No One Dead—Yet: Gravesend’s Streets Are Waiting for Blood

Aug 12 - City Hall pressed Lyft to demand driver's licenses for Citi Bike e-bikes. The move blocks teens and riders without IDs. Ridership falls. Safety-in-numbers weakens. Equity splits wider while hazardous streets and vehicles remain the real threat.

""a disaster waiting to happen,"" -- Justin L. Brannan

Not a bill — a regulatory request. On August 12, 2025, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro sent a letter to Lyft CEO David Risher asking for "appropriate age verification steps," such as requiring a driver's license or learner's permit. The action follows Mastro's June 5 emergency mandate capping e-bike speeds and a late-July letter from Council Member Justin Brannan, who called the self-reported age system "a disaster waiting to happen." Lyft says it is "currently reviewing" the letter. Safety analysts warn proof-based ID checks create barriers for marginalized riders without licenses, likely cutting mode shift, undermining street equity, and leaving systemic vehicle and infrastructure dangers unaddressed.

• NYC asks Lyft to require ID for Citi Bike e-bikes to curb underage riders, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 9 - Mayor Eric Adams urges age verification for Citi Bike e-bikes after underage teens unlock helmetless, top-speed rides. He pushes Lyft or NYC DOT to add ID checks as reported e-bike crashes rise.

"Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan recently wrote a letter to Lyft asking them to implement age verification, writing, “I hear from parents who are worried about their kids. This is a potential disaster just waiting to happen — and it’s entirely preventable.”" -- Justin L. Brannan

Bill number: none — this is a regulatory request. Status: SPONSORSHIP. Committee: N/A. Key dates: event 2025-08-09; published 2025-08-09. The matter title reads: "Don't let underage kids on electric Citi Bikes." Mayor Eric Adams is named as supporting age verification for Citi Bike e-bikes. Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan wrote to Lyft asking for ID checks, writing, "I hear from parents who are worried..." The piece urges Lyft to add age verification or for NYC DOT to amend its contract. The article cites more than 400 e-bike crashes year-to-date and a 20% rise. No formal safety impact assessment or safety_impact_note is provided in the record.

• Don’t let underage kids on electric Citi Bikes, nydailynews.com, Published 2025-08-09

Aug 9 - The Coney Island casino's EIS predicts thousands more cars, gridlocked roads, and crushed parking. Pedestrians and cyclists face higher exposure and danger.

Bill number: none. Status: Environmental Impact Statement filed Aug. 9, 2025. Committee: Community Advisory Committee (CAC); CAC met July 30. The EIS states: 'Proposed Coney Island casino would likely clog local roads with heavy traffic and overwhelm public parking.' Justin L. Brannan is noted for introducing a ferry-feasibility bill last fall. CAC member Marissa Solomon said mitigation measures likely won’t be enough. Assemblyman Charles Fall criticized risks to pedestrians. Developers offered transit incentives. Safety analysts warn the casino is projected to dramatically increase motor vehicle traffic and parking demand, worsening congestion and exposure risk for pedestrians and cyclists; mitigation focuses on flow, not street safety, and leaves vulnerable road users bearing the burden.

• Proposed Coney Island casino could bring heavy traffic, overwhelm parking, according to environmental impact study, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-09

Aug 5 - Poor DOT signs on Hylan Boulevard sow chaos. Drivers turn from the wrong lane. Collisions mount. Bus lane rules shift by the hour. The street stays dangerous for those on foot and bike.

According to amny (2025-08-05), collisions on Hylan Boulevard have risen due to unclear DOT signage about bus lane hours. Borough President Vito Fossella noted, “That’s one accident every four days where somebody perhaps unwittingly thinks they must turn from the middle lane.” The article reports 32 crashes in 2025 tied to drivers making right turns from the middle lane instead of the curb-side bus lane. Some signs list hours, others only say 'Bus Corridor Photo,' confusing drivers. The lack of clear, consistent information leaves intersections hazardous, especially for vulnerable road users. The report highlights a pressing need for better signage and clearer policy.

• Confusing Bus Lane Signs Spur Crashes, amny, Published 2025-08-05

Jul 27 - Drivers crashed on Belt Parkway at 26 Avenue in Brooklyn. The motorcycle driver was ejected and broke his arm. A sedan passenger suffered a bruised shoulder. Police recorded traffic control disregarded.

A driver on a motorcycle and a driver in a sedan crashed on Belt Parkway at 26 Avenue in Brooklyn. The 21-year-old motorcycle driver was ejected and suffered a fractured arm. A 30-year-old sedan passenger had a bruised shoulder. According to the police report, “Traffic Control Disregarded” was a contributing factor. Police recorded this failure to obey traffic control. The drivers were heading straight before impact. The motorcycle had front-end damage; the sedan’s right side was hit. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed. No fatalities were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831065 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 26 - A sedan turning right hit a 35-year-old bicyclist on Shore Parkway. The rider suffered knee and foot injuries, minor bleeding and shock. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was a contributing factor.

The driver of a sedan turned right and hit a 35-year-old male bicyclist on Shore Parkway at Bay 44 Street in Brooklyn. The rider suffered knee, lower-leg and foot injuries, with minor bleeding and shock. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was a contributing factor. The cyclist was traveling west while the sedan was making a right turn when the center fronts of both vehicles collided. The report records alcohol involvement by the driver and lists no other driver errors. No injuries were reported for the sedan’s occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830616 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 18 - A driver in a 2024 Toyota sedan making a right turn on Shore Parkway was involved in a crash. The left front bumper was the point of impact. The driver suffered shoulder and upper‑arm injuries, was in shock, and complained of pain and nausea.

