right turn when the crash happened. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors. The driver was not injured. The pedestrian was left injured at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4806748 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 16 - New research from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets announced a report detailing NYC's top 10 super speeders.

• Road report: Here’s where lead-foot drivers repeatedly get speed-camera tickets in NYC, The Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 15 - A Siena poll shows most New Yorkers fear for their lives on city streets. Women, seniors, Bronx residents feel it most. Candidates split: some push for safer street design, others target e-bikes. Cars and trucks remain the deadliest threat. Voters want action.

On April 15, 2025, a Siena College poll revealed that 77% of New York City voters rank pedestrian safety as a top concern. The poll, highlighted in Streetsblog NYC, found deep worry among women, seniors, and Bronx residents. The matter summary reads: '77% of NYC voters consider pedestrian safety a serious issue.' Mayoral candidates responded. Ben Furnas (Transportation Alternatives) called for universal daylighting and laws against super speeders, urging street redesign and enforcement. Zellnor Myrie backed robust street designs to separate bikers, pedestrians, and drivers. Jessica Ramos supported protected bike lanes for both analog and e-bikes, calling e-bikes 'a vital tool for reducing car dependency.' Whitney Tilson demanded speed caps and insurance for e-bike riders. Despite some focus on e-bikes, advocates and data point to car and truck drivers as the main source of injury and death. The poll signals a mandate: fix the streets, protect the vulnerable.

• Voters to Pols: Don’t Forget Street Safety (Um, But How Do You Define It?), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-15

Apr 10 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled but police caught him. The street stayed stained. The system failed to protect.

According to amNY (April 10, 2025), Tyree Epps faces charges after a deadly crash at Van Sinderen and Blake avenues. Epps, unlicensed, "blew a stop sign" and struck a school bus, killing his passenger, Imani Vance, and injuring the bus driver. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "The tragic loss of Imani Vance was allegedly caused by the defendant's reckless decision to ignore a stop sign and drive at excessive speeds." Epps left the scene, tried to escape in an Uber, and was arrested after fleeing on foot. The crash was one of three fatal Brooklyn incidents that weekend. City data cited in the article shows ongoing danger: at least 15 killed in Kings County so far this year, with thousands injured, often due to driver inattention and failure to yield. The charges and details highlight persistent risks and enforcement gaps on city streets.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, amny, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 9 - A driver ran a stop sign in East New York. He slammed into a school bus. His passenger died. The bus driver was hurt. The driver fled in an Uber. Police caught him soon after. Streets remain unforgiving.

Gothamist (April 9, 2025) reports that Tyree Epps, 32, was indicted after allegedly running a stop sign and crashing into a school bus in East New York, Brooklyn. The February collision killed his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, and injured the bus driver. According to the Brooklyn DA, Epps "ignored a stop sign and drove at excessive speeds," then left the scene by calling an Uber, abandoning his injured passenger. The impact pushed the bus into a third, empty vehicle. No children on the bus were harmed. Epps was apprehended after fleeing on foot. The case highlights persistent dangers at intersections and the lethal consequences of ignoring traffic controls.

• Brooklyn Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-09

Apr 2 - A car plowed through families on Ocean Parkway. Three killed. Survivors hurt, shaken, haunted. The driver had a suspended license, dozens of violations, unpaid fines. The city’s streets failed to protect the most vulnerable. Pain lingers. Justice waits.

ABC7 reported on April 2, 2025, that a crash in Brooklyn killed a mother and her two daughters, leaving another family injured and traumatized. The article states, “Shakhzod described ongoing back pain and fears of another accident.” The driver, Miriam Yarimi, had 93 violations, $10,000 in unpaid fines, and a suspended license. She struck an Uber, then hit families crossing Ocean Parkway, flipping her vehicle. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The crash exposes systemic failure: a driver with a long record remained on the road. Survivors suffer lasting physical and emotional wounds. The city’s enforcement and oversight remain under scrutiny.

