No Graves—Yet: Slow Down Before Calvary’s Streets Fill

• Nude Queens man indicted for kicking bike riders, attacking 3 NYPD officers, NY Daily News, Published 2025-09-18

• Man accused of intentionally killing Queens teen with his car, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-16

• 16-year-old girl dies after being hit by SUV in Queens, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-13

Sep 11 - Two SUV drivers and a motorcyclist traveled east on the Long Island Expressway. They crashed. A 22-year-old driver was hurt. Police recorded Following Too Closely. One SUV showed right-rear damage. Another showed left-front damage. The motorcycle showed rear impact.

Drivers of two SUVs and a motorcycle traveled east on the Long Island Expressway. They crashed. A 22-year-old male driver was injured with knee and lower-leg trauma and a reported fracture/dislocation. Injury severity was listed as 3. Others were marked unspecified. According to the police report, "Following Too Closely" was recorded as a contributing factor. All three drivers were recorded as going straight. One SUV had a right-rear point of impact with right-rear quarter-panel damage. The other SUV had a left-front impact with left-front quarter-panel damage. The motorcycle’s point of impact was the center back end, with front-end damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4842304 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

• Queens bus network redesign draws mixed reviews from riders, CBS New York, Published 2025-09-02

Aug 14 - Council pushes Albany to pass A.5440. Owner liability when cars flout posted rules. Cameras to curb illegal parking that endangers people. Less chaos. More space for those on foot and bike.

Res 1024-2025 is a Council resolution now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025 and referred the same day. It “calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5440, which imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York.” Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, sponsored by Assemblymember Steven Raga, would pilot camera enforcement (on city vehicles or along streets) for posted parking rules, with owner fines from $50 to $250 and a six-year term, plus a two-year public report. The aim: curb illegal parking that endangers people outside cars and clogs the street.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Illegally parked cars endanger people on foot and bike. Res 1024-2025 urges Albany to pass A.5440. Cameras ticket owners who flout posted rules. Fines escalate. Goal: clear lanes and crosswalks. Make streets less hostile to people, not cars.

Res 1024-2025 sits in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced and referred August 14, 2025. The resolution urges passage of State bill A.5440, which, in the Council’s words, "imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York." Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, by Assemblymember Steven Raga, authorizes a six-year camera pilot to ticket owners for posted parking-rule violations caught by street or vehicle-mounted cameras. Fines start at $50 and rise to $250 for repeaters, with a $25 late penalty. DOT must publish a two-year report. The aim: fewer illegal blockers, safer space for people outside cars.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 14 - Council pushes Albany to pass A.5440. Owner liability when cars flout posted rules. Cameras to curb illegal parking that endangers people. Less chaos. More space for those on foot and bike.

Res 1024-2025 is a Council resolution now in Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced August 14, 2025 and referred the same day. It “calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.5440, which imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York.” Sponsor: Council Member Lincoln Restler. A.5440, sponsored by Assemblymember Steven Raga, would pilot camera enforcement (on city vehicles or along streets) for posted parking rules, with owner fines from $50 to $250 and a six-year term, plus a two-year public report. The aim: curb illegal parking that endangers people outside cars and clogs the street.

• File Res 1024-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-08-14

Aug 12 - A car slammed into a food truck in Astoria. Three people died. Metal twisted. Lives ended. The street became a scene of sudden loss.

CBS New York reported on August 12, 2025, that a car crashed into a food truck at 19th Avenue and 42nd Street in Astoria, Queens, killing three people. The article quotes witnesses, including a man who 'narrowly escaped tragedy.' Details on the driver's actions remain scarce, but the crash highlights the lethal risk vehicles pose to people on city streets. The incident raises questions about street design and the exposure of workers and customers at curbside businesses.

• Car Plows Into Queens Food Truck, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-12

Aug 8 - DOT sides with car-first politicians. Daylighting stalls. Corners stay blind. Pedestrians and cyclists lose. Safety takes a back seat. The city’s most vulnerable pay the price.

