Richmond Hill Bleeds While Leaders Stall: Lower the Speed, Save a Life

Jun 11 - Senate passed S 7785. The bill carves out large Mitchell-Lama housing from bus traffic rules. Lawmakers voted yes. The carve-out weakens enforcement. Streets grow less safe for people on foot and bike.

Bill S 7785, titled 'Relates to bus operation-related traffic regulations,' passed the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The measure, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, excludes violations in cooperative housing developments with at least 10,000 Mitchell-Lama units from bus operation traffic regulations. The bill advanced through committee and received broad support in both chambers. By exempting these large complexes, the law weakens traffic enforcement where thousands live. This move increases risk to pedestrians and cyclists, stripping away protections that save lives. Vulnerable road users lose another layer of safety in dense city streets.

• File S 7785, Open States, Published 2025-06-11

Jun 10 - Senate backs S 8117. Oneida County gets school speed zone cameras. Law sunsets in 2030. Lawmakers act. Streets near schools may slow. Children walk safer. Drivers face new eyes.

Senate bill S 8117, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the county of Oneida,' passed committee votes on May 27 and June 10, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Joseph A. Griffo (District 53), sets up speed cameras near schools in Oneida County. The program ends December 31, 2030. The Senate voted yes, with only two no votes and several excused. The measure aims to slow drivers near schools and protect children. No safety analyst note was provided. The bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

• File S 8117, Open States, Published 2025-06-10

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 9 - Senate passes S 915. Bill demands safe roads for all. Complete street design at its core. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get a fighting chance. Vote split, but the message is clear: streets must serve people, not just cars.

Senate Bill S 915, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee on June 9, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Sean Ryan (District 61) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Samra Brouk, Leroy Comrie, Patricia Fahy, Pete Harckham, Robert Jackson, Liz Krueger, and Christopher Ryan, pushes for roads built for everyone. The Senate voted, with most in favor and a block opposed. The bill's language is blunt: roads must be safe for all, not just drivers. No safety analyst note was provided, but the intent is clear—prioritize vulnerable road users in every street plan.

• File S 915, Open States, Published 2025-06-09

Jun 3 - Warren Rollins turned himself in for killing Gary Charlotin. Rollins ran over Charlotin, dragged him three blocks, then fled. Bystanders begged him to stop. The victim died at the scene. This arrest does not change the danger for people on foot.

On June 3, 2025, Warren Rollins surrendered at the 105th Precinct in Queens Village. He faces charges of depraved indifference murder, manslaughter, leaving the scene, and criminally negligent homicide for the December 10, 2023, crash that killed Gary Charlotin. The incident summary states, 'Rollins dragged Charlotin three blocks before fleeing.' Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz called it 'a horrific death' and cited 'a complete disregard for human life.' Reporters Emma Seiwell, Rocco Parascandola, and Thomas Tracy covered the arrest. No council bill or committee action is involved. According to safety analysts, this is a criminal justice event, not a policy change. It does not affect system-wide safety for pedestrians or cyclists.

• Queens hit-and-run driver arrested for murder for dragging victim 3 blocks, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-03

Jun 3 - A driver in Queens struck a man crossing Hempstead Avenue. The SUV stopped, idled, then sped off. The victim was dragged for three blocks. Bystanders screamed. The man died at the scene. The driver later surrendered to police.

NY Daily News reported on June 3, 2025, that Warren Rollins surrendered to police for a December 2023 hit-and-run in Queens. Rollins allegedly ran over Gary Charlotin, who was crossing Hempstead Ave., then stopped for two minutes before fleeing. According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, Rollins 'proceeded to speed away from the scene while dragging the victim's body, while the victim was still alive.' Bystanders pleaded for the driver to stop. The incident highlights the lethal consequences of driver inattention and failure to yield, as well as the dangers posed by drivers who flee crash scenes. The NYPD Highway Patrol investigated the fatality.

• Queens Driver Drags Pedestrian Three Blocks, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-03

Jun 2 - An SUV hit a 65-year-old man crossing Jamaica Avenue. The right front bumper struck him. He suffered arm abrasions. Police cite driver inattention. The street saw blood and confusion. The system failed to protect the walker.

