The Blood Doesn’t Lie: Dyker Heights Demands Safer Streets Now

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 2023-05-31

Council backs home rule for Sammy’s Law. The move lets New York City set speed limits below 25 mph. Lawmakers and advocates say lower speeds mean fewer deaths. The bill honors Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a reckless driver. The vote puts safety first.

Bill: Home rule message for Sammy’s Law. Status: Poised for passage by the City Council on May 24, 2023. Committee: State and Federal Legislation, chaired by Council Member Shaun Abreu. The measure, titled 'City Council Poised to Pass ‘Home Rule’ Message for Sammy’s Law on Thursday,' lets New York City lower speed limits below 25 mph. Council Member Jen Gutierrez announced the Council’s intent to pass it, calling it crucial for safety. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'The city's ability to control the speed limits on its streets plays a crucial role in delivering traffic safety.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Mayor Eric Adams, and State Senator Andrew Gounardes all support the move. The bill honors Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed by a reckless driver. Data cited shows lower speed limits increase pedestrian survival. Advocates stress urgency to protect New Yorkers.

• City Council Poised to Pass ‘Home Rule’ Message for Sammy’s Law on Thursday, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-24

A motorcycle struck the left front quarter panel of a pick-up truck making a left turn on 6 Avenue. The motorcyclist suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. Unsafe speed was cited as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male motorcyclist was injured when his Harley Davidson collided with a pick-up truck on 6 Avenue. The truck was making a left turn while the motorcycle was traveling straight east. The motorcyclist sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee and lower leg but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The truck driver’s action of making a left turn intersected with the motorcycle’s path, causing the impact on the truck’s left front quarter panel and the motorcycle’s right front bumper. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4634348 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Senate bill S 7099 orders complete street design in all DOT projects with state or federal funds. Streets must serve walkers, cyclists, and riders. No more car-first blueprints. Gounardes leads. Hoylman-Sigal, Krueger back him.

Senate bill S 7099, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York Senate. Filed May 18, 2023, the bill 'requires inclusion of complete street design for state and local transportation projects undertaken by DOT or which receive both federal and state funding and are subject to DOT oversight.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsors the measure. Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Liz Krueger co-sponsor. The bill demands every street project under DOT control put people first—pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. No safety analyst note is available yet. The bill aims to end car-centric planning.

• File S 7099, Open States, Published 2023-05-18

Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-05-16

Assembly bill A 6906 would scrap congestion pricing and order a forensic audit of the MTA. Streets would stay clogged. Air would stay foul. The city’s most vulnerable would keep dodging danger.

Assembly bill A 6906 was introduced on May 9, 2023, now in sponsorship stage. The bill aims to 'repeal congestion pricing (Part A); direct the metropolitan transportation authority to contract with a certified public accounting firm for an independent, comprehensive, forensic audit (Part B).' Assembly Members Jake Ryan Blumencranz (primary sponsor, District 15) and Lester Chang (co-sponsor, District 49) back the measure. The bill would halt congestion pricing, a policy designed to cut traffic and crashes. No safety analyst has weighed in, but repealing congestion pricing would leave streets more dangerous for those on foot and bike.

• File A 6906, Open States, Published 2023-05-09

A driver killed Katherine Harris on Atlantic Avenue. Politicians demand mid-block crossings, daylighted intersections, and curb extensions. They call the street a speedway. They blame city inaction. They vow to push for changes. The city promises only to study.

On May 1, 2023, after the death of Katherine Harris, Brooklyn Heights Council Member Lincoln Restler and State Senator Andrew Gounardes called for urgent safety fixes on Atlantic Avenue. At a rally, Restler said, "It is wrong how deadly this strip is." The officials demand mid-block crossings, daylighted intersections, raised crosswalks, curb extensions, and safer pedestrian space near BQE ramps. Borough President Antonio Reynoso criticized city resistance to reallocating street space, saying, "They drag their feet because they don’t want to do the inevitable." The Department of Transportation has agreed only to study new crosswalks. The bill is not yet formal legislation but marks a push for action after years of delay. No safety analyst assessment is available.

