Three Dead, Hundreds Hurt—City Lets Blood Spill on Jackson Avenue

Council moves to force brighter sidewalks. Bill orders 500 corridors lit each year. Shadows shrink. Pedestrians gain ground. Committee holds the bill. Streets wait.

Int 0079-2024, now laid over in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced on February 8, 2024. The bill demands the city install pedestrian lighting in at least 500 commercial corridors per year, aiming for a minimum of 1 footcandle (11 lux) on every sidewalk. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installation of pedestrian lighting fixtures.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers leads as primary sponsor, joined by Restler, Krishnan, Bottcher, and others. The committee has not yet voted. The bill’s text sets clear targets for coverage and contiguity, but action is stalled. Vulnerable road users remain in the dark until the city acts.

• File Int 0079-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-08

Mayor Adams boasted of bus lane progress. The numbers tell a different story. His administration missed legal targets two years running. Bus speeds fell. Promised projects stalled or died. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous. Words do not move buses.

On February 6, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams declared his administration had done an 'amazing job' building bus lanes in New York City. In reality, Adams missed legal targets: only 12.9 miles built in 2022 out of 20 required, and 13.3 miles in 2023 out of 30. Bus speeds dropped from 7.7 mph in January 2022 to 7.4 mph in December 2023. Adams claimed his approach was 'revolutionary' for prioritizing community input. Critics, including Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani and Riders Alliance spokesman Danny Pearlstein, countered that Adams canceled or stalled key projects like Fordham Road, despite strong community support. Mamdani said, 'he's made 1.4 million daily bus riders take the slowest buses in the country.' The mayor’s promises remain unmet. Bus riders and pedestrians still wait for safer, faster streets.

• ‘We’ve Done An Amazing Job Building Bus Lanes,’ Says Mayor Who Keeps Killing Bus Lanes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-06

Mayor Adams boasts of bus lane progress. The numbers tell another story. Promised miles not built. Bus speeds drop. Riders stranded. Assembly Member Mamdani calls out broken promises. The city stalls. Streets stay dangerous for those outside cars.

On February 6, 2024, Mayor Adams declared his administration had done an 'amazing job' building bus lanes. The facts cut through the claim. In 2022, only 12.9 miles of bus lanes were built out of a required 20. In 2023, just 13.3 miles out of a required 30. The Department of Transportation missed legal targets both years. The matter, as reported, states: 'Mayor Adams claimed... his administration has done an "amazing job" building bus lanes... despite missing legally required targets.' Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, representing District 36, slammed the mayor for scrapping key projects and failing bus riders. Mamdani said, '49 percent of bus riders are dissatisfied with wait times... instead he's made 1.4 million daily bus riders take the slowest buses in the country.' Riders Alliance joined the criticism, demanding a real plan for the 130 miles of overdue bus lanes. The city’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users exposed, with no clear agenda for safer, faster streets.

• We've Done An Amazing Job Building Bus Lanes,' Says Mayor Who Keeps Killing Bus Lanes, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-02-06

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

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

Two sedans crashed on Vernon Boulevard. One turned left, striking another going straight. A front passenger suffered facial bruises. Police cite driver inattention. The street bore the impact.

According to the police report, a 2021 Kia sedan made a left turn on Vernon Boulevard at 46 Road and collided with a 2018 Ford sedan traveling straight south. The impact hit the Kia's left side doors and the Ford's right front bumper. A 49-year-old woman, seated in the front passenger seat of the Kia, was injured with facial contusions but remained conscious and was not ejected. The police report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. No other errors or contributing factors were noted for the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688674 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A sedan collided with a parked box truck on Davis Street in Queens. The sedan’s driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cited traffic control disregard as a contributing factor. The driver remained conscious and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Davis Street struck a parked box truck at the left front bumper. The sedan’s driver, a 45-year-old man, sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor to the crash. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. Damage was noted on the sedan’s right side doors and the truck’s left front bumper. No other occupants were involved. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the victim’s actions or safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4688045 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

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

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

Bus ridership in New York City is back to pre-pandemic numbers—if you count those who ride without paying. The MTA pushes fare enforcement. Lawmakers and labor say focus on service, not punishment. Riders, mostly working class, depend on these buses to survive.

This policy debate, highlighted on November 16, 2023, centers on bus fare evasion, free bus pilot expansion, and transit funding. Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) leads the charge, arguing, "We are hitting numbers that we are not recognizing, because our focus has been on fares." The MTA claims fare compliance is vital, but Mamdani and union voices like JP Patafio of TWU Local 100 urge investment in service and affordability. The matter underscores the working-class reliance on buses and the stalled rollout of OMNY, which limits all-door boarding. The debate pits fare enforcement against calls for free or reduced fares, with advocates demanding progressive taxation to fund transit. No formal council bill or vote is attached, but the stakes for vulnerable riders are clear: service, not policing, keeps them moving.

