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

Jan 21 - Senator Scarcella-Spanton pushes S 2622. The bill kills congestion pricing, adds an MTA board seat, and orders a forensic audit. Streets risk more cars. Riders and walkers face louder, dirtier roads.

Senate bill S 2622 was introduced on January 21, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to repealing congestion pricing (Part A); commissioning an independent audit of the metropolitan transportation authority (Part B); and conducting an environmental impact study (Part C),' was sponsored by Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (District 23). The bill repeals congestion pricing, expands the MTA board, and mandates a forensic audit. No safety analyst has assessed the impact, but repealing congestion pricing means more traffic and danger for New York’s most vulnerable on the street.

• File S 2622, Open States, Published 2025-01-21

Jan 16 - Reinvent Albany blasted a bill to exempt NYPD officers from Manhattan congestion tolls. The group called it unfair, a $22 million giveaway to a powerful few. They warned it would drain funds, raise tolls, and reward special interests over public safety.

On January 16, 2025, Reinvent Albany, a good government watchdog, issued a statement opposing a bill from Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato and Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton. The bill seeks to exempt NYPD officers, even off-duty, from paying congestion pricing tolls in Manhattan’s central business district. Reinvent Albany called the measure 'contrary to notions of basic fairness' and a '$22 million handout' to a special interest. The Traffic Mobility Review Board had already rejected such exemptions. The group warned that multiple exemption bills could cost the public $100 million yearly and force higher tolls for everyone else. Neither Pheffer Amato nor Scarcella-Spanton commented. The watchdog urged lawmakers to serve the many, not the powerful few.

• Watchdog Group: No Congestion Pricing Toll Exemptions for Cops!, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-16

Jan 11 - An e-scooter driver suffered a head injury after a crash in Brooklyn. The impact struck the center front end of the vehicle. Driver inattention and distraction caused the collision, leaving the rider bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old male e-scooter driver was injured in a crash at 2:14 AM in Brooklyn near Bay 44 Street. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. The vehicle, described as an e-scooter traveling straight ahead, sustained damage to the center front end upon impact. The rider was not ejected and remained conscious but suffered a head injury classified as a contusion or bruise with injury severity level 3. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash underscores the dangers posed by driver distraction in operating motorized devices on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785218 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 9 - A 72-year-old woman suffered head injuries after a van made a right turn and struck her at an intersection in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the van’s right front bumper hit her, leaving her bruised but conscious.

According to the police report, a van traveling west on Avenue X in Brooklyn made a right turn and struck a 72-year-old female pedestrian at the intersection near W 1 St. The point of impact was the van’s right front bumper, causing a head injury classified as contusion and bruising. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the time of the collision, as noted under 'ped_action'. The report lists no contributing factors attributed to the driver, but the pedestrian’s crossing against the signal is recorded as a factor. The driver was licensed and operating a 2011 van. The pedestrian remained conscious after the impact but sustained injury severity level 3. No other vehicles or occupants were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785691 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 8 - Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 1077 pushes for streets built for people, not just cars. Dozens of lawmakers back safer roads. The bill stands at sponsorship. No vote yet. Vulnerable users wait for action.

Assembly bill A 1077, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 8, 2025, the bill sits in committee. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 60 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Robert C. Carroll, and Catalina Cruz. No votes have been cast. The bill's language centers all road users, not just drivers. No safety analyst has yet assessed its impact on vulnerable road users. The measure signals intent but action remains pending.

• File A 1077, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 8 - Assembly bill A 324 demands complete street design for state- and federally-funded projects. Sponsors push for public guidance. Streets built for people, not just cars. Safety for all hangs in the balance.

Assembly Bill A 324 was introduced on January 8, 2025, now 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 consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, drivers—when building or upgrading roads. Didi Barrett leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Amy Paulin, and many others. The bill also directs the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note yet, but the measure’s intent is clear: streets should protect the most vulnerable, not just move traffic.

