Kensington Bleeds: Four Dead, Hundreds Hurt, Leaders Stall

Councilmember Robert Carroll blasted the proposed congestion pricing fees for taxis and Ubers. He called the charges a joke. Experts warn the low surcharges could flood Lower Manhattan with more cars. The plan risks more danger for people on foot and bike.

On October 25, 2023, Councilmember Robert Carroll (District 44) criticized the Traffic Mobility Review Board’s congestion pricing proposal. The plan recommends a $1.50 per-ride fee for taxis and $2.75 for Uber and Lyft in Lower Manhattan. Carroll tweeted, 'TMRB's recommendation to charge passengers of @Uber/@lyft an additional $1/$2 to be ferried around the congestion zone is a joke.' He argued these low fees would not curb for-hire vehicle trips, saying, 'We can't stop congestion if we don't limit FHV trips.' The matter, titled 'Analysis: Congestion Pricing Fee May Be Too Low for Taxi and Uber Riders,' highlights a split: some experts want higher surcharges to push riders to transit, while others want yellow cabs exempted. The debate centers on how pricing shapes traffic and, by extension, the safety of vulnerable road users in crowded city streets.

• Analysis: Congestion Pricing Fee May Be Too Low for Taxi and Uber Riders, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-10-25

The Traffic Mobility Review Board wants low per-ride fees for taxis and Ubers in Lower Manhattan. Critics say the charges are too weak. Cheap surcharges could push more cars into crowded streets, squeezing out walkers and cyclists. The city risks more danger, not less.

This policy debate centers on congestion pricing surcharges for taxis and for-hire vehicles (FHVs) in New York City. The Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) proposed per-ride fees—$1.50 for taxis, $2.75 for Uber/Lyft—far below the full congestion toll. Assemblymember Robert Carroll called the charges 'a joke,' arguing, 'We can't stop congestion if we don't limit FHV trips. Taxis shld be exempt & FHVs shld pay more.' Bruce Schaller, a former DOT official, warned, 'If you have a low fee for the taxis and the for-hires, people just switch modes.' Charles Komanoff and Sam Schwartz both support exempting yellow cabs, citing economic hardship and market imbalance. The TMRB's focus on keeping tolls low may undermine efforts to reduce traffic and protect vulnerable road users. No board member addressed the impact on street safety or congestion.

• Analysis: Congestion Pricing Fee May Be Too Low for Taxi and Uber Riders, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-25

A southbound SUV struck the rear of a sedan on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. The sedan’s driver, a 36-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles were damaged at their center points. The driver was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 2006 Nissan SUV traveling south on Ocean Parkway rear-ended a 2016 Honda sedan also traveling south. The impact occurred at the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the sedan. The sedan’s 36-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining neck pain and whiplash. He was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any failure to yield or other driver errors. Both vehicles sustained damage consistent with a rear-end collision. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672204 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers were male and licensed. One driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles were traveling west. Impact was to the center back end of one car. No ejections reported.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn. Both drivers were men, licensed in New York, and traveling westbound. The point of impact was the center back end of one vehicle. One driver, age 44, was injured with back pain and whiplash but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the driver’s role. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. Both vehicles were damaged at the point of impact. The report does not specify any driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4672206 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan made an improper U-turn on East 5 Street in Brooklyn. It struck a 38-year-old male bicyclist traveling straight. The cyclist suffered injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The driver’s left front quarter panel hit the bike’s front end.