• In Wake of Death, Pols Want Mid-Block Crossings, Safer Atlantic Ave., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-01

Sammy’s Law, which lets New York City set speed limits below 25 mph, failed to make the state budget. The Council now holds the power. Lawmakers stall. Streets stay deadly. Victims’ families and advocates demand action. Lives hang in the balance.

Sammy’s Law, named for 12-year-old Sammy Cohen Eckstein, would let New York City lower speed limits below 25 mph. The bill failed to enter the 2023 state budget, shifting responsibility to the City Council. In 2021, the Council backed a home rule message 42-6, but the Assembly blocked it. Last year, the Council reversed course and failed to pass the message. This session, Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez introduced a resolution urging passage, with 10 sponsors. Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers must hold a hearing before a vote. Speaker Adrienne Adams and Brooks-Powers have not signed on, citing negotiations. The bill’s summary states: 'Life-saving legislation that would allow New York City to set speed limits below 25 miles per hour failed to make it into this year's state budget.' Data show slower speeds save lives. Advocates and victims’ families keep pushing. The Council’s inaction keeps streets dangerous.

• With ‘Sammy’s Law’ Not in the State Budget, It’s Up to the City Council to Push It, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-01

A taxi struck a sedan while making a right turn on 72 Street in Brooklyn. The taxi driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited traffic control disregard as a factor. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 72 Street in Brooklyn involving a taxi and a sedan. The taxi driver, a 50-year-old man, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt. The crash happened as the sedan was making a right turn and the taxi was traveling straight south. The point of impact was the taxi's left front quarter panel, damaging its left side doors. The police identified 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4624402 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A fire in Sunset Park forced out two families. E-bike batteries sparked it. Council Member Gutiérrez called for a city taskforce and safe charging stations. Lawmakers want stricter rules. Lithium-ion fires have killed, maimed, and displaced hundreds. The danger grows.

On April 26, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee held a hearing on lithium-ion battery regulation and e-bike safety. Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, District 34, proposed a taskforce to study citywide e-bike charging stations, saying, 'E-bikes are here to stay.' She urged the city to 'keep New Yorkers safe' with exclusive charging points for delivery riders. The matter, titled 'Fire at Sunset Park e-bike store displaces 2 families as pols fight to regulate lithium-ion batteries,' highlights a deadly pattern: over 400 fires, 300 injuries, and 12 deaths from e-bike batteries in four years. The bill has no set vote date. Federal lawmakers also introduced the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act to regulate battery safety. The push aims to curb fires, protect homes, and shield vulnerable New Yorkers from battery explosions.

• Fire at Sunset Park e-bike store displaces 2 families as pols fight to regulate lithium-ion batteries, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-04-26

An e-bike traveling south collided with a parked sedan on Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. The e-bike rider, a 40-year-old man, suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The sedan driver was uninjured. Police cited driver inattention as a factor.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling south on Fort Hamilton Parkway struck a parked 2019 Toyota sedan. The e-bike rider, a 40-year-old man, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The sedan driver was not injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The sedan was stationary at the time of impact, with damage to its left side doors. The e-bike sustained damage to its center front end. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622096 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Senator Gounardes wants steeper fines for repeat speed camera violations. The bill targets drivers who ignore warnings. It aims to hit reckless behavior in the wallet. No direct safety impact for pedestrians or cyclists yet.

Senate bill S 6425 was introduced on April 19, 2023, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, proposes 'increasing fines for subsequent speed camera violations in the city of New York.' Gounardes leads the push to penalize repeat offenders. The legislation is not yet assigned to a committee. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The bill’s intent is clear: escalate penalties for those who keep speeding, but its effect on street safety remains unmeasured.

• File S 6425, Open States, Published 2023-04-19

Senator Gounardes’s bill would end car-first reviews. It targets a 15% cut in vehicle miles by 2050. The plan favors safer streets, less pollution, and more ways to get around. Advocates say it’s overdue. The old system kept streets dangerous.

