Brownsville Bleeds—Leaders Stall. Demand Safe Streets Now.

Eighteen Brooklyn officials demand state DOT address BQE’s full deadly stretch. They reject piecemeal fixes. They call out decades of harm. The state’s refusal leaves neighborhoods exposed. The city’s hands are tied. The highway’s danger remains. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 10, 2023, eighteen Brooklyn lawmakers issued a joint letter demanding New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) participate in comprehensive planning for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The statement, prompted by a Streetsblog report, reads: "We ask that the NYS DOT remember the daily harms caused by the BQE in its current state—not just the crumbling cantilever section—and join us at the table in search of a solution." The group includes Reps. Nydia Velázquez, Dan Goldman, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, state Sens. Jabari Brisport, Julia Salazar, Kristen Gonzalez, Andrew Gounardes, Assembly Members Bobby Carroll, Maritza Davila, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Emily Gallagher, Jo Anne Simon, Marcela Mitaynes, and Council Members Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Lincoln Restler. Senator Gounardes called the state’s refusal to join the city’s visioning process “unacceptable and irresponsible.” The lawmakers stress that the BQE’s harms—crashes, pollution, division—stretch from Bay Ridge to Greenpoint. Without state action, only city-owned segments see attention. The city’s efforts are limited. The state’s inaction leaves systemic danger unaddressed.

• Brooklyn Pols Demand the State ‘Come to the Table’ on the BQE, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-10

Two sedans collided on Stone Avenue in Brooklyn. Rear passengers suffered back injuries and shock. Driver inexperience and improper lane use led to the crash. Metal twisted. Pain followed.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Stone Avenue in Brooklyn. A Nissan sedan, driven by a woman with a learner's permit, turned left and struck a Toyota sedan going straight. The impact hit the Nissan's left side and the Toyota's right front. Two rear passengers in the Nissan, a 48-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man, suffered back injuries and shock. The report lists driver inexperience, improper lane usage, and failure to yield as contributing factors. Both injured passengers wore no safety equipment. The crash left both vehicles damaged and two people in pain.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4605098 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-02-01

Senate bill S 3304 aims to keep cars out of bike lanes. Photo devices would catch violators. Sponsors say it’s time to protect cyclists. The bill stands at the sponsorship stage.

Senate bill S 3304, sponsored by Brad Hoylman-Sigal with co-sponsors Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, and Julia Salazar, was introduced on January 30, 2023. The bill is in the sponsorship stage. It seeks to 'establish in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' The measure targets drivers who block bike lanes, aiming to keep space clear for cyclists. No safety analyst note is available. The bill has not yet advanced to committee or vote.

• File S 3304, Open States, Published 2023-01-30

An SUV made a right turn on Rockaway Avenue. An e-scooter rider going straight collided with the vehicle’s right side doors. The rider, a 35-year-old man, suffered bruises and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old male e-scooter rider was injured when a 2022 Dodge SUV made a right turn on Rockaway Avenue and struck him on the right side doors. The e-scooter rider was going straight ahead at the time. The rider sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but was conscious and not ejected. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling north. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any clear driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Neither vehicle showed damage. The e-scooter rider wore no listed safety equipment relevant to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4601591 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

A 51-year-old woman was hit by an SUV making a left turn on Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn. The driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations to her lower leg and foot.

According to the police report, a 51-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Rockaway Avenue with the signal in Brooklyn. The driver, operating a 2021 Dodge SUV, was making a left turn and struck the pedestrian with the vehicle's center front end. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in shock. The report lists driver errors as Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Driver Inattention/Distraction. The pedestrian was not at fault and was following the crossing signal at the time of impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4602807 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A new study exposes how people shrug off the deadly risks of driving. Most accept crashes and pollution as normal. The same harms spark outrage elsewhere. This double standard leaves pedestrians and cyclists in the crosshairs. The culture shields drivers, not victims.

On January 19, 2023, researchers published a report in the Journal of Environment and Health, dissecting public attitudes toward driving dangers. The study, led by environmental psychologist Ian Walker, surveyed over 2,000 British adults. It found that 61 percent of respondents accepted driving risks as natural, while far fewer tolerated similar hazards at work or from smoking. The article, titled 'The Dangers of Driving Are Way More Normalized Than We Think,' highlights what Walker calls 'motonormativity'—a cultural blind spot that excuses harm from cars. Walker urges policy changes: 'Build a street where people can't speed... you won't have speeding.' The research shows that society’s deep-rooted car bias endangers vulnerable road users and blocks reforms that could save lives.

• The Dangers of Driving Are Way More Normalized Than We Think, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-19

Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

Senate bill S 100 demands complete street design in state and federally funded projects. Lawmakers push for public guidance. Streets built for people, not just cars.

Senate bill S 100 was introduced on January 4, 2023, and is 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, and drivers. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Jeremy Cooney, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 100, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

A 34-year-old woman was struck while crossing Boyland Street with the signal. The driver, making a left turn, failed to yield and was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered a shoulder contusion and bruising but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured on Boyland Street in Brooklyn while crossing with the signal. The driver, operating an Infiniti car or SUV, was making a left turn and failed to yield the right-of-way. The report lists driver inattention and failure to yield as contributing factors. The pedestrian, a 34-year-old woman, sustained a contusion and bruise to her upper arm and shoulder. She was conscious and injured but not ejected from the roadway. No other vehicles or occupants were involved. The crash highlights driver errors that led to harm for a vulnerable road user at an intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4597005 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 61-year-old front-seat passenger suffered a neck contusion in a Brooklyn crash. Two sedans collided near Blake Avenue. Both drivers were distracted. The passenger was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. Impact caused bruising but no ejection.

