Eastchester Bleeds—Leaders Sleep

Council bill pushes DOT to let schools, centers, and institutions use streets outside their doors. More people, less traffic. Streets shift from cars to community. Still in committee.

Int 0450-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since February 28, 2024. The bill orders DOT to create a program letting community centers, schools, arts, and religious institutions use adjacent outdoor spaces. The matter title reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to establish a program to allow community centers, schools, arts and cultural institutions and religious institutions to use adjacent outdoor spaces.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads, joined by Stevens, Restler, Won, and others. The bill has not yet passed. If enacted, it could reclaim space from cars, giving it to people. No formal safety analysis yet, but the measure could mean safer, more vibrant streets for all.

• File Int 0450-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to form a board on school crossing guard deployment. NYPD, DOT, and DOE must report twice a year. The aim: more eyes on street danger where kids cross.

Bill Int 0448-2024 sits in the Committee on Public Safety after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to an advisory board on crossing guard deployment," calls for NYPD, DOT, and DOE to join an advisory board. The board must send biannual reports on crossing guard needs to the Mayor, Council Speaker, and Police Commissioner. Council Member Kamillah Hanks leads as primary sponsor, joined by Stevens, Schulman, Salaam, and others. The Bronx Borough President requested the bill. The board’s reports could spotlight gaps and push for better protection at dangerous crossings.

• File Int 0448-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to expand Open Streets on busy holidays. More hours. More car-free blocks. Pedestrians and cyclists get space when crowds surge. Streets shift from traffic to people. Danger drops. The city listens to neighborhoods.

Bill Int 0270-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it amends city code to require the Department of Transportation to expand Open Streets hours on holidays with heavy foot traffic—Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween, and others. The bill reads: 'special activation of the Open Streets program on certain holidays and time periods with significant pedestrian traffic.' Council Member Shekar Krishnan leads as primary sponsor, joined by Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Louis, Nurse, Ossé, Sanchez, Cabán, Banks, Avilés, Riley, Salaam, Hanif, Feliz, Won, Restler, and Joseph. Community groups can suggest more dates. The city must review all requests under the same standards as regular Open Streets. This bill aims to give people the street when they need it most.

• File Int 0270-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill pushes demand-based parking in crowded boroughs. DOT must set rates, tweak with notice. Exempt vehicles dodge new fees. Streets may shift. Pedestrians and cyclists watch the curb.

Int 0474-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Julie Won and co-sponsored by Williams, Restler, Salaam, Bottcher, Riley, Brewer, Farías, and the Brooklyn Borough President. The bill orders DOT to create at least one dynamic parking zone per borough, with rates rising or falling by real-time demand. DOT must set the range before launch and give a week’s notice for changes. Vehicles with special permits stay exempt. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing dynamic parking zones.' No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• File Int 0474-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council wants DOT to study how street design can keep commercial trucks out of residential blocks. The bill sits in committee. Streets should shelter people, not heavy traffic.

Int 0114-2024, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 28, 2024. The bill orders the Department of Transportation to report on 'the utility and feasibility of using street design as a means to limit or reduce the use by commercial vehicles of streets in residential neighborhoods.' Jennifer Gutiérrez leads as primary sponsor, joined by Avilés, the Public Advocate, and others. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It demands a clear look at how design can push trucks off streets where people walk, bike, and live.

• File Int 0114-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders DOT to probe crashes. Expands what counts as serious. Sets tight deadlines. Demands detailed reports. Pushes city to face the wreckage, not hide it.

Int 0263-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Lincoln Restler (primary), Joseph, Feliz, Louis, Won, Salaam, Riley, and Banks. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions,' expands the definition of serious crashes, forces DOT to start investigations within a week, finish in a month, and publish detailed findings. The bill was referred to committee on the day of introduction. It aims to expose the facts behind every deadly impact, demanding the city account for the toll on streets.

• File Int 0263-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council moves to create a DOT parking squad. The bill targets illegal parking. Sponsors say it will enforce rules. Streets choke on blocked lanes. Pedestrians and cyclists pay the price.

