Bodies Break, Leaders Stall—Pelham Bay Streets Still Bleed

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 sedan and tractor trailer collided on Bruckner Expressway. Two men in the sedan suffered arm and whiplash injuries. Both stayed conscious. No driver errors or causes listed by police.

According to the police report, a sedan and a tractor truck diesel collided at 23:11 on Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx. The sedan's left front bumper and quarter panel took the hit. Two men inside, aged 56 and 58, suffered whiplash and arm injuries. Both remained conscious and wore lap belts. The tractor truck had no occupants. The police report lists no driver errors or contributing factors for the crash. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both sedan occupants injured but alert.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4731875 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly Member Benedetto backed a campaign donor’s bid to dodge city idling fines. DJ Transportation owes $65,000 for idling. Advocates say fumes harm neighborhoods. The company refuses to electrify. Disabled riders are used as a shield. Health loses. Industry wins.

On May 30, 2024, Bronx Assembly Member Michael Benedetto testified in support of exempting DJ Transportation from New York City’s anti-idling law. The matter, heard by city officials, centered on whether companies serving students with disabilities should avoid fines for running engines. Benedetto argued, "I believe DJ Ambulette should be ... given a variance to let them have their buses idle to properly maintain their temperature on their buses." DJ Transportation, a campaign donor, owes over $65,000 in unpaid fines and has not committed to electrifying its fleet. Benedetto denied any influence from donations. The Department of Environmental Protection and advocates rejected claims that idling is needed for temperature control, citing community health risks. Critics condemned the use of disabled clients as justification for continued pollution. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Bronx Pol Wants City to Exempt Campaign Donor From Idling Law, Streetsblog NYC, 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

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

Box truck turned wrong on Bruckner Expressway. Smashed into SUV. Four-year-old passenger ejected, left semiconscious, hurt all over. Driver’s improper turn caused the crash.

According to the police report, a box truck made an improper left turn on Bruckner Expressway and struck a southbound SUV. The SUV’s only passenger, a 4-year-old boy, was ejected despite being secured with a lap belt and harness. He suffered severe injuries to his entire body and was left semiconscious, complaining of pain and nausea. The police report lists "Turning Improperly" and "Unsafe Lane Changing" as contributing factors by the box truck driver. No contributing factors are attributed to the victim. The crash underscores the risk posed by improper turning maneuvers by large vehicles on busy city roads.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4728106 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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 2024-05-21

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

A Florida pickup turned right on Buhre Avenue. A 47-year-old woman crossing with the signal was struck. Her neck crushed, pain etched in the street. She stayed conscious. The truck bore no scars. The city marked another wound.

A 2018 Nissan pickup truck with Florida plates turned right on Buhre Avenue near Bruckner Boulevard, striking a 47-year-old woman who was crossing at the intersection. According to the police report, the woman was 'crossing with the signal' when the collision occurred. She suffered crush injuries to her neck but remained conscious at the scene. The police report notes that the pickup truck showed 'no damage' after the impact. The driver was making a right turn at the time of the crash. The only contributing factors listed in the report are 'Unspecified.' The narrative underscores the violence of the impact: 'Her neck crushed. She stayed conscious. The truck showed no damage. The street held her pain.' The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor, emphasizing the systemic danger present at the intersection.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4726276 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 50-year-old male driver suffered injuries during a collision in the Bronx. The crash involved an SUV making a left turn with alcohol cited as a contributing factor. The driver was incoherent but not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 14:58 near 3565 Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx. The involved vehicle was a 2004 Lexus SUV traveling south and making a left turn when it collided, impacting the right front bumper and quarter panel. The driver, a 50-year-old male occupant, was injured with an injury severity rated at level 3 and was incoherent at the scene. The report explicitly cites alcohol involvement as a contributing factor to the crash. The driver was not ejected and was wearing some form of safety equipment. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report. The incident highlights the systemic danger posed by impaired driving in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720042 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A female e-scooter driver was injured and ejected after a sedan collided with her on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx. The crash involved unsafe lane changing by the e-scooter driver, causing head injuries and shock.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx around 14:15. A 38-year-old female e-scooter driver was injured and ejected from her vehicle after a collision with a sedan traveling north. The e-scooter was merging southeast when the impact occurred at the center back end of the scooter and the left front bumper of the sedan. The report cites 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as a contributing factor by the e-scooter driver. The injured rider suffered head abrasions and was in shock. The sedan was unoccupied at the time of the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4723246 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2024-04-15

A 19-year-old male driver suffered whiplash and whole-body injuries after crashing his sedan head-on while fatigued. The impact struck the vehicle’s center front end. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 19-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on Stadium Avenue at 16:53. The driver was operating a 2005 Mercedes sedan traveling west, going straight ahead when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, which sustained damage in the same area. The driver was not ejected and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Fatigued/Drowsy' as the primary contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver impairment. The driver suffered injuries to his entire body, including whiplash, and remained conscious after the collision. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The data highlights the dangers of driver fatigue leading to serious injury even without external collision partners.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713746 - 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

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 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