• File A 324, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

Jan 1 - A 19-year-old male driver suffered full-body injuries after a collision on Ocean Parkway. The SUV’s front center bore the impact. The driver was semiconscious, restrained by a lap belt, and reported pain and nausea following the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:20 AM on Ocean Parkway near Avenue Y in Brooklyn. The driver, a 19-year-old male operating a 2023 Toyota SUV, was making a left turn when the collision happened. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor to the crash. The SUV sustained damage to its center front end. The driver was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt. He was semiconscious and suffered injuries to his entire body, with complaints of pain and nausea. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783196 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jan 1 - A white Audi struck Michael Foster on Caton Avenue. The car dragged him for blocks. The driver never stopped. Foster died in the street. The Audi vanished into the night. No arrests. The city’s danger stays.

NY Daily News reported on January 1, 2025, that Michael Foster, 64, was killed after a white Audi hit him on Caton Ave. near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. The driver, described as speeding, dragged Foster for half a mile before leaving him near Linden Blvd. and Nostrand Ave. The article quotes a witness: "I saw him at the stop light. He would go out to the cars and beg for change." The driver fled the scene and has not been caught. No arrests have been made. The incident highlights the lethal risk for pedestrians in city streets and the ongoing issue of hit-and-run drivers evading responsibility.

• Audi Driver Drags Man Half Mile, NY Daily News, Published 2025-01-01

Dec 31 - A sedan struck a 76-year-old woman outside an intersection in Brooklyn. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The impact left her in shock. The car hit her while moving from a parked position.

According to the police report, a 76-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a sedan struck her outside an intersection on West 2nd Street in Brooklyn at 21:30. The woman was not in a crosswalk and was engaged in other actions in the roadway. She suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, and was described as being in shock. The report notes the sedan, a 2013 Honda, was parked before the crash and struck the pedestrian with its right side doors. No driver contributing factors were listed in the report. No helmet or crossing signal factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784306 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 27 - A Kia sedan crashed on Shore Parkway. Three inside—driver, two young girls—suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite driver distraction. No blame for passengers. Systemic danger, clear and brutal.

According to the police report, a 2021 Kia sedan traveling west on Shore Parkway in Brooklyn collided with another vehicle. The sedan carried a 27-year-old female driver and two female passengers, ages 10 and 5. All three occupants were injured, suffering back injuries and whiplash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both children were passengers, restrained with lap belts. No contributing behaviors are attributed to the passengers. The crash highlights the direct harm caused by driver distraction, leaving vulnerable occupants hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782926 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 20 - A 22-year-old man suffered hip and upper leg injuries when a taxi struck him at an intersection on Harway Ave. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian in the center front end. The victim was conscious but bruised.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling northeast on Harway Ave struck a 22-year-old male pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The taxi driver, licensed in New York, was going straight ahead but failed to yield right-of-way, as cited in the contributing factors. The impact point was the center front end of the taxi, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a driver error contributing to the crash. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4781152 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 19 - Council moves to test bold pavement markings at crash sites. Five spots per borough. Focus: places where drivers have killed or maimed. Report to follow. Streets marked for danger.

Int 1154-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced December 19, 2024. The bill orders a pilot for high visibility pavement markings—at least five locations per borough. The city must target streets with high injury or fatality counts from bad driving. The matter title reads: 'establishing a high visibility pavement marking pilot program.' Council Member Yusef Salaam leads, joined by Menin, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Cabán, Brannan, and Hanif. The law demands a report on results and challenges. The aim: mark danger, force drivers to see, and push the city to act where blood has already been spilled.

• File Int 1154-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-19

Dec 18 - Metal groaned on Nostrand Avenue. Two cars trapped, one stacked atop the other. A bus driver, a woman, a girl—hurt but alive. Emergency crews worked fast. The street bore the scars. The cause stayed hidden in the wreckage.

NY Daily News reported on December 18, 2024, that a multi-vehicle crash at Nostrand Ave. and Park Ave. in Brooklyn left three people injured. The article states, 'Three people were injured, including an MTA bus driver and a young girl, in a collision that pinned two cars between a box truck and a city bus.' Footage showed two vehicles sandwiched between the bus and truck, with one car stacked atop another. The injured included a 59-year-old MTA driver, a 33-year-old woman, and a 9-year-old girl. All were hospitalized in stable condition. The cause of the crash was not determined at the time of reporting. The incident highlights the risks at busy intersections and the dangers posed by large vehicles in dense urban traffic.

