Dragged to Death: City Lets Kids Bleed for Parking Spots

A new state bill would let New York City street sweepers use cameras to catch cars blocking cleaning routes. Repeat offenders rack up most tickets. Lawmakers say dirty streets and blocked drains endanger everyone. The law would sunset in 2029.

Assembly Bill (unnumbered) was introduced by Brooklyn Assembly Member Brian Cunningham on April 25, 2024. The bill is pending in the state legislature. It would allow New York City to mount enforcement cameras on street sweepers to ticket cars parked illegally during street cleaning hours. The bill summary states it 'fulfills the Sanitation Department's longstanding ask for help getting vehicles out of the way of road-cleaning operations.' Cunningham, who sponsors the bill, said, 'Dirty streets are totally unacceptable.' Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch supports the change, noting that state law must allow automated ticketing. Uptown Manhattan State Senator Robert Jackson introduced a similar Senate bill. The law would phase in after a year and expire by mid-2029, giving officials time to assess its impact. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• Street Sweepers Could Nab Illegal Parking Under State Bill, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-25

SUV plowed into a parked sedan. Driver and teen passenger hurt. Whiplash and arm injuries. Police cite driver inattention. Streets remain unforgiving.

According to the police report, an SUV traveling north on Saint Johns Place struck a parked sedan at 8:40. The SUV’s driver, a 39-year-old man, and his 17-year-old front passenger were both injured, suffering whiplash and arm injuries. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor. The parked sedan was hit at its right rear bumper, while the SUV took damage to its right rear quarter panel. A fire truck was present but sustained no damage. The report highlights driver error, not victim fault, as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...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, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

Two sedans crashed on Park Place. Both drivers and a passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash. One driver was unlicensed. Bumpers smashed. Shock followed. Systemic danger clear. Brooklyn streets bear the cost.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at midnight on Park Place in Brooklyn. Both vehicles traveled east. One sedan, driven by a licensed man, went straight. The other, driven by an unlicensed man, was stopped in traffic. The crash struck the right front bumper of the moving sedan and the left rear bumper of the stopped car. Both drivers and a front passenger suffered neck injuries and whiplash, and all were in shock. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified. The presence of an unlicensed driver marks a critical systemic danger. Both vehicles sustained significant bumper damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715001 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

A sedan traveling southeast struck a moped going east on Park Place in Brooklyn. The moped driver, a 48-year-old man, was ejected and suffered chest injuries. The sedan's right front bumper was damaged in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:18 on Park Place near Troy Avenue in Brooklyn. A 2013 sedan traveling southeast struck a 2006 moped traveling east. The sedan impacted the moped with its right front bumper, causing damage to that area. The moped driver, a 48-year-old male occupant, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained chest injuries classified as injury severity 3. The driver was conscious and suffered internal complaints. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the moped driver but does not specify driver errors or violations for the sedan operator. No helmet use or pedestrian crossing factors were noted as contributing. The sedan driver was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead prior to the crash. The collision highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable road users when struck by larger vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712939 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A female SUV driver suffered shoulder and arm injuries after colliding with a parked sedan on Dean Street. The crash involved two SUVs and was linked to malfunctioning traffic control devices, according to the police report.

At 15:12 on Dean Street, a collision occurred involving two SUVs and a parked sedan. According to the police report, the female driver of a 2024 Chevrolet SUV traveling north struck the left rear bumper of a parked 2022 Hyundai sedan. The driver sustained upper arm and shoulder contusions and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Traffic Control Device Improper/Non-Working' as a contributing factor to the crash. The injured occupant was not ejected and was the sole occupant of her vehicle. The report does not list any victim errors or behaviors contributing to the crash, focusing instead on the failure of traffic control devices and the resulting impact. Vehicle damage was concentrated on the left front bumper of the moving SUV and the left rear bumper of the parked sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4711657 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

A 15-year-old boy suffered severe leg injuries after an SUV hit him on Park Place. The impact fractured and distorted his knee and lower leg. The pedestrian was conscious but seriously hurt, struck outside an intersection in the roadway.

According to the police report, a 15-year-old male pedestrian was injured at 18:25 on Park Place when a 2024 SUV traveling east struck him on the left side doors. The pedestrian was located in the roadway, not at an intersection, performing unspecified actions. The victim sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in serious injury. The driver, a licensed female motorist, was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the driver or pedestrian, but the collision and injury severity highlight the danger posed by vehicle movements through pedestrian spaces. The vehicle damage was limited to the left side doors, consistent with the point of impact on the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710251 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 46-year-old man riding east on Atlantic Avenue struck an object head-on. His skull bore the force. He died at the scene. Police cite driver inattention. The night swallowed another life on Brooklyn’s streets.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old man was operating a Fly Wing moped eastbound on Atlantic Avenue at Kingston Avenue in Brooklyn when he collided head-on with an object. The report states the impact was to the center front end of the moped, causing fatal head injuries to the driver, who died at the scene. The police explicitly list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The narrative underscores that the victim’s skull took the brunt of the blow. No other vehicles or persons are reported involved. The report does not specify the use of any safety equipment by the victim, nor does it list any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the systemic danger posed by driver distraction, as detailed in the official police account.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710249 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A pickup driver, distracted and tailgating, crashed into a sedan on Atlantic Avenue. The sedan driver suffered head injuries and whiplash. The crash left metal twisted and a driver in shock.