According to the police report, a sedan was making an improper U-turn on East 5 Street near Church Avenue in Brooklyn when it collided with a bicyclist going straight. The 38-year-old male cyclist was injured, sustaining damage to his elbow and lower arm. The report lists "Turning Improperly" as a contributing factor to the crash. The sedan’s left front quarter panel struck the center front end of the e-bike. The bicyclist was not ejected and wore no safety equipment. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle westbound. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671352 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 28-year-old man driving a BMW sedan was injured in Brooklyn on Beverley Road. The driver suffered head injuries and whiplash after a left front bumper impact while merging. Police cited driver inattention as the cause.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on Beverley Road in Brooklyn. The driver, operating a 2023 BMW sedan, was merging westbound when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the left front bumper, causing head injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The driver was conscious and sustained injury severity level 3. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The driver held a valid New York license. The crash highlights the dangers of distracted driving during merging maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670043 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV hit a motorcycle on Ocean Parkway. The rider, a 32-year-old man, suffered leg fractures. Police cite driver inattention and traffic control disregard. The rider wore a helmet and stayed conscious.

According to the police report, a motorcycle and an SUV collided on Ocean Parkway near Caton Avenue. The 32-year-old motorcycle driver suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee and lower leg. Police list driver inattention and disregard for traffic controls as contributing factors. The motorcycle rider wore a helmet and was not ejected. Both vehicles had front-end damage. The SUV driver was licensed and going straight. The crash underscores driver errors: inattention and failure to obey traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A cyclist lies in critical condition after a crash at Fifth Avenue and Union Street. Councilmember Shahana Hanif calls out the city’s inaction. The intersection has claimed lives before. The community rallies, but danger remains. Cyclists keep dying. The city stalls.

On September 26, 2023, Councilmember Shahana Hanif (District 39) issued a statement following a severe crash at Fifth Avenue and Union Street in Park Slope. The incident left Jacob Priley, a cyclist and advocate, critically injured. Hanif highlighted the intersection’s deadly history, referencing the 2021 death of Arcellie Muschamp. She pressed the Department of Transportation for urgent safety upgrades, saying, 'How many more crashes until the DOT pays attention?' Hanif noted the recent completion of a protected bike lane on Ninth Street but stressed that more action is needed. She thanked neighbors for their support and vowed to work with the DOT. So far in 2023, 3,702 cyclists have been injured and 22 killed on New York City streets. The city’s pace on safety remains too slow for those at risk.

• Brooklyn rallies behind biker critically injured in Park Slope crash, raises funds for medical bills, amny.com, Published 2023-09-26

A 52-year-old male sedan driver was partially ejected and injured in a collision on Mc Donald Avenue in Brooklyn. The SUV was making a right turn when it struck the sedan’s left front bumper. The driver suffered arm injuries and shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Mc Donald Avenue near Church Avenue in Brooklyn. A 52-year-old male sedan driver, wearing a lap belt, was partially ejected and sustained injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The sedan was traveling west, going straight ahead, when it was struck on the left front bumper by a Lexus SUV making a right turn. The SUV had two occupants and was also traveling west. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the sedan driver but does not specify driver errors or violations. The SUV driver was licensed in New York. The collision caused damage to the left front bumper of the sedan and the right side doors of the SUV.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663655 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

DOT stripped protected bike lanes from Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue. Cyclists now dodge cars and illegal parking. Elected officials and advocates demand action. DOT cites traffic, but danger grows. Pedestrians lose safe crossings. The agency stays silent. Streets stay deadly.

On September 18, 2023, a coalition of elected officials and advocates called out the Department of Transportation for removing protected bike lanes on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue during construction. The matter, described as 'DOT continues to ignore dangers it created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave,' centers on DOT’s decision to replace bike lanes with a second car lane, violating a city law that requires temporary bike lanes during such work. Council Members Lincoln Restler, Alexa Aviles, Shahana Hanif, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and groups like Bike New York and Transportation Alternatives sent a letter demanding the bike lane’s return and physical barriers to stop illegal parking on pedestrian islands. The letter urges DOT to 'ensure curb lanes be preserved for safe cyclist passage' and to 'deploy quick-build physical elements' for pedestrian safety. DOT has not responded. Cyclists and pedestrians remain at risk.

• DOT Continues to Ignore Dangers it Created on Brooklyn’s Fourth Ave, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

Council waits. DOT stalls. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program limps toward expiration. Thousands of reckless drivers dodge consequences. Few take the safety course. Council members call for answers, action, and stronger laws. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain exposed.

