Kensington Bleeds: Four Dead, Hundreds Hurt, Leaders Stall

A 16-year-old girl was struck by a sedan while crossing Caton Avenue with the signal. The vehicle hit her center front end. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver failed to yield right-of-way.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling northwest on Caton Avenue struck a 16-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. She sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity 3. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the driver. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its center front end. No other contributing factors or safety equipment were noted. The driver was going straight ahead and had no occupants in the vehicle at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4609362 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

City eyes a temporary highway atop Brooklyn Heights. Trucks may thunder down quiet blocks. Residents brace for noise, danger, and disruption. Officials promise green space and safer bike links, but locals call the plan reckless. Streets meant for people, not freight.

On March 1, 2023, NYC DOT floated a plan to build a temporary highway through Brooklyn Heights during the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) rebuild. The agency outlined two options: diverting traffic onto local streets or constructing a bypass road. The matter, described as 'a controversial possibility reminiscent of an earlier plan,' sparked outrage. Assembly Member Robert Carroll slammed the idea of sending trucks onto residential blocks as 'insane.' Lara Birnback of the Brooklyn Heights Association called the plan disruptive and wasteful. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez highlighted public calls for 'safer bike and pedestrian connections' and new green space. No bill number or committee was cited. The plan remains a proposal, with no set price or location. Vulnerable road users face increased risk if trucks flood neighborhood streets.

• City May Build A Temporary Highway Through Brooklyn Heights After All, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-01

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 2023-02-28

Assembly Bill 4637 would use cameras to keep cars out of bike lanes. The bill targets drivers who block protected lanes. Sponsors say it will protect cyclists from deadly crashes.

Assembly Bill A 4637, now in the sponsorship stage, aims to create a bicycle lane safety program in New York City. The bill, introduced on February 21, 2023, enforces restrictions on protected bike lanes using photo devices. The matter title reads: 'Establishes in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brian Cunningham, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Harvey Epstein, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill targets drivers who endanger cyclists by blocking protected lanes. No safety analyst note is available.

• File A 4637, Open States, Published 2023-02-21

A 47-year-old man and a 5-year-old boy were hit by an SUV while crossing a marked crosswalk on Albemarle Road in Brooklyn. Both suffered injuries and shock. The driver was distracted, causing the collision at a left turn.

According to the police report, a 2021 Dodge SUV making a left turn on Albemarle Road struck two pedestrians—a 47-year-old man and a 5-year-old boy—who were crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. Both pedestrians sustained injuries to their lower body and entire body, respectively, and were in shock. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The vehicle impacted the pedestrians with its right front bumper. No vehicle damage was reported. The driver was licensed and from New Jersey. No other contributing factors such as pedestrian fault or safety equipment were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606307 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two SUVs slammed together on Avenue C. A 27-year-old woman in the back seat was injured and in shock. Police blamed driver inattention. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Avenue C in Brooklyn. The crash injured a 27-year-old female passenger seated in the left rear of one SUV. She suffered injuries and shock but was not ejected. Both vehicles were traveling south and struck each other at the front ends. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as the cause of the crash. The injured passenger was wearing a lap belt. No other contributing factors or victim errors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606322 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

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

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

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

A Toyota’s brakes failed on Coney Island Avenue. The car slammed into two stopped sedans. Metal twisted. A 51-year-old man’s face was crushed. Children and adults hurt. Sirens cut the night. The street echoed with pain and steel.

On Coney Island Avenue near Avenue C in Brooklyn, a Toyota sedan’s brakes failed and it crashed into two sedans stopped in traffic. According to the police report, 'A Toyota’s brakes failed. It plowed into two stopped sedans. Metal crumpled. A 51-year-old man sat belted, his face crushed. Six others waited in silence, the night split by sirens and bent steel.' The report lists 'Brakes Defective' as the contributing factor. Injuries included a 51-year-old man with facial crush injuries, a 79-year-old woman with a fractured leg, and several children and adults with pain to the head, back, and legs. The crash left at least seven people injured. No driver or passenger actions contributed except for the mechanical failure noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606313 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

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

State DOT will not redesign the BQE. City studies a short stretch. Ten miles of highway cut through Brooklyn. Local leaders warn of neglect. Pollution and danger persist. No plan means more harm for people on foot, bike, or bus.