Bill Int 0264-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, it would require the Department of Transportation to form a unit focused on parking violations. The matter title reads: 'Establishment of a parking enforcement unit within the department of transportation.' Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by Crystal Hudson, Erik D. Bottcher, and others. The bill aims to crack down on illegal parking, a known threat to people on foot and bike. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but blocked lanes endanger all who travel outside a car.

• File Int 0264-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Council bill orders speed humps on roads beside parks over one acre. DOT can skip spots if safety or rules demand. Law aims to slow cars where families walk, run, and play.

Int 0262-2024 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on February 28, 2024. The bill reads: “requiring the installation of speed humps on roadways adjacent to any park equal or greater than one acre.” Lincoln Restler leads as primary sponsor, joined by eighteen co-sponsors. The Department of Transportation must install speed humps unless the commissioner finds a risk to safety or a conflict with DOT guidelines. The law would take effect 180 days after passage. The measure targets streets where parks meet traffic, aiming to slow cars and shield people outside vehicles.

• File Int 0262-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Albany leaders raid transit funds to pay drivers. Advocates rage. Sixteen groups demand OBTA money fix buses and trains, not bankroll toll rebates. Lawmakers ignore pleas. Millions outside Manhattan lose. Streets stay deadly. Transit riders wait. Cars win.

On February 23, 2024, sixteen advocacy groups sent a letter to Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. They condemned the use of Outer Borough Transit Account (OBTA) funds for toll rebates instead of transit improvements. The OBTA, created in 2018 from a surcharge on Manhattan taxi and for-hire rides, was meant to boost transit service or lower fares outside Manhattan. Yet, $22.2 million has gone to toll rebates for drivers in the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Only one transit project—the Far Rockaway City Ticket—has seen funding. Riders Alliance Director Danny Pearlstein said, “The Outer Borough Transit Account should clearly also help the millions of people outside Manhattan who don't have cars and who depend on public transit.” Lawmakers have not responded. Vulnerable road users—bus riders, train passengers, pedestrians—remain sidelined as car subsidies persist.

• Advocates Slam Albany Pols for Using Transit Fund to Encourage Driving, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-23

SUV flipped on Hutchinson River Parkway. Unsafe speed. Three cars struck. Driver broke hip and leg. Metal twisted. Northbound traffic scattered. No pedestrians. No escape.

According to the police report, a 2022 BMW SUV overturned while changing lanes at unsafe speed on Hutchinson River Parkway. The SUV struck three northbound vehicles traveling straight ahead—a Honda, Audi, and Mercedes—damaging their front and rear ends. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as the contributing factor. The SUV driver, a 35-year-old woman, suffered a fractured and dislocated hip and upper leg. She was conscious and not ejected. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention any victim actions or helmet use. The crash left the SUV demolished and other vehicles damaged, showing the risk of high-speed lane changes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705076 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A 59-year-old female passenger suffered a shoulder injury when an SUV executing an improper turn collided with a sedan on Baychester Avenue in the Bronx. The impact struck the SUV’s left front quarter panel and left side doors, causing internal injuries.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 16:24 on Baychester Avenue in the Bronx. The SUV, driven by a licensed male driver, was making a U-turn when it collided with a sedan traveling straight ahead. The primary contributing factor cited is "Turning Improperly" by the SUV driver. The impact occurred on the SUV’s left front quarter panel and left side doors. A 59-year-old female occupant in the right rear passenger seat of the SUV was injured, sustaining an upper arm and shoulder injury classified as internal and serious. She was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the passenger’s behavior or safety equipment. The sedan, also driven by a licensed male driver, sustained damage to its left front bumper. This crash highlights the dangers posed by improper turning maneuvers in vehicle collisions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4704037 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Two SUVs collided traveling north on Baychester Avenue. The rear SUV followed too closely and struck the vehicle ahead. Two female passengers suffered internal injuries to the knee, leg, foot, and neck. Both remained conscious and were not ejected.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 18:35 on Baychester Avenue in the Bronx. Two Station Wagons/SUVs were traveling north when the rear vehicle impacted the center back end of the front vehicle. The contributing factor cited was 'Following Too Closely' by the driver of the rear SUV. The report identifies two injured occupants: a 33-year-old female right rear passenger with knee, lower leg, and foot injuries, and a 28-year-old female left rear passenger with neck injuries. Both passengers were conscious and not ejected from their vehicles. The report notes no vehicle damage despite the collision. Driver error in maintaining safe following distance directly contributed to the crash and resulting injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703481 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

