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

May 19 - A Dodge sedan hit a 23-year-old man head-on in the darkness of Van Wyck Expressway. The impact crushed his head and tore through his body. He died alone in the roadway before dawn, another life ended by steel and speed.

A 23-year-old man was killed when a southbound Dodge sedan struck him head-on on Van Wyck Expressway, according to the police report. The report states that the pedestrian was 'in the roadway' and that the sedan's center front end delivered the fatal blow. The narrative details that the impact 'crushed his head and tore through his insides,' leaving him dead at the scene before sunrise. Police list the contributing factors as 'Unspecified,' providing no further explanation for the crash. The report does not cite any driver evasive action or mention any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The collision underscores the lethal consequences when vehicles and vulnerable road users meet on high-speed corridors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4725576 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 16 - Senate bill S 9490 raises penalties for endangering highway workers. It pushes work zone safety and funds more enforcement. Lawmakers move to shield workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 9490 was introduced on May 16, 2024, and is at the sponsorship stage. The bill aims to 'increase penalties for endangerment of a highway worker; promote work zone safety awareness; establish a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement.' Senator Jeremy Cooney leads as primary sponsor, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors. The bill targets drivers who threaten highway workers, seeking to make work zones less deadly. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 9490, Open States, Published 2024-05-16

May 16 - Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Apr 25 - Two sedans collided on Jamaica Avenue. One driver backed unsafely, the other followed too closely. A 49-year-old female passenger suffered whiplash and back injuries. Metal crumpled. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sedans crashed on Jamaica Avenue in Queens at 17:52. One driver backed unsafely while the other followed too closely. The collision left a 49-year-old female passenger injured with whiplash and back injuries. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The striking vehicle sustained center front-end damage. The report lists 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Following Too Closely' as driver errors that led to the crash. No other victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719996 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 18 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Apr 13 - A 44-year-old man working in a Queens roadway was struck by a sedan traveling east. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian’s lower leg and foot. The victim suffered contusions and remained conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Atlantic Avenue in Queens struck a 44-year-old male pedestrian who was working in the roadway but not at an intersection. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front quarter panel. The driver, a licensed male from New York, was going straight ahead and caused the collision due to failure to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian sustained injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, described as contusions and bruises, and was conscious at the scene. The vehicle sustained no damage. The report explicitly cites the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor, with no mention of pedestrian fault or other contributing behaviors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4718270 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 11 - Assembly Member Rajkumar pushes harsh e-bike rules. Her own car racks up 10 school-zone speeding tickets. She calls e-bikes a menace, but city data shows cars injure far more. Vulnerable road users face danger from both policy and reckless driving.

Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar introduced bills A9092 and A9114, aiming to require e-bike registration, insurance, and inspections. The bills are not yet law and have not advanced through committee. Rajkumar, a close ally of Mayor Adams, claims e-bikes are a 'singular threat' and a 'safety hazard,' citing injury numbers that city data does not support. She stated, 'We have to get rid of the e-bike problem.' Despite her focus on e-bikes, a car used by Rajkumar’s office received 10 school-zone speeding tickets in under a year. Her spokesperson denied she drives the car, later confirmed to belong to her chief of staff. Rajkumar declined further comment. The push for e-bike regulation comes as cars continue to inflict the greatest harm on New York’s streets.

• Reckless with Rajkumar! Queens Pol and Adams Ally Was Driven In Car Slapped with 10 Speeding Tix, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-11

Apr 11 - Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

Apr 4 - Queens fights over a rail line. The mayor backs a park. Advocates demand transit. Poor residents lose out. Elected officials split. The city risks locking out thousands from jobs and care. The debate rages. No one asks the people.

This op-ed, published April 4, 2024, covers the battle over the unused Rockaway Beach Branch rail line in southeastern Queens. The city, led by Mayor Adams, pushes a park-only project, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Rick Horan, QueensLink’s executive director, argues the plan blocks a vital north-south rail corridor, denying disadvantaged communities access to jobs, education, and healthcare. The op-ed states: 'It is simply irresponsible to build a park on a viable transit right-of-way in the biggest city in America.' State Senators James Sanders, Jr. and Joe Addabbo, Assembly Member Stacey Amato, and Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers, JoAnn Ariola, and Bob Holden support studies and funding for the rails-and-trails QueensLink alternative. The mayor’s plan faces criticism for ignoring public input and environmental justice. No safety impact assessment for vulnerable road users was provided.

