Steel Wins, Kids Lose—Lower the Limit Now

Albany leaders tried to delay an upstate special election, risking democracy to bargain over congestion pricing. Governor Hochul put the bill on hold. The editorial backs congestion pricing but slams the move to silence 800,000 New Yorkers. Power games, real stakes.

On February 12, 2025, an editorial targeted a special election bill pushed by State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. The bill, introduced late Friday, would let Governor Hochul delay a congressional special election until November 4, leaving nearly 800,000 upstate residents without representation. The editorial quotes, 'wiping out congressional representation for so many people for so long is unfair and undemocratic and unconstitutional.' Stewart-Cousins is mentioned as a key player. Hochul requested the bill be put on hold, pausing the plan. The editorial supports congestion pricing, noting it has 'successfully reduced Midtown and Downtown traffic,' but condemns using democracy as a bargaining chip. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users is assessed, but the piece underscores the importance of congestion pricing for safer, less crowded streets.

• Don’t swap democracy to save tolls: Kill the special election scam regardless of congestion pricing, nydailynews.com, Published 2025-02-12

MTA boss Janno Lieber told lawmakers the state must fund transit repairs like Medicaid—steady, not crisis-driven. The MTA’s $68-billion plan faces a $33-billion gap. State leaders stalled, leaving riders and infrastructure in limbo. Advocates demand reliable, timely funding.

On February 7, 2025, MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber addressed state legislators, pressing for stable, recurring state funding for the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan. The $68-billion plan, approved by the MTA Board, has only $35 billion secured. State leaders, including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, rejected the plan’s funding gap, insisting it be resolved in the state budget. Lieber argued, 'the MTA capital budget is totally predictable... no different than Medicaid and education.' He called for the state to treat transit infrastructure as a core, recurring expense. Advocates like Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany echoed this, demanding the state guarantee timely payments and accountability. Governor Hochul and legislative leaders voiced support but offered no concrete solutions. The debate leaves the city’s transit riders waiting for action and exposes them to the risks of delayed repairs and unreliable service.

• Paradigm Shift: MTA Boss Says State Should Pony Up More For Capital Plans, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-07

A sedan traveling south in the Bronx struck a parked SUV after the driver suffered an illness. The 64-year-old female driver was injured and unconscious, restrained by a lap belt and harness. The impact damaged the front of the sedan and rear of the SUV.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 13:43 in the Bronx near E 241 St. The sedan, driven by a 64-year-old licensed female driver, was starting from parking when the collision happened. The vehicle struck a parked station wagon/SUV from behind, impacting the center front end of the sedan and the center back end of the SUV. The report lists 'Illness' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating the driver’s medical condition impaired control. The driver was injured, unconscious, and secured by a lap belt and harness. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted. The SUV was unoccupied at the time. This crash highlights the risks posed by sudden driver incapacitation on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790691 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two women injured as SUVs crash on E 235 St. One driver started from parking, the other drove straight. Police cite driver inexperience. Both suffered head and leg injuries. Lap belts used. No ejections.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on E 235 St near Bronxwood Ave in the Bronx at 19:49. One SUV was starting from parking, the other was going straight. The crash left a 48-year-old female driver with whiplash and head injuries, and a 61-year-old female passenger with contusions to her knee, lower leg, and foot. Both were conscious and not ejected. The report cites driver inexperience as a contributing factor. Both occupants wore lap belts. No victim actions contributed to the crash. The report focuses on driver errors and the impact between the vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790391 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling west struck two parked SUVs on E 237 St in the Bronx. The driver and front passenger suffered neck contusions. Police cite the sedan driver’s failure to maintain safe clearance as the cause of the crash.

According to the police report, at 1:17 AM on E 237 St in the Bronx, a westbound sedan driven by a 30-year-old female collided with two parked SUVs. The report identifies "Passing Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the sedan driver failed to maintain adequate clearance from the parked vehicles. The impact involved the sedan’s left front quarter panel striking the right front quarter panels of both parked SUVs. The sedan carried two occupants: the driver and a 22-year-old male front passenger. Both were injured, sustaining neck contusions classified as injury severity level 3. Both occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victims’ behavior. The crash highlights the dangers posed by driver errors in proximity to parked vehicles on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790666 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Gov. Hochul dodged the $35 billion hole in the MTA’s capital plan. She told the MTA to revise and resubmit. Riders wait. Lawmakers point fingers. The city and state offer less than promised. The gap grows. Transit hangs in limbo.

On January 22, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state’s budget approach, sidestepping the $33–$35 billion shortfall in the MTA capital plan. The plan, previously vetoed by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, now faces deeper uncertainty. Hochul’s budget proposes $3 billion each from the state and city, less than the $4 billion the MTA expected. Hochul stated, "The MTA is developing an updated capital plan to propose to me and the legislature, and once we receive it, we will determine the best way to fund it." Advocates, including Reinvent Albany, called this an abdication of responsibility, warning it puts millions of transit riders at risk. No safety analyst has assessed the direct impact on vulnerable road users, but the funding gap threatens the system they rely on.