According to the police report, a pickup truck rear-ended a sedan on Atlantic Avenue near Albany Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:30 AM. The pickup driver was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely.' The sedan's driver, a 50-year-old man, suffered head injuries and whiplash and was left in shock. The impact damaged the front of the pickup and the rear of the sedan, showing a clear rear-end collision. The report lists distraction and tailgating as the sole contributing factors, with no fault assigned to the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710109 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A Brooklyn subway shooting jolted lawmakers. Jo Anne Simon called the National Guard’s presence unwarranted, stoking fear instead of safety. Calls for more policing, mental health funding, and gun control echoed. Riders remain wary. No clear path to safer commutes.

On March 15, 2024, following a deadly subway shooting, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (District 52) and other lawmakers responded with urgency. The incident came days after Governor Hochul’s National Guard deployment in the transit system. Simon stated, 'The Governor's recent deployment of the National Guard was unwarranted and caused fear rather than a sense of safety.' Other officials, including Brian Cunningham and Lester Chang, debated the effectiveness of increased policing and called for more investment in mental health and gun safety. The matter, titled 'NYC subway shooting a ‘wake up call’,' underscores deep divides on how to protect riders. Simon’s stance highlights the risk of heavy-handed security measures fueling anxiety, not safety, for vulnerable New Yorkers.

• NYC subway shooting a ‘wake up call’ — coming on heels of NY Gov. Kathy Hochul’s National Guard safety plan: lawmakers, nypost.com, Published 2024-03-15

SUV turned left on Saint Johns Place. Driver distracted. Slammed into sedan. Sixty-eight-year-old man in rear seat hurt. Back injury. Whiplash. He stayed conscious. Streets unforgiving.

According to the police report, a 2016 Dodge SUV made a left turn westbound on Saint Johns Place and collided with a 2017 Toyota sedan traveling eastbound. The SUV struck the sedan at the right front quarter panel and bumper. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause. A 68-year-old male passenger in the SUV's right rear seat suffered back injuries and whiplash. He was not ejected and remained conscious. No other contributing factors or victim actions were listed. The crash shows the danger when drivers lose focus behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A sedan driver, distracted and following too close, hit a 27-year-old cyclist on Nostrand Avenue. The rider suffered leg injuries and shock. Streets remain perilous when drivers lose focus.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 27-year-old male bicyclist who was also heading south. The cyclist suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and was in shock, reporting pain and nausea. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Following Too Closely' as contributing factors by the sedan driver. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead at the time of the crash. The cyclist wore a helmet, but this was not a contributing factor. No vehicle damage was reported. The crash underscores the danger of distracted driving and tailgating on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709558 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A Ram truck plowed into a man crossing Atlantic Avenue. The front end smashed his face. Blood pooled on the asphalt. He stayed conscious, pain sharp in the night. Driver distraction left flesh torn and the street marked.

A 38-year-old man was struck by a Ram truck while crossing Atlantic Avenue, according to the police report. The crash occurred at 23:32 near Council District 35. The report states the truck’s front end crushed the pedestrian’s face, leaving him with severe lacerations, though he remained conscious. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the sole contributing factor. The vehicle, registered in North Carolina, was traveling east and struck the pedestrian outside a crosswalk. The police report makes no mention of pedestrian error as a contributing factor, focusing entirely on the driver’s distraction. The incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by inattentive drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709459 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Council moves to force DOT to post clear bus lane signs on every block. Riders and walkers need to know when cars must stay out. The bill demands public, block-by-block rules. No more guessing. Streets reveal their rules.

Int 0647-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on March 7, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to bus lane restrictions," orders DOT to post signs on each block with bus lane rules and to publish hours online. Sponsors include Althea V. Stevens (primary), Chris Banks, Chi A. Ossé, Nantasha M. Williams, Carmen N. De La Rosa, Amanda Farías, Yusef Salaam, and Kevin C. Riley. The measure aims to end confusion and make bus lane rules plain for all. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0647-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

A sedan turning left hit a 56-year-old woman crossing Saint Marks Avenue with the signal. She suffered bruises to her knee, leg, and foot. Police cite driver’s failure to yield as the cause.

A sedan traveling east on Saint Marks Avenue made a left turn and struck a 56-year-old woman who was crossing the intersection with the signal. According to the police report, the driver failed to yield right-of-way, leading to the crash. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious after the impact. The point of impact was the sedan’s center front end. No other contributing factors were listed. The report highlights the danger when drivers do not yield to people crossing legally.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706661 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Council backs scramble crosswalks at schools. Cars stop. Kids cross in all directions. Fewer deadly conflicts. Bill aims to shield students at arrival and dismissal. Action now sits in committee.

Resolution 0060-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, urges Albany to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B. The measure, introduced February 28, 2024, calls for scramble crosswalks at school entrances during arrival and dismissal. The resolution states: 'establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor) and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (co-sponsor) lead the push. Scramble crosswalks halt all vehicles, letting pedestrians cross in every direction. This design cuts car-pedestrian conflicts, especially for children. The council's action follows years of crashes near schools and a drop in crossing guards. The bill aims to protect the city's most vulnerable road users—its students.

• File Res 0060-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council backs scramble crosswalks at schools. All cars stop. Kids cross in every direction. Fewer deadly turns. Streets safer at bell time. No more waiting for tragedy.

Resolution Res 0060-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it urges Albany to pass A.5001-A/S.2515-B. The bill calls for scramble crosswalks at school entrances during arrival and dismissal. The matter title reads: 'establishing scramble crosswalks leading to and from school buildings.' Council Members Shahana K. Hanif (primary sponsor) and Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (co-sponsor) lead the push. Scramble crosswalks stop all traffic, letting students cross in any direction. The Council notes: 'Such legislation could increase the safety of New York City students traveling to and from school.'

• File Res 0060-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28