No One Died, But Everyone Bleeds: Astoria’s Streets Are Still Unsafe

Aug 2 - Senate bill S 7621 targets reckless drivers. Eleven points or six camera tickets trigger mandatory speed control tech. Sponsors push to curb repeat danger. No votes yet. Streets stay tense.

Senate bill S 7621, now in sponsorship, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed August 2, 2023, it 'relates to requiring the installation of intelligent speed assistance devices for repeated violation of maximum speed limits.' Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Jeremy Cooney, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill forces drivers with eleven points in eighteen months, or six speed/red light camera tickets in a year, to install speed-limiting devices. No safety analyst note yet. The measure aims to cut repeat speeding and protect those outside the car.

• File S 7621, Open States, Published 2023-08-02

Jul 31 - Manhattan lawmakers want electric cars to pay less under congestion pricing. They argue EVs cut smog, so drivers deserve a break. Critics warn this move keeps streets clogged. Fewer cars mean fewer crashes. The fight pits clean air against crowded roads.

On July 31, 2023, a group of Manhattan elected officials—including Assembly Members Alex Bores, Eddie Gibbs, Deborah Glick, Harvey Epstein, Rebecca Seawright; State Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Liz Krueger, Kristen Gonzalez; and Borough President Mark Levine—sent a letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. They urged a congestion pricing discount for electric vehicles, claiming EVs 'do not contribute significantly to the smog and pollution of the Central Business District.' Assembly Member Bores led the effort, stating, 'when it comes to the environmental case, an electric vehicle is just a different profile than a gas-guzzling one.' The officials oppose credits for bridge and tunnel crossings. Congestion pricing advocates and environmental groups counter that EV discounts undermine the core goal: fewer cars, less traffic, safer streets. They note other cities are ending such breaks. The proposal highlights a tension—cleaner air versus safer, less crowded roads for all.

• Manhattan Elected Officials Urge Congestion Pricing Discount For Electric Cars, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-07-31

Jul 18 - Brooklyn officials demand equal tolls on all Manhattan crossings. They warn free bridges funnel traffic into certain neighborhoods. Their letter calls for fairness. The MTA stays silent. The Traffic Mobility Review Board will decide. Streets hang in the balance.

On July 18, 2023, Council Member Shahana Hanif and other Brooklyn officials called for 'equalized tolling on all crossings into Manhattan' as congestion pricing nears. Their letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board states: 'No one community should disproportionately bear the burden of the cars and trucks passing through their neighborhood.' Hanif, along with Lincoln Restler, Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, and Crystal Hudson, joined borough, state, and federal colleagues in this push. They propose a credit system to balance costs between DOT bridges and MTA tunnels, aiming to protect neighborhoods like the Brooklyn waterfront and the BQE corridor from traffic surges. The MTA declined comment. The Board will soon set final toll rates and rules. The federal government has approved the congestion pricing plan, with tolls for cars expected between $9 and $23. Over 100 exemption requests, including from taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers, are under review.

• Pols call for ‘equalized tolling’ on all crossings into Manhattan under congestion pricing on eve of board deliberations, amny.com, Published 2023-07-18

Jun 23 - SUVs kill. Their bulk crushes bodies and streets. Lawmakers want heavier vehicles to pay more. Revenue would fund safer roads. The bill follows a grim rise in deaths, especially among children. The city bleeds. The council moves. The fight is on.

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill to increase registration fees for heavy vehicles and SUVs in New York. The proposal, announced June 23, 2023, aims to direct new revenue toward street safety projects. The report behind the bill states: 'Injuries from crashes involving large vehicles increased by 91 percent and fatalities by 75 percent between 2016 and 2019.' Mamdani said, 'This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children.' Gounardes called out the public cost of 'mini-tanks.' The bill responds to data showing nearly half of children killed on city streets were struck by drivers of large vehicles, rising to 80 percent in 2022. Lawmakers call this common-sense action to address the deadly toll of oversized cars.

• Report Provides More Reasons to Rein in Supersized SUVs (As If You Needed More), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-06-23

Jun 23 - Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani pushes a bill to raise registration fees for heavy vehicles. The move comes as injuries and deaths from SUVs surge. Lawmakers say the fees will fund safer streets. The city’s children pay the price for oversized cars.

Assembly Bill (no number cited) was introduced by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Andrew Gounardes on June 23, 2023. The bill, now under consideration, would 'raise the existing by-weight registration fees to make them more likely to disincentivize the purchase of larger cars.' The proposal responds to a Transportation Alternatives report showing a 91% jump in injuries and a 75% rise in fatalities from large vehicle crashes between 2016 and 2019. Mamdani, at a press conference, said, 'This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children.' Gounardes added, 'We the public has had to bear the cost of people's decisions to drive these mini-tanks.' The bill earmarks new revenue for street safety projects, aiming to protect vulnerable road users from the growing threat of oversized vehicles.

