Lower the Speed, Save a Life—Or Bury Another Neighbor

City hands Verra Mobility a $367 million contract for traffic cameras. The firm faced past overbilling claims. Councilwoman Gale Brewer calls the move bewildering. Cameras cut speeding by 73% in school zones. City oversight remains under scrutiny.

On April 10, 2023, New York City awarded a $367 million traffic camera contract to Verra Mobility, despite the firm’s prior overbilling allegations. The deal follows a $1.3 million settlement over unnecessary work, including extra electrical poles and poor training. The contract was approved under Mayor Adams and Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, while Verra was under Department of Investigation monitorship. Manhattan Councilwoman Gale A. Brewer questioned the decision, stating, 'It is bewildering how you end up with a $1.3 million settlement... and then you get a new contract for more than $300 million.' The city comptroller’s office reviewed the settlement before approval. City data shows a 73% drop in speeding in camera-monitored school zones, but Brewer’s concerns highlight ongoing doubts about oversight and accountability.

• NYC has awarded nearly $1B in traffic camera contracts to firm accused of overbilling city for unnecessary work, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-04-10

A moped and sedan collided on West 89th Street. The moped driver, 22, was ejected and suffered hip and upper leg injuries. The sedan struck the moped’s front center with its left front quarter panel. Both vehicles traveled south.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male moped driver was injured and ejected during a collision with a sedan on West 89th Street. The moped and sedan were both traveling south when the sedan’s left front quarter panel struck the moped’s center front end. The moped driver sustained abrasions and injuries to the hip and upper leg. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the moped driver but does not specify driver errors or violations. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No safety equipment was used by the moped driver. The crash resulted in significant injury to the vulnerable moped occupant.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4619309 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

New York City sits on a mountain of unpaid traffic fines. Over $1 billion owed. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams slams budget cuts. She demands the city collect what drivers owe. Unpaid tickets mean reckless drivers dodge consequences. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

On April 5, 2023, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (District 28) responded to a report showing New York City is owed more than $1 billion in unpaid parking and speeding fines. The Independent Budget Office found $1.02 billion in unpaid traffic fines from 2017 to 2022, including camera tickets for speeding and red lights. The matter, titled 'Ticket to slide: NYC owed more than $1 billion in unpaid parking, speeding fines, report finds,' highlights growing debt as enforcement lags. Adams, along with Comptroller Brad Lander, criticized further city agency budget cuts, urging the city to collect owed fines instead. The report notes that while 24/7 school-zone speed cameras have reduced speeding, the city has failed to stop drivers from evading cameras with defaced or fake plates—letting dangerous drivers escape accountability. The city’s inaction leaves vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists at risk.

• Ticket to slide: NYC owed more than $1 billion in unpaid parking, speeding fines, report finds, amny.com, Published 2023-04-05

New York City is owed $2.1 billion in unpaid fines for traffic, parking, and safety violations. Councilwoman Gale Brewer called out the city’s failure to collect. The backlog grows as automated enforcement expands. Vulnerable road users remain exposed while scofflaws dodge penalties.

On April 5, 2023, the City Council held an oversight and budget discussion on the collection of transportation-related fines. The matter, requested by Councilwoman Gale A. Brewer (District 6), revealed that 'delinquents owe New York City a staggering $2.1 billion in bills racked up since 2017 for parking, traffic, safety code, and property-related violations.' Brewer stated, 'We don’t do a good job of collecting this money. We have to do a better job.' The Independent Budget Office found over $1 billion in uncollected parking and red light camera fines, with the backlog rising as the city increases automated enforcement. The unpaid fines represent a systemic failure to hold dangerous drivers accountable, leaving pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The discussion underscores the urgent need for action to protect vulnerable road users.

• Scofflaws owe NYC a whopping $2.1B for safety violations, property bills: watchdog, nypost.com, Published 2023-04-05

A northbound bus changed lanes on Amsterdam Avenue, striking a sedan going straight. Both male drivers suffered injuries and shock. The bus driver’s view was obstructed. Impact damaged the vehicles’ front and side panels. Both drivers wore seat belts.

According to the police report, a 2018 Nova bus traveling north on Amsterdam Avenue changed lanes unsafely and collided with a 2020 Toyota sedan also heading north. The bus driver, 59, and the sedan driver, 38, both sustained injuries—back injury for the bus driver and knee-lower leg-foot injury for the sedan driver. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as contributing factors. Both drivers were wearing lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The bus struck the sedan’s right side doors with its right front quarter panel, causing damage to both vehicles. Neither driver showed visible complaints but were in shock. The crash highlights dangers from obstructed views and improper lane changes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4617650 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Top NYPD brass told council members cops park on sidewalks for lack of legal spots. Councilmember Stevens called it a major problem. Advocates and public blasted the excuse. The mayor’s promises ring hollow as placard abuse and blocked sidewalks persist.

