Gramercy Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Demand 20 MPH Now

Jan 30 - 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

Jan 8 - A 24-year-old male driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries in a crash involving multiple sedans on 2 Avenue. The collision caused contusions and bruises, with the driver conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 5:45 on 2 Avenue involving multiple sedans. The injured party was a 24-year-old male driver who sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises. He was conscious and properly restrained with a lap belt and harness at the time of the collision. The report notes no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Several vehicles were parked prior to the crash, with impact points including left front bumper, right front bumper, and center front end damage. The police report does not assign fault or list any victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4693451 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 29 - Assembly bill A 8423 orders complete street design on all DOT projects with state or federal cash. Lawmakers push for safer roads. No loopholes. No half-measures. Streets must serve all, not just cars.

Assembly bill A 8423, now in sponsorship, sits before the New York State Assembly. The bill requires 'inclusion of complete street design for state and local transportation projects undertaken by DOT or which receive both federal and state funding and are subject to DOT oversight.' Dana Levenberg leads as primary sponsor, joined by Patricia Fahy, MaryJane Shimsky, Harvey Epstein, Fred Thiele, Albert A. Stirpe, Jonathan Jacobson, Keith Brown, David McDonough, and Chris Burdick. The measure aims to force every qualifying project to consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders—not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 8423, Open States, Published 2023-12-29

Dec 19 - A 24-year-old male driver and his 40-year-old female front passenger suffered head contusions in a crash on Park Avenue South. The SUV struck an object with its left front bumper. Both were conscious and restrained. Driver inattention caused the collision.

According to the police report, a 2023 Ford SUV traveling south on Park Avenue South collided with an object using its left front bumper. The driver, a 24-year-old male, and the front passenger, a 40-year-old female, both sustained head injuries classified as contusions and bruises. Both occupants were conscious and properly restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The driver was licensed in New York. The crash resulted in moderate injuries to both vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688454 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Dec 12 - An SUV turning left struck an e-scooter going straight on 3 Avenue. The e-scooter rider suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way. The rider was not ejected but shocked and injured.

According to the police report, a 2022 Ford SUV was making a left turn on 3 Avenue when it collided with a northbound e-scooter. The e-scooter rider, a 39-year-old man, sustained abrasions to his knee, lower leg, and foot and was in shock. The point of impact was the SUV's left side doors and the e-scooter's center front end. The report lists failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. The e-scooter rider was not ejected and wore no safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed in New York and traveling west. The crash caused visible damage to the left side of the SUV and the front of the e-scooter.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688460 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 29 - Mayor Adams gutted the McGuinness Blvd. safety plan. Two lanes each way remain. Bike lanes go unprotected. Crossing distances stretch. Local leaders say nothing changed for people on foot. Cyclists dodge cars and illegal parking. The danger stays. The fight continues.

On November 29, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams’s administration scaled back the Department of Transportation’s original McGuinness Boulevard redesign. The DOT’s first plan would have cut traffic lanes and added a parking-protected bike lane. Adams ordered a weaker version after business pushback. The compromise left two car lanes in each direction during the day. Elected officials—U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Council Member Lincoln Restler—sent a letter urging DOT to restore the full safety plan, writing, “Nothing has been done to improve conditions for pedestrians.” Advocates say the new design increases crossing distances and leaves cyclists and pedestrians exposed. DOT says work will continue into 2024. The boulevard remains dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Eric Adams’s McGuinness Blvd. Capitulation Did ‘Nothing’ for Pedestrians, Greenpoint Pols Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-29

Nov 29 - Red Hook chokes on truck fumes. Lawmakers move. The Clean Deliveries Act aims to cut emissions from sprawling e-commerce warehouses. Kristen Gonzalez and others demand action. Diesel trucks crowd narrow streets. Pollution and danger rise. Residents pay the price.

Bill: Clean Deliveries Act. Announced November 29, 2023. Status: Proposed. Committee: Not specified. Lawmakers, including State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez (District 59), call for strict regulation of emissions from last-mile e-commerce warehouses. The bill would require environmental reviews for warehouses over 50,000 square feet, mandate plans to cut air pollution, and push for zero-emission delivery vehicles. Gonzalez said, 'The unchecked growth of large warehouses in neighborhoods across NYC has worsened air quality, noise pollution, and traffic safety for everyday New Yorkers.' Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes, a co-sponsor, highlighted the link between warehouse traffic, pollution, and traffic violence. The Red Hook Business Alliance and community advocates back the bill, citing heavy truck traffic, poor air, and threats to safety in working-class neighborhoods. The legislation aims to hold warehouse operators accountable and protect residents from the mounting toll of delivery-driven pollution and danger.