• Cars Crushed Between Bus And Truck, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 13 - A multi-vehicle crash on Shore Parkway involved a chain reaction of rear-end impacts. A 27-year-old female driver suffered a head contusion. Police cite repeated following too closely and outside car distraction as key factors in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Shore Parkway around 8:00 AM, involving multiple vehicles traveling eastbound. The report identifies 'Following Too Closely' as a repeated contributing factor, along with 'Outside Car Distraction.' The 27-year-old female driver of a 2022 sedan was injured, sustaining a head contusion and bruising. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt at the time. The point of impact was the center back end of her vehicle, indicating a rear-end collision. The chain reaction involved several SUVs and sedans, all traveling straight ahead, with damage concentrated at the center front and back ends of the vehicles. The police report highlights driver errors related to maintaining unsafe following distances and distraction outside the vehicle as primary causes, with no victim fault indicated.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778847 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 5 - A 58-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by a left-turning vehicle in Brooklyn. The driver failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered bruises and arm injuries but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 58-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of W 3 St and Avenue X in Brooklyn at 2:50 PM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2012 Toyota SUV, traveling west and making a left turn, struck him with the center front end. The report cites driver errors including "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way." The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The vehicle had damage to its center front end. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior were noted. The crash highlights the dangers of driver distraction and failure to yield at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776488 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Nov 27 - A distracted driver hit a 44-year-old man walking outside an intersection on Avenue X in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his elbow and lower arm, experiencing shock and pain. The SUV sustained damage to its right rear quarter panel.

According to the police report, at 10:39 AM on Avenue X near Stryker Street in Brooklyn, a 44-year-old male pedestrian was injured when a 2024 Jeep SUV traveling west struck him. The pedestrian was not at an intersection but elsewhere in the roadway. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The SUV's point of impact was the right rear quarter panel, which also sustained damage. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. No pedestrian actions or safety equipment were listed as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in Brooklyn streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774795 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Nov 27 - A driver struck three cars in Bed-Stuy. She dragged a person, hit a vehicle with a pregnant woman, then crashed into an empty car. No life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her at the scene. Charges include assault and reckless endangerment.

Gothamist reported on November 27, 2024, that a New York City Housing Authority employee was arrested after a chaotic crash in Brooklyn. According to police, the driver, Tanisha Simpson, "swiped an oncoming car," then "drove away, dragging the person several feet and hitting another car with a pregnant woman inside." She struck a third, empty car before New York City Sheriffs arrested her nearby. The pregnant woman was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no serious injuries were reported. Simpson faces charges of reckless endangerment, assault, and leaving the scene. The incident highlights the dangers of hit-and-run behavior and the risks faced by vulnerable road users at busy intersections.

• Three-Car Brooklyn Crash Sparks Arrest, Gothamist, Published 2024-11-27

Nov 14 - Jessica Scarcella-Spanton led Staten Island and Brooklyn politicians in a rally against congestion pricing. They gathered at the Verrazano Bridge, denouncing the plan as a burden on working-class commuters. The coalition promised fierce resistance, demanding the governor keep the program paused.

On November 14, 2024, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (District 23) led a bipartisan rally against the revival of congestion pricing. The event, held at the Verrazano Bridge, included U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Council Member Joe Borelli, and others. The group opposed Governor Hochul's plan to re-implement congestion pricing, which would charge vehicles entering lower Manhattan. The rally's matter title: 'Staten Island, Brooklyn pols rally against congestion pricing as Hochul considers reviving program.' Scarcella-Spanton pledged to 'fight tooth and nail until congestion pricing is dead.' Brooklyn Assembly Member Jaime Williams and others condemned the plan as unfair to transit deserts and working-class communities. No safety analyst assessment was provided regarding the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Staten Island, Brooklyn pols rally against congestion pricing as Hochul considers reviving program, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-11-14