Middle Village Bleeds While Leaders Hide

Mayor Adams heads to Albany. He pushes for round-the-clock speed cameras and mayoral control of schools. Lawmakers stall. Streets stay dangerous at night. Advocates say limited camera hours fuel reckless driving. Albany debates, but time runs out. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On May 13, 2022, Mayor Adams traveled to Albany to press lawmakers on his legislative priorities. The push included extending mayoral control of New York City’s public schools and, crucially, allowing speed cameras to operate 24/7. The matter summary states: 'Topping the list for Adams is extending mayoral control of the city’s public schools and allowing speed cameras on city streets to operate 24/7.' State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie were key figures in these talks. Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez also lobbied for expanded speed camera authority. Despite Adams’s efforts, lawmakers showed little appetite for granting 'home rule'—the power for the city to control camera placement and hours. Advocates warn that restricting camera hours to weekdays, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., leaves streets deadly at night. The legislative session neared its end with no breakthrough, leaving vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYC Mayor Adams heading to Albany next week for last ditch legislative push, nydailynews.com, Published 2022-05-13

A 37-year-old male bicyclist was injured when a 2009 Toyota SUV struck him from behind on 80 Street. The cyclist suffered bruises and lower leg injuries. Both vehicles were traveling north. The cyclist was not wearing safety equipment.

According to the police report, a 37-year-old male bicyclist was injured after being hit from behind by a 2009 Toyota SUV on 80 Street. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead northbound when the collision occurred. The point of impact was the SUV's center back end striking the bike's left rear bumper. The bicyclist sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors. The bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV had two occupants, and the driver was licensed in New York. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from his bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4525110 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 22-year-old male driver crashed his sedan into multiple parked SUVs on Dry Harbor Road in Queens. The impact struck the front center of the sedan and left rear panels of the SUVs. The driver suffered a head abrasion but was conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old male driver traveling east on Dry Harbor Road collided with several parked SUVs. The sedan's center front end struck the left rear quarter panels of the parked vehicles. The driver was injured, sustaining a head abrasion but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists glare as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors were specified. The parked SUVs were unoccupied at the time of the collision. The driver was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead before the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4524594 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A tow truck hit a 43-year-old female bicyclist on Metropolitan Avenue in Queens. The cyclist suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The truck’s right front bumper collided with the bike’s left side. Unsafe speed and traffic control disregard were factors.

According to the police report, a tow truck traveling south on Metropolitan Avenue struck a bicyclist traveling east. The bicyclist, a 43-year-old woman, sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The point of impact was the truck’s right front bumper against the bike’s left side doors. The report lists unsafe speed and disregard for traffic control as contributing factors. The bicyclist was conscious and not ejected from the bike. No safety equipment was noted. The truck driver was licensed and going straight ahead. The crash highlights the dangers posed by speeding and ignoring traffic signals in Queens.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4517714 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Senate passed S 3897. More state cash flows to cities that build complete streets. Lawmakers push for safer roads. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at survival.

Bill S 3897 cleared the Senate committee on March 2, 2022, with a final vote on May 25, 2022. The bill, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' boosts state funding for transportation projects when cities add complete street features. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Senators including Cooney, Gallivan, Kaminsky, Kaplan, Liu, and others voted yes. The measure aims to tie state money to safer street design, pushing municipalities to build roads that protect people outside cars.

• File S 3897, Open States, Published 2022-03-02

Senate passed S 5130. The bill pushes complete street design. It aims for safe access for all. Pedestrians and cyclists get a shot at safer roads. The vote was split, but the bill moved forward.

Senate bill S 5130, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on March 2 and May 16, 2022. Senator Kennedy sponsored the bill. Support came from members like Jeremy Cooney, Anna Kaplan, and John Liu. Dissent came from Patrick Gallivan and Susan Serino. The bill pushes cities to design roads for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It marks a shift from car-first planning. The measure aims to cut risk for people outside cars. Full vote details and text are at the New York Senate website.

• File S 5130, Open States, Published 2022-03-02