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

Feb 2 - Gov. Hochul’s budget plugs the MTA’s deficit with casino money and higher payroll taxes. Riders face a 5.5% fare hike. Service stays flat. City pays more. No new long-term funding. Advocates warn: vulnerable New Yorkers left behind.

On February 2, 2023, Gov. Hochul unveiled her Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal to address the MTA’s looming fiscal crisis. The plan, described as aiming to 'expand our public transit access, affordability, safety,' includes a one-time $300 million state payment, a payroll mobility tax hike, and casino revenue estimated at $462–$826 million annually. The city would pay $500 million more each year. MTA Chair Janno Lieber praised the plan for preserving service without cuts. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani criticized it for raising fares and failing low-income riders. Mayor Adams and Comptroller Lander objected to the city’s increased burden, calling for congestion pricing and opposing fare hikes. The budget does not expand service or secure long-term funding, leaving vulnerable riders exposed to higher costs and stagnant service.

• Gov. Hochul Fills Cash-Strapped MTA’s Fiscal Hole … With Casino Money, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-02

Feb 2 - Albany plugs the MTA’s budget gap with casino money and higher payroll taxes. Riders face a 5.5% fare hike. No new service. City pays more. Lawmakers and advocates warn: the fix is short-term. Vulnerable riders left exposed. The system stays fragile.

On February 2, 2023, the state unveiled a budget proposal to fund the MTA. The plan, discussed in committee, includes a one-time $300 million payment, a payroll mobility tax hike, and future casino revenue. The matter summary reads: 'Gov. Hochul's Fiscal Year 2024 budget aims to prevent the MTA from facing a fiscal crisis, but leaves the search for more transit service and ways to avoid fare hikes to the state legislature.' Council Member Robert Carroll is mentioned. The proposal does not expand service or prevent a 5.5% fare hike. Advocates like Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani criticize the plan for failing low-income New Yorkers. Comptroller Brad Lander calls for congestion pricing and more sustainable funding. The city faces a heavier financial load, but the budget offers no long-term fix for riders’ safety or affordability.

• The Ultimate Gamble: Hochul Fills MTA’s Fiscal Hole (But With Casino Money), streetsblog.org, Published 2023-02-02

Feb 1 - 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 2023-02-01

Jan 30 - Senate bill S 3304 aims to keep cars out of bike lanes. Photo devices would catch violators. Sponsors say it’s time to protect cyclists. The bill stands at the sponsorship stage.

Senate bill S 3304, sponsored by Brad Hoylman-Sigal with co-sponsors Jabari Brisport, Kristen Gonzalez, Liz Krueger, and Julia Salazar, was introduced on January 30, 2023. The bill is in the sponsorship stage. It seeks to 'establish in the city of New York a bicycle lane safety program to enforce certain restrictions on the use of protected bicycle lanes by means of bicycle lane photo devices.' The measure targets drivers who block bike lanes, aiming to keep space clear for cyclists. No safety analyst note is available. The bill has not yet advanced to committee or vote.

• File S 3304, Open States, Published 2023-01-30

Jan 27 - Nineteen council members demand Mayor Adams back state bills for six-minute transit and free buses. They urge Albany to fund the MTA, calling transit a public good. Fast, frequent service means safer, fuller streets. The council stands united. Riders wait.

On January 27, 2023, nineteen New York City Council members, led by Tiffany Cabán, sent a letter urging Mayor Adams to support the Fix the MTA package in Albany. The package, introduced by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Mike Gianaris, includes eight bills: funding for six-minute off-peak subway and bus service, four years of free bus rides, and closing the MTA's fiscal gap. Council Member Amanda Farías introduced a resolution backing six-minute service. The letter states, 'Just as fund libraries and schools, we must fund transit—a public good that creates access to opportunities in life.' Cabán called the push a 'critical public safety initiative,' linking frequent, reliable transit to safer streets. The council's action signals a unified demand for robust, equitable transit funding.

• Council Members Join Push For Six-Minute Transit Service And Free Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-27

Jan 27 - Nineteen council members demand Mayor Adams back state bills for six-minute transit and free buses. They urge Albany to fund the MTA, calling transit a public good. Fast, frequent service means safer, fuller streets. The council stands united. Riders wait.

