Woodhaven Bleeds While Leaders Stall

May 16 - Senate backs S 775. The bill defines the ignition interlock monitor’s job. It forces offenders to install devices and obey court orders. Lawmakers act to keep repeat drunk drivers off the street.

Senate bill S 775, titled "Relates to the responsibilities of an ignition interlock monitor," passed committee votes on February 1, March 21, and May 16, 2023. The bill describes the monitor’s role and mandates compliance for those ordered to install ignition interlock devices. Primary sponsor Jeremy Cooney (District 56) led, joined by Nathalia Fernandez, Monica Martinez, and Shelley Mayer. The measure saw broad support, with senators voting yes across multiple sessions. The law aims to keep drivers with violations from endangering others by enforcing strict compliance with court-ordered ignition interlocks.

• File S 775, Open States, Published 2023-05-16

Apr 18 - Two sedans slammed together at Atlantic Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard. A 22-year-old woman at the wheel took the hit. She left with bruises and arm injuries. Five rode in the other car. Metal twisted. No one died.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens. The 22-year-old female driver of a Honda, traveling east, suffered bruises and arm injuries. She was conscious and wore a lap belt. The other vehicle, a Ford sedan with five occupants, was making a left turn southwest. The report lists 'Turning Improperly' as a contributing factor for the injured driver, but does not specify further driver errors. Both cars took damage to their front ends. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621375 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 13 - A 45-year-old male cyclist was hit from behind on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. He suffered a head injury and minor bleeding. The cyclist was incoherent but not ejected. No driver errors were reported in the police data.

According to the police report, a 45-year-old male cyclist riding north on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens was struck from behind by an unspecified vehicle. The cyclist sustained a head injury and minor bleeding and was incoherent at the scene. The report lists no contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The cyclist was not wearing any safety equipment and was not ejected from the bike. The collision point was the center back end of the cyclist's bike and the center front end of the other vehicle. No other injuries or occupants were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4621475 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 21 - Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-03-21

Mar 14 - A 46-year-old woman was struck while crossing Atlantic Avenue at a marked crosswalk. The sedan, making a right turn, failed to yield. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and injury to her elbow and lower arm. The driver showed no vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Atlantic Avenue in Queens made a right turn and struck a 46-year-old female pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian was injured, sustaining contusions and injuries to her elbow and lower arm. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor for both the driver and the pedestrian. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally, with no vehicle damage reported. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4612636 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 10 - An 11-year-old girl was struck by an SUV on Jamaica Avenue. She was crossing against the signal when the vehicle hit her with its left front bumper. She suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee and lower leg. The driver was licensed and traveling east.

According to the police report, an 11-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Jamaica Avenue against the signal. The vehicle involved was a Ford SUV traveling east, driven by a licensed male driver. The SUV struck the pedestrian with its left front bumper, causing abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists no driver errors or contributing factors beyond the pedestrian crossing against the signal. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene and suffered moderate injuries. No helmet or safety equipment was noted, and no additional contributing factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4611694 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 5 - A sedan struck a bicyclist on Jamaica Avenue in Queens. The cyclist suffered a head injury and minor bleeding but was not ejected. The driver disregarded traffic control. The bicyclist wore a helmet and was in shock at the scene.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Jamaica Avenue collided with a bicyclist traveling west. The point of impact was the right side doors of the bike and the center front end of the sedan. The bicyclist, a 30-year-old male, sustained a head injury with minor bleeding and was wearing a helmet. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error. The bicyclist was not ejected but was in shock. The sedan driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No damage was reported to either vehicle. The crash highlights the danger posed by drivers disregarding traffic controls.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4611449 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 28 - Senate passes S 4647. Bill hikes penalties for endangering highway workers. It funds more enforcement. It pushes work zone safety awareness. Lawmakers move to protect workers from reckless drivers.

Senate bill S 4647, titled "Increases penalties for endangerment of a highway worker, promotes work zone safety awareness, and establishes a fund for additional work zone safety enforcement," advanced through committee on April 15, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy, with Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Pamela Helming, Mario Mattera, Robert Rolison, and James Skoufis as co-sponsors, the bill passed multiple Senate votes. The measure targets drivers who endanger highway workers, boosts safety awareness, and funds enforcement. The bill aims to curb driver recklessness in work zones, where danger is high and impact is deadly.

