Madison’s corners break bones and take lives

Jun 25 - Council Member Narcisse moves to end NYPD jaywalking tickets. Data shows Black and Latino New Yorkers bear the brunt. The bill seeks fairness, not punishment. Streets should not be hunting grounds. The council will hear the measure Tuesday.

On June 25, 2024, Council Member Mercedes Narcisse introduced a bill to decriminalize jaywalking in New York City. The measure heads to its first hearing before the transportation committee. Narcisse’s bill responds to city data: in 2023, 92 percent of jaywalking summonses went to Black or Latino New Yorkers; in early 2024, that number rose to 96.5 percent. Narcisse calls this 'a troubling picture of racial disparities.' She states, 'Jaywalking should not be a criminal matter that disproportionately impacts certain groups based on race or ethnicity.' Narcisse urges the city to redirect police resources and end selective enforcement. The bill aims to protect the rights of all residents and promote equity in city policy.

• Brooklyn Pol: NYPD’s Enforcement of ‘Jaywalking’ is a ‘Racial Injustice’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-25

Jun 6 - Council calls for five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. Streets slow. Danger drops. Pedestrians and cyclists get space. Resolution adopted. Albany must act.

Res 0079-2024, adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 6, 2024, urges Albany to let New York City set a five mile per hour speed limit on Open Streets. The resolution states: "authorize New York City to set a five mile per hour speed limit on streets participating in the Open Streets program." Council Member Shahana K. Hanif led as primary sponsor, joined by Amanda Farías, Crystal Hudson, Julie Won, and Carlina Rivera. The measure passed committee and full council on June 6. The bill aims to cut speed and risk where people walk, bike, and gather. The council's push now waits for state lawmakers and the governor.

• File Res 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-06-06

May 29 - A 70-year-old man stepped onto Kings Highway. An eastbound SUV hit him head-on. He died from head and internal wounds. The bumper bore the mark where he fell. The street claimed another life. The driver was licensed.

A 70-year-old pedestrian was killed on Kings Highway when an eastbound SUV struck him head-on, according to the police report. The incident occurred as the man stepped into the street, not at an intersection and without a crossing signal, as detailed in the report: 'A 70-year-old man stepped into the street without a signal. An eastbound SUV struck him head-on. He died from head and internal wounds. The driver held a license. The bumper bore the mark where he fell.' The vehicle involved was a 2023 Acura SUV, traveling straight ahead with two occupants. The point of impact was the center front end, and the right front bumper showed damage. The police report lists 'Unspecified' as the contributing factors for both the driver and the pedestrian, and does not cite any specific driver error. The pedestrian’s action—crossing without a signal or crosswalk—is noted after the absence of identified driver errors. The report does not mention any additional contributing factors or behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728391 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - Abandoned poles and wires block sidewalks, trap walkers, and threaten cyclists. This bill sets strict deadlines for removal and transfer. Delay ends. Streets clear. Danger cut.

Int 0921-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 23, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Justin L. Brannan with Holden, Vernikov, Marmorato, and Paladino, demands owners remove abandoned or unsafe utility poles, wires, and appurtenances within 60 days—or immediately if dangerous. Transfers to new poles must happen in 30 days. The matter title reads: 'timelines for the removal of abandoned or unsafe utility poles, wires, and appurtenances, and the transfer of appurtenances to newly erected poles.' Swift action means fewer sidewalk traps and less risk for those on foot or bike.

• File Int 0921-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-23

May 22 - Council Member Narcisse moves to end NYPD’s biased jaywalking crackdowns. Black and Latino New Yorkers bear the brunt. The bill would legalize crossing mid-block and against the light. Only eight council members back it. NYPD stays silent.

