No More Casualties: Dyker Beach Bleeds While Politicians Stall

Feb 26 - Four people hurt in a chain-reaction crash on the Belt Parkway Ramp. SUVs slammed together. Whiplash and back injuries. Police blame following too closely. Metal crumpled. Pain followed.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle crash unfolded on the Belt Parkway Ramp in Brooklyn. Four occupants—three men driving and one woman riding up front—suffered whiplash, back, and chest injuries. All remained conscious and wore lap belts. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the cause. SUVs and a sedan struck each other, crushing center front and back ends. No one was ejected. The crash shows the danger when drivers tailgate on ramps. Driver error, specifically following too closely, led to the collision and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4608801 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 21 - A father killed. Seven hurt. A U-Haul rampage tore through Bay Ridge. Neighbors gathered by candlelight. Officials called for safer streets and mental health care. The city mourned. The danger remains. Vision Zero is still just a promise.

On February 21, 2023, Bay Ridge held a vigil after a deadly U-Haul attack killed YiJie Ye, a delivery driver and father, and injured seven others. The event was not a council bill but a public response to traffic violence. State Senator Andrew Gounardes, mentioned in the event, spoke of the need for government action to make streets safer, saying, 'There’s work to do on every level of government to make the streets safer.' Mayor Eric Adams emphasized Vision Zero and the need for mental health resources, stating, 'Vision Zero [should be] an actualization as we make our streets safe.' Steve Mei, of the Chinese-American Planning Council, called for more city-funded mental health services, especially for seniors. The vigil underscored the community’s grief and the urgent need for systemic change to protect vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided.

• ‘He came here because of his three children’: Bay Ridge community honors victim of U-Haul attack at candlelit vigil, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-02-21

Feb 13 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-02-13

Feb 10 - Eighteen Brooklyn officials demand state DOT address BQE’s full deadly stretch. They reject piecemeal fixes. They call out decades of harm. The state’s refusal leaves neighborhoods exposed. The city’s hands are tied. The highway’s danger remains. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 10, 2023, eighteen Brooklyn lawmakers issued a joint letter demanding New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) participate in comprehensive planning for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The statement, prompted by a Streetsblog report, reads: "We ask that the NYS DOT remember the daily harms caused by the BQE in its current state—not just the crumbling cantilever section—and join us at the table in search of a solution." The group includes Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Dan Goldman, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, state Sens. Jabari Brisport, Julia Salazar, Kristen Gonzalez, Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Members Bobby Carroll, Maritza Davila, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Emily Gallagher, Jo Anne Simon, Marcela Mitaynes, and Council Members Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Lincoln Restler. Senator Gounardes called the state’s refusal to join the city’s visioning process “unacceptable and irresponsible.” The lawmakers stress that the BQE’s harms—crashes, pollution, division—stretch from Bay Ridge to Greenpoint. Without state action, only city-owned segments see attention. The city’s efforts are limited. The state’s inaction leaves systemic danger unaddressed.

• Brooklyn Pols Demand the State ‘Come to the Table’ on the BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-10

Feb 6 - Lawmakers raced up Smith-9th Streets station. They showed how slow, underfunded trains force riders to run or wait in the cold. They called for more state money, not fare hikes. They want frequent, reliable service to pull people from cars and save lives.

On February 6, 2023, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (District 52) joined a public event spotlighting the impact of MTA underfunding and slow subway service. The event, covered by brooklynpaper.com, saw Simon and other officials racing at Smith-9th Streets station to dramatize the daily struggle of straphangers. The matter focused on 'the impact of low MTA funding and long wait times.' Simon said, 'It is really critically important...for people to be able to take reliable, safe, regular, speedy-enough transit service. That’s what’s going to get people out of their cars.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymembers Robert Carroll and Zohran Mamdani also participated, urging Albany to boost state funding and implement congestion pricing. The lawmakers oppose fare hikes and the rider-funded model, calling for public dollars to improve frequency and reliability. No formal bill was cited, but the advocacy targets the state budget and MTA funding structure.

• Straphanger sprint: Pols race to subway platform to highlight slow service, MTA underfunding, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-02-06

Feb 5 - Lawmakers and advocates climbed the city’s highest subway station. They demanded more from Governor Hochul’s MTA budget. They want six-minute off-peak trains. They reject fare hikes. They call for taxing the wealthy to fund better, faster service. Riders wait. Danger lingers.