On March 20, 2023, the City Council held a hearing on NYPD illegal parking practices. The session focused on the widespread use of sidewalks for police parking. Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey defended the practice, saying, 'There’s not enough parking spots.' Councilmember Althea Stevens, representing District 16, highlighted the issue’s impact on her district: 'It becomes very difficult. And not just for me, but even to drive down.' Councilmember Gale Brewer also pressed the NYPD, calling for fewer police and private cars parked illegally. Transit advocates and the public questioned why officers do not use public transit. The Adams administration claims it will crack down on illegal parking, but past actions suggest otherwise. The hearing exposed the city’s failure to protect sidewalks for pedestrians, leaving vulnerable road users at risk.

• Top NYPD official claims cops park on sidewalks because there’s nowhere else to park on the streets, amny.com, Published 2023-03-20

A Nissan SUV backed unsafely into a Ford sedan traveling west on West 89 Street. Two men inside the sedan suffered bruises and moderate injuries. The SUV driver was unlicensed. Impact hit the center back of the SUV and front of the sedan.

According to the police report, a Nissan SUV traveling east was backing unsafely on West 89 Street when it collided with a Ford sedan going straight west. The SUV driver was unlicensed. The collision caused center back end damage to the SUV and center front end damage to the sedan. Two male occupants in the sedan, a 31-year-old driver and a 40-year-old right rear passenger, were injured with contusions and bruises to the head and lower leg areas. The passenger's contributing factors included backing unsafely and failure to yield right-of-way. Both injured occupants were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report lists no contributing factors for the sedan driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4613117 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A sedan crashed into a parked garbage truck on Broadway. The driver, a 39-year-old man, suffered back pain and shock. Police cited alcohol and distraction. No pedestrians or cyclists were hurt.

According to the police report, a 39-year-old man driving a sedan struck a parked garbage truck on Broadway near West 90th Street in Manhattan. The driver was injured, reporting back pain and nausea, and was in shock. Police listed alcohol involvement and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The sedan hit the truck's left rear bumper with its right front bumper. Both vehicles were damaged. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The driver wore a lap belt and harness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4613205 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Albany lawmakers plug the MTA’s budget hole and block a fare hike. They launch a free bus pilot but refuse to fund more frequent service. Riders wait. The streets stay dangerous. The system limps on. Vulnerable New Yorkers are left behind.

""I hope the Assembly and Governor will join the Senate in repealing MSG’s property tax break so we can use that money to fund the MTA."" -- Brad Hoylman-Sigal

On March 14, 2023, state legislators proposed a budget to address the MTA’s fiscal crisis. The plan, discussed in committee, fills the funding gap and stops a fare hike. It launches a free bus pilot in low-income and commercial districts. The bill, backed by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, does not include the $300 million needed to run buses and subways every six minutes off-peak. The matter summary states: 'Legislators in Albany have proposed a budget to fill the MTA's fiscal hole, avert a fare hike, and fund a small pilot of free buses.' Hoylman-Sigal supported ending Madison Square Garden’s tax break to help fund transit. Advocates and lawmakers like Zohran Mamdani blasted the omission, warning that infrequent service leaves riders stranded and exposed. The budget keeps the system afloat but fails to deliver safer, more reliable transit for those most at risk.

• State Legislators Fill MTA Fiscal Hole, Reject Fare Hike — But Don’t Expand Service, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-03-14

Albany lawmakers plug the MTA’s budget hole and block a fare hike. They launch a free bus pilot but refuse funds for more frequent service. Riders wait. Advocates warn: infrequent buses and trains leave New Yorkers stranded, exposed, and at risk.

""I hope the Assembly and Governor will join the Senate in repealing MSG’s property tax break so we can use that money to fund the MTA."" -- Brad Hoylman-Sigal

On March 14, 2023, state legislators proposed a budget to fill the MTA’s fiscal deficit, avoid a fare hike, and fund a pilot for free buses. The bill, still under negotiation before the April 1 deadline, does not include the $300 million sought to boost off-peak bus and subway service to every six minutes. The matter summary reads: 'Legislators in Albany have proposed a budget to fill the MTA's fiscal hole, avert a fare hike, and fund a small pilot of free buses across New York City.' Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Senator Andrew Gounardes pledged to keep fighting for better frequency. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber praised stable funding. Advocates like Betsy Plum criticized the omission: 'The legislature's budget ignores millions of riders stranded 12, 15, 20 minutes or more on subway platforms and at bus stops.' The budget’s failure to expand service leaves vulnerable riders waiting longer, exposed to danger and delay.