• File S 4647, Open States, Published 2023-02-28

Feb 13 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-02-13

Feb 8 - A sedan and a bus collided on Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens. The sedan’s driver and a passenger suffered back and neck injuries. The crash involved improper lane usage. Both vehicles sustained front-side damage. The injured were restrained and not ejected.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Woodhaven Boulevard collided with a bus also heading south. The point of impact was the sedan’s right front bumper and the bus’s left front quarter panel. The sedan’s 53-year-old male driver and 45-year-old female passenger were injured, suffering back and neck injuries respectively. Both occupants wore lap belts and were not ejected. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to lane control. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4604201 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 3 - Two SUVs crashed on Jamaica Avenue. One driver turned left, another went straight. A front passenger took a blow to the head. Unsafe speed and failure to yield fueled the impact.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Jamaica Avenue near 96 Street. One SUV was making a left turn while another traveled straight. The crash left a 34-year-old front passenger with a head contusion. The report lists unsafe speed and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The injured passenger was conscious and wore a lap belt. No other injuries or contributing factors were noted. The collision damaged the right front bumper of one SUV and the left front bumper of the other.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4602770 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 24 - Assembly and Senate passed A 602. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. Streets shaped by budgets, not safety.

Bill A 602, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects,' passed committee votes in the Assembly on January 24, 2023, and in the Senate on February 13, 2023. Sponsored by Patricia Fahy, the bill addresses how much the state pays for federally assisted projects and for municipal projects with complete street designs. The measure saw broad support, with near-unanimous yes votes in both chambers. The bill's focus is on funding, not on direct safety improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vulnerable road users. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File A 602, Open States, Published 2023-01-24

Jan 13 - Assembly bill A 1280 pushes for streets built for all. Dozens of lawmakers back the plan. The bill demands roads that protect walkers, cyclists, and riders. It calls for design, not luck, to keep people safe.

Assembly bill A 1280, now in sponsorship, aims to 'enable safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles.' Introduced January 13, 2023, the bill sits with the Assembly. Jonathan Rivera leads as primary sponsor, joined by over 70 co-sponsors including Patrick Burke, Kenny Burgos, and Catalina Cruz. Their action signals strong legislative momentum. The bill’s focus: force planners to build streets for people, not just cars. No safety analyst note is available, but the intent is clear—systemic change for vulnerable road users. The bill’s progress can be tracked at the New York Assembly website.

• File A 1280, Open States, Published 2023-01-13

Jan 9 - Senate passed S 840. The bill sets state funding rules for federally assisted and municipal complete street projects. Lawmakers moved fast. No mention of direct safety gains for people on foot or bike.

Senate bill S 840, sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy and co-sponsored by Robert Rolison, passed committee on January 9, 2023. The bill, titled 'Relates to the percentage responsibility of the state for federally assisted projects; relates to the state share of municipal projects where the municipality funds a complete street design,' sets funding formulas for state and municipal projects. Seventeen senators voted yes. The bill does not address direct safety impacts for vulnerable road users. No analyst note on safety.

• File S 840, Open States, Published 2023-01-09

Jan 2 - A 19-year-old woman was injured crossing a marked crosswalk on 80 Street in Queens. The sedan driver made a left turn and struck her with the vehicle’s left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered lower arm injuries and remained conscious.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on 80 Street in Queens made a left turn and struck a 19-year-old female pedestrian crossing a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian was injured in the elbow and lower arm area and remained conscious after the collision. The report lists driver errors including Failure to Yield Right-of-Way and Turning Improperly. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal but in a marked crosswalk. The vehicle sustained no damage. The driver was licensed and operating a 2006 Subaru sedan. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4594950 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Nov 28 - Council members push the MTA to study reviving the Rockaway Beach rail line. The move aims to connect southeast Queens, cut car trips, and open new routes. The bill signals urgency but lacks binding power. Debate continues over transit versus parkland.