• Budget or Budge It? Gov. Hochul Continues Dawdling on the MTA Capital Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-22

A city bus swerved to dodge a double-parked car. It crashed through a wall and dangled over a Bronx overpass. No one was hurt. Debris rained down. The city’s parking chaos left concrete cracked and nerves frayed.

NY1 reported on January 17, 2025, that a BxM1 MTA bus partially drove off the Henry Hudson Parkway overpass near Kappock Street after the driver swerved to avoid a double-parked car. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz stated, "We’re told by the MTA that the bus was trying to get around an illegally double-parked car, and he hit the wall and went through it." The crash damaged the overpass wall and scattered debris onto the street below. No injuries were reported, though conflicting accounts left passenger presence unclear. City Councilman Eric Dinowitz highlighted the broader issue: "We’re seeing all over the city parking regulations not being enforced." The incident underscores the risks posed by illegal parking and the need for stricter enforcement and infrastructure checks.

• MTA Bus Hangs Off Bronx Overpass, NY1, Published 2025-01-17

SUV slammed into car’s rear on Pitman Ave. Passenger in back seat took the hit—shoulder, arm, whiplash. Driver followed too close. Inattention behind the wheel. Another night, another injury.

According to the police report, an SUV rear-ended another vehicle on Pitman Ave in the Bronx at 10 PM. The SUV, heading east, struck the right front bumper of the car ahead. A 36-year-old woman riding in the right rear seat suffered injuries to her shoulder and upper arm and reported whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the SUV driver's errors. No actions by the injured passenger contributed to the crash. The collision underscores the risks when drivers fail to keep distance and lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4787677 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Albany leaders talk. Riders wait. The $33-billion hole in the MTA capital plan grows. No new funding. No real answers. Delays mount. The system crumbles while politicians promise support but deliver nothing concrete. Vulnerable New Yorkers are left exposed.

On January 15, 2025, Governor Hochul addressed the $33-billion shortfall in the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan. The matter, described as a need for a 'concrete blueprint that will deliver actual results,' remains unresolved. Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins all voiced support but offered no funding solutions. Hochul rejected raising personal taxes and delayed the cap-and-invest program. Heastie pinned hopes on federal aid, while Stewart-Cousins admitted, 'we didn't have an answer.' The MTA is already delaying purchases. No council member or legislator advanced a plan. The gap leaves transit riders—especially those on foot, bike, or bus—at risk as the system’s decline continues.

• ‘Trust Us’: Albany Pols Offer Only Promises To Fill Massive Hole In MTA Capital Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-15

Albany leaders stall on MTA funding. They block capital plans. They threaten congestion pricing. Subways face cuts. Riders pay the price. Service, safety, and reliability hang in the balance. Political games choke the city’s lifeline. Vulnerable New Yorkers lose again.

This report covers the ongoing 2025 state legislative budget negotiations over the MTA’s 2025-29 capital plan and congestion pricing. The article, published January 13, 2025, highlights how Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Governor Hochul have failed to deliver needed funding. The matter summary states: 'Starving the MTA will not actually improve service and will not actually improve safety, will not actually improve reliability.' Lawmakers consider exemptions or repeals to congestion pricing, undermining the MTA’s financial foundation. Andrew Rein, a key voice, warns that withholding funds is 'a recipe for disaster and an abdication of responsibility.' The legislature’s inaction threatens subway modernization, safety, and reliability. Without proper investment, vulnerable riders—those who rely on transit—face greater risk and hardship.

• Albany’s Power Brokers Are Trying To Break Your Subway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-13

Andrea Stewart-Cousins appears in a sharp editorial blasting Governor Hochul’s 2025 agenda. The piece slams congestion pricing, green policies, and tax hikes. It accuses leaders of ignoring public will. Vulnerable road users remain unmentioned. Systemic danger persists.

On January 13, 2025, an editorial opinion referenced State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (District 35) in a critique of Governor Hochul’s upcoming State of the State address. The editorial, published by nypost.com, claims, 'Gov. Hochul's State of the State address Tuesday will outline her 2025 legislative priorities, but New Yorkers shouldn't expect them to reflect their own desires.' Stewart-Cousins is mentioned as an opponent of charter school expansion and as a key legislative figure. The editorial opposes congestion pricing, green energy programs, and tax increases, but does not address the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst assessment is provided. The piece highlights ongoing systemic risks by ignoring the needs of those most at risk on city streets.

• Political deathwish: Gov. Hochul to unveil sad ’25 agenda in her State of the State, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-13

A distracted driver struck a 35-year-old woman crossing White Plains Road outside a crosswalk. The impact caused abdominal and pelvic injuries, leaving her bruised and conscious. The driver’s inattention was the sole cited cause of the crash.