On May 22, 2024, Council Member Mercedes Narcisse of Brooklyn introduced a bill to decriminalize jaywalking in New York City. The bill, currently with only eight co-sponsors out of 51, aims to 'permit pedestrians to legally cross a roadway at any point, including outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, and allow for crossing against traffic signals.' Narcisse states the goal is to 'legalize the activity commonly referred to as 'jaywalking' and specify that no penalties can be imposed.' The move follows years of data showing NYPD’s racially biased enforcement: in 2023, 92 percent of jaywalking tickets went to Black or Latino residents, who make up just 55 percent of the city’s population. Lawmakers have long sought to end this pattern. The NYPD did not comment.

• ON THE BIAS: NYPD’s ‘Walking While Black’ Ticketing Continues, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-22

May 21 - A 14-year-old boy suffered an elbow abrasion after an SUV struck him at an intersection. The vehicle was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The boy was crossing with the signal, conscious but injured. Driver errors remain unspecified.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Nostrand Avenue at an intersection, crossing with the signal. The vehicle involved was a 2023 Jeep SUV, driven by a licensed female driver traveling northeast and making a left turn. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the SUV. The pedestrian sustained an abrasion to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield documented. Vehicle damage was reported as none. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The collision highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726200 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - A 28-year-old woman suffered full-body contusions after a sedan made a left turn and struck her at an intersection. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian who was crossing with the signal, causing shock and serious injury.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling southeast on Avenue U made a left turn and struck a 28-year-old female pedestrian at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred. The impact was to the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained damage in the same area. The pedestrian suffered contusions and bruises over her entire body and was reported to be in shock. The report explicitly cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' by the driver as the contributing factor. The pedestrian's actions were not listed as contributing factors. The driver was licensed and operating a 2012 Nissan sedan with one occupant. This crash highlights the critical danger posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725183 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 11 - A sedan struck a bicyclist from behind on Avenue U. The cyclist suffered neck and internal injuries. Both moved east. No vehicle damage reported. The crash left the cyclist hurt and exposed.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2013 BMW sedan struck him on Avenue U at 10:05 PM. Both the sedan and the bike were traveling east. The sedan hit the cyclist at the right front bumper, impacting the cyclist's center back end. The bicyclist suffered neck and internal injuries but remained conscious and was not ejected. No vehicle damage was reported. The police report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The incident shows the danger faced by cyclists when struck by heavier vehicles, even when fault is not assigned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724060 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 28 - A sedan backing north on Quentin Road struck an 8-year-old girl crossing at a marked intersection. The girl suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation. Driver inattention and unsafe backing caused the collision, leaving the child injured and conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Quentin Road near East 16 Street in Brooklyn at 4:30 p.m. The vehicle, a sedan traveling north, was backing unsafely when it struck an 8-year-old female pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk without a signal. The point of impact was the center back end of the sedan. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to her lower arm and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly cites 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors to the crash. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers of driver errors during vehicle backing maneuvers in busy urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720866 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 19 - A 74-year-old man was found dead inside a parked BMW SUV on East 18th Street. The left rear of the vehicle was crushed, glass shattered, seatbelt unused. Afternoon sun glinted on the wreckage. No movement, only silence remained.

According to the police report, a 74-year-old man was discovered lifeless in a parked 2023 BMW SUV on East 18th Street near Avenue U in Brooklyn. The report describes the left rear of the vehicle as 'crushed,' with 'shattered glass' and 'no sound.' The man was not wearing a seatbelt. The crash occurred in the afternoon, at 16:03. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'unspecified' and does not identify any specific driver errors or actions by other vehicles. The victim's behavior—seatbelt nonuse—is noted in the report, but no evidence is provided that this contributed to the fatality. The circumstances surrounding the impact and the source of the collision remain unaddressed in the police report, leaving the systemic dangers of parked-vehicle crashes and the vulnerability of occupants in the urban landscape starkly evident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722200 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 18 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Mar 18 - An SUV making a left turn struck a westbound e-scooter on Gerritsen Avenue. The e-scooter driver, a 56-year-old man, was ejected and suffered chest injuries. Police cite failure to yield right-of-way as the cause of the collision.

