Woodhaven Bleeds While Leaders Stall

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 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 - 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 24 - Two SUVs collided on Woodhaven Boulevard. An unlicensed driver’s blocked view led to impact. A front passenger suffered chest injuries. Both vehicles were damaged. Systemic danger from obstructed sightlines and unlicensed driving.

According to the police report, two SUVs crashed on Woodhaven Boulevard near Jamaica Avenue in Queens at 9:00 a.m. The unlicensed driver’s SUV, traveling east, struck the right side doors of another SUV heading north. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor for both vehicles. A 44-year-old front passenger in the unlicensed driver’s SUV suffered chest injuries but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. Both vehicles sustained significant damage. The unlicensed status of the driver and limited visibility were key factors in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4712253 - 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 - 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 17 - A sedan cut left on Jamaica Avenue. A moped sped straight. Metal struck flesh. A 26-year-old man flew, slammed headfirst onto the street, bleeding and semiconscious, sirens closing in. Failure to yield and unsafe speed left him sprawled under cold lights.

According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn on Jamaica Avenue collided with a moped traveling straight at an unsafe speed. The impact flung the 26-year-old moped driver headfirst onto the pavement, leaving him semiconscious and bleeding from the head. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The moped driver was ejected and suffered severe head injuries. The police report notes that the moped rider was not wearing a helmet, but this detail follows the primary driver errors. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers fail to yield and operate at unsafe speeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4710599 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 7 - Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Mar 1 - A 66-year-old male bicyclist suffered knee and lower leg abrasions after a collision with an eastbound SUV on Jamaica Avenue. The SUV impacted the bike’s right front quarter panel. The bicyclist remained conscious and was not ejected from his bike.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:06 AM on Jamaica Avenue involving a 2021 Dodge SUV traveling east and a northbound bicyclist making a right turn. The SUV's right front quarter panel struck the bicyclist, who sustained abrasions to the knee and lower leg but remained conscious and was not ejected. The report cites 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The bicyclist was not wearing safety equipment. Vehicle damage was limited to the SUV's right front quarter panel, while the bike sustained no damage. The report does not list any driver errors such as failure to yield, focusing instead on confusion involving the bicyclist.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4706142 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - Council wants DOT to check 100 speed camera spots a year for raised speed bumps. If possible, bumps go in within a year. DOT must track and report on driver behavior changes. No delay. No loopholes.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Louis (primary), Carr, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino, and Morano. The bill orders DOT to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. If feasible, DOT must install the bump within a year. The law demands annual reports on these checks and on shifts in dangerous driving at treated sites. The bill summary reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council aims to force physical changes where cameras alone fail.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Feb 24 - Two northbound vehicles crashed on Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens. The sedan driver suffered back injuries and abrasions. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way and improper turning as causes. Both vehicles sustained side damage in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:48 on Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens. The collision involved a 2021 SUV traveling straight and a 2021 sedan merging northbound. The sedan driver, a 29-year-old male occupant, was injured with back abrasions but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Turning Improperly' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the sedan and the right front bumper of the SUV, resulting in damage to the left side doors of the sedan and the right side doors of the SUV. The police report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors, focusing on driver errors leading to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4705417 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 19 - A Jeep struck a Volkswagen at Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue. The right side of the Volkswagen caved in. A 32-year-old woman in the front seat died as the airbag burst. The street went silent. Metal and silence remained.

At the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue in Queens, a Jeep collided broadside with a Volkswagen, according to the police report. The impact crushed the Volkswagen’s right side, killing a 32-year-old woman seated in the front passenger seat. The report states, 'A Jeep struck a Volkswagen broadside. The right side folded in. A 32-year-old woman in the front seat died. The airbag bloomed.' Police cite 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as contributing factors, drawing attention to driver error and systemic visibility hazards at this intersection. The victim was not ejected and the airbag deployed, but the force proved fatal. The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic controls and sightlines are compromised.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703790 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 12 - A 56-year-old woman suffered facial injuries after a sedan making a left turn struck her in a marked crosswalk. The driver reacted to an uninvolved vehicle, causing the collision. The pedestrian was conscious and injured at the scene.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 85 Street in Queens was making a left turn when it struck a 56-year-old female pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk without a signal. The pedestrian sustained facial contusions and was conscious at the scene. The report cites the driver's contributing factor as "Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle," indicating the driver’s error in responding to another vehicle unrelated to the pedestrian. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact at the left front bumper. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. This crash highlights how driver errors, specifically improper reactions to other vehicles, can endanger pedestrians even in marked crosswalks.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703576 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 8 - 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

Jan 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

Jan 11 - A pedestrian suffered a severe hip and leg fracture after being struck by an SUV traveling south on Cooper Avenue. The crash occurred amid glare conditions, causing a center front-end impact. The injured man remained conscious but seriously hurt.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male pedestrian was injured in a collision with a 2022 Honda SUV traveling south on Cooper Avenue in Queens at 8:10 AM. The vehicle's center front end struck the pedestrian, resulting in a fracture and dislocation to the hip and upper leg. The pedestrian was conscious after the crash. The report cites glare as a contributing factor, indicating visibility issues for the driver. There is no mention of pedestrian fault or contributing behaviors. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The crash highlights the dangers posed by glare conditions impairing driver visibility and control, leading to serious injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4694175 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 1 - A man, 47, crossed Woodhaven Boulevard before dawn. A Toyota hit him head-on. A Jeep struck next. His head broke the silence. He died there, between two sedans and the cold.

According to the police report, a 47-year-old man was killed on Woodhaven Boulevard in the early morning. The report states he was crossing outside the crosswalk when a Toyota sedan struck him head-on. A Jeep sedan hit him next. The victim suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified' for both drivers, with no further detail on specific driver errors. The victim’s location—crossing not at an intersection and not at a signal or crosswalk—is described, but not listed as a contributing factor. The lethal impact of two sedans in rapid succession highlights the persistent danger for pedestrians on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4692381 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 6 - A 6-year-old girl crossing with the signal was struck in the face by a sedan backing unsafely on 92 Street near Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The child suffered a contusion but remained conscious. The driver caused the crash by backing without caution.

According to the police report, a 6-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing with the signal at an intersection on 92 Street near Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The driver of a 2012 Nissan sedan was backing westbound and struck the child in the face. The report lists "Backing Unsafely" as the contributing factor to the crash. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and remained conscious after the impact. The sedan showed no visible damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677775 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 2 - A Jeep lunged from the curb on Jamaica Avenue. Two boys on an e-bike slammed into its nose. Metal met flesh. Legs crushed, arms broken. Both boys hurled onto the street, conscious, bleeding, no helmets. The night echoed with pain and sirens.

Two boys, ages 16 and 19, riding an e-bike west on Jamaica Avenue, collided with the front of a Jeep SUV that pulled from the curb near 92nd Street in Queens. According to the police report, 'A Jeep pulled from the curb. An e-bike with two boys struck its nose. No helmets. No chance. One boy’s legs crushed, the other’s arms broken. Both thrown. Both conscious. Both bleeding on the asphalt.' The listed contributing factor is 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' Both boys were ejected from the e-bike and suffered serious crush injuries to their arms and legs. The report notes neither wore helmets, but the primary cause was the Jeep driver’s failure to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4677781 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19