According to the police report, at 4:47 AM on White Plains Road in the Bronx, a Jeep traveling southeast struck a 35-year-old female pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The report cites "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the sole contributing factor, repeated twice for emphasis. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her abdomen and pelvis, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian at the center front end, with damage to the same area. The pedestrian’s crossing outside a signal or crosswalk is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were cited. This crash highlights the systemic danger posed by driver distraction in urban streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785252 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

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

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

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Republican lawmakers blasted MTA chief Janno Lieber. They called for his resignation. They slammed the new $9 congestion toll. They dismissed claims of safer subways. They warned of more taxes. Riders and walkers remain caught in the crossfire.

On January 8, 2025, Republican state legislators, including Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (District 9), held a press conference demanding the resignation of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Janno Lieber. The lawmakers, joined by Senators Steven Rhoads and Bill Weber, criticized Lieber for 'losing the trust of commuters' and downplaying subway crime. They condemned the new $9 congestion pricing toll for Midtown, with Weber calling it 'tone deaf' and demanding repeal. The event summary reads: 'GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees.' The lawmakers oppose further taxes and fees to close the MTA’s $33 billion gap. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The debate leaves the city’s most exposed—pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders—uncertain and unprotected.

• GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-08

Lawmakers face a $33 billion MTA budget gap. The new Manhattan congestion toll hits drivers, but it is not enough. Senate leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins objects to the unfunded plan. More taxes and fees loom. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous.

On January 6, 2025, the MTA’s $33 billion budget shortfall dominated debate. The matter, titled "MTA eyes new taxes, fees to plug $33B budget hole — even after NYC’s $9 congestion toll!", landed in the spotlight after the new toll failed to close the gap. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, district 35, formally objected to the unfunded capital plan with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. Their joint letter blocked the plan’s January 1 start, forcing negotiations. Governor Hochul, who backs the $68 billion plan, promised no income tax hikes but left other taxes and fees on the table. Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger called for transparency. The MTA’s future—and the safety of those who rely on it—hangs in the balance. No direct safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• MTA eyes new taxes, fees to plug $33B budget hole — even after NYC’s $9 congestion toll!, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-06

Albany leaders killed the MTA’s capital plan. Repairs and upgrades freeze. Janno Lieber warns of cascading failures. Riders face broken signals, crumbling tracks, and delays. The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee urges reversal. Lawmakers argue over funding while the city waits.

On December 30, 2024, New York State legislative leaders rejected the MTA 2025-29 Capital Plan. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins blocked approval, citing incomplete funding. The plan, described as funding 'crucial state-of-good-repair track work,' now hangs in limbo. MTA CEO Janno Lieber called the move a 'Catch-22' that could cause cascading failures and delay urgent repairs. The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA urged lawmakers to withdraw their objection, warning of long-term delays and higher costs. Stewart-Cousins’s spokesperson, Mike Murphy, dismissed the urgency, pointing to unfinished projects from the last plan. The standoff leaves essential transit upgrades—and the safety of millions—at risk.

• MTA to Albany Pols: Your 11th-Hour Rejection of the Capital Plan Will Cause an ‘Insurmountable’ Problem, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-30

Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Carl Heastie killed the MTA’s $65 billion capital plan. The move came as Gov. Hochul faced backlash over congestion pricing and fare hikes. Riders and walkers are left exposed. The system stays broken. Albany plays politics. Streets stay dangerous.

On December 26, 2024, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie abruptly blocked the MTA’s proposed $65 billion capital plan. The move followed public outrage over Gov. Hochul’s congestion pricing scheme and a planned 4% fare hike for transit riders. The editorial, titled 'Gov. Hochul is the face of the MTA’s congestion-toll madness: Don’t let her fool you,' blasted the $9 toll and warned that the agency’s legal power to raise prices remains. Stewart-Cousins and Heastie’s last-minute action signals deeper political games, not reform. The article quotes Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli: 'Consolidation, efficiency, and savings in this area was promised years ago, but has yet to be fully realized.' No safety analyst weighed in, but the capital plan’s collapse means no new investment in safer streets or transit. Vulnerable road users remain at risk. The system’s failures continue.

• Gov. Hochul is the face of the MTA’s congestion-toll madness: Don’t let her fool you, nypost.com, Published 2024-12-26

Two state leaders killed the MTA’s $68 billion upgrade plan a day before approval. The veto blocks critical repairs, new subway projects, and safety upgrades. Riders face more delays, broken stations, and uncertainty. The city’s lifeline hangs in limbo.

On December 26, 2024, state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie vetoed the MTA’s $68 billion capital plan. The MTA Board had approved the plan 10-0 on September 25 and submitted it to the Capital Plan Review Board (CPRB) on October 1. The matter, described as 'the MTA's $68 billion budget to fix mass transit,' was rejected by Stewart-Cousins and Heastie with a letter sent on Christmas Eve. Their action blocks dozens of projects, including subway accessibility, station repairs, and new transit lines like the Interborough Express. The veto leaves the future of these upgrades—and the safety of millions of riders—uncertain. The MTA warns this could threaten federal funding and delay critical improvements. The city’s transit system, already battered by delays and breakdowns, now faces more risk and instability.

• 2 NYS legislators reject MTA’s $68 billion capital plan, amny.com, Published 2024-12-26