Brownsville Bleeds—Leaders Stall. Demand Safe Streets Now.

Feb 2 - Transit advocates and officials rallied at Grand Central. They demanded Governor Hochul fill a $33 billion gap in the MTA capital plan. Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal called transit vital for the region. Advocates stressed accessibility and equity. The state’s budget leaves riders exposed.

On February 2, 2025, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal joined transit advocates at Grand Central Terminal to push for full funding of the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan. The rally targeted Governor Hochul’s $252 billion budget, which omits $33 billion needed for transit upgrades. The event, covered by amny.com, highlighted the matter: 'NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue.' Hoylman-Sigal said, 'This is about the economic engine for the entire region.' Assembly Member Tony Simone and others demanded investment in transportation deserts and accessible stations. Advocates cited the MTA’s ADA settlement, noting only a quarter of stations are wheelchair-accessible, with the fewest in low-income areas. The rally underscored that without full funding, vulnerable riders—especially those with disabilities—face continued barriers and danger.

• NYC transit advocates urge Hochul to fully fund MTA Capital Plan with guaranteed state budget revenue, amny.com, Published 2025-02-02

Jan 29 - A 47-year-old man was struck at an intersection in Brooklyn by a pickup truck backing up. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The truck showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, a pickup truck was backing up when it struck a 47-year-old male pedestrian crossing an intersection on Thomas S Boyland Street in Brooklyn. The pedestrian was injured, sustaining abrasions and trauma to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk indication. The vehicle's point of impact was the left side doors, yet the truck sustained no damage. The report does not specify driver contributing factors, but the pre-crash action of backing implicates driver error in failing to ensure the path was clear. The pedestrian’s contributing factors are listed as unspecified, with no mention of helmet use or crossing signals as causal. This crash highlights the dangers posed by vehicle backing maneuvers in urban intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791026 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 26 - A cargo van turned left on Cropsey Avenue. It struck Mayya Gil, 95, and her aide. Gil died. The aide survived. No charges for the driver. Another senior lost to city traffic. The street remains dangerous for the old and frail.

Gothamist (2025-01-26) reports that Mayya Gil, 95, was killed while crossing Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn with her home health aide. According to the NYPD, 'a man driving a cargo van struck both of them while making a left turn.' Gil died from her injuries; her aide was hospitalized. Police did not arrest or charge the driver. The article notes that Gil was the second elderly pedestrian killed in Brooklyn this year, and cites Transportation Alternatives: '46 senior pedestrians were killed in car crashes across the city last year.' The crash highlights the ongoing risk seniors face on city streets, especially at intersections where turning vehicles endanger those crossing on foot.

• Elderly Woman Killed Crossing Cropsey Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-01-26

Jan 21 - A 52-year-old woman suffered abrasions and elbow injuries while crossing Sutter Avenue with the signal. The crash involved an unspecified vehicle. The pedestrian was conscious and injured outside an intersection in Brooklyn’s 11212 zip code.

According to the police report, a 52-year-old female pedestrian was injured on Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn while crossing with the signal. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as injury severity level 3. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The crash involved an unspecified vehicle with no details on driver actions or contributing factors listed in the report. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection at the time of the collision. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited in the data. The report does not indicate any contributing factors from the pedestrian. The incident occurred in the 11212 zip code area, with no additional narrative or vehicle details provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787621 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 16 - A sedan making a left turn collided with a bicyclist traveling straight on Hegeman Avenue in Brooklyn. The 19-year-old cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries, experiencing shock and pain. The sedan’s right front bumper was damaged in the impact.

According to the police report, a 2004 Nissan sedan was making a left turn on Hegeman Avenue in Brooklyn when it struck a 19-year-old male bicyclist traveling straight east. The point of impact was the sedan’s right front bumper, which sustained damage. The bicyclist, who was not wearing safety equipment, was injured with knee, lower leg, and foot trauma and was reported to be in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but highlights the sedan’s left turn maneuver as the critical action preceding the collision. No driver errors such as failure to yield are explicitly cited, but the turning vehicle’s movement directly caused the crash. The bicyclist was not ejected and sustained moderate injuries. This crash underscores the dangers posed by turning vehicles to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4786308 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 8 - Senate bill S 131 demands complete street design for state-funded projects. Sponsors push for safer roads. Guidance will go public. Streets could change. Pedestrians and cyclists stand to gain.

