Three Dead, Hundreds Hurt: Morris Park Bleeds While Leaders Stall

Congestion pricing hits Manhattan at midnight. Cars pay to cross south of 60th. Lawmakers split. Some call it a burden. Others hail cleaner air, safer streets, and better transit. The toll stirs anger, hope, and a fight over who pays and who breathes.

On January 3, 2025, congestion pricing (no bill number cited) will begin in Manhattan after a federal judge allowed the toll to proceed. The policy charges most drivers $9 to enter south of 60th Street during peak hours. The matter, titled 'Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll,' has drawn sharp lines. Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30, Queens) opposes the toll, warning, 'I don't know how my district is going to be impacted.' He fears more cars parking in Queens and unclear pollution risks. Council Member Kristy Marmorato (Bronx) calls it a 'cash grab.' In contrast, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas support the measure, citing cleaner air, safer streets, and transit upgrades. González-Rojas says, 'Congestion pricing isn't about penalizing anyone—it's about modernizing our transportation system and tackling climate change.' The judge ordered further study on environmental impacts, but the toll begins as scheduled.

• Congestion pricing set to begin at midnight Sunday as federal judge clears path for Manhattan toll, amny.com, Published 2025-01-03

As congestion pricing begins, unions and politicians rage. They claim tolls hurt workers and raise costs. Facts show most commuters use transit. Fewer cars mean faster emergency response. The toll funds transit upgrades. The drama masks real safety gains for all.

On January 3, 2025, public debate erupted as New York City prepared to activate congestion pricing in Manhattan. The measure, set to fund $15 billion in subway and rail improvements, drew fierce opposition from unions and Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato, who called it a 'cash grab' that would 'increase all costs in our daily lives.' The union for FDNY EMTs argued the toll would burden low-wage workers, but data shows 90% of commuters already use public transit. City officials, including mayoral spokesperson Liz Garcia, insisted emergency response would not suffer. The measure's summary notes that reducing car traffic will speed up emergency vehicles and protect passengers. The uproar highlights the tension between entrenched driving privileges and the urgent need to make streets safer for vulnerable road users.

• Congestion Pricing Is Happening: Cue the Irrational Drama from the Placard Elite and the Suburbs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-03

An e-bike rider suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a collision with a sedan traveling west on E Tremont Ave in the Bronx. The impact struck the left front of the e-bike and the right front bumper of the sedan. The rider remained conscious.

According to the police report, a collision occurred at 14:35 on E Tremont Ave in the Bronx involving a 2019 Jeep sedan and an e-bike, both traveling west. The point of impact was the right front bumper of the sedan and the left front bumper of the e-bike. The e-bike driver, a 43-year-old male, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity 3, and was conscious at the scene. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors explicitly. The sedan had no occupants and was going straight ahead at the time of impact. No victim behaviors or helmet use were noted as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable e-bike riders when sharing roadways with motor vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782737 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV traveling north struck an e-bike making a left turn on Eastchester Road. The e-bike rider, partially ejected and injured, suffered bruises and arm injuries. Police cite rider confusion as a contributing factor; no driver errors were reported.

According to the police report, at 18:35 on Eastchester Road near Stillwell Avenue, a 2024 Kia SUV traveling northgoing straight ahead collided with an e-bike making a left turn. The point of impact was the left front bumper of both vehicles. The e-bike rider, a 44-year-old male wearing a helmet, was partially ejected and sustained contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The SUV driver, a licensed female driver from New York, had two occupants and no contributing driver errors were cited. The police report lists "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" as a contributing factor, indicating confusion on the part of the e-bike rider but does not assign fault to the SUV driver. Vehicle damage was limited to the left front bumper on both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779450 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Ambulance hit bus on Pelham Parkway. Driver distracted. Arm injuries. Both vehicles damaged. Inattention behind the wheel led to chaos.

According to the police report, an ambulance traveling north on Pelham Parkway collided with a westbound bus near Williamsbridge Road at 6:38 AM. The ambulance driver, a 37-year-old woman, suffered contusions and bruises to her elbow, lower arm, and hand. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles were going straight before the crash. The ambulance struck the bus's right front quarter panel, damaging both vehicles. Driver inattention was the only error cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776174 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A bus and SUV collided on Pelham Parkway. Five people hurt. Impact slammed metal, sent shock through seats. Driver distraction listed for both. Passengers, including a child, suffered whiplash and head wounds.