On November 28, 2022, Council Members Joann Ariola and Selvena Brooks-Powers introduced a City Council resolution urging the MTA to conduct an environmental impact study for the QueensLink rail reactivation. The bill, non-binding and currently under committee review, seeks to revive 3.5 miles of the former Rockaway Beach Branch, extending the M train from Rego Park to the Rockaways. The matter title calls for 'a deeper study of the QueensLink proposal to reactivate an old rail line.' Ariola and Brooks-Powers, both representing southeastern Queens, argue the project would benefit communities with poor subway access and reduce car dependency. Ariola stated, 'I think it’s necessary and I think that it would really benefit the communities.' Brooks-Powers emphasized the resolution as a priority for the Transportation Committee. The push comes as Mayor Adams advances the QueensWay park plan, raising concerns among transit advocates. The MTA says a new study is unnecessary, but supporters insist a thorough review is needed before converting the corridor to parkland.

• Queens Pols Revive Push for MTA to Study QueensLink, As QueensWay Linear Park Surges, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-28

Nov 14 - Council pushes bills to curb deadly lithium-ion battery fires. FDNY supports bans on unsafe batteries and calls for more safety info. Advocates warn bans hit low-income delivery workers. Debate rages as fires, injuries, and deaths mount. City eyes safer charging.

On November 14, 2022, the City Council held a hearing on a package of bills addressing lithium-ion battery fires. The FDNY supported four out of five bills, including bans on second-use and non-certified batteries, a public safety campaign, and safety information for delivery workers. The FDNY expressed concern about resource demands for detailed annual fire reporting. The matter summary states the bills aim to address the rise of deadly fires from faulty batteries, often used by delivery workers. Council Member Joann Ariola urged the FDNY to consider international solutions and invest in safe charging infrastructure. Hildalyn Colón Hernández of Los Deliveristas Unidos opposed the bans, arguing they punish low-income workers and miss root causes. The city recently abandoned a proposal to ban e-bikes on NYCHA property and is working on new charging stations. The debate highlights the struggle to protect vulnerable workers while preventing more deaths and injuries.

• FDNY Backing Council Bills to Address Deadly Fires from Lithium Ion Batteries, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-11-14

Nov 5 - Councilmember Joann Ariola claimed open streets, bike lanes, and traffic islands slow emergency vehicles. She blamed street safety measures for longer fire response times. FDNY officials disagreed, citing traffic volume. The debate exposes tension between safety for walkers and emergency access.

On November 5, 2022, the NYC Council debated street design and emergency response. The discussion, reported by nypost.com, focused on rising fire deaths and slower FDNY response times. The matter summary reads: 'Rising NYC fire deaths, response times blamed on traffic measures.' Councilmember Joann Ariola (District 32) argued that open street programs, bike lanes, and traffic islands hinder emergency vehicles, especially when illegal parking blocks access. She called for better enforcement. Other voices, including union leaders, echoed her concerns. However, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan defended new street designs, stating they were built with emergency input. The Department of Transportation said all projects include emergency routes and are monitored. FDNY officials attributed delays to increased post-pandemic traffic, not street safety measures. The debate highlights the ongoing conflict between car-free streets for vulnerable users and emergency vehicle access.

• Rising NYC fire deaths, response times blamed on traffic measures, nypost.com, Published 2022-11-05

Oct 23 - A 22-year-old male driver suffered facial bruises in a Queens crash. Multiple SUVs collided near Jamaica Avenue. Police cited driver inattention as a key factor. The injured driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, the crash occurred in Queens near 80-15 Jamaica Avenue involving multiple SUVs. A 22-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining facial contusions but remained conscious and was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness. The report identifies driver inattention and distraction as the contributing factors to the collision. The vehicles involved were mostly parked or traveling west, with impacts to front and rear bumpers. No other injuries or contributing factors were noted. The report does not assign fault to the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4575544 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Oct 11 - A 25-year-old male pedestrian was struck while crossing 97 Street outside a crosswalk. The sedan hit him with its left front bumper. He suffered a fractured and dislocated elbow and lower arm. The driver was licensed and traveling straight southbound.

According to the police report, a 25-year-old male pedestrian was injured crossing 97 Street outside a crosswalk when a 2021 Toyota sedan traveling southbound struck him with its left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained a fracture and dislocation to his elbow and lower arm. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle straight ahead. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The pedestrian's crossing outside a crosswalk is noted but not cited as a cause. The sedan showed no vehicle damage. No safety equipment or helmet use was recorded.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4572269 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19