• Lawmakers say influx of e-commerce warehouses has spiked greenhouse gas emissions in Red Hook, urge regulation, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-11-29

Nov 23 - A taxi struck a 24-year-old male bicyclist on East 26 Street. The rider was partially ejected and suffered a head abrasion. The taxi showed no damage. Police cited traffic control disregard as a factor. The bicyclist was unhelmeted and injured.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling north on East 26 Street collided with a bicyclist traveling east. The 24-year-old male bicyclist was partially ejected and sustained a head abrasion. The taxi driver was licensed and went straight ahead, while the bicyclist was unlicensed. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor. The taxi showed no damage, and the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet. No other contributing factors were specified. The bicyclist was conscious after the crash and suffered injury severity level 3.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4682462 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 17 - A taxi struck a bicyclist on Park Avenue South in Manhattan. The cyclist was ejected and suffered head injuries and abrasions. The driver was distracted. The crash happened at 1:40 a.m. The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet.

According to the police report, a taxi traveling east on Park Avenue South collided with a bicyclist heading south at East 26 Street. The bicyclist was ejected from the bike and sustained head injuries and abrasions. The driver of the taxi was cited for driver inattention or distraction. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The point of impact was the center front end of the taxi and the center back end of the bike. The bicyclist remained conscious but was injured. No other contributing factors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4680223 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 25 - A taxi struck a sedan from behind on East 17 Street in Manhattan. The sedan driver, a 37-year-old man, suffered back injuries but remained conscious. Police cited following too closely as the cause. Both vehicles were westbound and parked before impact.

According to the police report, a taxi collided with the center back end of a sedan on East 17 Street in Manhattan. The sedan driver, a 37-year-old man, was injured in the crash, sustaining back injuries and remaining conscious. The report lists "Following Too Closely" as the contributing factor, indicating the taxi driver failed to maintain a safe distance. Both vehicles were traveling west and were parked prior to the collision. The sedan sustained damage to its center back end, while the taxi showed no damage. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4674777 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 14 - Two sedans smashed on East 15 Street. Three people hurt. Neck and arm injuries. Police blame driver distraction. Metal twisted. Pain followed.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on East 15 Street near 2 Avenue in Manhattan. The crash injured both drivers and a front passenger. The 38-year-old female driver suffered arm pain and shock. The 29-year-old male driver and 25-year-old male passenger reported neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the cause for both drivers and the passenger. All occupants wore seat belts and were not ejected. The impact damaged the left front quarter panel of one sedan and the center front end of the other.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4670374 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 14 - A moped traveling south struck a parked SUV on 2 Avenue in Manhattan. The 20-year-old male moped driver was ejected and injured, suffering abrasions and leg injuries. Police cited driver inattention as the cause of the crash.

According to the police report, a moped driver collided with a parked SUV on 2 Avenue near East 24 Street in Manhattan. The moped's left front bumper struck the left side doors of the stationary SUV. The 20-year-old male moped driver was ejected from the vehicle and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The moped driver was unlicensed but wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. No other vehicles were damaged or involved. The incident highlights the dangers posed by driver distraction in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671557 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 1 - A sedan turning left hit two pedestrians crossing East 24 Street with the signal. Both suffered bruises and contusions. The driver failed to yield right-of-way. Injuries included elbow and back contusions. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 2022 Toyota sedan was making a left turn on East 24 Street when it struck two pedestrians, a 4-year-old boy and a 27-year-old woman, both crossing with the signal at an intersection. Both pedestrians sustained contusions and bruises—one to the elbow and lower arm, the other to the back. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The driver, a licensed male from New York, had no reported vehicle damage despite the impact at the right front bumper. The pedestrians were not at fault; the crash resulted from the driver's failure to yield while turning.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4668203 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 22 - A moped and a bicyclist collided on East 23 Street in Manhattan. The 24-year-old bicyclist suffered back abrasions but was conscious and not ejected. Both vehicles showed no damage. Failure to yield right-of-way was cited as a factor.

According to the police report, a collision occurred between a moped traveling south and a bicyclist traveling north on East 23 Street near 2 Avenue in Manhattan. The 24-year-old male bicyclist was injured, sustaining abrasions to his back but remained conscious and was not ejected from his bike. Both vehicles showed no damage at the point of impact. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash, attributed to both the bicyclist and the moped driver. No safety equipment was noted for the bicyclist. The drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles straight ahead at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669009 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 19 - A 36-year-old woman walking along East 23rd Street was struck by an SUV making a U-turn. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The pedestrian suffered back injuries and whiplash but remained conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2017 Dodge SUV made a U-turn on East 23rd Street in Manhattan and struck her with the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian was walking along the highway with traffic when the collision occurred. The report lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The pedestrian sustained back injuries and whiplash but was conscious after the crash. The vehicle showed no damage. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle eastbound at the time.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663428 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 18 - Over 200 Astoria residents packed a DOT workshop after a spike in traffic deaths. Cyclists and pedestrians have died. Drivers speed, double-park, and ignore signals. Councilwoman Cabán and others demand urgent action. DOT vows to return with a safety plan.