According to the police report, a bus and a BMW SUV crashed on Pelham Parkway at 18:20. Both vehicles were heading west. The bus struck the SUV's right rear bumper with its left front. Five people were injured: a 13-year-old boy with head trauma, a 60-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man with back injuries, a 30-year-old woman with neck pain, and a baby girl with a shoulder wound. All were conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' for both vehicles as the cause. Safety restraints, including lap belts, harnesses, and a child seat, were in use. The crash left passengers with whiplash and head injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769905 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two taxis collided on Pelham Parkway South in the Bronx. The rear taxi, driven by a distracted man, struck the front taxi. The driver suffered a contusion and injury to his elbow and lower arm. Both vehicles sustained front and rear damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:15 AM on Pelham Parkway South in the Bronx. Two taxis traveling east were involved. The rear taxi was stopped in traffic when it was struck from behind by another taxi whose driver was inattentive and distracted. The impact was at the center back end of the front taxi and the center front end of the rear taxi. The driver of the rear taxi, a 36-year-old man, was injured with contusions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768581 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

A 42-year-old man was struck while walking outside an intersection on Eastchester Road in the Bronx. The pedestrian suffered bruises and lower leg injuries. The SUV involved showed no damage and was parked at the time of impact.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old male pedestrian was injured on Eastchester Road in the Bronx around 8:00 PM. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection and engaged in 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at 3. The vehicle involved was a 2019 Ford SUV that was parked at the time of the incident. The report notes no damage to the vehicle and no point of impact damage. No contributing factors were specified for the driver or pedestrian. The driver was male, and the vehicle had three occupants. The report does not cite driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding, nor does it list any pedestrian behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753558 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Parking mandates choke streets, raise rents, and trap New Yorkers in car dependence. Council Member Marmorato and Borough President Richards defend these rules, blocking safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. Ending mandates means more housing, cleaner air, and safer streets for people, not cars.

This opinion, published September 3, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, calls out Council Member Kristy Marmorato and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for defending parking mandates. Richards opposes lifting mandates in Queens, citing poor transit. Marmorato lobbied to restore mandates in a Bronx rezoning near new Metro North stations, arguing, 'We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities.' The editorial rebukes this logic, stating, 'We should not cling to parking mandates when we know they encourage car ownership, make streets less vibrant, increase rents, and pollute our air.' The piece urges officials to break the cycle of car-first policy, invest in transit, and end mandates that block affordable housing and safer streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the editorial centers the harm parking mandates inflict on vulnerable road users and the city’s livability.

• Opinion: It’s Time to Say ‘No’ to Car Drivers and ‘Yes’ to Ending Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

A 40-year-old male bicyclist suffered severe leg injuries in the Bronx. According to the police report, unsafe speed by the unlicensed rider caused the crash. The cyclist was helmeted but sustained fractures and dislocations to his lower leg.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:15 near 1680 Pelham Parkway South in the Bronx. The injured party was a 40-year-old male bicyclist who was the driver of the bike involved. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor to the crash. The bicyclist was traveling east, going straight ahead, and impacted at the center back end of the vehicle. The cyclist was wearing a helmet but was unlicensed, which is noted in the report. Injuries included fractures, distortions, and dislocations to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report does not indicate any other contributing factors or victim behaviors. The focus remains on the unsafe speed of the unlicensed bicyclist as the cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4756877 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 28-year-old unlicensed female driver struck a parked SUV on Morris Park Avenue in the Bronx. The impact damaged the right front quarter panel of her sedan and injured her shoulder. Passenger distraction and improper lane usage contributed to the crash.

