Hell’s Kitchen Bleeds: City Stalls, Bodies Fall

Jun 11 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 11 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 10 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 9 - A taxi struck an SUV’s rear on West 51st. One driver suffered neck injuries. Metal crumpled. Sirens cut through Manhattan night. No clear cause named. Streets stayed dangerous.

A taxi collided with the rear of an SUV on West 51st Street at 9th Avenue in Manhattan. According to the police report, both vehicles were traveling south when the taxi hit the SUV’s center back end. One driver, age 38, was injured with neck pain and whiplash. The other driver, age 25, was not reported injured. The police report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. Both vehicles sustained damage at their points of impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821359 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 8 - City wants cars off 34th Street. Residents fear traffic will flood side streets. Bus riders crawl at five miles an hour. Officials tout safety gains from 14th Street. Tension rises between speed, safety, and neighborhood calm.

The New York Post (2025-06-08) reports that the city proposes restricting cars on 34th Street to create a busway between 3rd and 9th Avenues. Residents worry rerouted vehicles will jam local streets and worsen safety. Jessica Lavoie of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association warns, "diverting traffic from this critical corridor onto narrow residential streets would lead to increased congestion, safety hazards, and diminished quality of life." The Department of Transportation aims to replicate the 14th Street busway, which "reduced congestion, sped up bus travel and curbed accidents." The article highlights the ongoing struggle to balance efficient transit, tunnel access, and neighborhood safety. No specific driver errors are cited, but the plan underscores the systemic risks of shifting car traffic onto residential blocks.

• City Eyes 34th Street Car Ban Plan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-08

Jun 7 - A taxi door swung open. A cyclist slammed in. Blood on the arm. Distraction behind the wheel. The street stayed loud.

A taxi driver opened a door into the path of a cyclist on West 46th Street in Manhattan. The cyclist, a 30-year-old man, suffered abrasions to his arm. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was a contributing factor for both the taxi and the bike. The taxi was parked at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported for the taxi occupants. The crash highlights the danger of inattentive driving and the risks faced by cyclists in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4825251 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 7 - A drunk driver tore through Gramercy. He struck Abdulhekim Esiyok in the crosswalk. Bars kept pouring drinks for the driver. Blood alcohol soared. Esiyok died at Bellevue. The driver hit more people before stopping. The city’s system failed again.

According to the New York Post (2025-06-07), Abdulhekim Esiyok, a 23-year-old Turkish immigrant, was killed while crossing Third Avenue after Mahbub Ali, allegedly intoxicated, drove into him. Prosecutors say Ali drank for nearly six hours at three Manhattan bars, reaching a blood alcohol content of .158, almost twice the legal limit. After hitting Esiyok, Ali continued, injuring a cyclist, two more pedestrians, and crashing into a van. The family’s lawsuit cites New York’s Dram Shop Act, which holds bars liable for serving visibly drunk patrons who later cause harm. The article quotes the family’s lawyer: “The family is devastated. They’re still in disbelief.” The case highlights failures in both driver responsibility and alcohol-serving oversight.

• Drunk Driver Kills Immigrant Pedestrian in Manhattan, New York Post, Published 2025-06-07

Jun 5 - Two sedans collided at 12th Avenue and West 56th Street. Both drivers were hurt. One driver was unlicensed. Police cite improper turning. Metal twisted. Faces bloodied. Pain lingered. The city street bore the mark.

Two sedans crashed at the intersection of 12th Avenue and West 56th Street in Manhattan. Both drivers, men aged 41 and 50, suffered injuries—one to his back, the other to his face. According to the police report, 'Turning Improperly' was listed as the contributing factor. One of the drivers was unlicensed at the time of the crash. The impact struck the center front end of one car and the right side doors of the other. Both vehicles were occupied only by their drivers. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The police report does not mention any other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818759 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 4 - Taxi hit a cyclist turning left on W 47th. The rider took a blow to the leg. Police cite improper lane use. Streets stay dangerous for those outside a car.

A taxi and a cyclist collided while both were making left turns on W 47th Street at 9th Avenue in Manhattan. The 24-year-old cyclist suffered a contusion to the knee and lower leg. According to the police report, 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' was listed as the contributing factor. The taxi’s right front bumper struck the cyclist, who was not using safety equipment. No injuries were reported for the taxi driver or passenger. The report highlights improper lane usage as the key error.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4818115 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 3 - Another joins Families for Safe Streets. Another life lost. The toll rises. Grief sharpens the call for change. Streets stay deadly. The city fails to shield its own. The group grows. The danger remains.

On June 3, 2025, Gersh Kuntzman issued an advocacy statement, reported by Streetsblog NYC. The statement reads, 'There's a new member of Families for Safe Streets, which is not good news.' Joe Jankoski, mourning Amanda Servedio, spoke out after her death by a recidivist speeder. The group’s ranks swell with each tragedy. No specific bill or committee is named in this event. Kuntzman’s statement underscores the relentless danger faced by pedestrians and cyclists. The safety analyst notes: the event describes a new member joining an advocacy group, which does not directly affect pedestrian or cyclist safety at the population level. The city’s streets remain perilous. The group’s growth is a grim measure of failure.

• Tuesday’s Headlines: Stop Super Speeders Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-03

Jun 2 - Two sedans collided on 11th Avenue. One driver struck the rear of a parked car. Head injury reported. Police cite driver distraction. Metal twisted. Sirens echoed. The street bore witness to another wound.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on 11th Avenue at West 43rd Street in Manhattan. One sedan, traveling straight, crashed into the center back end of a parked sedan. A 39-year-old male driver suffered a head injury and reported pain and nausea. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The injured driver was wearing a harness. The crash highlights the danger of distraction behind the wheel, as noted by police. No other injuries were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817730 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

Jun 2 - Seventeen council members back Ryder’s Law to ban horse-drawn carriages. The bill stalls. Horses bolt, people get hurt. Speaker Adrienne Adams blocks a hearing. The city’s inaction leaves pedestrians, cyclists, and horses at risk. No change for street safety.