• State Legislators Fill MTA Fiscal Hole, Reject Fare Hike — But Don’t Expand Service, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-14

A sedan making a left turn hit a northbound bicyclist on Amsterdam Avenue. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The driver was distracted and speeding. The cyclist was conscious and bruised but not ejected. No helmet was worn.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old male bicyclist traveling north on Amsterdam Avenue was struck by a sedan making a left turn. The cyclist sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, resulting in contusions and bruises. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors, along with unsafe speed. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment and was not ejected from the bike. The sedan's left front bumper collided with the bike's left front bumper. The driver of the sedan was licensed and female, with two occupants in the vehicle. The crash occurred near West 83rd Street in Manhattan.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4610392 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

City Council pushed forward a battery buy-back and tough lithium-ion rules. Delivery workers’ safety and livelihoods hung in the balance. Lawmakers targeted sellers, not riders. The bills aimed to stop deadly fires without punishing those who rely on e-bikes to survive.

On March 2, 2023, the New York City Council advanced a package of lithium-ion battery safety bills. Council Member Keith Powers introduced the buy-back bill, which creates a citywide program for defective or uncertified batteries. Powers said, "We don't want to penalize businesses and workers without thinking about this strategically." The Council also moved bills from Oswald Feliz, Gale Brewer, Alexa Avilés, and Robert Holden. These measures ban uncertified batteries, require fireproof charging containers, mandate public education, and order FDNY reporting on battery fires. Speaker Adrienne Adams clarified the bills target commercial sellers, not workers. Shahana Hanif urged that policy must "keep workers" at the center. The Council and delivery workers’ union stressed that tech companies, not workers, should bear costs. The FDNY opposed the reporting bill over resource concerns. The legislation aims to curb battery fires while protecting delivery workers who depend on e-bikes.

• Streetsblog Gets Action: Battery ‘Buy-Back’ Program and Other Lithium-Ion Bills Advance in Council, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-02

A 69-year-old male bicyclist suffered full-body injuries after a sedan struck him while making a left turn. The cyclist was thrown into shock, complaining of pain and nausea. The crash involved driver distraction and unsafe speed.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn collided with a southbound bicyclist on West End Avenue. The bicyclist, a 69-year-old man, sustained injuries to his entire body and was not ejected from his bike. The report lists driver inattention and unsafe speed as contributing factors. The sedan's right front quarter panel and the bike's center front end were damaged. The bicyclist experienced shock and complained of pain and nausea. No safety equipment was noted for the bicyclist. The crash highlights driver errors, specifically distraction and unsafe speed, as key causes.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4610007 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-02-28

A man sped north on Henry Hudson Parkway, drunk and unlicensed. His sedan struck an object. The right side crumpled. He suffered a neck injury and concussion. No one else was hurt.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old man drove a 2008 Subaru sedan northbound on Henry Hudson Parkway near West 79 Street in Manhattan. The unlicensed driver was intoxicated and traveling at unsafe speed. The car's right front bumper hit an object, damaging the right side doors. The driver, the only occupant, was wearing a lap belt and harness. He sustained a neck injury and concussion but remained conscious. The report lists alcohol involvement and unsafe speed as contributing factors. No pedestrians or other vehicles were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4608815 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A trade-in program for e-bike batteries is on the table. Advocates want delivery workers to swap unsafe batteries for certified ones. Council Member Gale Brewer backs the idea. Faulty batteries have killed and injured. Bans target workers, not danger.

On February 22, 2023, advocates and Council Member Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) pushed for a lithium-ion battery trade-in program. The proposal, still in early stages, aims to let delivery workers exchange unsafe batteries for certified, inspected ones. The matter summary states: 'Advocates and experts are calling for a trade-in program that would allow delivery workers to exchange faulty, damaged or second-hand batteries for safe, certified ones.' Brewer said, 'I definitely think it's a good idea.' Melinda Hanson, founder of Brightside, warned that bans only punish workers and fail to solve the root danger. Gustavo Ajche of Los Deliveristas Unidos stressed the need for education on safe disposal. The program would target the source of deadly fires, offering a path to safety without criminalizing vulnerable workers. No formal bill number or committee assignment yet.

• Is The Solution to Deadly Lithium-Ion Battery Fires a Trade-In Program?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-22

A 77-year-old man crossing West 97 Street was struck by a backing SUV. The vehicle showed no damage. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and concussion. The driver failed to back safely, causing the collision. The victim remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 77-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing West 97 Street when a 2021 Jeep SUV backed unsafely and struck him. The point of impact was the center back end of the vehicle, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and concussion but remained conscious. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' as the driver’s contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim actions contributed. The pedestrian was not at an intersection and was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The driver was licensed and traveling east, going straight ahead before backing. This crash highlights the dangers of unsafe backing maneuvers in urban streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4606760 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07