• Report Provides More Reasons to Rein in Supersized SUVs (As If You Needed More), streetsblog.org, Published 2023-06-23

Jun 8 - Albany gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers pass A 7043. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program runs until 2028. Streets near schools face new watchful eyes.

Bill A 7043, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Albany,' moved forward after committee votes in June 2023. The Assembly passed it on June 6, the Senate on June 8. Patricia Fahy sponsored the bill. The measure allows speed cameras in school zones, aiming to catch drivers who speed near children. The program ends December 31, 2028. Many lawmakers voted yes, some no. The bill targets driver behavior in Albany school zones, putting enforcement where kids walk and cross.

• File A 7043, Open States, Published 2023-06-08

Jun 1 - 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 2023-06-01

May 31 - 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 2023-05-31

May 26 - A sedan struck a bicyclist in Queens near 14-52 30 Avenue. The cyclist was ejected and injured in the knee, lower leg, and foot. The driver made an unsafe lane change. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a sedan and a bicycle collided in Queens at 14-52 30 Avenue. The bicyclist, a 48-year-old man, was ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' as the contributing factor by the sedan driver. Both vehicles were traveling east, and neither showed damage. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The driver was licensed in New York. The collision involved the sedan's center back end and the bike's center front end. The bicyclist remained conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4637738 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 22 - 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 2023-05-22

May 20 - Sedan and SUV slammed head-on in Queens. Pavement slick. Woman behind the wheel hurt her knee and leg. Parked SUV struck. Metal twisted. No ejections. Streets stayed hard.

According to the police report, a sedan and an SUV collided head-on on Vernon Boulevard in Queens. The sedan’s 29-year-old female driver suffered contusions to her knee and lower leg. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage. A parked SUV was also hit on its left side doors. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were cited. The injured driver was licensed, conscious, and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report does not assign fault or blame to the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4630849 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 19 - Albany spared suburban businesses from a payroll tax hike meant to save the MTA. Black and Latino city workers now shoulder more of the cost. Lawmakers like Mamdani call it unfair. Suburban interests win. City’s vulnerable lose. Racial disparity grows.

On May 19, 2023, state lawmakers finalized a payroll tax policy as part of the MTA funding negotiations. The measure raised the payroll mobility tax only for New York City businesses with high payrolls, exempting suburban firms after pushback from their legislators. The Fiscal Policy Institute found this move shifted the tax burden onto Black and Latino workers in the city. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani condemned the policy, saying, 'this illustrates the consequences of fiscal policy that privileges the suburbs over the larger MTA region.' Assembly Member Robert Carroll was one of the few to oppose the exemption. FPI’s Emily Eisner noted, 'there will be a 25-percent decline in the share of white workers impacted by the tax, and a 36-percent increase in the share of Black workers impacted.' Governor Hochul defended the plan as necessary to save the MTA. The bill’s racial and geographic inequity remains stark.

• Albany’s Fealty to Suburbs Hurts Black, Latino Workers: Report, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-19

May 16 - 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 2023-05-16

May 7 - A 63-year-old man on a bike suffered hip and upper leg injuries in Queens. The cyclist was not ejected but went into shock. The crash happened on 21 Street near 30 Road. No other vehicles involved or driver errors listed.

According to the police report, a 63-year-old male bicyclist was injured in a crash on 21 Street near 30 Road in Queens. The cyclist sustained injuries to his hip and upper leg and experienced shock. The report lists the cyclist as the only vehicle involved, traveling north and going straight ahead. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the bike. No contributing driver errors were specified in the report. The cyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The report notes complaints of pain or nausea but does not indicate any other vehicles or pedestrians involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4626711 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 1 - State budget expands MTA bus cameras. Now, they target drivers blocking bus stops, loading zones, bike lanes, intersections, and crosswalks. Fines start at $50. More buses get cameras. Lawmakers and advocates say this will speed up buses and protect the vulnerable.

The 2023 state budget, agreed on May 1, expands the MTA's automated bus lane enforcement camera system. The bill, backed by Governor Hochul and legislative leaders, broadens enforcement to drivers blocking bus stops, truck loading zones, bike lanes, intersections, and crosswalks. Fines start at $50, escalating for repeat offenses. The MTA will increase buses with cameras from 450 to 1,000 by year's end. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and advocate Sara Lind support the move, calling it vital for bus reliability and street safety. Lind says, 'Camera-based enforcement is such a powerful tool for making our streets safer.' The budget also addresses MTA funding, but some, like Mamdani, criticize the city's increased financial burden. The bill aims to clear the way for buses and vulnerable road users, reducing dangerous blockages.