Senate bill S 131 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 safer street planning. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by co-sponsors Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Leroy Comrie, Jeremy Cooney, Nathalia Fernandez, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, Christopher Ryan, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish guidance on street design. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 131, Open States, Published 2025-01-08

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 7 - Unlicensed driver failed to yield. Two sedans collided in Brooklyn. Licensed driver suffered arm injuries and shock. Systemic danger exposed by reckless driver actions.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 19:02 on Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn. The unlicensed driver, heading south, struck the left side doors of another sedan traveling west. The licensed driver, a 35-year-old man, suffered contusions and bruises to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and experienced shock. Police cited 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the cause. The unlicensed status of the striking driver highlights the systemic danger of driver error. No victim behavior contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784384 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 6 - Two sport utility vehicles collided on Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn. The 85-year-old driver of one SUV suffered a head injury and shock. Police cited traffic control disregard as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front and rear quarter panel damage.

According to the police report, two station wagon/SUV vehicles collided on Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn at 13:50. The first vehicle, traveling east, impacted the center front end of the second vehicle, which was traveling south and struck on its right rear quarter panel. The 85-year-old male driver of the first SUV was injured, suffering a head injury and experiencing shock, with complaints of pain or nausea. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver error in failing to obey traffic signals or signs. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles straight ahead before impact. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the report. The collision caused significant damage to both vehicles, highlighting systemic dangers at this intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4784156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

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 31 - A 77-year-old man crossing Dumont Avenue in a marked crosswalk was injured when a sedan made a left turn and struck him. The impact caused elbow and lower arm injuries. The driver failed to avoid the pedestrian at the intersection.

According to the police report, a 77-year-old male pedestrian was crossing Dumont Avenue at a marked crosswalk without a signal when he was struck by a sedan traveling southeast. The sedan was making a left turn at the time of the collision, impacting the pedestrian at the center front end of the vehicle. The pedestrian suffered injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was in shock with complaints of pain or nausea. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but highlights the driver's action of making a left turn as the critical movement preceding the crash. No driver errors such as failure to yield are explicitly cited, but the collision during the turn indicates a failure to avoid the pedestrian in the crosswalk. The pedestrian's crossing without a signal is noted but not identified as a contributing factor.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783011 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 29 - A 33-year-old woman driving a vehicle on Mother Gaston Blvd suffered back injuries and semiconsciousness after a collision with a sedan. The impact struck her vehicle's center front end, leaving her with pain and nausea, according to the police report.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:00 PM on Mother Gaston Blvd in Brooklyn. A 33-year-old female driver, restrained by a lap belt and harness, was injured with back pain and semiconsciousness after her vehicle was struck at the center front end. The other vehicle, a 2019 Nissan sedan traveling west, impacted the right rear quarter panel of the injured driver's vehicle, which was traveling south. Both vehicles were moving straight ahead before the collision. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the injured driver but does not specify driver errors or violations. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783008 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 29 - A sedan hit a 12-year-old girl crossing with the signal at Rockaway Avenue. She suffered abrasions and leg injuries. The car showed no damage. Police list no driver errors. Danger remains for those on foot.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old girl was struck by a 2023 Honda sedan while crossing Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn at 5:59 PM. She was crossing with the signal when the sedan, traveling south, hit her with its left front quarter panel. The girl suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report classifies her injuries as severity level 3. The vehicle had no visible damage. The driver was licensed and continued straight. The police report lists contributing factors as unspecified, with no driver errors noted. The crash shows the ongoing risk pedestrians face, even when following the law.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4783369 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 20 - A 36-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and suffered a severe head injury after an SUV struck his e-bike on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash involved failure to yield and pedestrian confusion, leaving the cyclist unconscious at the scene.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:49 AM on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn. A 36-year-old male bicyclist riding an e-bike westbound was struck by a northbound SUV. The point of impact was the center front end of the e-bike and the right front quarter panel of the SUV. The bicyclist was ejected and sustained a severe head injury, rendering him unconscious. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as contributing factors. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment. The collision highlights critical driver errors, especially the failure to yield, which directly contributed to the violent impact and serious injury.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782299 - 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 24-year-old man crossing with the signal was struck by a southbound vehicle on Rockaway Ave. The driver’s inattention and failure to yield caused severe leg injuries. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Rockaway Ave and Livonia Ave in Brooklyn around 6:30 p.m. The 24-year-old male pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a southbound vehicle struck him with its center front end. The report identifies driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including fractures and dislocations. The vehicle was traveling straight ahead and had damage to its center front end. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision. No other contributing factors such as pedestrian fault or helmet use were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4780559 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 7 - A 25-year-old woman crossing New Lots Ave in Brooklyn was struck by a northbound chassis cab making a right turn. She suffered upper leg injuries and shock. The vehicle hit her with its right front bumper, causing abrasions and serious trauma.

