No One Spared: Crotona Park East Bleeds While Leaders Dither

Senate backs S 9752. Mt. Vernon gets green light for up to 20 school speed zones. Law aims to slow cars near kids. Most senators vote yes. A few say no. Streets may change. Danger remains for the young.

Senate Bill S 9752, sponsored by Jamaal Bailey, authorizes Mt. Vernon to launch a school speed zone demonstration program, with up to twenty zones allowed. The bill passed the Senate on June 7, 2024, during a committee vote. The matter title reads: 'Authorizes the city of Mt. Vernon to establish a school speed zone demonstration program; authorizes installation in no more than twenty school speed zones in such city.' Bailey and a majority of senators voted yes, while a handful opposed. The bill targets speeding near schools, a known threat to children and other vulnerable road users. No formal safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9752, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

A 15-year-old girl suffered a fractured elbow and dislocation after an SUV struck her at an intersection. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the vehicle, traveling straight ahead, hit her center front end. The victim remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 15-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Sheridan Boulevard and East 172 Street at 17:40. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when she was struck by a Station Wagon/SUV traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained no damage. The victim suffered a fracture and dislocation to her elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The report lists no specific driver contributing factors, but the collision occurred despite the pedestrian crossing lawfully with the signal. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The incident highlights a failure in vehicle operation or awareness at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730588 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council and mayor strike deal to rein in last-mile warehouses. Delivery vans choke streets. Residents breathe fumes. Councilmember Alexa Avilés and others demand rules. New permits, pollution checks, and safety reviews loom. City promises action. Advocates vow to watch.

On May 30, 2024, the New York City Council and Mayor Adams' administration agreed to pursue regulation of last-mile delivery warehouses. The deal emerged during negotiations over the 'City of Yes for Economic Opportunity' zoning plan, which the Council approved. The matter summary notes, 'the administration has pledged to support future legislation to cut pollution from these warehouses and propose rules to restrict new facilities.' Councilmember Alexa Avilés (District 38) and 28 colleagues sent a letter demanding stricter oversight. Avilés and advocates want special permits and environmental reviews to protect neighborhoods from traffic, pollution, and safety hazards. Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer promised a bill empowering the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate warehouse vehicle emissions. Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr. stressed the Council’s leverage: 'It gets to a point where you have to use your power of voting to get the attention of the city.' The City Planning Commission and Council must vote again before rules take effect. Advocates and councilmembers will monitor the administration’s follow-through.

• NYC's 'last-mile' delivery warehouses face a potential reckoning with regulation, gothamist.com, Published 2024-05-30

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

A Ford sedan sat parked on Southern Boulevard. Impact caved its right front bumper. Inside, a driver took a blow to the chest. His passenger’s shoulder pinned. Both conscious. Both belted. Metal pressed flesh. The street swallowed their calm.

At 1490 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, a parked Ford sedan suffered severe damage to its right front bumper, according to the police report. Two occupants were inside: a 57-year-old male driver and a 50-year-old female passenger. Both were wearing seat belts and remained conscious after the crash. The police report states the driver sustained chest injuries while the passenger was trapped by her shoulder, both suffering crush injuries. The vehicle was stationary at the time of the incident, with the impact focused on the right front bumper. The report lists contributing factors as 'unspecified' and does not cite any driver errors or external causes. No mention is made of victim behavior as a contributing factor. The event underscores the vulnerability of vehicle occupants even when parked, as metal and force converge without warning.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722659 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to hike fines for illegal ATVs and dirt bikes. First offense: $375–$750. Repeat: $750–$1,500. Law aims at reckless riders who menace city streets and endanger lives.

Bill Int 0856-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety. Introduced April 18, 2024, it seeks to amend city code to raise fines for unlawful ATV and dirt bike use. The bill states: 'The first offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 375 dollars and up to 750 dollars. Any subsequent offense would be punishable by a fine and/or a civil penalty of at least 750 dollars and up to 1500 dollars.' Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa leads as primary sponsor, joined by Salamanca Jr., Gennaro, Brannan, Louis, Ung, Restler, and Farías. The bill was referred to committee the same day. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0856-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

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

Council pushes for borough-based DOT teams. Staff must answer traffic requests fast. Response tied to need. Three-month deadline. Action targets slow fixes. Vulnerable road users wait less.