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 2024-02-13

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 2024-02-13

Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Sixteen-year-old unlicensed driver crashed at unsafe speed on Kingsland Avenue. He fractured his leg. Police cite outside distraction and speed. No other injuries reported. System failed to stop reckless driving.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old unlicensed driver crashed a Kia sedan at 12:45 a.m. on Kingsland Avenue in the Bronx. The teen struck a parked SUV and another sedan. He suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot, but remained conscious. Police list 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Outside Car Distraction' as contributing factors. No other injuries or driver errors are reported. The crash highlights the danger when unlicensed, speeding drivers lose control on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700963 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

A northbound SUV struck the rear of a stopped SUV on Boston Road in the Bronx. The driver of the struck vehicle suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited following too closely as the cause. Both drivers were licensed men.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 15:05 on Boston Road in the Bronx. A 2014 Kia SUV was stopped in traffic when it was rear-ended by a 2008 Jeep SUV traveling northbound. The point of impact was the center back end of the Kia and the center front end of the Jeep. The Kia driver, a 25-year-old man, was injured with neck pain and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' as the contributing factor, indicating the Jeep driver failed to maintain a safe distance behind the stopped vehicle. Both drivers held valid licenses from Florida and New York respectively. The injured driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4700114 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

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 2024-01-30

State lawmakers unlocked millions from the Outer Borough Transportation Account. The money will fund toll rebates and transit projects. Some cash backs driving. Some boosts buses. Advocates push for more bus service. Riders need better, faster, safer options now.

Bill: Outer Borough Transportation Account (OBTA) funding allocation. Status: Active as of January 24, 2024. Committee: State legislature, with final approval by the Capital Program Review Board. The OBTA, created in 2018, collects a taxi surcharge as 'Phase I' of congestion pricing. The first $300 million funded subway repairs; the next $50 million now goes to projects chosen by state legislators and the governor. The bill summary notes, 'A special fund created in 2018 to pay for transportation 'carrots' intended to counteract the supposed stick of congestion pricing finally has a balance of tens of millions of dollars.' Assembly Member Nily Rozic (D-Queens) secured restored Q46 bus service. Lisa Daglian of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA called for a weekly City Ticket. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance demanded better bus service, saying, 'The most important thing is better bus service.' The fund will shape how New Yorkers travel as congestion pricing nears.

• The Money For Congestion Pricing ‘Carrots’ Is Finally Here, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-24

Advocates stormed Albany for Sammy’s Law. They want New York City to set its own speed limits. Last year, Speaker Heastie blocked a vote. Mothers starved in protest. Lawmakers stalled. Now, survivors and families demand action. Data shows lower speeds save lives.

On January 23, 2024, advocates launched a renewed push for Sammy’s Law in Albany. The bill, which would let New York City control its own speed limits, stalled last year when Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie refused to allow a vote, despite majority support. Brooklyn Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, a strong supporter, noted, 'Even [lawmakers] who had City Council members from their districts supporting the bill were still not interested.' Queens Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, recently injured by a driver, said, 'Had the car been going faster ... I might not be here.' Amy Cohen of Families for Safe Streets highlighted broad support: 'We have organizations from across the city supporting Sammy’s Law.' City data shows a 36% drop in pedestrian deaths after the 2014 speed limit reduction. The bill remains in limbo, but advocates are not backing down.

• This Year’s Mettle: The Push for Sammy’s Law Begins — With or Without Carl Heastie, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-23