On January 27, 2023, nineteen New York City Council members, led by Tiffany Cabán, sent a letter urging Mayor Adams to support the Fix the MTA package in Albany. The package, introduced by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Senator Mike Gianaris, includes eight bills: funding for six-minute off-peak subway and bus service, four years of free bus rides, and closing the MTA's fiscal gap. Council Member Amanda Farías introduced a resolution backing six-minute service. The letter states, 'Just as fund libraries and schools, we must fund transit—a public good that creates access to opportunities in life.' Cabán called the push a 'critical public safety initiative,' linking frequent, reliable transit to safer streets. The council's action signals a unified demand for robust, equitable transit funding.

• Council Members Join Push For Six-Minute Transit Service And Free Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-27

Jan 26 - Assembly bill A 2610 targets bus lane cheaters. Sponsors back cameras and owner liability. The goal: keep bus lanes clear, speed up buses, cut crashes. No votes yet. The fight for safer streets rolls on.

Assembly bill A 2610, now in sponsorship, aims to extend bus rapid transit camera enforcement. The bill, titled "Relates to owner liability for failure of operator to comply with bus operation-related local law or regulation traffic restrictions," was introduced January 26, 2023. Primary sponsor Alicia Hyndman leads, joined by Deborah Glick, Sarahana Shrestha, Manny De Los Santos, Zohran Mamdani, and others. The bill would hold vehicle owners liable for bus lane violations and expand photo enforcement. No votes have been recorded. The measure seeks to keep bus lanes clear, speed up transit, and reduce risk for those outside cars.

• File A 2610, Open States, Published 2023-01-26

Jan 17 - Senate bill S 1952 orders advanced safety tech in all New York vehicles. DMV must set rules. Hoylman-Sigal leads. Gianaris and Gonzalez back him. No safety analyst review yet. Action at sponsorship stage.

Senate bill S 1952, now at the sponsorship stage, sits with the New York State Senate. Filed January 17, 2023, it 'mandates the use of advanced safety technology in vehicles in the state; requires the commissioner of motor vehicles to promulgate certain rules and regulations.' Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal sponsors, joined by Michael Gianaris and Kristen Gonzalez. No safety analyst has reviewed the bill's impact on vulnerable road users. The bill awaits further action and committee assignment.

• File S 1952, Open States, Published 2023-01-17

Jan 13 - Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

Jan 10 - Governor Hochul promised new transit lines and speed limit control. She pushed the Brooklyn-Queens light rail but skipped a plan to save the MTA. Assemblymember Mamdani warned of fare hikes and cuts. Riders face uncertainty. The city waits for real answers.

On January 10, 2023, Governor Hochul announced major transit proposals in her State of the State address. The centerpiece: advancing the Brooklyn-to-Queens Interborough Express light rail, described as 'better access to jobs, education and economic opportunities for some 900,000 New Yorkers.' Hochul also backed city control of speed limits, expanded CityTicket, and transit-oriented development. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, representing District 36, criticized Hochul for omitting a concrete plan to address the MTA’s financial crisis, warning 'fare hikes and service cuts remain possible.' The speech left the MTA’s future in limbo. No safety analyst assessment was provided for vulnerable road users. The bill’s fate and impact on street safety remain uncertain.

• Hochul promises Brooklyn-Queens light rail, other major transit initiatives, but omits concrete plan to save cash-strapped MTA, amny.com, Published 2023-01-10

Jan 10 - Governor Hochul dodged the MTA’s $600 million budget gap. No new revenue plan. Assemblymember Mamdani sounded the alarm. Riders face fare hikes and service cuts. The city’s lifeblood hangs in the balance. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait for answers.

On January 10, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul delivered her State of the State address but failed to outline a plan to fill the MTA’s $600 million operating deficit. The event, covered in 'Hochul punts on new MTA revenue source amid threat of big fare hikes,' saw Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani (District 36) publicly criticize the lack of specifics, warning, 'In her silence on addressing the MTA’s operating deficit, Gov. Hochul leaves the possibility of fare hikes and service cuts on the table.' The MTA faces steep fare increases and possible service cuts if new funding is not secured. Hochul announced plans to rezone for more housing near transit to boost ridership, but offered no immediate relief. The absence of a concrete funding plan leaves vulnerable riders—those who depend on transit—at risk. No safety analyst note was provided.