• Bus Ridership is Near 2019 Levels (If You Count the People Who Don’t Pay), Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-16

Two sedans collided on Queens Plaza South. Both drivers suffered back injuries and whiplash. Unsafe lane changing and aggressive driving caused the crash. Both men were conscious and restrained. Damage hit front and rear bumpers. No ejections reported.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Queens Plaza South around 2:25 p.m. Both drivers, male and conscious, sustained back injuries and whiplash. The crash involved unsafe lane changing and aggressive driving or road rage by both drivers. One driver was unlicensed. Both occupants wore lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The impact occurred at the right front bumper of one sedan and the left rear bumper of the other. A third vehicle, a Ford sedan, was also involved but was slowing or stopping at the time. The report highlights driver errors—unsafe lane changing and aggressive driving—as the primary contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4676934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two sedans crashed head-on at Thomson Avenue in Queens. The 58-year-old male driver suffered a head contusion but was conscious and restrained. Police cited driver inexperience and glare as contributing factors. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Thomson Avenue in Queens. The 58-year-old male driver of one vehicle was injured, suffering a head contusion but remained conscious and was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The crash involved two licensed male drivers traveling straight ahead when the collision occurred. The report lists driver inexperience and glare as contributing factors to the crash. The vehicles sustained damage to their front ends, with impact points at the center front and right front bumper. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4674455 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A sedan swung broadside on 44 Road. An e-scooter hit hard. The rider, thirty-three, flew from his seat. He landed torn and bleeding under the streetlights. Driver inattention ruled the night. The helmet stayed on. The pain did not.

A crash unfolded on 44 Road near 21st Street in Queens. A sedan making a U-turn crossed paths with an e-scooter traveling straight. The e-scooter struck the sedan’s left front quarter panel. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' was listed as the contributing factor for both vehicles. The 33-year-old e-scooter rider was ejected and suffered severe lacerations across his body. He remained conscious at the scene. The report notes the rider wore a helmet, but only after citing driver inattention as the primary cause. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673848 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A sedan struck a 13-year-old boy crossing 21 Street in Queens. The driver failed to yield and was distracted. The boy suffered fractures and dislocations to his knee, leg, and foot.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old pedestrian was crossing 21 Street at 49 Avenue in Queens with the signal when a sedan traveling east struck him with its center front end. The boy sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver errors as Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Driver Inattention/Distraction. The vehicle showed no damage and had no passengers besides the driver. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. No contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s actions or safety equipment were indicated.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4669233 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Astoria residents packed a hall. They demanded safer streets after a child died. Online groups drove turnout. Cyclists and pedestrians led the call. The community board pushed for daylighting. Most locals walk, bike, or ride transit. The fight is urgent. The danger is real.

"Astorians showed up last night for pedestrian + bike safety: over 150 neighbors packed the room at Variety Boys & Girls Club to talk about how we make our streets safer." -- Zohran Mamdani

On October 3, 2023, Astoria activists mobilized for street safety after a fatal crash killed a 7-year-old girl. No formal council bill number is listed, but the Transportation Committee of Community Board 1 passed a resolution urging DOT to daylight all intersections. The matter, described as 'community advocacy for street safety and bike infrastructure,' drew over 150 residents to a public workshop. Council Member Zohran Kwame Mamdani attended, stating, 'Astorians showed up last night for pedestrian + bike safety.' Online organizing, especially on the MicromobilityNYC subreddit, brought new voices to the table and pressured NYPD to take traffic enforcement seriously. The area lacks protected bike lanes—only 3 percent of streets have them—while most residents do not own cars and rely on walking, biking, or transit. The activism is diverse, persistent, and focused on ending traffic violence.

• Astoria Organizers Lead the Way on Street Safety with a Reddit Strategy, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-03

A sedan turning improperly struck a moped rider traveling south on 21 Street in Queens. The moped driver, a 29-year-old man, suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The sedan driver was distracted and failed to yield.

According to the police report, a sedan making a U-turn collided with a moped traveling straight ahead on 21 Street in Queens. The moped rider, a 29-year-old male, sustained abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report lists driver errors including "Turning Improperly," "Driver Inattention/Distraction," and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as contributing factors. The moped driver was wearing a helmet. The sedan driver was licensed but distracted during the maneuver. The impact occurred at the left front quarter panel of the sedan and the center front end of the moped. The moped driver was not ejected and remained conscious after the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4666247 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

MTA rolls out free bus routes in all five boroughs. Digital signs mark the buses. Riders board without paying. The pilot covers 44,000 daily trips. Lawmakers say this is a step toward greener, fairer transit. The agency will study the results.

On September 24, 2023, the MTA launched a free bus pilot in every New York City borough. The pilot, part of a state budget deal, makes one route per borough fare-free for up to a year. The official summary states: 'One MTA bus route will be free in each New York City borough starting Sunday.' Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, mentioned in the coverage, said, 'Getting more New Yorkers on to public transit must be at the forefront of our plan for a greener NY.' The pilot covers the B60 in Brooklyn, M116 in Manhattan, Q4 in Queens, S46/S96 in Staten Island, and BX18 in the Bronx. About 44,000 weekday riders are affected. The MTA will monitor ridership and study the impact. Progressive lawmakers back the move to help low-income New Yorkers. No direct safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• Every NYC borough gets a free MTA bus route starting Sunday, gothamist.com, Published 2023-09-24

A dump truck turning right struck an eastbound SUV on 47 Avenue. Both female SUV occupants suffered back injuries and shock. The crash damaged the vehicles’ front quarters. Driver distraction and improper lane usage caused the collision.

According to the police report, a 2021 Dodge SUV traveling east on 47 Avenue was struck on its right front quarter panel by a 2019 International dump truck making a right turn northeast. The SUV had two female occupants: a 38-year-old driver and a 61-year-old front passenger. Both were injured with back pain and shock but were not ejected. The report lists driver errors as "Driver Inattention/Distraction" and "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" for the SUV driver, and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" for the passenger. The dump truck driver was licensed and making a right turn. The collision caused damage to the right front quarter panel of the SUV and the left front bumper of the dump truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4663942 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

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

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