According to the police report, a collision occurred in Brooklyn near Blake Avenue involving two sedans traveling east. The front passenger, a 61-year-old woman, was injured with a neck contusion but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors for both drivers. The impact involved the right front bumpers of the sedans. No other injuries or contributing factors were noted. The passenger was not ejected and suffered a contusion bruise. The crash highlights driver distraction as the primary cause.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585968 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Two sedans, westbound on Pitkin Avenue, collided. The rear car struck the front. The front driver, a 31-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. She was conscious. Metal and glass scattered. Sirens followed.

According to the police report, two sedans traveled west on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn. The rear sedan struck the center back end of the front sedan. The front driver, a 31-year-old woman, was injured with neck trauma and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not detail specific driver errors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. Both vehicles had single occupants. The crash damaged the front end of the rear sedan and the back end of the front sedan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4585965 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Two SUVs crashed head-on at Rockaway and Hegeman. Both drivers, men, hurt—one in the back, one in the leg. No pedestrians. No cyclists. Impact was sharp. Both wore seat belts. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Rockaway Avenue at Hegeman Avenue in Brooklyn. One driver, age 44, was heading south and going straight. The other, age 50, was making a left turn northbound. Both men suffered bruises—one to the back, the other to the lower leg. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The crash struck the left front bumper of the southbound SUV and the center front end of the northbound SUV. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified for both drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4583479 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

An 18-year-old woman was struck while crossing Junius Street at a marked crosswalk. She suffered a head injury and was in shock. The sedan involved had no listed contributing factors. The pedestrian complained of pain and nausea after the impact.

According to the police report, an 18-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Junius Street at a marked crosswalk in Brooklyn. She suffered a head injury and was in shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The vehicle involved was a sedan registered in New York. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No safety equipment or pedestrian signals were noted as factors. The crash occurred without further details on driver actions or vehicle damage. The pedestrian was not at fault, and the incident highlights the dangers pedestrians face even at marked crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4596992 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A Jeep hits a 79-year-old man crossing Stone Avenue. The right front bumper slams him down. Blood pools on the street. He is conscious, head wounded. The street goes quiet. The driver failed to yield. The man lies injured, the city holds its breath.

A 79-year-old pedestrian was struck by a Jeep sedan on Stone Avenue near Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the Jeep's right front bumper hit the man as he crossed the street, causing a head injury and severe bleeding. The report states the driver failed to yield the right-of-way. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The data lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for the driver. No other driver errors or factors are noted. The crash left the elderly man injured, underscoring the danger faced by those on foot in city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4581199 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A bicyclist riding west on Pitkin Avenue was struck on the left rear bumper by a southbound sedan. The cyclist suffered a concussion and back injury but remained conscious. The sedan continued straight, impacting the cyclist’s left rear side.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male bicyclist wearing a helmet was injured in a collision with a sedan on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn. The cyclist was traveling west and was hit on his left rear bumper by a southbound sedan going straight ahead. The bicyclist sustained a concussion and back injury but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The sedan had no occupants at the time of the crash. The impact occurred at the left front bumper of the sedan and left rear bumper of the bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4580828 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Two sedans collided on Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn. Impact struck bumpers. A 59-year-old woman driving suffered neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained. No driver errors listed.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn at 8:35 a.m. Both vehicles were traveling west when the collision occurred. The impact hit the right rear bumper of one sedan and the left front bumper of the other. A 59-year-old female driver was injured, suffering neck pain and whiplash. She was conscious and wearing a lap belt. The report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver errors identified. Both drivers were licensed and operating legally. The crash damaged the front and rear bumpers of the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4579318 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 22-year-old male front-seat passenger suffered a head contusion in a Brooklyn crash. The sedan struck another vehicle head-on on Stone Avenue. The passenger was not ejected but sustained serious injury. Driver errors were not specified in the report.

According to the police report, a 2018 Honda sedan traveling east on Stone Avenue in Brooklyn collided head-on with another unspecified vehicle. The front passenger, a 22-year-old male, was injured with a head contusion and bruising. He was not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not list any contributing driver errors or factors. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. No helmet or signaling issues were noted. The crash caused center front-end damage to the sedan. The report focuses on the injury to the passenger and the collision details without assigning fault or blame.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4578872 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 32-year-old man was struck while crossing Junius Street in Brooklyn. He suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The pedestrian was in shock and complained of internal pain. The crash details remain unclear.

According to the police report, a 32-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Junius Street in Brooklyn. He sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was reported to be in shock with internal complaints. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors. The pedestrian's crossing location and action were noted as 'Crossing, No Signal, or Crosswalk,' but no driver violations or vehicle details were provided. The vehicle involved was unspecified, and no driver information or license status was recorded. The report focuses on the pedestrian's injuries without assigning fault or noting helmet or signal use.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4577285 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13