According to the police report, at 14:10 on Morris Park Avenue in the Bronx, a 28-year-old female driver operating a 2008 sedan collided with a parked 2016 SUV. The sedan's right front quarter panel struck the SUV's left rear quarter panel. The driver was injured, suffering a shoulder and upper arm contusion, and remained conscious. The report cites 'Passenger Distraction' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. Notably, the driver was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The SUV driver was licensed and parked, indicating the collision was caused by the sedan driver's errors. The injured driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted, unlicensed drivers and improper lane usage in urban traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751484 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

Bronx council member Kristy Marmorato led a committee to keep parking mandates near new Metro-North stations. The move blocks plans to cut car use and build more affordable housing. Cars stay king. Transit and vulnerable road users lose ground.

On August 7, 2024, the City Council's Land Use Committee, led by Kristy Marmorato, amended a rezoning plan (no bill number provided) for areas near two new Metro-North stations. The committee rejected the Adams administration's push to eliminate parking requirements, instead voting to retain mandates and lower building heights. Marmorato argued, "We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities," and prioritized drivers over reducing car dependency. The proposal, part of the Mayor's 'City of Yes for Housing Opportunity' plan, aimed to boost affordable housing and transit-oriented development. Marmorato's stance, echoed in multiple statements, keeps parking at the center and limits safer, walkable streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the move preserves car dominance and its dangers for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Council Trades Housing Affordability for Car Parking Near New Metro-North Stops, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-07

Council members and developers vow to build up to 200 parking spaces per project near new Bronx Metro-North stations. Despite no city parking mandates, car storage dominates debate. Transit access takes a back seat. Vulnerable road users face more cars, more risk.

On July 10, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on proposed rezonings around new Metro-North stations in the Bronx. The matter, titled 'Transit-Oriented Bronx Developments Will Have Ample Parking, Developers Tell Council,' focused on whether to require parking in new residential and commercial projects. Council Members Amanda Faris, Kevin C. Riley, Rafael Salamanca, and Kristy Marmorato all pressed for developers to include parking, despite the city's move to waive mandates. Riley called parking 'a huge issue.' Developers, including Baker Development, promised up to 200 spaces per project. Bronx City Planning Director Paul Philips said, 'We certainly expect developers to provide parking.' The debate ignored the danger more parking brings: more cars, more conflict, more risk for people walking and biking. No safety analyst weighed in, but the outcome is clear—transit-oriented in name, car-centric in practice.

• Transit-Oriented Bronx Developments Will Have Ample Parking, Developers Tell Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-10

A 22-year-old male moped driver was ejected and suffered a severe shoulder injury after a high-speed crash on Eastchester Road in the Bronx. The driver was unlicensed and engaged in aggressive driving, causing the violent impact.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male occupant driving a 2023 motorscooter was involved in a crash at 4:11 AM on Eastchester Road in the Bronx. The driver was unlicensed and traveling southbound, going straight ahead when the crash occurred. The report cites 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage' as contributing factors. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and sustained a fracture, dislocation, and distorted injury to the shoulder and upper arm, classified as injury severity level 3. The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The report highlights driver errors—unsafe speed and aggressive behavior—as the cause of this violent crash, with no mention of victim fault or contributing victim behavior.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738072 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan collided with a moped traveling east on Pelham Parkway South in the Bronx. The moped driver suffered abrasions to his elbow and lower arm. The sedan showed no damage. Driver distraction by handheld cell phone use was a factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 22:10 on Pelham Parkway South in the Bronx. A sedan and a moped, both traveling east, collided with impact on the moped's left front quarter panel and the sedan's right front quarter panel. The moped driver, a 36-year-old male, was injured with abrasions to his elbow and lower arm but was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The sedan driver was licensed and showed no vehicle damage. The report identifies the sedan driver’s use of a handheld cell phone as a contributing factor, indicating driver distraction. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in vehicle-to-moped crashes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4739470 - 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 2024-06-07

Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07

Assembly passes A 7652. Schenectady gets school speed cameras. Law aims to slow drivers near kids. Cameras expire in 2028. Vote split. Streets may get safer for children on foot.

Bill A 7652, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' passed the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymembers Phil Steck and Angelo Santabarbara, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2028. The Assembly vote saw strong support but also opposition. Steck and Santabarbara led the push. The bill's text is blunt: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady.' No formal safety analyst note was provided, but speed cameras have a record of reducing driver speed and protecting children walking to school.

• File A 7652, Open States, Published 2024-06-07