On September 18, 2023, the City Council reviewed the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program (DVAP), which is set to expire on October 26. The Transportation Committee, led by Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed the Department of Transportation (DOT) for a final report on the program’s effectiveness. The bill required drivers with 15 speed-camera or five red-light tickets in a year to take a safety course or risk vehicle seizure. Council Member Shahana Hanif voiced disappointment, noting, 'We need to not only reauthorize this program, but strengthen it.' Despite over 34,000 drivers meeting the threshold in the last year, only about 1,200 took the course in three years. DOT has not explained the reporting delay or provided outcome data. The lack of enforcement leaves dangerous drivers on the road and vulnerable road users at risk.

• Council Needs Info from DOT So it Can Rescue (or Ignore) Fading ‘Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-18

A 28-year-old woman was struck while crossing Mc Donald Avenue with the signal. The driver, making a left turn in a 2022 SUV, hit her with the vehicle’s front center. She suffered bruises and injuries to her lower leg and foot.

According to the police report, a 28-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Mc Donald Avenue and Church Avenue in Brooklyn. She was crossing with the signal when a male driver in a 2022 Lexus SUV, traveling south and making a left turn, struck her with the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond the collision itself. The vehicle showed no damage. The pedestrian was conscious and suffered moderate injuries. No helmet or signaling issues were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656651 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 3-year-old girl was struck by an SUV traveling north on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. The child suffered head abrasions but remained conscious. The vehicle showed no damage. The pedestrian was not in the roadway at the time of impact.

According to the police report, a 3-year-old female pedestrian was injured by a northbound SUV on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. The child sustained head abrasions and was conscious after the collision. The vehicle, a 2018 SUV with one male licensed driver, struck the pedestrian with its left front bumper but showed no damage. The pedestrian was not in the roadway when hit. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The child’s injuries were classified as moderate. No helmet or signaling factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4655737 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 7979 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets triggers a speed limiter. Lawmakers move to curb repeat danger. No more unchecked speeding. Streets demand it.

Assembly bill A 7979, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. Introduced August 18, 2023, it 'requires the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices if a driver accumulates eleven or more points on their driving record during an eighteen month period, or receives 6 speed camera or red light camera tickets during a twelve month period.' Assemblymember Emily Gallagher leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Andrew Hevesi, Tony Simone, Jo Anne Simon, and others. The bill aims to force chronic speeders to slow down. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear: rein in repeat offenders, protect those outside the car.

• File A 7979, Open States, Published 2023-08-18

Jose Guerrero rode north on Broadway. A driver turned left. The Honda hit him. Guerrero died three days later. No charges. Twenty-two cyclists dead this year. The city stalls. Politicians talk. Riders bleed. The toll climbs. The streets stay deadly.

On August 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif condemned Mayor Adams’s approach to street safety after the death of Jose Guerrero, the 22nd cyclist killed in New York City this year. Guerrero was struck by a Honda CRV while cycling in Brooklyn and died from his injuries. The 74-year-old driver was not charged. Hanif stated, 'We have been proactive and pushing against what this mayor is doing to undo street safety. We need to have the political courage across all levels of government to create a city that is walkable, prioritizes pedestrians, and ends these senseless murders.' Eric McClure of StreetsPAC added, 'Any death is a tragedy and [the] deaths so far this year is a really significant number. We need to do better.' The Adams administration has focused on pedestrian fatality reductions, but activists and council members demand urgent, systemic change as cyclist deaths reach a decades-high peak.

• It’s 22! Another Cyclist Has Been Killed By Another Driver Who Has Not Been Charged, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-18

Twenty cyclists are dead in seven months. Most died on streets without protection. City leaders and advocates blame Mayor Adams for delays and broken promises. Riders face danger. The city stalls. The toll climbs. Action is demanded. Lives are lost.

