Apr 10 - Council Member Vernikov forced a rezoning cut. Fewer homes, more parking. Affordable units slashed. Parking now outnumbers apartments. In a transit-rich area, cars win. Advocates call it a setback. The city’s housing crisis deepens. Streets grow more dangerous.

Bill concerns rezoning at 2501 Coney Island Ave. On April 10, 2025, Council Member Inna Vernikov (R-Sheepshead Bay) secured changes: the project shrank from 11 to 4 stories, 60 to 27 units, and affordable homes halved from 16 to 8. Parking jumped from 24 to 35 spaces. Vernikov cited 'neighborhood character and parking' as reasons. Her Land Use director said, 'We have to fight to protect every parking spot.' The local community board and Vernikov demanded a one-to-one parking ratio. Rachel Fee, an advocate, called it 'inexcusable' to have more parking than homes in a transit-rich city. The move prioritizes cars over people, deepening the housing crisis and increasing danger for vulnerable road users. No safety improvements were made for pedestrians or cyclists.

• City of No: Council Member Gets More Parking, Less Housing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 10 - Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Apr 9 - An SUV turned into a ten-year-old boy riding his bike on Avenue P. The child suffered leg injuries. The SUV driver turned improperly. The street stayed dangerous. The boy was hurt. The car rolled on.

A ten-year-old boy riding his bike was struck and injured by an SUV on Avenue P at East 3rd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the SUV was making a right turn when the crash occurred. The child suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor. The SUV driver and another occupant were not injured. The boy was not using any safety equipment. The crash highlights the danger faced by young cyclists when drivers turn without care.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804591 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

Apr 9 - A school bus veered off course in Flatbush. Metal crumpled. A woman and boy fell. The boy’s arm broke. The woman’s neck and hip throbbed. The bus smashed a fence. Sirens wailed. Both survived. The driver stayed. The city’s danger remained.

ABC7 reported on April 9, 2025, that a 66-year-old school bus driver struck a 43-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy at Bedford Avenue and Farragut Road, Brooklyn. The driver told police he 'hit the gas instead of the brakes, jumped the curb and struck the pedestrians before smashing into a fence.' The woman suffered neck and hip pain; the boy’s arm broke. Both were hospitalized and are expected to survive. No charges were immediately filed. The bus remained at the scene. The article notes the investigation is ongoing. The incident highlights risks at intersections and the consequences of driver error, especially when large vehicles enter pedestrian space.

• School Bus Jumps Curb, Hits Two Pedestrians, ABC7, Published 2025-04-09

Apr 8 - A sedan struck a parked SUV on E 9th Street. One driver suffered a head injury. Alcohol was involved. Metal crumpled. The street stayed silent.

A sedan traveling south collided with a parked SUV at 2117 E 9th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, alcohol involvement was a contributing factor. The sedan's driver, a 24-year-old man, sustained a head injury and abrasion. The SUV was unoccupied. Two other occupants were listed but not reported injured. The report lists 'Alcohol Involvement' as a cause. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4804500 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

Apr 4 - Ocean Parkway cuts through Brooklyn like a wound. Six lanes, fast cars, old design. State and city spent millions. Speed cameras blink. Still, people die. Politicians block real change. Residents demand more. Enforcement alone fails. The danger remains. Blood stains the asphalt.

"Assembly Member Michael Novakhov recently told Streetsblog he thinks the speed limit is too slow on Ocean Parkway." -- Misha Novakhov

On April 4, 2025, public debate erupted over Ocean Parkway’s safety. The matter, described as 'Tragedy Underscores Shortcomings of Vision Zero Era State Ocean Parkway Fixes,' highlights the failure of current efforts. Despite millions spent on speed cameras and signals, the six-lane highway remains deadly. Assembly Member Michael Novakhov called for higher speed limits. State Senator Simcha Felder pushed for a 30 mph limit, above the citywide standard. Advocates like Jon Orcutt demand deeper redesigns—lane reductions, pedestrian islands. Residents and experts say enforcement alone cannot save lives. Local opposition and political power block bold changes. The city DOT promises more work, but the danger persists. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

• Vision? Zero: Tragedy Underscores Shortcomings of Efforts to Make Ocean Parkway Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-04-04

Apr 3 - A driver with a suspended license sped through Brooklyn. She struck a family in the crosswalk. A mother and two daughters died. Their son was left fighting for life. The driver faces serious charges. The street became a crime scene.