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation held a public street safety workshop in Astoria, Queens, following a surge in traffic violence. The event, covered on September 18, 2023, drew over 200 residents and was organized by Western Queens elected officials. The workshop addressed a 'significant increase in traffic-related deaths, including several high-profile fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians.' Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called the deaths preventable and demanded urgent changes. Cabán stated, 'If it saves lives, it’s worth doing.' DOT officials, including Queens Borough Commissioner Nicole Garcia and senior program manager Kyle Gorman, presented plans for 31st Avenue and collected resident feedback on dangerous driving, lack of protected bike lanes, and unsafe intersections. The DOT pledged to return with a proposal. No formal bill number or committee was cited; the event focused on immediate community engagement and systemic change.

• Astoria residents turnout for DOT street safety workshop following surge in traffic violence this year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-18

Sep 15 - A 57-year-old woman bicyclist was ejected and suffered head injuries in a collision with an SUV on 2 Avenue. The SUV was changing lanes and failed to yield right-of-way. The bike hit the SUV’s left front bumper, causing serious harm.

According to the police report, a 57-year-old female bicyclist was injured and ejected after a collision with a 2019 Infiniti SUV on 2 Avenue in Manhattan. The SUV was changing lanes southbound when it struck the bicyclist traveling westbound. The point of impact was the SUV’s left front bumper and the bike’s center front end. The report lists "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" as a contributing factor. The bicyclist suffered head injuries and contusions. No other contributing factors or safety equipment details were specified. The crash highlights the dangers posed by lane changes without yielding to vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665346 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - Mayor Adams approved a diluted redesign for McGuinness Boulevard. Protected bike lanes will come, but car lanes stay open during peak hours. The plan falls short of full safety measures. The road remains dangerous. Victims still count. No one is satisfied.

On August 16, 2023, Mayor Adams announced a compromise redesign for McGuinness Boulevard, a notorious Brooklyn corridor. The Department of Transportation will install curbside protected bike lanes and reduce car lanes from two to one in each direction on most of the strip. However, north of Calyer Street, two lanes for cars will remain open during weekdays, reverting to parking lanes at night and on weekends. The plan, shaped after lobbying by business interests and mayoral adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin, mixes two previous DOT proposals. Mayoral spokesman Charles Lutvak said, 'Traffic safety is a key priority for Mayor Adams, and we are delivering with a redesign of McGuinness Boulevard that will make this corridor safer for all road users.' Local officials, including Council Member Lincoln Restler, called it a 'critical step' but noted it lacks key safety elements. The compromise leaves gaps. Since 2021, 62 people have been injured on this stretch. The carnage continues.

• Mayor Adams Signs Off On Compromise for Deadly McGuinness Blvd.; No One Truly Happy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-16

Aug 11 - A driver struck a moped rider on McGuinness Boulevard. The rider’s leg broke. Politicians and neighbors demand the mayor act. The city delays a safety plan. The street stays deadly. The call is clear: fix McGuinness now.

On August 11, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler and other Northern Brooklyn officials responded to a crash on McGuinness Boulevard, where a driver hit and injured a moped rider. The incident happened near Meeker Avenue, one block from where teacher Matthew Jensen was killed in 2021. The matter, titled 'Locals call for mayor to take immediate action after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard,' highlights the urgent need for the Department of Transportation’s proposed safety redesign. Restler, along with U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, issued a joint statement: 'Lives are being put at risk. We need immediate action by the Mayor's office to implement the Department of Transportation's proposed safety improvements so that everyone in our community can feel confident that McGuinness Boulevard will not cause more tragedies.' The safety plan remains blocked, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to ongoing danger.

• Locals call for mayor to take ‘immediate action’ after moped rider injured on McGuinness Boulevard, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2023-08-11

Aug 8 - A 28-year-old male bicyclist was ejected and injured on 3 Avenue near East 15 Street. The SUV struck the bike’s left rear while traveling north. The cyclist suffered abrasions and elbow injuries. The SUV driver held a permit license.

According to the police report, a northbound SUV with two occupants collided with a merging northbound bicyclist on 3 Avenue near East 15 Street in Manhattan. The bicyclist, a 28-year-old male, was ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists contributing factors including "Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper." The SUV driver, a male with a permit license, struck the bike’s left rear bumper with the vehicle’s right front bumper. The SUV showed no damage, while the bike’s left front quarter panel was damaged. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The report does not assign fault to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4652510 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19