Jul 24 - 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

Jul 23 - 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

Jul 22 - A southbound SUV rear-ended a stopped SUV on 4th Avenue at Bay Ridge Parkway. A 40-year-old woman driver suffered a head injury and complained of whiplash. Police recorded following too closely.

A southbound SUV struck another SUV stopped in traffic on 4 Avenue at Bay Ridge Parkway, injuring the 40-year-old female driver. According to the police report, "one female driver suffered a head injury and complained of whiplash." Police list 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. The stopped vehicle was hit in the center back end; the striking vehicle sustained center front end damage. The struck SUV carried three occupants; the striking SUV carried one. No other driver errors or external factors are recorded in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829845 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jul 21 - The driver of an SUV turned left and hit a northbound motorcyclist on Ovington Avenue. The 23-year-old rider was ejected and suffered a fractured shoulder. Police recorded failure to yield and traffic control disregarded.

An SUV driver made a left turn on Ovington Avenue and collided with a northbound motorcyclist. The 23-year-old rider was ejected and suffered a fractured shoulder; he remained conscious. The motorcycle was demolished and the SUV’s left front bumper was damaged. According to the police report, "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and "Traffic Control Disregarded" were listed as contributing factors. Police recorded the motorcyclist’s ejection and upper-arm/shoulder fracture. The rider wore a helmet, as noted in the report. No other serious injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829396 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jul 20 - A 17-year-old moped driver crashed on Fort Hamilton Parkway. He was ejected and hurt his chest. Unsafe speed led to the crash. The street bore the mark of impact.

A 17-year-old male driving a moped on Fort Hamilton Parkway at 82nd Street in Brooklyn was ejected and injured after a crash. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Unsafe Speed.' The driver suffered a chest injury and abrasion. The moped's left front bumper took the impact. No safety equipment was used. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the main contributing factor. No other vehicles or people were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830373 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jul 18 - Council Member Justin Brannan moves to stop delivery apps from axing workers at will. The bill targets silent firings. No more robot bosses. Human over algorithm. Status: introduced.

"A big consequence that we saw is that delivery workers are often deactivated from the platforms without any notice or any explanation." -- Justin L. Brannan

On July 18, 2025, Council Member Justin Brannan introduced Intro 1332 to the New York City Council. The bill, now pending committee assignment, would require delivery app companies to give a reason before deactivating workers. Brannan says, 'A big consequence that we saw is that delivery workers are often deactivated from the platforms without any notice or any explanation.' The measure aims to end algorithmic firings and protect gig workers from sudden job loss. However, the event text is too vague to determine a direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists, as it does not specify any concrete policy or regulatory change affecting vulnerable road users.

• New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-18

Jul 18 - 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

Jul 17 - Council raised pay for grocery deliveristas. EMTs now earn less. Delivery workers face city streets daily. Council chose their risk. First responders left behind.

On July 17, 2025, the NYC Council passed a bill raising minimum pay for app-based grocery delivery workers to $21.44 per hour. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, matches earlier raises for restaurant deliveristas. The matter summary: 'the NYC Council approved on Monday a pay increase for app-based grocery-delivery workers.' Speaker Adrienne Adams and Justin Brannan backed higher EMT pay, but the bill leaves FDNY EMTs earning less than delivery workers. Safety analysts found no direct impact on pedestrians or cyclists: 'The pay increase for app-based delivery workers does not directly affect the safety of pedestrians or cyclists, nor does it impact street design, mode shift, or driver accountability.'

• FDNY EMT outrage: First responders now earn less than grocery delivery workers after NYC Council vote, AMNY, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 17 - Two men died crossing Third Avenue. A driver sped through a red. The city knew the danger. The mayor stalled safety plans. The street stays deadly. The toll mounts. The fix waits.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-17) reports Mayor Adams delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue, long known as hazardous. Last week, a speeding driver ran a red light, killing two pedestrians. The article quotes Adams, who once called Third Avenue 'extremely intimidating' and said it 'must be at the top of our list.' Despite this, his administration 'put the brakes on a potentially life-saving road redesign,' favoring business interests. Attorney Peter Beadle notes, 'they had a plan ready to go and then it was pulled back.' The city could face legal action for failing to act despite knowing the risks, echoing a 2017 state court ruling on municipal liability.

• Mayor Delays Third Avenue Safety Redesign, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 16 - 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

Jul 15 - A car spun out in a Brooklyn lot. The driver lost control. Madisyn Ruiz, 21, died. Two boys hurt. Tire marks linger. The driver faces charges. The family mourns. The system failed to protect.