On February 5, 2023, legislators and advocates rallied for increased MTA funding and more frequent subway service. The event, led by Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani and Robert Carroll, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Riders Alliance’s Betsy Plum, responded to Governor Hochul’s budget proposal. The matter: 'Advocates and legislators raced up the stairs...to press their case for Gov. Hochul to do more to fill the MTA's fiscal gap.' Hochul’s plan stabilizes finances but does not boost service or halt fare hikes. Mamdani and Gounardes called for six-minute off-peak trains and new taxes on the wealthy. Gounardes said, 'We all know that we need better service and we need more service.' The proposal remains under negotiation. No safety analyst has assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but frequent, reliable transit is vital for their safety.

• ON THEIR MARKS: Legislators Demand More from Hochul’s MTA Budget Proposal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-05

Jan 26 - Mayor Adams pledged $375 million for public spaces and open streets. He promised to crack down on reckless drivers and electrify for-hire vehicles by 2030. But he skipped transit upgrades, parking reform, and deeper equity. Critics called the vision incomplete.

""The ROADS Act, as mentioned by Mayor Adams today, could save hundreds of lives each year, and would be crucial in achieving Vision Zero, once and for all. I strongly support any and all efforts to crack down on reckless drivers and to keep our streets safe for all. I look forward to partnering with Mayor Adams to achieve that goal," he said." -- Andrew Gounardes

On January 26, 2023, Mayor Adams delivered his State of the City address, outlining new transportation and public space plans. The speech promised a $375-million investment in public spaces, permanent open streets, and a push for zero-emission for-hire vehicles by 2030. Adams also highlighted bills targeting reckless drivers and announced a new Director of the Public Realm. The mayor said, 'We will require the 100,000-plus high-volume for-hire vehicles to be zero-emissions by 2030.' Council Member Andrew Gounardes praised the ROADS Act, saying it 'could save hundreds of lives each year.' But advocates like Open Plans and Betsy Plum criticized the lack of action on transit equity, parking reform, and access for low-income New Yorkers. The address left out bus lane expansion, Fair Fares growth, and city fleet reduction, drawing fire for missing bold, systemic change.

• ANALYSIS: The Mayor’s State of the City: Something For Everyone (But Not Enough), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-26

Jan 24 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Jan 20 - Norman Fruchter, education reformer, died after a driver reversed into him at a crosswalk-less Bay Ridge intersection. The driver stayed. No charges. A vigil drew family, officials, and anger. Fruchter’s wife was killed by a reckless driver in 1997. Grief, outrage, no justice.

On January 4, 2023, Norman Fruchter was struck and killed by a reversing driver at 68th Street and Bliss Terrace in Council District 47. The intersection lacked a pedestrian crosswalk. Council Member Justin Brannan attended the vigil and tweeted, 'Confronting traffic violence also means taking personal responsibility [and] safe driving habits. It will take all of us.' The driver remained at the scene but faced no charges. Fruchter’s son Lev condemned the New York Automobile Insurance Plan for letting dangerous drivers stay insured. Community leaders, including NYC Comptroller Brad Lander and State Senator Andrew Gounardes, joined in mourning and frustration. Fruchter’s wife Rachel was also killed by a reckless driver in 1997, a tragedy that helped spark Vision Zero. Nearly three decades later, traffic laws remain weak. No systemic change. Vulnerable road users still pay the price.

• Education reform leader remembered after being killed by traffic violence, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-01-20

Jan 4 - Senate bill S 153 cracks down on bus lane violators. Owners face liability. Cameras catch drivers blocking buses. Sponsors push for stronger enforcement. Streets clear for buses, danger cut for those on foot.

Senate bill S 153, sponsored by Liz Krueger (District 28) with Andrew Gounardes (26) and Brad Hoylman-Sigal (47) as co-sponsors, is at the sponsorship stage. Introduced January 4, 2023, it 'relates to owner liability for failure of operator to comply with bus operation-related local law or regulation traffic restrictions and to the adjudication of certain parking infractions.' The bill extends a bus rapid transit demonstration program, using cameras to enforce bus lane rules. No safety analyst note was provided. The sponsors aim to hold vehicle owners accountable and keep bus lanes clear, a move that can reduce risk for pedestrians and bus riders.