""It isn’t unreasonable to invest under $10k to save the lives of children and all pedestrians with daylighting?"" -- Julie Won

On August 8, 2025, Streetsblog NYC covered the clash over universal daylighting. No bill number or committee listed. DOT’s report claimed high costs and little safety gain, fueling opposition from Council Members Inna Vernikov, Bob Holden, and Vito Fossella. Council Member Julie Won and Mayor Ravi Bhalla called the report a scare tactic, urging citywide daylighting to save lives. DOT’s compromise with pro-car officials weakens protections. As safety analyst notes, this shift prioritizes cars over people, undermining vulnerable road user safety and citywide mode shift goals.

• We Told You So! DOT’s Anti-Daylighting ‘Scare Tactic’ Now Fuels Pro-Car Pols, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 4 - Gianaris backs Mamdani for mayor. Both pushed for subway funding and fare-free buses. Their alliance signals power in transit fights. No direct safety change yet for walkers or riders.

On August 4, 2025, State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris endorsed Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani for mayor. The two worked together on the 'Fix the MTA Act,' which invested in subways and piloted fare-free buses. Gianaris said Mamdani 'provides the energy and ideas' New Yorkers need. Mamdani thanked Gianaris for helping secure 'historic investments in subway and bus services.' This event, reported by City & State NY, shows political unity on transit. However, as no specific policy action or outcome is detailed, analysts find no direct safety impact for pedestrians or cyclists.

• Mike Gianaris backs Zohran Mamdani for mayor, City & State NY, Published 2025-08-04

Aug 3 - Council weighs a 20-foot parking ban at crosswalks. Supporters say it saves lives. Critics warn of lost parking and risk. Streets stand at a crossroads.

""Universal daylighting and hardening at intersections will keep all New Yorkers safe whether they are driving, walking or biking,"" -- Julie Won

Intro. 1138, now before the City Council as of August 3, 2025, targets cars parked within 20 feet of crosswalks. The transportation committee leads the review. The bill's summary: 'ban vehicles from parking within 20 feet of crosswalks to improve visibility and street safety.' Council Member Barbara Russo-Lennon supports the measure. Council Member Julie Won and advocates back it. DOT officials and some lawmakers oppose, citing cost and risk. The bill could cut 300,000 parking spots. Banning parking near intersections improves visibility for all road users, reducing collisions and making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, even if it reduces parking.

• NYC to lose 300,000 parking spots in City Council bid to boost street safety, AMNY, Published 2025-08-03

Aug 1 - A car struck and killed a 23-year-old man in Ozone Park. The driver fled, then turned himself in. Police say the crash followed a heated confrontation. The victim died at Jamaica Hospital.

ABC7 reported on August 1, 2025, that a 23-year-old man died after being hit by a car at 101st Avenue and Liberty Boulevard in Queens. Police said the incident followed a domestic dispute. The driver, who was the woman's current boyfriend, told police the victim approached his car "while flashing what appeared to be a gun" and was struck as the driver tried to leave. The driver later went to the police. No charges had been filed as of publication, with the district attorney still reviewing the case. The crash highlights the lethal risk when vehicles are used during conflicts.

• Man Killed By Car In Queens Dispute, ABC7, Published 2025-08-01

Jul 30 - Council moves to ban parking near corners. Sightlines clear. Crashes drop. Pedestrians and cyclists breathe easier. DOT doubts linger. Advocates press on. Streets could change fast.

"Won criticized the report as "deeply flawed" at a Transportation Committee hearing in April." -- Julie Won

On July 30, 2025, the NYC Council Progressive Caucus made a major push for Intro 1138, a bill to ban parking within 20 feet of intersections. The measure sits with the Transportation Committee. Council Member Julie Won introduced it after deadly crashes in her district. Eighteen caucus members back the bill, aiming to force a vote this year. The matter: 'eliminate parking within 20 feet of an intersection.' Council Member Sandy Nurse called daylighting 'a proven, effective way to make our streets safer.' DOT raised doubts about non-hardened daylighting, but safety analysts say restricting parking near intersections improves visibility, reduces collisions, and protects people on foot and bike.

• NYC Council Progressive Caucus to make push for universal daylighting in 2025, City & State NY, Published 2025-07-30

Jul 25 - On 59-50 54th Avenue in Queens a driver going straight hit a parked sedan. A 73-year-old man driving was injured — knee, lower leg, foot and internal injuries. He was conscious at the scene. Police recorded "Driver Inattention/Distraction."

