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 15 - A 68-year-old man driving a sedan suffered back contusions after an SUV struck his vehicle’s left rear bumper. The crash, marked by driver inattention, unfolded on Ocean Parkway, leaving the sedan driver injured but restrained by a lap belt.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 3:51 PM on Ocean Parkway involving two vehicles: a 2025 SUV and a 2022 sedan. The SUV was parked before the crash and impacted the left rear bumper of the sedan, which was traveling westbound. The sedan driver, a 68-year-old male occupant, sustained back contusions and was not ejected, secured by a lap belt. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver failed to maintain proper attention, leading to the collision. Both drivers were licensed in New York. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The impact caused damage to the left rear bumper of the SUV and the right front bumper of the sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786229 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jan 8 - A 31-year-old man crossing Ocean Parkway with the signal was struck by an SUV making a right turn. The driver’s inattention caused a collision that bruised the pedestrian’s lower leg. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, at 18:09 an SUV traveling north on Ocean Parkway made a right turn and struck a pedestrian crossing with the signal at the intersection. The pedestrian, a 31-year-old male, suffered contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle, a 2012 Toyota SUV, sustained no damage despite the center front end impact. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. The report does not list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving during turning maneuvers in pedestrian zones.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784690 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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 7 - Councilwoman Inna Vernikov blasts new MTA tax plans. She calls the agency reckless and accuses leaders of squeezing New Yorkers dry. The debate rages as the state hides details. Riders and workers wait in the crossfire.

"Governor Hochul has gifted the MTA free reign to grift NYC taxpayers into subsidizing their every irresponsible whim because, to them, New Yorkers are nothing but piggy banks to cushion a malfunctioning agency every time it inevitably falls in a financial hole." -- Inna Vernikov

On January 7, 2025, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (District 48) joined the debate over new funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The matter, titled 'Mobility tax, other fees to prop up flailing MTA even after congestion toll — but Hochul’s plans remain secret,' centers on Governor Hochul’s undisclosed plans to hike the payroll mobility tax and add new fees, even after a $9 congestion toll. Vernikov, mentioned as a strong opponent, said, 'Governor Hochul has gifted the MTA free reign to grift NYC taxpayers into subsidizing their every irresponsible whim.' The bill’s status remains uncertain, with the state legislature previously rejecting a similar tax hike. No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The debate continues in committee, with business leaders and councilmembers warning of harm to affordability and the city’s business climate.

• Mobility tax, other fees to prop up flailing MTA even after congestion toll — but Hochul’s plans remain secret, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-07

Jan 3 - Two sedans collided on Brighton 7 St in Brooklyn. Both drivers were distracted, causing impact on the right front bumper and left rear quarter panel. A 57-year-old passenger suffered shoulder injuries and shock, restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:45 on Brighton 7 St, Brooklyn. Two sedans traveling west collided; one was going straight ahead and the other was changing lanes. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the first sedan and the left rear quarter panel of the second. Both drivers had contributing factors of inattention and distraction, with one also noted for inexperience. A 57-year-old male occupant in the right rear passenger seat was injured, suffering upper arm and shoulder injuries and experiencing shock. He was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report cites driver inattention and distraction as the primary causes, with no contributing factors attributed to the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783726 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

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