• File S 153, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

Jan 4 - Senate bill S 343 seeks a clear, public safety score for cars. The DMV would post these ratings. Lawmakers push for sunlight on danger. Pedestrians face risk. The system aims to expose it.

Senate bill S 343 was proposed on January 4, 2023. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Creates a pedestrian safety rating system for motor vehicles,' would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to post these ratings online. Primary sponsor Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Leroy Comrie, Michael Gianaris, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, Zellnor Myrie, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, Luis R. Sepúlveda, and Toby Ann Stavisky. The measure targets transparency. It puts the danger of cars in plain sight. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 343, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

Dec 14 - Drivers hide plates. Cameras miss them. Streets stay dangerous. Senator Gounardes pushes a bill to pay citizens for reporting illegal plates. Police claim action, but advocates see little change. The bill sits in committee. Ghost cars keep rolling.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill in 2022 to reward citizens who report illegal license plates. The bill remains in committee. The measure would give whistleblowers 25% of the ticket, up to $75. The matter targets drivers who obscure or remove plates to dodge automated enforcement. As city and state agencies rely more on cameras to catch speeders and red-light runners, more drivers hide their plates. The Department of Transportation says cameras failed to ticket over 4% of violators last fall, up from 1% in 2019. Advocates accuse police of lax enforcement and even breaking the law themselves. Gounardes’s bill, still stalled, aims to close this loophole and put power in the hands of citizens. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while enforcement lags.

• Guerilla activists fight back against NYC drivers who hide license plates to evade tolls and tickets, gothamist.com, Published 2022-12-14

Dec 6 - An 11-year-old boy was hit by an SUV making a left turn on Bay 7 Street. The child was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. He suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver was licensed.

According to the police report, a female driver operating a 2004 SUV was making a left turn on Bay 7 Street when she struck an 11-year-old male pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The pedestrian was not ejected but suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield. The pedestrian was not wearing any safety equipment. The driver was licensed in New York and traveling north at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4588025 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 1 - Police arrested Adam White for removing plastic from a hidden plate. Charges dropped. Council Member Restler pushes Int. 501: fines for blocking lanes, rewards for civilian reporting. Politicians call for accountability. Defaced plates shield reckless drivers. Streets stay dangerous.

On December 1, 2022, Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler renewed his push for Int. 501, a bill to fine drivers $175 for blocking bike lanes, bus lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, or hydrants near schools, and to reward civilians with 25% of the fine for reporting violations. The matter arose after attorney Adam White was arrested for removing plastic from an obscured license plate; charges were later dropped by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, citing 'insufficient evidence.' The bill, discussed at a press conference, aims to crack down on license plate defacement and illegal parking, which Restler says is rampant among city workers and police. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes introduced a similar bill at the state level. Both lawmakers stress the need for public accountability and tougher enforcement to protect vulnerable road users from drivers who evade responsibility.

• Attorney Arrested for ‘Criminal Mischief’ Charge Will Sue Driver for Wrongful Arrest, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-01

Nov 18 - Two sedans crashed on Cropsey Avenue. One driver made a left turn into the path of the other going straight. Two passengers suffered bruises to face and chest. Both were conscious and restrained. Front-end damage marked the violent impact.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Cropsey Avenue when one driver was making a left turn and the other was traveling straight ahead. The impact occurred at the front ends of both vehicles. Two passengers were injured: an 18-year-old female in the left rear seat with facial contusions, and a 73-year-old female front passenger with chest contusions. Both were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses. The report lists no specific contributing factors but notes the left-turning driver’s action as a key element. No ejections occurred. The crash caused center front-end damage to one sedan and left front bumper damage to the other.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 17 - Lawmakers and advocates rallied in Manhattan. They demanded more money for the MTA. They want six-minute bus and subway service. They warned against service cuts and fare hikes. They called for gas tax revenue to fund transit. Riders need safe, frequent service.