• Op-Ed: Keeping Poor Residents in Transit Deserts is Getting Expensive, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-04

Apr 2 - A 66-year-old man walking outside an intersection suffered knee and lower leg injuries when a vehicle struck him with its right front bumper. The driver’s failure to maintain safe distance caused the collision on Jamaica Avenue in Queens at night.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured at 20:02 on Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The 66-year-old male pedestrian was struck while performing other actions in the roadway, not at an intersection. The vehicle, traveling straight ahead, impacted the pedestrian with its right front bumper, causing contusions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot. The report explicitly cites the driver’s error as "Following Too Closely," indicating a failure to maintain a safe distance from the pedestrian. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian’s behavior were noted. The collision resulted in injury severity level 3, with the pedestrian conscious after the crash. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front bumper. This incident highlights the dangers posed by drivers who do not keep adequate space in traffic, especially around vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4715596 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 2 - Mayor Adams dodged questions on e-bike registration and battery swap rollout. City Hall offered no answers. Delivery workers wait. Council Member Powers grows impatient. Advocates warn registration could hurt cycling. The city stalls. Streets stay dangerous for riders and walkers.

On April 2, 2024, Mayor Adams faced questions about Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar's bill to require e-bike registration and the city’s delay in launching a mandated battery swap program. The mayor called both topics 'off topic' at a press conference. City Hall later said it is reviewing the Rajkumar bill and that the Department of Transportation would oversee the battery swap program, but provided no timeline. The bill, based on disputed injury statistics, has drawn criticism from street safety advocates who argue registration would suppress cycling and sustainable transit. Local Law 131, sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, requires the battery swap program, but the city has not acted. Powers voiced frustration, noting the Council plans to allocate $3 million for the program. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as city action stalls.

• Mayor Mum on E-Bike Registration Bill, Battery Swap Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-02

Mar 27 - Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Mar 20 - A moped driver slammed into a sedan on 102 Street. He was ejected, left incoherent, with broken legs and foot. Unsafe speed fueled the crash. The street turned brutal. Metal met flesh. System failed.

According to the police report, a moped and a sedan collided at 1:19 AM on 102 Street near Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The moped driver, a 40-year-old man, was ejected and suffered serious fractures to his knee, lower leg, and foot. He was found incoherent at the scene. The report lists "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor. The sedan's left front quarter panel struck the moped's center front end. No safety equipment was used by the moped driver, but the report centers on unsafe speed as the cause. This crash highlights the lethal risk when speed overrides control on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4713018 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 20 - 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 2024-03-20

Mar 19 - Frank Cavalluzzi, wielding a bladed glove, tried to mow down nine protesters in Queens. He shouted slurs, swung blades, then drove onto the sidewalk. The judge gave him 14 years. The court called it justice. The victims scattered. No one died.

On March 19, 2024, Supreme Court Justice Michelle Johnson sentenced Frank Cavalluzzi to 14 years in prison for nine counts of attempted murder. The case stemmed from a June 2020 incident, when Cavalluzzi, wearing a 'Wolverine' glove with blades, threatened and then drove at Black Lives Matter protesters on a Whitestone overpass above the Cross Island Parkway. The matter summary states Cavalluzzi 'taunted, then attempted to run over nine Black Lives Matter protesters.' Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz called the sentence 'justice,' emphasizing Cavalluzzi's use of racial slurs and his attack on peaceful demonstrators. Cavalluzzi's lawyer, Jason Russo, argued the case was overcharged, but the court rejected this. The sentence holds a dangerous driver accountable for targeting vulnerable people using the street to protest.

• SEE IT! ‘Racist’ Wolverine Man Hit With 14-Year Sentence, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-19

Mar 19 - Councilmember Rajkumar pushes for e-bike insurance and registration. Delivery workers push back. City launches campaign after fatal crashes spike. The fight over who pays for safety lands on the street. Riders, not corporations, face new penalties.