Gothamist reported on April 3, 2025, that Miriam Yarimi, whose license was suspended and who had 'dozens of speeding tickets since 2023,' drove her Audi A3 into a Brooklyn family, killing Natasha Saada and her two daughters. The article quotes prosecutors: Yarimi told police, 'the devil is in my eyes' and 'people are out to get me.' Police say Yarimi was speeding, struck a for-hire car, then hit the family as they crossed the street. Yarimi faces charges including manslaughter, assault, and reckless driving. Judge Jevet Johnson ordered her held without bail and kept her license suspended. The case highlights the lethal risk posed by drivers with repeated violations and suspended licenses.

• Suspended Driver Kills Brooklyn Family Crossing, Gothamist, Published 2025-04-03

Apr 2 - A car tore down Ocean Parkway. It struck a mother and her three children. Only the youngest survived. He lost a kidney. The driver sped, ran a red, drove uninsured, license suspended. The street became a killing ground.

According to the New York Post (April 2, 2025), a 4-year-old boy remains in critical condition after a crash on Ocean Parkway killed his mother and two sisters. The article reports, "Yarimi, 35, was driving nearly double the speed limit when her Audi allegedly struck an Uber, flipped and mowed down the family." Police say Miriam Yarimi drove with a suspended license, no insurance, and expired registration, and ran a red light. She faces multiple charges, including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The crash also injured an Uber driver and passengers. The case highlights the lethal consequences of unchecked speeding and gaps in enforcement against unlicensed, uninsured drivers.

• Speeding Driver Kills Brooklyn Family Crossing, New York Post, Published 2025-04-02

Apr 1 - A driver struck a family on Ocean Parkway. A mother and two young daughters died. Their son fights for life. The accused, Miriam Yarimi, faces manslaughter charges. She remains in custody at Bellevue Hospital, awaiting arraignment by video.

According to the New York Post (April 1, 2025), Miriam Yarimi, 35, is charged with manslaughter after a crash on Ocean Parkway killed Natasha Saada, 32, and her daughters, Diana, 8, and Debra, 5. Their 4-year-old son, Philip, was critically injured. The article reports Yarimi 'allegedly told first responders at the scene that she was "possessed."' Yarimi is being held at Bellevue Hospital and will be arraigned by video. The crash highlights the lethal risk to pedestrians and children on city streets. No details are given about traffic conditions or vehicle speed. The case raises questions about driver fitness and systemic safeguards, as Yarimi had prior police encounters and was under psychiatric evaluation months before the crash.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Daughters, New York Post, Published 2025-04-01

Apr 1 - After a crash killed a mother and two daughters in Gravesend, advocates and Council Member Shahana Hanif rallied for the Stop Super Speeders bill. The law would force repeat reckless drivers to use speed-limiting tech. Survivors demand action. Lawmakers promise change.

On April 1, 2025, Council Member Shahana Hanif joined a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall demanding passage of the Stop Super Speeders bill. The bill, sponsored in Albany by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, would require drivers with repeated violations to install intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices. These devices cap speed at 5 mph over the limit for those with 11 or more license points in 24 months or six camera tickets in a year. The rally followed a fatal Gravesend crash that killed a mother and her two daughters. Hanif and other lawmakers called current enforcement—ticketing, suspensions, fines, jail—ineffective. Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon said, 'The speed limiter technology is available to us. Let’s use it. It will save lives.' The bill is modeled on EU and Virginia laws. Some opposition remains, but supporters say the measure is urgent and practical.

• ‘Enough is enough’: Street safety advocates demand passage of ‘Stop Super Speeders’ bill after tragic Gravesend crash, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2025-04-01

Mar 31 - A blue Audi sped down Ocean Parkway. It ran a red. It hit a Camry, then rolled into a mother and her three kids in the crosswalk. The mother and two daughters died. The youngest son clings to life. Streets mourn.