• Brooklyn Crash Leaves Family Scarred, Three Dead, ABC7, Published 2025-04-02

Apr 1 - After a crash killed a mother and two daughters in Gravesend, advocates and Council Member Shahana Hanif rallied for the Stop Super Speeders bill. The law would force repeat reckless drivers to use speed-limiting tech. Survivors demand action. Lawmakers promise change.

On April 1, 2025, Council Member Shahana Hanif joined a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall demanding passage of the Stop Super Speeders bill. The bill, sponsored in Albany by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, would require drivers with repeated violations to install intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices. These devices cap speed at 5 mph over the limit for those with 11 or more license points in 24 months or six camera tickets in a year. The rally followed a fatal Gravesend crash that killed a mother and her two daughters. Hanif and other lawmakers called current enforcement—ticketing, suspensions, fines, jail—ineffective. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon said, 'The speed limiter technology is available to us. Let’s use it. It will save lives.' The bill is modeled on EU and Virginia laws. Some opposition remains, but supporters say the measure is urgent and practical.

• ‘Enough is enough’: Street safety advocates demand passage of ‘Stop Super Speeders’ bill after tragic Gravesend crash, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-04-01

Apr 1 - A red-light runner tore through Ocean Parkway. The Audi slammed an Uber, then plowed into a family in the crosswalk. A mother and her two daughters died. Survivors watched, hurt and helpless, as medics tried to save the fallen.

According to the NY Daily News (April 1, 2025), a crash on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn left a mother and her two daughters dead after a speeding Audi, driven by Miriam Yarimi, struck an Uber and then pedestrians in a crosswalk. Police said Yarimi was driving about 50 mph in a 25 mph zone and ran a red light with a suspended license. She was charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault, reckless driving, and other offenses. The article quotes survivor Shakhzod Ahmedova: "After the car crash, we just saw the car flipped over and two kids on the ground. We were scared." The incident highlights the lethal consequences of unlicensed, reckless driving and raises questions about enforcement and street design on major corridors like Ocean Parkway.

• Speeding Audi Kills Mother, Two Children, NY Daily News, Published 2025-04-01

Mar 31 - A speeding Audi struck a mother and her daughters in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The crash killed three. The youngest son was left fighting for life. The driver, with a long record of violations, now faces manslaughter charges.

According to the New York Post (March 31, 2025), Miriam Yarimi drove her Audi through a Brooklyn crosswalk, killing Natasha Saada and her daughters, Diana and Debra. Saada’s 4-year-old son was critically injured. Police said the victims were 'legally crossing the street in a crosswalk when the driver's speeding Audi struck them.' Yarimi’s car had over 93 traffic violations. She told first responders she was 'possessed' and is undergoing psychiatric evaluation. The article notes Yarimi’s history of paranoid social media posts and erratic behavior. She has been charged with manslaughter. The crash highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians and raises questions about enforcement against repeat traffic offenders.

• Brooklyn Driver Kills Mother, Two Daughters, New York Post, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 30 - A driver sped down Ocean Parkway, slammed into a Camry, then struck a mother and her three children in the crosswalk. Three died. The youngest clings to life. The Audi’s driver had a suspended license. The street ran red with grief.

ABC7 reported on March 30, 2025, that a multi-vehicle crash on Ocean Parkway in Midwood killed Natasha Saada and her daughters, ages 5 and 8, and critically injured her 4-year-old son. The article states, "A driver has been charged after a multi-vehicle crash in Brooklyn killed a mother and her two young daughters and critically injured her son." Police say Miriam Yarimi, driving an Audi with a suspended license, rear-ended a Toyota Camry and then struck the family in the crosswalk. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter, reckless driving, and failing to yield. The Camry was an Uber with children inside, who were also hurt. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it "a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road." The crash highlights the lethal risk posed by unlicensed, reckless drivers and the vulnerability of families crossing city streets.

• Mother And Daughters Killed On Ocean Parkway, ABC7, Published 2025-03-30