On August 7, 2023, Streetsblog NYC reported a deadly surge: 20 cyclists killed so far this year, the highest toll in over a decade. The article, titled '‘Not a Bike-Friendly City:’ Cyclist Deaths Are Surging This Year in NYC,' details failures in bike infrastructure and city policy. Brooklyn Council Member Shahana Hanif accused Mayor Adams of 'undoing street safety' and called for 'political courage' to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives demanded immediate, legally-required action under the NYC Streets Plan. Fourteen of the 20 deaths involved e-bikes. Ninety-three percent of fatalities happened on streets lacking protected lanes. Despite record ridership, the city missed its own goals for new bike lanes. Advocates and council members demand bold, urgent change. The mayor’s delays and weak execution leave vulnerable road users exposed.

• ‘Not a Bike-Friendly City:’ Cyclist Deaths Are Surging This Year in NYC, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-07

State Sen. Gounardes and Assembly Member Gallagher push a bill to force repeat speeders to install limiters. The tech would cap speed, targeting drivers with six or more tickets. Advocates say it could cut deaths. Reckless drivers face real consequences.

On August 2, 2023, State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher announced new legislation targeting recidivist reckless drivers. The bill, introduced in the New York State Legislature, would require drivers with at least six speeding tickets in a single year, or 11 points in 18 months, to install speed limiter devices in their vehicles. The matter summary states: "We are going to literally force you to slow down by requiring you to install a speed limiter on your car." Gounardes led the announcement at the Atlantic Avenue intersection where a driver killed Katherine Harris. Gallagher, co-sponsor, said, "Cars and trucks can act as weapons when used recklessly." The bill aims to bypass bureaucratic hurdles and act automatically, modeled after ignition interlock devices for drunk drivers. Advocates and city officials joined the call, citing data that speed limiters can reduce traffic deaths by 37 percent. The bill targets the most dangerous drivers, seeking to end impunity for repeat offenders.

• In-Car Tech Would Force NYC’s Worst Drivers to Slow Down Under New Proposal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-02

A 25-year-old man was struck while crossing with the signal at McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn. He suffered a shoulder and upper arm contusion. The driver’s actions and contributing factors were not specified in the police report.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn. He was crossing with the pedestrian signal when the crash occurred. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruising to his shoulder and upper arm and remained conscious after the impact. The vehicle involved was a 2018 Toyota car or SUV registered in New York. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The pedestrian was not at fault, and the circumstances of the collision remain unclear from the available data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4650092 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 59-year-old woman driving an SUV suffered chest injuries in a rear-end collision with a sedan on Church Avenue in Brooklyn. Both vehicles traveled east. The SUV's right rear bumper struck the sedan's left front bumper. The driver reported pain and shock.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old female driver of a 2014 SUV traveling east on Church Avenue collided with a 2016 sedan also traveling east. The SUV's right rear bumper impacted the sedan's left front bumper. The SUV driver was injured, complaining of chest pain and nausea, and was not ejected from the vehicle. Both drivers were licensed. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify failure to yield or other driver errors. The injured driver was wearing a lap belt. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4649257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council members push to end jaywalking penalties. Supporters cite biased enforcement. Critics warn of danger for pedestrians. The bill faces debate as traffic deaths fall but injuries persist. The city weighs safety against fairness in street crossings.

On July 22, 2023, Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse introduced a bill to legalize jaywalking in New York City. The measure, supported by Council Members Tiffany Caban and Shahana Hanif, aims to 'greenlight pedestrians to freely cross streets outside the crosswalk or without obeying traffic signals.' The bill responds to claims of biased enforcement against Black and Latino New Yorkers. Council Majority Leader Joseph Borelli and Councilwoman Joann Ariola oppose the bill, warning it could endanger pedestrians. The bill has not yet advanced to committee or received a hearing. The NYPD and Mayor's office are reviewing the legislation. The debate highlights the tension between enforcement fairness and the ongoing risk to vulnerable road users. No formal safety analysis has been provided.

• Far-left NYC Council Dems push to legalize jaywalking, nypost.com, Published 2023-07-22