• Hochul punts on new MTA revenue source amid threat of big fare hikes, gothamist.com, Published 2023-01-10

Jan 6 - A cement truck killed Tamara Chuchi Kao, 62, on 24th Avenue. Locals and officials had begged for safer streets. No bike lanes. Trucks thunder past homes. City promised action after the crash. Cyclists keep dying. The danger remains, unyielding.

On January 6, 2023, Astoria residents and Council Member Tiffany Cabán renewed demands for safety on 24th Avenue after a cement truck killed Citi Bike rider Tamara Chuchi Kao. The street, a DOT truck route, lacks bike lanes. Kao was the fourth cyclist killed in western Queens in under three years. Former Councilmember Costa Constantinides called the area a 'serious safety risk' and urged the DOT to study improvements and reroute trucks. Cabán called the crash 'devastating' and pressed city agencies for action. DOT spokesman Vin Barone promised immediate steps at the crash site and talks on protected bike lanes. Less than 1.5 percent of streets in Council District 22 have protected bike paths. Residents say the city prioritizes highway access over safety. The city plans to add leading pedestrian intervals at the intersection.

• Locals Have Been Begging for Safer Street Where Trucker Killed Citi Bike Rider, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-06

Jan 5 - A cement truck driver turned right and struck a woman on a Citi Bike in Astoria. She died at the scene, less than a mile from home. This marks the fourth cyclist killed in the area in under three years. Streets remain deadly.

On January 5, 2023, a cement truck driver fatally struck 62-year-old Tamara Chuchi Kao as she rode a Citi Bike in Astoria, Queens. The driver turned right from 24th Avenue onto 29th Street, hitting Kao and killing her instantly. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani called the crash 'absolutely heartbreaking,' noting Kao was the fourth cyclist killed in Astoria in 2.5 years. State Senator Kristen Gonzalez blamed 'poorly designed streets,' saying, 'traffic violence is the outcome of poorly designed streets and is a solvable problem.' The area has almost no protected bike lanes. In 2022, Community Board 1 saw 1,979 crashes, injuring 120 cyclists and 163 pedestrians. Politicians and residents demand safer streets, better enforcement, and an end to car dominance. The deadly toll continues.

• BREAKING: Cement Truck Driver Fatally Strikes Woman on Citi Bike in Astoria, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-05

Jan 5 - A cement truck driver turned right and struck a woman on a Citi Bike in Astoria. She died at the scene, less than a mile from home. This marks the fourth cyclist killed in the area in under three years. Streets remain deadly.

On January 5, 2023, a cement truck driver fatally struck 62-year-old Tamara Chuchi Kao as she rode a Citi Bike in Astoria, Queens. The driver turned right from 24th Avenue onto 29th Street, hitting Kao and killing her instantly. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani called the crash 'absolutely heartbreaking,' noting Kao was the fourth cyclist killed in Astoria in 2.5 years. State Senator Kristen Gonzalez blamed 'poorly designed streets,' saying, 'traffic violence is the outcome of poorly designed streets and is a solvable problem.' The area has almost no protected bike lanes. In 2022, Community Board 1 saw 1,979 crashes, injuring 120 cyclists and 163 pedestrians. Politicians and residents demand safer streets, better enforcement, and an end to car dominance. The deadly toll continues.

• BREAKING: Cement Truck Driver Fatally Strikes Woman on Citi Bike in Astoria, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-05

Jan 4 - A 36-year-old man was hit by an SUV while crossing a marked crosswalk on 31 Avenue in Queens. The driver failed to yield right-of-way during a right turn. The pedestrian suffered knee and lower leg injuries and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old male pedestrian was injured at the intersection of 31 Avenue and 14 Street in Queens. The pedestrian was crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal when a 2019 Honda SUV, traveling west and making a right turn, struck him with its center front end. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report lists the driver's failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4595493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 4 - Senate bill S 100 demands complete street design in state and federally funded projects. Lawmakers push for public guidance. Streets built for people, not just cars.