On February 9, 2023, Governor Hochul’s administration confirmed the state has 'no plans' to redesign its portion of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The matter, covered by Streetsblog NYC, states the state DOT will only provide technical help to the city’s study of the 1.5-mile city-owned segment between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso criticized the state’s lack of engagement: 'The state hasn't engaged in any way shape or form.' Assembly Member Emily Gallagher said her community wants the BQE 'revisioned and totally changed,' citing environmental and health impacts. Assembly Member Robert Carroll warned that lack of coordination could worsen problems. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon echoed fears that her constituents would be left behind. The city, under Mayor Adams, has pledged a 'corridor-wide vision,' but admits nothing comprehensive can happen without state DOT. No safety analyst has assessed the impact, but the state’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed to ongoing harm.

• The State Has ‘No Plans’ to Redesign the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-09

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

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

An 87-year-old man was struck by a motorcycle while crossing 12 Avenue at an intersection in Brooklyn. He suffered a head injury and lost consciousness. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal. The crash left him bleeding and injured.

According to the police report, an 87-year-old male pedestrian was injured after being struck by a motorcycle traveling north on 12 Avenue in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing the street at an intersection with the signal when the collision occurred. He sustained a head injury and was unconscious with minor bleeding. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No information about the motorcycle driver’s actions or license status was provided. The pedestrian was not at fault and was following traffic signals at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4602626 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Assembly bill A 3180 demands complete street design on state and federally funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. The bill calls for public guidance. Streets must serve people, not just cars.

Assembly Bill A 3180 was introduced on February 2, 2023, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Requires the consideration of complete street design for certain transportation projects which receive federal or state funding,' aims to force planners to think of people first. Didi Barrett leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Amy Paulin, and others. The bill also orders the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note is available, but the bill’s intent is clear: streets must protect all users, not just drivers.

• File A 3180, Open States, Published 2023-02-02

DOT keeps school street safety spending secret. Councilmember Rita Joseph demands answers. Streets with schools see more crashes, more injuries. The agency refuses to break out costs or salaries. Families and advocates call for transparency. Children remain at risk.

On January 25, 2023, the City Council, led by Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph (District 40), pressed the Department of Transportation for transparency on school street safety spending. The matter, titled 'How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say,' exposes DOT’s refusal to disclose project costs or School Safety Unit salaries. Joseph expressed disappointment: 'New Yorkers deserve to know how the DOT is working to make school streets safer.' Councilmember Shahana Hanif also criticized DOT’s inability to track safety projects. Despite Commissioner Rodriguez’s promise of 100 safety projects, the agency denied a FOIL request, claiming costs are not tracked. Advocates and families condemned the lack of accountability. The Department of Education also refused to comment. The city’s silence leaves children exposed on dangerous streets.

• How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say., streetsblog.org, Published 2023-01-25

DOT hides the numbers. Streets near schools stay deadly. Councilmembers Joseph and Hanif demand transparency. Families and advocates want answers. The agency claims it cannot track spending. Children walk in danger. The city keeps its secrets.

On January 25, 2023, the City Council Education Committee, led by Chair Rita Joseph, pressed the Department of Transportation (DOT) for details on school street safety spending. The matter, titled 'How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say,' exposes DOT’s refusal to disclose project costs or salaries tied to school safety. Councilmember Shahana Hanif joined Joseph in criticizing DOT’s lack of transparency. Both called for clear tracking of safety improvements around schools. DOT denied a Freedom of Information Law request, claiming no records exist and that costs are not broken out from its $1.3-billion budget. Advocates and families voiced outrage. The Department of Education also refused to discuss spending. The city’s silence leaves children exposed on dangerous streets, with no accountability for safety investments.

• How Much Does DOT Spend to Keep Kids Safe Outside of Schools? The Agency Won’t Say., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-25

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

Cyclists lay down on Ninth Street where a truck killed Sarah Schick. Their bodies blocked traffic. The city finally promised a redesign. DOT will add signal changes now. For years, officials ignored calls to fix this deadly stretch. Now, pressure mounts.

On January 20, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced plans to redesign the unprotected portion of Ninth Street after a fatal crash. The action followed a 'die-in' protest by cyclists at the site where a truck driver killed Sarah Schick. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said, 'We are making immediate signal adjustments to improve safety in this area. We are also committed to delivering a design solution that makes this stretch of Ninth Street safer for cyclists.' Council Member Shahana Hanif added, 'We know that this corridor has been unsafe for far too long and promises had been made after death after death almost the last 20 years.' The city will unveil a redesign in the coming months and adjust signals now. Advocates blame years of inaction for repeated deaths. The matter remains urgent for all who use Ninth Street.

• FINALLY: DOT Says it Will Redesign Unprotected Portion of Ninth St. as Cyclists Stage ‘Die-In’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-20