Belt Parkway Bleeds. Ocean Avenue Mourns.

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 18 - A sport utility vehicle struck the right rear quarter panel of a sedan traveling eastbound on Belt Parkway. The sedan’s front passenger suffered a shoulder and upper arm injury, conscious and bruised. Unsafe speed by the SUV driver caused the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 8:13 a.m. Two vehicles, a sedan and a sport utility vehicle (SUV), were traveling eastbound. The SUV collided with the right rear quarter panel of the sedan. The report cites unsafe speed as the contributing factor for the crash. The sedan’s front passenger, a 36-year-old female occupant, sustained an upper arm and shoulder injury, described as a contusion and bruise, and was conscious at the scene. Both drivers were licensed, traveling straight ahead, and the SUV’s right rear bumper impacted the sedan’s left front bumper. No ejections occurred. The report does not list any contributing factors from the passenger or other victims, focusing on the SUV driver’s unsafe speed as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786514 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 17 - Two sedans collided late at night on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. The female driver of one vehicle suffered back injuries and whiplash. Alcohol involvement was cited as a contributing factor in the crash, highlighting driver impairment as a key cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:47 PM on Nostrand Avenue near Voorhies Avenue in Brooklyn. Two sedans traveling westbound collided, with impact points on the left front bumper of one vehicle and the center back end of the other. The female driver of the second sedan, age 54, was injured with back pain and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'Alcohol Involvement' as a contributing factor, indicating driver impairment played a role in the collision. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead before the crash. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors. The crash underscores the dangers of alcohol-impaired driving in urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 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 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 29 - A 50-year-old woman suffered a head injury after being struck by an SUV on E 21st Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was getting on or off a vehicle outside an intersection when the crash occurred. Unsafe speed by the driver was a key factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on E 21st Street near Voorhies Avenue in Brooklyn at 13:14. A 50-year-old female pedestrian was injured, sustaining a head injury classified as severity 3. She was getting on or off a vehicle outside an intersection when she was struck. The report identifies "Unsafe Speed" as the contributing factor for the collision. The impact point was the left side doors of a parked BMW SUV, while another Nissan SUV was making a left turn with damage to its right front bumper. The pedestrian was conscious and suffered internal complaints. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the pedestrian's behavior, focusing instead on the driver's unsafe speed as the cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 19 - A 38-year-old woman suffered whole-body injuries and whiplash after an SUV made a left turn and hit her at a Brooklyn intersection. She was crossing with the signal. The vehicle’s front center end bore the impact, highlighting driver error in turning.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at an intersection in Brooklyn. The crash occurred at 18:45 when a 2024 Nissan SUV, traveling east, was making a left turn and struck the pedestrian with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained injuries to her entire body and complained of whiplash, remaining conscious throughout. The report notes unspecified contributing factors but emphasizes the vehicle's pre-crash action of making a left turn as the moment of impact. The damage to the SUV’s center front end confirms the collision point. No pedestrian fault or helmet use was cited. The incident underscores the dangers posed by driver maneuvers such as left turns failing to yield to crossing pedestrians.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 12 - A taxi struck the back of a stopped SUV on Belt Parkway. The SUV driver, a 56-year-old woman, suffered a head injury and whiplash. Police cite the taxi driver’s failure to maintain safe distance as the cause of the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:18 on Belt Parkway when a taxi traveling east failed to maintain a safe following distance and rear-ended a stopped SUV. The SUV driver, a 56-year-old woman, was injured with a head injury and whiplash but was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the primary contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver’s error in judgment. The taxi’s front center end collided with the SUV’s rear center end. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778305 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 11 - A 12-year-old boy suffered full-body bruises after an SUV made a left turn and struck him at a Brooklyn intersection. The vehicle showed no damage. Police report lists unspecified contributing factors, highlighting driver error as central to the crash.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue and Avenue Z in Brooklyn around 7:00 AM. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to his entire body but remained conscious. The crash involved a 2018 Infiniti SUV traveling west, whose driver was making a left turn when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the vehicle's left rear quarter panel, yet no vehicle damage was reported. The police report cites unspecified contributing factors, indicating driver error without detailing exact violations. No pedestrian actions or safety equipment were listed as contributing factors. The incident underscores the dangers posed by turning vehicles to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778313 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - A motorcycle crashed into a sedan’s rear on Oriental Boulevard. The rider suffered full-body injuries. Police cite following too closely as the cause. The sedan driver was unhurt.

According to the police report, a motorcycle struck the rear of a sedan on Oriental Boulevard in Brooklyn at 3:05 PM. Both vehicles were heading east. The motorcycle hit the sedan’s left rear bumper, damaging both vehicles. The 21-year-old motorcycle driver was injured with abrasions and full-body trauma but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, pointing to driver error by the motorcycle operator. The sedan driver was licensed and driving straight. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776813 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 1 - E-scooter sped north on Nostrand. Struck a 37-year-old man crossing. Head trauma. Unconscious. Internal injuries. Brooklyn street left him incapacitated.

According to the police report, an e-scooter traveling north on Nostrand Avenue struck a 37-year-old male pedestrian crossing the intersection. The pedestrian suffered severe head trauma, lost consciousness, and sustained internal injuries. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor. The e-scooter hit the pedestrian with its center front end, showing a direct impact. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, but the primary error cited is the e-scooter operator's unsafe speed. No other driver errors or victim actions are listed as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775618 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 20 - A northbound SUV struck a parked SUV on Bedford Avenue, causing left-side damage. The driver of the parked vehicle suffered head injuries and whiplash. Alcohol involvement was cited as a contributing factor, highlighting driver impairment in the crash.

According to the police report, at 8:17 AM in Brooklyn, a northbound SUV traveling straight ahead collided with a parked SUV on Bedford Avenue. The impact occurred on the left side doors of the parked vehicle, causing damage to that area. The parked vehicle's driver, a 38-year-old male occupant, sustained head injuries and whiplash, remaining conscious but injured. The report identifies alcohol involvement as a contributing factor, indicating impaired driving played a role in the collision. The moving SUV's left front bumper struck the parked vehicle's left side, showing a failure to maintain control or awareness. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted. The crash underscores the dangers posed by impaired driving and the vulnerability of stationary vehicles and their occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4773044 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 20 - A car failed to yield on Bedford Avenue. It struck a 16-year-old pedestrian. The teen was thrown. He suffered back bruises. The crash left him conscious but hurt. Driver error caused the injury.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male pedestrian was struck and ejected by a vehicle on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn at 8:00 AM. The teen suffered back contusions and was classified with injury severity level 3. The vehicle was traveling north and entering a parked position when it hit the pedestrian at the right front quarter panel. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. Driver failure to yield led directly to the injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772900 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 18 - An 82-year-old woman suffered bruises to her elbow and lower arm after an SUV failed to yield while making a left turn on Avenue W. The impact struck the pedestrian in a marked crosswalk, leaving her injured but conscious.

According to the police report, a 2018 Ford SUV, driven by a licensed male driver traveling west on Avenue W in Brooklyn, was making a left turn when it struck an 82-year-old female pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal at the intersection near East 19th Street. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained damage in the same area. The pedestrian sustained contusions and bruises to her elbow and lower arm and remained conscious after the collision. The contributing factor cited in the report is the driver's failure to yield the right-of-way. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. This crash highlights the danger posed by driver errors in yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772438 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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