Senate bill S 100 was introduced on January 4, 2023, and is 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 planners to consider all users—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan leads, joined by Jamaal Bailey, Jabari Brisport, Samra Brouk, Cordell Cleare, Jeremy Cooney, Michael Gianaris, Kristen Gonzalez, Rachel May, Kevin S. Parker, and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill also orders the department to publish street design guidance. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 100, Open States, Published 2023-01-04

Dec 22 - MTA leaders warn: no new money, no full service. Peak hour cuts, longer waits. Riders and workers brace for frustration. Advocates and lawmakers push Albany to fill the gap. The board’s budget opens the door to fare hikes and more pain.

On December 22, 2022, MTA leaders announced that without recurring state funding, service cuts are inevitable. The MTA Board approved a 2023 budget allowing fare hikes and service changes, pending Albany’s action. Chairman Janno Lieber said, "All good things can happen if people are willing to pay for them, or help figure out recurring funding sources, which is what MTA needs to achieve fiscal stability." New York City Transit President Richard Davey explained that peak hour service would be trimmed, with modest increases in wait times, while some weekend service would expand. Transit advocates and union leaders, including Richard Davis, condemned the cuts, warning of increased rider frustration and assaults on workers. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani urged passage of bills to freeze fares and fill the MTA’s fiscal gap, stating, "We have to fix the rot at the heart of the transit system." No formal safety analyst assessment was provided, but the debate centers on the risk to riders and workers if service shrinks.

• MTA Bosses Say Albany Can Pay to Keep Full Service Five Days Per Week, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-22

Dec 16 - Senator Michael Gianaris faces criticism for backing free city buses by 2026. The editorial slams the plan’s $638 million price tag and attacks its supporters. No mention of safety. The fight is about money, not lives on the street.

On December 16, 2022, an editorial targeted State Senator Michael Gianaris (District 12) for supporting a proposal to make all New York City buses free by 2026. The piece, titled 'Sen. Gianaris’ latest ‘bust the MTA’ budget idiocy,' appeared in the New York Post. It claims the plan would add $638 million a year to the MTA’s deficits and criticizes the idea as reckless. Gianaris, along with Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, is called out for joining the push. The editorial’s focus is fiscal: 'making all city buses free by 2026... would add an estimated $638 million a year to the MTA’s multi-billion dollar deficits.' There is no assessment of how this policy would affect vulnerable road users. The debate here is about budgets, not street safety.

• Sen. Gianaris’ latest ‘bust the MTA’ budget idiocy, nypost.com, Published 2022-12-16

Dec 14 - State lawmakers Mamdani and Gianaris unveiled a four-year plan to fund free MTA buses. The proposal boosts bus service, freezes fares, and expands camera enforcement. They call it urgent. The plan aims to make transit faster, cheaper, and safer for all riders.

On December 14, 2022, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and State Senator Michael Gianaris introduced the Formula Three Act, a legislative proposal to overhaul MTA funding and fare policy. The plan, part of the larger Fix The MTA Package, would phase in free local and Select Bus Service, increase bus frequency by 20%, freeze fares, and expand permanent bus lane camera enforcement. Funding would rise from $200 million in 2023 to $638 million in 2026, with $488 million yearly for more buses and $300 million annually for frequent subways. Mamdani called the proposal 'urgent and necessary,' stressing that 'seniors, working class New Yorkers, people who use the bus the most are able to do so without fear of being priced out.' Gianaris said, 'incrementalism...is not working.' The lawmakers urge bold action to ensure public transit is accessible, affordable, and excellent.

• State Pols Reveal ‘Urgent And Necessary’ Plan To Fund Free MTA Buses, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-12-14

Dec 13 - A 49-year-old woman was hit while crossing a marked crosswalk on Shore Boulevard. The SUV driver made a right turn and failed to yield. Glare impaired visibility. The pedestrian suffered injuries and shock. The vehicle showed no damage.

According to the police report, a 49-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing a marked crosswalk on Shore Boulevard. The driver of a 2019 Honda SUV was making a right turn when the collision occurred. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Glare' as contributing factors. The pedestrian was at the intersection, crossing without a signal. The SUV struck the pedestrian with its center front end but sustained no damage. The pedestrian was injured and experienced shock. The driver was licensed and traveling northeast. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4590937 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19