A 65-year-old man was injured when a station wagon/SUV traveling west on Jamaica Avenue struck him as he crossed outside a crosswalk. According to the police report, the vehicle's right front bumper hit the pedestrian, causing abrasions to his arm. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. No other factors were cited. The crash highlights the danger to pedestrians outside intersections, especially when drivers are not paying attention. The police report does not mention any actions by the pedestrian that contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817520 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 28 - A 13-year-old boy on a bike collided with an SUV’s front end in Queens. The boy was ejected and injured. Two adults and an infant in the SUV were unhurt. The crash left the cyclist with bruises and leg injuries. Impact was direct and forceful.

A crash occurred at 87-12 Lefferts Boulevard in Queens involving a station wagon/SUV and a 13-year-old bicyclist. According to the police report, the SUV was heading south and struck the cyclist head-on. The boy was ejected from his bike and suffered injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions. Two adults and an infant inside the SUV were not injured. The police report lists 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or distraction are cited in the report. The cyclist was not using safety equipment, but this is only noted after the contributing factor. The impact was to the center front end of both vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4817214 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 23 - A flatbed truck hit a cyclist at 132-07 Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The cyclist, a 39-year-old man, suffered a bruised shoulder. Police cite driver inattention. The crash left the cyclist hurt and the truck undamaged. The street stayed dangerous.

A flatbed truck and a bicycle collided at 132-07 Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The cyclist, a 39-year-old man, was injured in the shoulder and suffered a contusion. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' contributed to the crash. The truck was traveling west, going straight, while the cyclist was making a right turn. No injuries were reported for the truck occupant. The police report does not list any errors by the cyclist. The only contributing factor named is driver inattention. No mention of helmet use or signaling appears in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4815430 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 21 - A pickup struck an elderly man crossing Jericho Turnpike. The victim died days later. Police charged the driver months after the crash. The intersection remains dangerous. The law caught up, but the street stayed the same.

According to NY Daily News (published May 21, 2025), police arrested Benjamin Jean-Baptiste five months after he fatally struck 78-year-old Jose Jimenez at Jericho Turnpike and 91st Ave. in Queens. The article reports, "On Tuesday, police charged him with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care, both misdemeanors." Jean-Baptiste, driving a Dodge Ram, turned left and hit Jimenez as he crossed the busy intersection. Jimenez suffered a massive head injury and died a week later. The driver remained at the scene and was later given a desk appearance ticket. This case highlights persistent risks at major crossings and the delay in holding drivers accountable for failing to yield and exercise care.

• Driver Charged Months After Queens Fatality, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-21

May 13 - Senate passes S 346. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. Pushes work zone safety. Sets up new enforcement fund. Lawmakers move to shield workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 346 cleared committee on May 13, 2025. The bill, titled 'Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker; promotes work zone safety awareness; establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement,' aims to crack down on drivers who threaten highway workers. Senator Jeremy Cooney led as primary sponsor, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, Christopher Ryan, and James Skoufis. The committee voted yes. The bill targets reckless driving in work zones, boosting penalties and funding enforcement. It marks a step to protect those most exposed to traffic danger.

• File S 346, Open States, Published 2025-05-13

May 12 - Motorcycle turned left. E-scooter went straight. Both drivers ejected. Two men injured. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Steel met flesh in Queens night.

A motorcycle and an e-scooter collided at Atlantic Ave and 111 St in Queens. Both drivers, men aged 42 and 34, were ejected and injured. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The motorcycle was making a left turn while the e-scooter traveled straight. The e-scooter driver suffered a leg fracture. The motorcycle driver had arm injuries and wore a helmet. No pedestrians were involved. The crash underscores the danger when drivers ignore traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812549 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 11 - A man, 25, crossing Hillside Ave was hit and left unconscious. The car’s right front bumper struck him. He suffered internal injuries. The police report lists causes as unspecified.

A 25-year-old man was hit while crossing Hillside Ave at Babbage St in Queens. He was left unconscious with internal injuries to his entire body. According to the police report, the car’s right front bumper struck the pedestrian. The report lists contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors are detailed in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812081 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 9 - Lawmakers stripped Hochul’s safety plans from the state budget. No daylighting near schools. No lower bike lane speed limits. No new e-bike rules. City and state leaders bickered. Streets stay dangerous. Pedestrians and cyclists remain exposed. The system failed them again.