According to the New York Post (published March 31, 2025), Miriam Yarimi, 35, drove a 2023 Audi A3 at up to 50 mph in a 25 mph zone on Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn. She had a suspended license, suspended registration, and no insurance. The article reports: 'Yarimi, driving a blue 2023 Audi A3 sedan... allegedly ran a red light and struck a 2023 Toyota Camry operating as an Uber.' The Audi then rolled into Natasha Saada and her three children, who were crossing with the light. Saada and her daughters, ages 8 and 5, died. Her 4-year-old son was critically injured. Yarimi's car had over 93 prior violations, including 20 for speeding. Police are reviewing footage and conducting a forensic investigation. The crash highlights ongoing dangers from unlicensed, reckless driving and gaps in enforcement.

• Brooklyn Speeding Driver Kills Family, New York Post, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 31 - Assembly Member Novakhov stood at a funeral for a mother and two children killed by a speeder. He spoke against a bill to fit repeat speeders’ cars with limiters. He called enforcement excessive. Mourners demanded action. The street remains deadly.

On March 31, 2025, Assembly Member Michael Novakhov publicly opposed a state bill requiring speed-limiting devices for cars owned by repeat speeders. The statement came at the funeral for Natasha Saada and her children, killed by a speeding driver on Ocean Parkway. Novakhov argued, 'six red-light or speed violations in one year [is] too little,' and claimed, 'any driver can get much more than six.' He also denounced speed cameras, saying, 'we have too many,' and that they punish regular drivers. The bill’s matter summary centers on requiring devices for vehicles with six violations in a year. Community members and advocates at the funeral demanded stronger accountability and cited the area’s deadly history. Other local politicians, including Kalman Yeger and Simcha Felder, have also opposed speed safety measures. The Department of Transportation has not recommended major changes to Ocean Parkway, despite ongoing danger.

• Local Pol Novakhov Appears to Defends Reckless Driving at Funeral of Mother and Two Kids Killed by Speeder, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 31 - Assembly Member Novakhov stood at a funeral for a mother and two children killed by a speeder. He spoke against a bill to fit repeat speeders’ cars with limiters. He called enforcement excessive. Mourners demanded action. The street remains deadly.

On March 31, 2025, Assembly Member Michael Novakhov publicly opposed a state bill requiring speed-limiting devices for cars owned by repeat speeders. The statement came at the funeral for Natasha Saada and her children, killed by a speeding driver on Ocean Parkway. Novakhov argued, 'six red-light or speed violations in one year [is] too little,' and claimed, 'any driver can get much more than six.' He also denounced speed cameras, saying, 'we have too many,' and that they punish regular drivers. The bill’s matter summary centers on requiring devices for vehicles with six violations in a year. Community members and advocates at the funeral demanded stronger accountability and cited the area’s deadly history. Other local politicians, including Kalman Yeger and Simcha Felder, have also opposed speed safety measures. The Department of Transportation has not recommended major changes to Ocean Parkway, despite ongoing danger.

• Local Pol Novakhov Appears to Defends Reckless Driving at Funeral of Mother and Two Kids Killed by Speeder, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-03-31

Mar 30 - A car struck a family in a Brooklyn crosswalk. A mother and two daughters died. Her young son was left in critical condition. The driver faced charges. The street showed the scars. Mourners filled the night.

The New York Times (March 30, 2025) reported a deadly crash at Ocean Parkway and Quentin Road, Brooklyn. Miriam Yarimi, driving with a suspended license, "barreled into a silver Toyota Camry" before veering into a crosswalk and hitting Natasha Saada and her children. Yarimi was charged with manslaughter, reckless driving, and other offenses. The Audi she drove had a record of 99 violations, including red-light and school-zone speeding tickets. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said, "This was a horrific tragedy caused by someone who shouldn't have been on the road." The crash highlights persistent dangers for pedestrians and ongoing issues with enforcement and accountability for repeat traffic offenders.

• Brooklyn Crash Kills Mother, Two Children, The New York Times, Published 2025-03-30

Mar 29 - A sedan tore through the red at Ocean Parkway. A mother and her children crossed with the signal. Metal struck flesh. Three lives ended on the crosswalk. One child, four, left broken and silent. Brooklyn pavement bore the weight of loss.