On November 17, 2022, state legislators and transit advocates pressed for increased MTA funding and six-minute off-peak service. The push comes ahead of the next budget cycle. Assembly Members Zohran Mamdani and Amanda Septimo, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher led the call. Mamdani said, 'If we implement six-minute service, the consequences would be felt for riders across all aspects of their life.' Septimo called transit an economic and racial justice issue. Gounardes urged the governor to include MTA funding in the initial budget. Gallagher criticized the gas tax holiday, urging funds go to transit. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber warned that cuts or fare hikes would devastate working- and middle-class New Yorkers. The group demanded action to protect and improve transit for all riders.

• Legislators and Advocates Press Case For MTA Rescue And Six-Minute Service, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-17

Oct 21 - Councilmember Restler and Brooklyn leaders want DOT to flip Bond Street’s traffic northbound after Schermerhorn’s redesign. Locals face gridlock. Community Board 2 backs the move. They demand DOT protect the Bond Street bike lane with a physical barrier.

On October 21, 2022, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (District 33) and Brooklyn Community Board 2 requested the Department of Transportation (DOT) extend Bond Street’s northbound direction to Livingston Street. The request follows complaints after Schermerhorn Street’s redesign, which added a protected bike lane but made all crossings one-way southbound, causing gridlock and blocking access for services. The Community Board’s Transportation and Public Safety Committee, chaired by Sid Meyer, voted to support the change and insisted DOT maintain and protect the Bond Street bike lane with a physical barrier. Restler said, 'We believe that this proposal will improve traffic flow and enhance the public’s access to essential services, deliveries, and residences.' DOT is reviewing the proposal. The matter centers on the impact of traffic changes on residents and the need to safeguard vulnerable road users.

• Street relief: Downtown Brooklynites ask DOT to flip traffic on Bond Street after Schermerhorn redesign, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-10-21

Oct 12 - City officials cut the ribbon on a new two-way protected bike lane on Schermerhorn Street. Cyclists now ride behind parked cars, shielded from traffic. Councilmember Lincoln Restler pushed for the overhaul after years of crashes and blocked lanes. Safety comes first.

On October 12, 2022, the Department of Transportation opened a fortified, two-way protected bike lane on Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn’s District 33. The project, championed by Councilmember Lincoln Restler, followed years of complaints about blocked, unprotected lanes and frequent crashes. The matter, described as a 'complete transformation of the look and feel of the corridor,' converted Schermerhorn from a chaotic two-way street to a one-way with parking-protected bike lanes. Restler, who once failed to ride the stretch without leaving the lane due to illegal parking, called the redesign 'real safety in downtown Brooklyn.' DOT data shows 29 cyclists injured and one killed on this stretch since 2012. The overhaul separates cyclists from moving vehicles, reducing risk for Brooklyn’s most vulnerable road users.

• DOT cuts ribbon on newly fortified Schermerhorn Street bike lane, amny.com, Published 2022-10-12

Oct 12 - Officials cut the ribbon on a fortified, two-way bike lane on Schermerhorn Street. Cyclists now ride behind parked cars, shielded from traffic. The old, chaotic street saw 29 cyclist injuries and one death. Councilmember Restler pushed for this change.

On October 12, 2022, the Department of Transportation held a ribbon-cutting for the new protected bike lane on Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn's District 33. The overhaul converted the street to one-way eastbound and installed a two-way, parking-protected bike lane. The matter summary reads: 'DOT cuts ribbon on newly fortified Schermerhorn Street bike lane.' Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who championed the redesign, attended the event and called it 'a great friggin day for Brooklyn.' The old lanes were unprotected and blocked by double-parked cars, forcing cyclists into traffic. Since 2012, 29 cyclists have been injured and one killed along this stretch. The new design separates cyclists from vehicles, aiming to end the danger that plagued this busy corridor.

• DOT cuts ribbon on newly fortified Schermerhorn Street bike lane, amny.com, Published 2022-10-12

Sep 21 - Sedan slammed into another on 86 Street. Impact hit rear. Front passenger in struck car suffered neck injury and whiplash. Police cite following too closely. Both drivers licensed. No ejections. System failed to protect.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling east on 86 Street in Brooklyn collided when one struck the other from behind. The front passenger in the struck sedan, a 59-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed and driving straight. The crash damaged the front and rear bumpers. No other injuries or ejections were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4566144 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19