On March 19, 2024, Councilmember Jenifer Rajkumar announced new legislation requiring e-bikes to be insured and registered with the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill follows a surge in deadly e-bike crashes—23 deaths last year, up from nine in 2022. The city’s new campaign, 'get smart before you start,' aims to educate riders on safe operation. Rajkumar’s bill drew immediate opposition from delivery workers. Gustavo Ajche of Los Deliveristas Unidos said, 'We're deeply disappointed to see local and state leaders introduce legislation that would put the burden of penalty on delivery workers rather than trying to regulate the app companies.' The campaign and bill highlight a growing rift: who shoulders the cost of safety—workers or the corporations that profit from their labor?

• New campaign aims to stop deadly e-bike crashes in NYC, gothamist.com, Published 2024-03-19

Mar 19 - Council bill orders DOT to repair broken curbs during street resurfacing. Hazardous curbs trip, trap, and injure. The fix is overdue. Pedestrians need solid ground. Council moves to force action.

Int 0724-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced March 19, 2024, the bill commands DOT to repair broken curbs that pose safety hazards during any resurfacing project. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... requiring that the department of transportation repair broken curbs as part of resurfacing projects.' Council Members Schulman, Gennaro (primary), Gutiérrez, Louis, Brewer, and Avilés sponsor the measure. The bill targets a simple danger: shattered curbs that trip and injure. If passed, DOT must fix these hazards as routine, not afterthought. The law would take effect 120 days after enactment.

• File Int 0724-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-19

Mar 18 - A pickup driver with a record killed an 8-year-old in Queens. He pleaded not guilty. The court let him keep his license. He still drives. The boy’s family mourns. Politicians and advocates demand action. Streets stay deadly. Children pay the price.

On March 18, 2024, Jose Barcia, a pickup truck owner with a long history of unlicensed driving, pleaded not guilty to criminally negligent homicide after fatally striking 8-year-old Bayron Palomino Arroyo and injuring his brother in Queens. At arraignment, Barcia was released without surrendering his license. The Queens District Attorney’s office did not seek revocation. State Sen. Jessica Ramos led a rally, citing 'reckless drivers who refuse to yield to pedestrians' and called for stronger pedestrian safety, saying, 'driving is a privilege that can, and should be, taken away.' Adam White, a lawyer for crash victims, said the DA should have insisted Barcia not drive. The rally highlighted rising road deaths—48 killed citywide in early 2024—and called out the city’s failure to protect its most vulnerable. Vision Zero’s mission, Ramos argued, has been 'desecrated.'

• Driver Who Cops Say Killed Queens Boy is Still on the Road After Not Guilty Plea, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-18

Mar 14 - Jose Barcia killed Bayron Palomino Arroyo in East Elmhurst. Barcia had four prior arrests for unlicensed driving. His truck racked up eight speeding tickets and $350 in unpaid fines. The city failed to tow his vehicle. Now, a child is dead.

On March 14, 2024, Jose Barcia struck and killed 8-year-old Bayron Palomino Arroyo in East Elmhurst. Barcia had been arrested four times for unlicensed driving in 2009 and 2010, with two fines from guilty pleas. His North Carolina-plated pickup had eight camera-issued speeding tickets since June and over $350 in unpaid fines. Despite this, the Sheriff's department did not tow the vehicle. Barcia now faces criminally negligent homicide charges. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, "Driving carries with it a huge responsibility... The rules of the road exist to safeguard everyone." Advocacy groups and officials called for traffic calming and stronger enforcement. The system failed to keep a dangerous driver off the street. A child paid the price.

• Driver Who Killed 8-Year-Old Had Four Prior Arrests for Unlicensed Driving: Cops, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-03-14

Mar 11 - A motorscooter collided head-on with a sedan on 126 Street in Queens. The scooter driver, unlicensed and helmeted, was ejected and suffered facial abrasions. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the primary cause. The sedan sustained no damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 1:18 AM on 126 Street near Hillside Avenue in Queens. A sedan traveling east and a motorscooter traveling south collided front-to-front. The scooter driver, a 40-year-old male, was ejected from his vehicle and sustained abrasions to his face. He was conscious at the scene and wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The scooter driver was unlicensed, while the sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The police report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The sedan sustained no damage despite the impact. No other contributing factors were specified. The report focuses on the driver error of failing to yield, highlighting systemic dangers related to unlicensed vehicle operation and right-of-way violations.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708671 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19