Int 0853-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on April 18, 2024. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating borough-based traffic request response teams,' requires the Department of Transportation to assign staff to each borough, matching staff numbers to request volume. Council Members Farah N. Louis (primary sponsor), Amanda Farías, and Rafael Salamanca, Jr. back the measure. The teams must respond to traffic requests within three months. The bill aims to cut delays that leave dangerous conditions unaddressed, giving vulnerable road users a better shot at safer streets.

• File Int 0853-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

A 65-year-old man suffered head injuries after an SUV hit him at an intersection in the Bronx. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal. The vehicle, traveling south, impacted the pedestrian with its left front bumper, causing contusions and bruises.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:42 AM near 1762 Boston Road in the Bronx. A 65-year-old male pedestrian was injured when struck by a 2012 Nissan SUV traveling southbound. The vehicle's left front bumper was the point of impact, causing head injuries classified as contusions and bruises. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal at the intersection, noted as a contributing factor, but no driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited in the report. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle going straight ahead. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not attribute fault to the pedestrian. The collision highlights the dangers present at intersections where pedestrian signals are ignored.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724876 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 65-year-old man was injured when a vehicle traveling south on Freeman Street struck him at an intersection. The impact hit the pedestrian’s face, causing contusions. The driver proceeded straight ahead, colliding with the pedestrian in the roadway.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured on Freeman Street in the Bronx after being struck by a vehicle traveling south. The pedestrian, a 65-year-old male, sustained facial contusions and was conscious at the scene. The vehicle’s point of impact was the center front end, indicating a direct collision with the pedestrian. The driver was going straight ahead prior to the crash. The report lists the pedestrian’s contributing factors as unspecified, and no driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were explicitly cited. The pedestrian was located at an intersection and was engaged in other actions in the roadway. Vehicle damage was noted as 'other.' No additional details on driver license status or vehicle type were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716392 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Chassis cab veered to park. Cyclist changed lanes. Metal struck flesh. The 21-year-old bicyclist took the hit, full-body hurt, still conscious. Driver inattention and confusion fueled the crash.

According to the police report, a chassis cab traveling south on Boston Road in the Bronx entered a parked position and struck a northbound bicyclist who was changing lanes. The impact came from the truck’s left front bumper to the bike’s center front. The 21-year-old male cyclist suffered injuries to his entire body but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report lists driver inattention or distraction and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. Pedestrian/bicyclist error or confusion is also cited. The cyclist wore no safety equipment. The crash underscores the danger when drivers fail to pay attention and yield to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

A tractor truck pulling out from parking struck a northbound bicyclist on Southern Boulevard, ejecting him and causing hip and upper leg injuries. The truck driver’s improper lane usage caused the collision, leaving the cyclist bruised and injured.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx at 18:54. A tractor truck diesel vehicle was starting from parking when it collided with a northbound bicyclist going straight ahead. The point of impact was the truck’s left front bumper and the bike’s center front end. The report cites the truck driver’s 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor. The bicyclist, a 50-year-old male, was ejected from his bike and sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg, including contusions and bruises. The cyclist was conscious but injured, and no safety equipment was noted. The data highlights the truck driver’s error in lane usage as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713589 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Council members blasted DOT for street redesigns that cut crashes and injuries. They claimed community harm, ignoring hard data. Bike lanes and safer streets faced political fire. DOT stood firm, citing lives saved and broad support. Vulnerable road users caught in the crossfire.

On March 19, 2024, the City Council held an oversight hearing on DOT street safety projects and Streets Plan implementation. The hearing, led by Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers (D-Queens), Christopher Banks (D-Brooklyn), and Rafael Salamanca Jr. (D-Bronx), focused on the DOT's progress under the Streets Plan, which mandates annual targets for protected bike lanes and bus lanes. Brooks-Powers objected to the Seagirt Boulevard bike lane, claiming DOT ignored community wishes, despite previously calling for more investment. Banks demanded removal of new protected bike lanes in East New York, citing parking and safety issues, though data showed fewer crashes and injuries. Salamanca criticized a Bronx street redesign for congestion, despite lower crash rates. He also accused DOT of neglecting communities of color, though data shows these areas receive more redesigns. DOT officials defended their process, emphasizing community engagement and prioritizing high-need areas. The council's opposition stands in stark contrast to the projects' proven safety benefits for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Cycle of Rage: Council Members Slam DOT for Successful Safety Projects, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-19