On May 9, 2025, during New York State’s $254-million budget negotiations, lawmakers rejected Governor Hochul’s proposed street safety measures. The legislature dropped a mandate for daylighting—banning parking at corners near elementary schools—deferring instead to New York City, where Council Member Julie Won’s universal daylighting bill faces opposition from the Department of Transportation. Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, herself a crash survivor, vowed to keep fighting for daylighting, saying, 'I think daylighting would have helped me.' Hochul’s proposals to let the city set lower bike lane speed limits and to reclassify heavy e-bikes as mopeds were also cut. Critics argued these would not address core safety issues. The Adams administration opposes a City Council bill for e-bike registration and plates, while State Sen. Jenifer Rajkumar’s state version would shift licensing to the DMV. As Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives put it, 'A daylighting requirement would have made intersections safer around elementary schools, and it’s disappointing that this provision was cut from the New York State budget.'

• Live from Albany: Hochul’s ‘Safety’ Measures Stripped from Budget, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-09

May 7 - Albany lawmakers push Assembly Bill 590 to force 16- and 17-year-olds on Citi Bike e-bikes to wear helmets. Critics warn helmet laws slash ridership and invite biased policing. The bill moves forward despite evidence of harm to vulnerable road users.

Assembly Bill 590, sponsored by Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), advanced in a Transportation Committee hearing on May 7, 2025. The bill would require 16- and 17-year-olds riding Class 1 or 2 e-bikes, including Citi Bikes, to wear helmets. Committee Chair William Magnarelli (D-Syracuse) defended the bill, stating, "My only concern is the safety of the people riding the bike." The bill summary notes, 'studies have shown [helmet mandates] can dramatically reduce ridership of the city’s bike share system.' Experts warn such laws lead to fewer cyclists and open the door to discriminatory enforcement, especially against youth of color. Seattle dropped its helmet law in 2022 for these reasons. Despite evidence that helmet laws hurt vulnerable road users, the committee advanced the bill without addressing these harms.

• Teen Helmet Mandate for E-Citi Bikes? Albany Lawmakers are Up to No Good Again, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-05-07

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 6 - Senate backs S 4804. The bill sets first responder safety zones and lowers speed limits. Lawmakers move to shield workers on chaotic streets. The vote is swift. The intent is clear. Danger zones get new rules.

Senate bill S 4804, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' passed committee on April 29, 2025, and cleared the full Senate on May 6, 2025. Sponsored by Senator Christopher Ryan (District 50) with co-sponsors Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Robert Rolison, and William Weber, the bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and enforce lower speed limits in those areas. The measure won broad support, with nearly all senators voting yes. The bill targets the chaos and risk drivers pose to workers and bystanders at emergency scenes. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 4804, Open States, Published 2025-05-06

May 2 - A driver ran a red. He sped through Queens. He hit Justin Diaz, heading to work. Diaz died. The driver, Michael Peña, faced jail, then release. The family mourns. The street remains dangerous. The system moves on.

NY Daily News reported on May 2, 2025, that Michael Peña, a former firefighter, was released from jail after being charged in a fatal crash. Police said Peña drove 83 mph in a 25 mph zone and ran a red light, t-boning Justin Diaz near LaGuardia Airport. Peña had a history of 25 school-zone speeding tickets. The article quotes Diaz's brother: "We're sick, angry, disgusted." Peña was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DWI, and refusing a breath test. The release followed an appellate judge's decision, despite community outrage. The case highlights persistent dangers from high-speed driving and repeated violations, raising questions about enforcement and bail decisions.

• Red Light Crash Kills Airport Worker, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-02

May 1 - A sedan and pickup crashed at 87-49 130 St. Two people hurt. One bled from the arm. Another suffered head whiplash. Metal twisted. Shock followed. Police list all causes as unspecified.

A sedan and a pickup truck collided at 87-49 130 Street in Queens. Two people were injured: a 33-year-old male driver with shoulder bleeding and a 31-year-old female passenger with head whiplash. According to the police report, both vehicles were driven by licensed drivers. The sedan was heading south, the pickup was making a U-turn northwest. Both vehicles sustained damage to their left sides. Police list all contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. No further details on cause or fault are provided in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4812492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19