According to the police report, a sedan driven by an unlicensed woman ran a red light at Ocean Parkway near Quentin Road in Brooklyn. The report states that a mother and her three children were crossing in the crosswalk with the pedestrian signal when the vehicle struck them. The impact killed the 34-year-old woman and two of her children, ages five and eight. A four-year-old boy was left unconscious and severely injured. The police report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors for the driver. The pedestrians were crossing with the signal, as documented in the report. The sedan's center front end struck the victims, underscoring the lethal consequences of ignoring traffic controls. The driver’s unlicensed status and disregard for the signal are central to this tragedy.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801962 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

Mar 27 - Two sedans traveling north collided on Avenue U in Brooklyn. The left front quarter panel of one struck the other’s rear right quarter panel. A 30-year-old male driver suffered neck abrasions and was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 21:51 on Avenue U near Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. Two sedans, both traveling north, collided with impact on the left front quarter panel of one vehicle and the center back end of the other. The driver of the Chevrolet sedan, a 30-year-old male occupant, sustained neck abrasions and was conscious. The report identifies "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor, cited twice for the injured driver. Both drivers were licensed, with one holding a Pennsylvania license and the other a New York license. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing pedestrian or cyclist behavior. The collision highlights the dangers of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801720 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

Mar 25 - Northbound SUV turned left, hit two pedestrians crossing with the signal. Both suffered bruises—one to the head, one to the leg. Driver failed to yield. Brooklyn street, daylight, hard impact.

According to the police report, a 2023 Jeep SUV traveling north on Avenue T made a left turn onto E 3 St in Brooklyn and struck two pedestrians who were crossing with the signal. Both pedestrians—a male and a female—were injured, suffering contusions to the head and lower leg. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the driver. The SUV's left front bumper hit the pedestrians, damaging the vehicle's left front quarter panel. Both victims were conscious at the scene. The driver was licensed and operating legally, but her failure to yield while turning caused the crash and injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801782 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

Mar 23 - A 63-year-old woman suffered a severe head injury after an SUV failed to yield at a marked crosswalk on Avenue U. The pedestrian was crossing without signal when the vehicle struck her at unsafe speed, causing a fractured and dislocated injury.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:03 PM on Avenue U in Brooklyn. A 63-year-old female pedestrian was crossing at a marked crosswalk without a crossing signal when she was struck by a northbound SUV. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors on the part of the vehicle driver. The pedestrian sustained a serious head injury described as a fracture and dislocation, with an injury severity level of 3. The SUV impacted the pedestrian at its center front end. A parked sedan was also involved, sustaining damage to its right rear bumper. The report emphasizes driver error in failing to yield and traveling at an unsafe speed, with no contributing factors attributed to the pedestrian's behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800710 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-05

Mar 23 - Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker sped through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection has seen this before. The system pushes speed. The danger remains.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after an e-bike delivery worker "sped through a stop sign" and struck him as he exited his double-parked car in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene. No arrests were made. The article notes this intersection is known for frequent stop sign violations: "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The piece highlights systemic issues, including delivery app pressures and gaps in e-bike regulation. City data shows e-bikes account for less than 2% of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues. Lawmakers have called for tighter rules, as delivery workers face incentives to rush.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

Mar 8 - A driver out on bail smashed into a Toyota in Bushwick. The crash killed Hayden Wallace and injured three others. The driver fled, leaving chaos behind. Police tracked him for over a year. Charges stack up, but the loss remains.

NY Daily News (March 8, 2025) reports that Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested after a deadly hit-and-run in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Seabrook had been out on bail for a previous crash involving police. On January 8, 2024, he crashed into a Toyota, killing Hayden Wallace and injuring three others. Seabrook fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle. The article notes, "All accidents are useless but this one was even more useless because [Seabrook] had so many other offenses." Seabrook faces 23 charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene, unlicensed driving, and speeding. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and questions about bail and enforcement. Police needed over a year to arrest Seabrook, who had a history of fleeing crashes and driving without a license.

• Repeat Offender Kills Passenger In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-08