State Bill S1234, introduced by Senator Andrew Gounardes on April 12, 2023, aims to overhaul New York’s environmental review process. The bill, now before the legislature, would replace the outdated 'level of service' metric—focused on driver delay—with a mandate to reduce total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 15 percent by 2050. The bill summary states: 'By eliminating the relevance of level of service as a metric and utilizing vehicle miles traveled reduction instead, we can provide a new criteria for determining the significance of transportation impacts.' Gounardes, the bill’s sponsor, argues this shift will cut emissions and promote safer, multimodal streets. Advocates like Jon Orcutt and Sara Lind back the measure, calling it a long-overdue update that could finally let safety and climate take priority over car traffic. The bill follows California’s lead and could set a national example.

• State Bill Seeks to Alter Environmental Review So it Doesn’t Only Care About Drivers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-12

Two SUVs collided on 76 Street in Brooklyn. A 38-year-old woman driving one SUV suffered a shoulder bruise. Police cite driver inattention and traffic control disregard. Both vehicles damaged. No other injuries reported.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles crashed on 76 Street in Brooklyn. A 38-year-old female driver was injured, sustaining a shoulder and upper arm contusion. The report lists driver inattention and disregard for traffic control as contributing factors. The collision involved the left front bumper of one SUV and the left rear quarter panel of the other, damaging the center front end and left side doors. The injured driver was conscious, not ejected, and used a lap belt with airbag deployment. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

MTA’s Brooklyn bus overhaul draws fire. Riders and officials slam cuts to B48, fear lost connections. Seniors and disabled New Yorkers face longer walks. Community voices rise. The city’s promise of better service clashes with real, lived needs.

"You have so many people living here who are seniors. You have people with disabilities, you have people who just cannot tolerate the elimination of one stop." -- Alec Brook-Krasny

On April 4, 2023, Council Member Phara Souffrant Forrest and other Brooklyn officials voiced strong opposition to the MTA’s Brooklyn bus network redesign. The draft plan, released in December, proposes increased spacing between stops, route changes, and new 'Rush' service. Key changes include the elimination and rerouting of the B48, which officials say 'removes a vital connection between Western Crown Heights and Greenpoint without any adequate transit replacement.' Forrest and others argue these cuts threaten accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities. Community members warn that longer distances between stops will hit the most vulnerable hardest. The MTA claims the redesign will bring 'more reliable, frequent service with better connections,' but public feedback shows deep concern. The plan remains under review, with workshops ongoing and legal hurdles for new bus lanes due to budget and staffing woes.

• Brooklyn bus redesign proposal rankles some riders, amny.com, Published 2023-04-04

A sedan struck a parked SUV’s rear in Brooklyn. Two occupants in the sedan suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited unsafe speed and failure to yield right-of-way. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling west collided with the center back end of a parked SUV in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver and front passenger, both in their early twenties, sustained head injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses at the time of the crash. The report lists unsafe speed and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The impact damaged the sedan’s left front quarter panel and the SUV’s center back end. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash highlights driver errors that led to serious injuries for vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617872 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

A 13-year-old girl was injured crossing with the signal at a Brooklyn intersection. An SUV making a left turn struck her, impacting the center front end. Limited view contributed to the crash. She suffered abrasions to her elbow and lower arm.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at the intersection of 72 Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. The driver, a licensed female operating a 2015 Jeep SUV, was making a left turn when the vehicle's center front end struck the pedestrian. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian sustained abrasions to her elbow and lower arm but remained conscious. No other driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4618095 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-09

Senator Gounardes wants a 25-cent fee on every online package. The money would fund city infrastructure. Trucks crowd streets. Packages pile up. The bill aims to slow the flood. City Hall will review. Delivery giants face new rules. Streets stay dangerous.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill on March 23, 2023, proposing a 25-cent surcharge on every online delivery package in New York City. The bill, now under review, aims to raise $226 million yearly for city infrastructure. Gounardes said, "We're proposing an infrastructure fund to help pay for some of the capital costs to mitigate some of the consequences of last-mile trucking, and freight growth." The bill responds to a surge in daily package deliveries, now at 2.3 million, and forecasts of 200,000 trucks a day by 2045. Gounardes, the bill's sponsor, wants the city—not the MTA—to control the funds. City Hall has not taken a position but said it welcomes ideas to limit emissions and advance infrastructure. The bill joins other efforts to regulate last-mile delivery and warehouse placement. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• State Senator Seeks Online Delivery Charge to Fund City Infrastructure, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-23

Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-03-21