According to the police report, a male driver in a 2024 Toyota sedan was involved in a crash on Shore Parkway near Cropsey Avenue while making a right turn. The sedan's left front bumper was the point of impact. The driver, the vehicle's sole occupant, suffered a shoulder and upper‑arm injury, was recorded in shock, and complained of pain and nausea. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. According to the police report the contributing factors were listed as "Unspecified." The report notes no pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828760 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

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 - Cargo van struck Mayya Gil, 95, as she crossed Cropsey Avenue. She died. Her aide survived. Driver charged with failure to yield and due care. The street stayed open. The danger stayed real.

Gothamist (2025-07-18) reports a 95-year-old woman, Mayya Gil, died after a cargo van hit her and her home health aide while they crossed Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver, Thimothe Andre, was charged with two counts of failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. Police said Andre struck both victims while turning. Gil died at the hospital; her aide survived. The article notes, 'NYPD data shows 100 people have died in city traffic crashes so far this year.' The case highlights persistent risks for pedestrians and the consequences of driver inattention at city intersections.

• Brooklyn Pedestrian Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, 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 16 - A left turn on Avenue V ended in violence. An 89-year-old driver was ejected and injured. Police cite inattention and failure to yield. Metal struck flesh. The street stayed open.

An 89-year-old male driver was ejected and injured in a crash at 86th Street and Avenue V in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver suffered shoulder and upper arm abrasions. The crash involved two vehicles: one making a left turn, the other traveling straight. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The injured driver was conscious at the scene. No safety equipment was used. No pedestrians or cyclists were reported hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828784 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

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 11 - A BMW tore through a Brooklyn crosswalk before dawn. Two pedestrians, Kex Un Chen and Faqui Lin, died on impact. Their bodies thrown to the sidewalk. The driver fled. Police arrested him hours later.

CBS New York (2025-07-11) reports two pedestrians, Kex Un Chen, 80, and Faqui Lin, 59, were killed at Third Avenue and 52nd Street in Sunset Park. Surveillance video shows a BMW speeding through the crosswalk while the victims had the right of way. The driver, Juventino Anastasio Florentino, 23, was arrested and faces charges including manslaughter, reckless driving, and leaving the scene. Councilmember Alexa Aviles called for 'serious investments in safety enhancements' on Third Avenue. Residents say crashes are common on this stretch, highlighting ongoing systemic danger.

• Two Killed In Sunset Park Crosswalk, CBS New York, Published 2025-07-11

Jul 9 - A judge let the city shift Bedford Ave’s bike lane. The fight pits safety for walkers against safety for cyclists. Cars, bikes, and people cross paths. Danger remains. The city moves ahead.

NY Daily News (2025-07-09) reports Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo lifted a restraining order, letting NYC move a protected bike lane on Bedford Ave, Brooklyn. The city cited pedestrian risk from fast bikes and e-bikes, showing videos of children struck while crossing. Opponents argued removing the protected lane exposes cyclists to cars and claimed the city gave poor notice. The article quotes a resident: 'irreparable harm would come to neighborhood residents if the lane were no longer protected by parked cars.' The ruling highlights ongoing tension between street design, driver behavior, and vulnerable road users.

• Judge Clears Bedford Ave Bike Lane Move, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-09

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 1 - SUV turned left on Avenue Y. Struck a 19-year-old e-scooter rider. Arm injury. Police cite improper turn and driver distraction. System failed to protect the vulnerable.

A Ford SUV making a left turn on Avenue Y collided with a 19-year-old woman riding an e-scooter. The e-scooter rider suffered an arm injury. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction.' Both vehicles were traveling west. The SUV driver was licensed and uninjured. The e-scooter rider was not ejected and wore no safety equipment. The report lists no helmet or signal issues for the e-scooter. Systemic danger remains for those outside cars.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824412 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

Jul 1 - Two SUVs and a sedan collided on Avenue Z. Three drivers hurt. Police cite driver inattention. Metal twisted. Pain followed. Brooklyn traffic stands still.

Three drivers were injured when two SUVs and a sedan collided on Avenue Z at Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash involved driver inattention or distraction. One driver suffered a knee and leg abrasion. Two others reported pain in the abdomen, pelvis, shoulder, and upper arm. All vehicles were stopped or merging before impact. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other causes are noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4827916 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02

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

Jun 29 - An SUV struck and killed eight-year-old Mordica Keller as he crossed Eastern Parkway with his sister. The driver stayed. Blood stained the concrete. The boy died at Kings County Hospital. The street claimed another child.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-29), eight-year-old Mordica Keller was killed by a black Honda Pilot while crossing Eastern Parkway at Albany Street with his sister. The 69-year-old driver, heading south, remained at the scene. Police said, "They were walking, he was crossing the street with his sister." The driver had a green light, and no arrest has been made. The incident highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians at busy intersections. The investigation continues.

• SUV Kills Boy Crossing Crown Heights Street, New York Post, Published 2025-06-29

Jun 25 - SUV struck a 69-year-old cyclist on Bay 48 Street. Cyclist ejected, suffered arm injuries. Police cite failure to yield. Bike demolished. SUV undamaged.

A 69-year-old man riding a bike was struck by a station wagon/SUV on Bay 48 Street near Shore Parkway in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash occurred when the SUV failed to yield the right-of-way. The cyclist was ejected and sustained injuries to his arm. The bike was demolished. The SUV showed no damage. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. The cyclist was wearing a helmet. No injuries were reported for the SUV occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4824737 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-02