According to NY Daily News (2025-07-15), Madisyn Ruiz, 21, was killed when her boyfriend, Zachary Cando, lost control of a 2023 Genesis G80 while 'doing donuts' in the Gateway Center parking lot. Ruiz was sitting by the curb when struck. Two nephews, ages 12 and 17, were also injured. Cando told police he 'lost control' during the stunt. He was arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. The article notes, 'Days later, circular tire tracks were still visible in the parking lot.' This crash highlights the dangers of reckless driving in public spaces and raises questions about parking lot safety and enforcement.

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

Jul 13 - Two drivers hurt as SUV and sedan collide at speed on Belt Parkway. Aggressive driving and unsafe speed listed. Passengers shaken. Metal and glass, lives jarred.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, crashed on Belt Parkway. According to the police report, both cars were traveling west when they collided. Two drivers, both men, suffered injuries—one reported whiplash, the other was in shock. Passengers in both vehicles were also involved, but their injuries were unspecified. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. No mention of helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left metal twisted and people hurt, another toll from speed and aggression on city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828623 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jul 12 - A BMW sped through a Brooklyn red light at dawn. Two men crossing 3rd Avenue fell. Both died on the street. The driver fled. Police caught him. Charges followed. The toll of cars grows.

Gothamist (2025-07-12) reports a Staten Island man "blew through a red light and killed two pedestrians" at 3rd Avenue and 52nd Street, Brooklyn. Police say the driver, 23, struck Kex Un Chen, 80, and Faqiu Lin, 59, then fled. Both victims died at the scene. The suspect faces manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. NYPD data shows 98 citywide traffic deaths this year, nearly half pedestrians. The crash highlights the lethal risk at intersections and the deadly impact of ignoring signals.

• Red Light Run Kills Two Pedestrians, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-12

Jul 10 - City rips out Bedford Avenue bike lane. Cyclists lose safe passage. Judge sides with mayor. Injuries had dropped. Advocates warn: danger returns. Streets grow harsher for those outside cars.

Streetsblog NYC (2025-07-10) reports that Mayor Adams will remove a protected bike lane on Bedford Avenue after a judge upheld the city’s decision. Advocates say this 'all but guarantees that there will be blood on Eric Adams's hands.' NYPD data showed injuries dropped after the lane’s installation. The city acted after complaints from local leaders. The lane sits on a 'Vision Zero Priority Corridor,' one of Brooklyn’s most dangerous streets. Cyclists and residents called the move political and warned it strips away proven safety. No driver errors cited, but the policy shift exposes vulnerable road users to renewed risk.

• Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal Sparks Outrage, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 8 - 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 is a great example of working with the MTA on bringing accessibility to the far reaches of the outer boroughs and reminding folks that the ADA is not just a suggestion, it's actually the law." -- Justin L. Brannan

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

Jul 8 - 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

Jul 6 - Two cars slammed together on 65th Street. Three men suffered neck injuries. Metal twisted. Pain followed. The cause: other vehicular factors, police say.

Two vehicles, a sedan and an SUV, collided on 65th Street at 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, three men were injured, all suffering neck pain or whiplash. The crash involved both drivers and a front-seat passenger. Police list 'Other Vehicular' as the contributing factor for both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No helmet or signal use was cited as a factor. The report does not specify further details about the cause beyond 'Other Vehicular.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825342 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jul 4 - SUV veered on Belt Parkway. Driver lost consciousness. One man injured, semiconscious. Police cite lost consciousness as cause. Streets remain unforgiving.

A Ford SUV traveling west on Belt Parkway crashed when the driver lost consciousness. According to the police report, the driver was injured and found semiconscious. The report lists 'Lost Consciousness' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the left front quarter panel damaged. No other vehicles or road users were reported hurt. The data does not mention helmet or signal use. The incident highlights the risk when drivers lose control behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825332 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

Jul 3 - Truck and SUV collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. One man suffered neck injury. Police cite driver inattention. Metal, glass, shock. System failed to protect.

A tractor truck and an SUV collided on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. One man, age 30, suffered a neck injury and shock. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was the contributing factor. Both vehicles were traveling east. The truck was changing lanes when it struck the SUV's right front bumper. Other occupants, including a child, were involved but not seriously hurt. The report lists no other contributing factors. The crash highlights the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825015 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-09

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