A sedan going straight struck a parked sedan at 59-50 54th Avenue in Queens. The driver, a 73-year-old man, suffered knee, lower leg, foot and internal injuries and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, "Driver Inattention/Distraction" was the contributing factor. Police data show one vehicle pre-crash as "Going Straight Ahead" and the other as "Parked," with impact to the center front of the moving car and the center back of the parked car. The injured person was the driver and was using a lap belt, per the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4830462 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 17 - A crash on the Long Island Expressway left a 22-year-old man injured. Multiple vehicles collided. Police cite driver inattention. Metal twisted. Traffic stopped. One hurt, many shaken.

A multi-vehicle crash unfolded on the Long Island Expressway in Queens. According to the police report, a 22-year-old male driver suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries. Several other occupants, including drivers and passengers, were involved but not seriously hurt. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. One sedan driver was unlicensed. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash involved SUVs and sedans, with vehicles stopping or slowing in traffic before impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828604 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 8 - Hillside Avenue chokes on cars. Buses crawl at four miles per hour. New lanes promise relief for 215,000 riders. Space shifts from cars to buses. Streets change. Riders wait.

Gothamist (2025-07-08) reports new bus lanes are coming to Hillside Avenue, Queens. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the corridor suffers from 'an inconsistent, patchwork design' and blocked lanes. Buses crawl at four miles per hour due to congestion. Only a third of road space serves buses, though 83% of transit users ride them. The project adds camera-enforced bus lanes, parking, and loading zones. Policy shifts road space from private cars to public transit, aiming to speed up service for 215,000 daily riders.

• Bus Lanes Target Congestion On Hillside Avenue, Gothamist, Published 2025-07-08

Jul 5 - City aims to carve bike lanes into 31st Street. Merchants fear lost access. Residents cite danger. DOT points to dozens hurt, two killed. The street stays deadly. The fight over space continues.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-05), the NYC Department of Transportation plans to narrow lanes and add bike paths on 31st Street in Astoria, Queens. The DOT cites 126 injured vehicle occupants, 33 injured pedestrians, 24 injured cyclists, and two deaths from 2020 to 2024, calling it 'one of the most dangerous streets in Queens.' Business owners warn the changes will block deliveries and threaten livelihoods. Residents worry about access and safety, especially for the elderly and students. The plan highlights the tension between street redesigns and the needs of vulnerable road users.

• City Bike Lane Plan Sparks Queens Clash, New York Post, Published 2025-07-05

Jul 4 - A boy, 15, fell from a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza. He landed on the tracks. Medics rushed him to the hospital. He died. The NYPD is investigating. Two other subway incidents happened that morning.

ABC7 reported on July 4, 2025, that a 15-year-old boy died after falling from the top of a No. 7 train at Queensboro Plaza station. The article states, "Police say the 15-year-old boy was riding on top of a No. 7 train around 2:45 a.m." and "He fell onto the tracks as it pulled into the Queensboro Plaza station." The NYPD is investigating this and two other incidents: a person struck by a J train and another killed while walking between cars on a No. 2 train. The events highlight ongoing dangers in the subway system and raise questions about platform and train safety.

• Teen Dies Falling From No. 7 Train, ABC7, Published 2025-07-04

Jul 2 - Zohran Mamdani’s fare-free bus pilot drew more riders. Fewer cars. Streets safer. City weighs expansion. Vulnerable users stand to gain. The debate: cost, service, and public space.

Bill: Fare-free bus pilot, led by Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, reported July 2, 2025, by New York Magazine - Curbed. The pilot ran for one year, costing $15 million, with increased ridership and fewer assaults on drivers. Mamdani supports expanding bus lanes and meeting Streets Master Plan mandates. State Senator Michael Gianaris backed the pilot, calling the cost manageable. Experts warn of service tradeoffs. The safety analyst notes: increased ridership signals a shift from cars, boosting safety for pedestrians and cyclists through safety in numbers and less vehicle traffic. Expansion remains debated.

• What It Would Take to Make Buses Free, New York Magazine - Curbed, Published 2025-07-02