• Say Cheese! State Budget Lets MTA Bus Cameras Zap Bus, Loading Zone and Bike Lane Blockers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-05-01

Apr 30 - Five bus lines will run free in each borough. The MTA’s pilot aims to boost ridership and keep fares down. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani pushed for this. The plan avoids service cuts. Riders get relief. Streets may see fewer cars.

On April 30, 2023, the MTA announced a two-year pilot for free bus service on five lines, one in each borough, as part of a state budget deal. The pilot is a key piece of the 'Fix the MTA' package. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a main sponsor, celebrated the inclusion of free buses, stating, 'I’m excited that the vision of free buses from our Fix the MTA package has been included in this year’s budget.' The pilot aims to increase bus ridership and keep fares low, while new funding measures—like a payroll mobility tax and increased city contributions—shore up the MTA’s finances. The plan also promises more frequent subway service and avoids steep fare hikes or service cuts. The official cost of the pilot is not yet clear, but advocates and officials say it will keep the MTA stable for four years.

• MTA will pilot free buses on five lines as part of state budget deal, amny.com, Published 2023-04-30

Apr 19 - Mayor Adams backs free buses on ten city routes. Assembly Member Mamdani hails the move for working-class riders. But promised bus lanes and service upgrades lag. Only 11.95 miles built last year. Political fights stall progress. Riders wait. Danger lingers.

On April 19, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams endorsed a pilot to make two bus routes free in each borough, totaling ten free buses. The plan is part of the 'Fix the MTA' package, originally championed by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and progressive allies. Adams said, 'I strongly support the thought of having 10 buses being free on lines in the city. I think it would make a major impact.' Mamdani called free buses 'transformative' for working-class New Yorkers. Despite this, other bus improvements lag. Adams pledged 150 miles of new bus lanes in four years, but only 11.95 miles were built last year. Some projects stalled amid political opposition. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber stressed the need for city commitment to bus lanes and warned of fare hikes and service cuts if funding gaps persist. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• Mayor Adams Backs Free Buses As Other Bus Commitments Fall By the Wayside, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-19

Apr 19 - Mayor Adams threw his weight behind a pilot for free city buses. Ten lines, two per borough, could go fareless. The move targets working-class riders. The plan faces budget gridlock in Albany. Riders wait. The city’s slow buses stay slow.

On April 19, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams endorsed a pilot program to make ten New York City bus lines free. The proposal, championed by Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and supported by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, is tangled in state budget negotiations. The Assembly and Senate included the pilot in their responses to Governor Hochul’s executive budget, but the governor’s plan left it out. The pilot would select two routes per borough, one serving a low-income area and one a commercial corridor. 'I strongly support the thought of having ten buses being free. The lines in the city I think will make a major impact,' Adams said. Mamdani called free buses 'a huge win for working-class NYers.' The plan’s fate remains uncertain as Albany’s budget talks drag on. Advocates note the mayor’s slow progress on promised bus lanes, leaving riders with sluggish service even as fare relief is debated.

• Mayor Adams endorses pilot program for free buses in NYC, amny.com, Published 2023-04-19

Apr 13 - A 31-year-old man was struck by a Ford SUV while crossing outside a crosswalk in Queens. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and an elbow injury. The SUV showed no damage. The driver was licensed and traveling east when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing the street outside a crosswalk in Queens. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The vehicle involved was a 2021 Ford SUV traveling east with one licensed male driver. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the SUV. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian’s crossing was noted as 'Crossing, No Signal, or Crosswalk,' but no driver violations such as failure to yield were recorded. The SUV sustained no damage in the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4622662 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - A hit-and-run driver killed Jaydan McLaurin, a teenage cyclist, on 21st Street in Astoria. He is the 11th cyclist killed this year. The street lacks protected bike lanes. Politicians and advocates demand urgent action. City failed to meet legal safety mandates.

On April 11, 2023, a hit-and-run driver killed Jaydan McLaurin, a teenage cyclist, on 21st Street in Astoria, Queens. This corridor is a Vision Zero priority but only has an unprotected bike lane. The crash marks the 11th cyclist death in New York City this year, a record high for this point in the year. Council Member Tiffany Cabán called the loss 'wave after wave of grief and heartbreak' and demanded safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists. Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris urged Mayor Adams and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez to invest in safe streets and fulfill the NYC Streets Plan’s legal requirements. Advocates noted the Department of Transportation failed to expand bike and bus lanes as required last year. The call is clear: the city must act now to protect vulnerable road users.

• Teen Cyclist Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver in Queens; 11th to Die this Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-04-11