According to the police report, a chassis cab traveling north on New Lots Ave was making a right turn when it struck a 25-year-old female pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk or signal. The point of impact was the vehicle's right front bumper, which caused abrasions and injuries to the pedestrian's hip and upper leg. The pedestrian was reported in shock and sustained injury severity level 3. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the driver, but the collision occurred during a turning maneuver, indicating a failure to yield or properly observe the pedestrian. The pedestrian's crossing outside a signal or crosswalk is noted but not cited as a contributing factor. The driver’s actions created a hazardous condition resulting in serious injury to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777573 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - A 36-year-old man suffered full-body injuries after an SUV hit him at a Brooklyn intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle traveling south struck him head-on. The driver’s errors remain unspecified in the report.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Bristol Street and Hegeman Avenue in Brooklyn around 11 p.m. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2024 SUV traveling south on Bristol Street struck him with the center front end. The victim sustained injuries to his entire body and remained conscious after the collision. The police report lists the pedestrian’s contributing factors as unspecified and does not identify any driver errors or contributing factors. The vehicle was damaged at the center front end. No ejection occurred, and the pedestrian was not using any safety equipment. The report focuses on the impact and injuries but does not clarify the driver’s fault or violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779267 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 5 - Council bill bars cars from blocking crosswalks. No standing or parking within 20 feet. City must install daylighting barriers at 1,000 intersections yearly. Streets clear. Sightlines open. Danger cut.

Int 1138-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced December 5, 2024. The bill states: “prohibiting standing or parking a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.” Council Member Erik D. Bottcher leads, joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and over two dozen co-sponsors. The law orders the Department of Transportation to install daylighting barriers at a minimum of 1,000 intersections each year, up from 100. The city must also run outreach and education. The bill aims to keep crosswalks clear, improve visibility, and protect people on foot and bike. No more hiding behind parked cars. The committee laid the bill over on April 21, 2025.

• File Int 1138-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-12-05

Nov 30 - A collision on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn left three men injured. The crash involved a sport utility vehicle and an ambulance. Alcohol involvement by one driver contributed to the crash. Injuries included whiplash and upper leg trauma.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn at 4:57 a.m. The collision involved a sport utility vehicle traveling west and an ambulance traveling south. The ambulance sustained damage to its left front quarter panel, while the SUV was damaged on the right front bumper. Three male occupants were injured: a 36-year-old driver and a 40-year-old front passenger in the SUV, and a 60-year-old male driver of the ambulance. All three suffered injuries including whiplash, head, neck, and upper leg trauma. The report explicitly cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor for the 60-year-old ambulance driver. No other contributing factors were specified. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers posed by impaired driving in Brooklyn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4775455 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19