On June 2, 2025, City & State NY published an opinion urging action on Ryder’s Law, the stalled NYC Council bill to ban horse-drawn carriages. The article states, "Forcing horses to pound the pavement with heavy carriages in Midtown, where they compete with motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians, is inhumane." Seventeen council members, led by Robert Holden (bill sponsor) and Erik Bottcher (district includes stables), support the ban. Speaker Adrienne Adams has blocked a hearing and vote. The piece highlights recent incidents where bolting horses injured at least four people, including a pedicab driver. Despite the vivid danger, the safety analyst notes: "The event text does not describe any policy or legislative change affecting pedestrians or cyclists, so there is no direct impact on their safety." The bill remains stalled in committee, with no relief for vulnerable road users.

• Opinion: Stop our political blindness on inhumane horse-drawn carriages, City & State NY, Published 2025-06-02

May 31 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They called out harsh summonses for e-bike riders. Police target cyclists with criminal charges for minor traffic moves. Drivers get tickets. Riders face court. The city’s rules hit the vulnerable. The streets stay dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-05-31) reports on a protest in Lower Manhattan against the NYPD’s policy of issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic violations like running red lights or riding against traffic. Cyclists and advocates argue the penalties are harsher than those faced by drivers for similar actions. As one protester said, “It seems unfair to me that cyclists should receive a higher penalty for doing the same thing that a person in a car would do.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the crackdown, citing the lack of licensing for e-bikes as a challenge for enforcement, but acknowledged the need for legislative reform. The article highlights inconsistent enforcement and the risks faced by vulnerable road users, especially delivery workers. Policy gaps and unequal penalties expose systemic danger on city streets.

• E-Bike Riders Protest NYPD Crackdown, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-31

May 30 - An e-bike struck Renee Baruch on the Upper West Side. She woke in pain, face broken, spine injured. NYPD cracks down with criminal summonses. Cyclists protest. City Council stalls. Streets stay dangerous. Justice, tangled in policy.

NY1 reported on May 30, 2025, that the NYPD is issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic infractions, citing a lack of City Council action on new regulations. Commissioner Tisch told the Council, "Pass e-bike regulations." Cyclists object to criminal charges for minor violations, arguing for civil penalties instead. The article highlights the case of Renee Baruch, hospitalized after an e-bike crash left her with facial fractures and a spinal injury. The NYPD’s new Quality of Life Division targets reckless e-bike use, but without updated laws, criminal summonses remain their only tool. The policy gap leaves vulnerable road users exposed and enforcement inconsistent.

• NYPD Issues Criminal Summonses For E-Bikes, NY1, Published 2025-05-30

May 29 - A cyclist hit a woman crossing with the signal on 10th Avenue at West 41st Street. She suffered a bruised shoulder and was semiconscious. Police cited improper passing or lane usage. The bike showed no damage. The street stayed busy. Danger lingered.

A crash occurred at the intersection of 10th Avenue and West 41st Street in Manhattan. A 54-year-old woman, crossing with the signal, was struck by a cyclist. According to the police report, she suffered a contusion to her upper arm and was semiconscious at the scene. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor. The cyclist’s bike had no reported damage. No other injuries were specified. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors. The crash highlights the risks pedestrians face even when following traffic signals, especially when drivers or cyclists fail to use lanes properly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4816954 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-04

May 23 - Tolls still hang over Third Avenue. Deadlines pass. Courts hold the answer. Fewer cars enter Manhattan. Millions flow to transit. The fight is bureaucratic, not on the street. Riders wait. The city’s pulse slows, but the outcome is uncertain.

West Side Spirit reported on May 23, 2025, that New York’s congestion pricing tolls remain in place despite three missed federal deadlines to remove them. The article details a standoff between the MTA, New York State, and U.S. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy, who demands the tolls be taken down, threatening to withhold highway funds. The MTA argues the legality of the tolls and seeks a court injunction, stating, 'congestion pricing is legal and proper.' The system, operational since January 2025, has reduced daily vehicle entries into Manhattan’s core by 76,000 in April and raised $159 million in the first quarter. The dispute highlights tensions over funding priorities and the impact on lower-income drivers, but the courts, not drivers or pedestrians, will decide the fate of the tolls.

• Congestion Pricing Tolls Face Legal Showdown, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-05-23

May 21 - City will rip up Fifth Avenue. Sidewalks will double. Lanes for cars will shrink. Trees, benches, and light will fill the space. Pedestrians, long squeezed, will finally get room to breathe. The city bets big on feet, not fenders.

amNY reported on May 21, 2025, that New York City will begin a $400 million redesign of Fifth Avenue in 2028, stretching from Bryant Park to Central Park. Mayor Eric Adams said, 'Fifth Avenue is a bustling boulevard... with more people walking down the street every hour than fill Madison Square Garden during a sold-out Knicks game.' The plan nearly doubles sidewalk widths and expands pedestrian zones, cutting space for vehicles. The redesign adds tree buffers, benches, and stormwater upgrades. Pedestrians make up 70% of avenue traffic but have less than half the space. The overhaul shifts priority from cars to people, aiming to reduce systemic danger and reclaim the street for those on foot.

• Fifth Avenue Set For Pedestrian Overhaul, amny, Published 2025-05-21