According to the police report, at 8:10 a.m. on Gerritsen Avenue, an SUV traveling northwest made a left turn and collided with an e-scooter traveling west. The point of impact was the SUV's right front bumper striking the e-scooter's left side doors. The e-scooter driver, a 56-year-old man, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained chest injuries classified as internal and serious (injury severity 3). The report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver did not yield to the oncoming e-scooter. The e-scooter driver was wearing a helmet, but no contributing factors related to the victim were noted. The SUV showed no damage, suggesting the impact was more severe for the vulnerable e-scooter rider.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710725 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 17 - SUV started from parking, struck sedan moving north. SUV driver suffered arm injury and shock. Metal twisted. No pedestrians or cyclists hurt. Both cars damaged. Streets stay dangerous for all.

According to the police report, at 10:27 AM in Brooklyn near Bragg Street, a northbound SUV started from a parking spot and collided with a northbound sedan traveling straight. The SUV’s left front quarter panel hit the sedan’s right front. The 54-year-old female SUV driver suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries and shock. Both drivers were licensed women. The report lists no explicit contributing factors, but the SUV’s movement from parking into active traffic set the crash in motion. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No victim actions were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710380 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 7 - Council bill forces DOT to act fast. Traffic study calls get answers in 60 days. No more endless waits. Streets stay dangerous while requests stall. Delay kills. Action saves.

Int 0542-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, laid over since March 7, 2024. The bill reads: 'requiring that traffic study determinations be issued no later than 60 days from the date a traffic control device is requested by a city council member or community board.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Brooks-Powers, Vernikov, and Morano. The bill cracks the whip on DOT, ending open-ended delays. Fast answers mean less time waiting for life-saving signals and signs. The city’s slow grind leaves people at risk. This bill demands speed.

• File Int 0542-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 6 - A 59-year-old man suffered knee and lower leg injuries after being struck at an intersection on Ocean Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when impacted by a northbound vehicle. The driver’s failure to yield caused serious harm.

According to the police report, a 59-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Ocean Avenue at an intersection in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a vehicle traveling north struck him on the left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with injury severity rated at level 3. The vehicle was going straight ahead and showed no damage after the collision. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but highlights the driver’s failure to yield as the critical error leading to the pedestrian’s injuries. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. This crash underscores the dangers posed by driver errors at intersections, even when pedestrians follow crossing signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4707687 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - Council wants 500 solar-lit crosswalks in five years. Bright signals cut through the dark. The bill demands action and a study. Safety for walkers, not drivers. No more hiding in the shadows.

Int 0301-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to install at least 100 illuminated, solar-powered traffic control devices at crosswalks each year for five years. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law...in relation to the installation of solar-powered crosswalks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler leads, joined by Menin, Brooks-Powers, Rivera, and others. The bill also requires a study comparing these devices to standard signs. The city must report findings within two years. The goal: more visible crossings, fewer deadly impacts.

• File Int 0301-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council bill pushes DOT to let schools, centers, and institutions use streets outside their doors. More people, less traffic. Streets shift from cars to community. Still in committee.

Int 0450-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create a program letting community centers, schools, arts, and religious institutions use adjacent outdoor spaces. The matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to establish a program to allow community centers, schools, arts and cultural institutions and religious institutions to use adjacent outdoor spaces.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Stevens, Restler, Won, and others. The bill has not yet passed. If enacted, it could reclaim space from cars, giving it to people. No formal safety analysis yet, but the measure could mean safer, more vibrant streets for all.

• File Int 0450-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 28 - Council moves to form a board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must report twice a year. The aim: more eyes on street danger where kids cross.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment," calls for NYPD, DOT, and DOE to join an advisory board. The board must send biannual reports on crossing guard needs to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, and others. The Bronx Borough President requested the bill. The board’s reports could spotlight gaps and push for better protection at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28