Blood on the Crosswalk: South Jamaica Pays for City Hall’s Inaction

Jul 18 - A 46-year-old man lay unconscious after a northbound SUV hit him on Union Hall Street in Queens. He suffered chest abrasions. Police listed contributing factors as 'Unspecified.'

According to the police report, a 46-year-old man walking outside an intersection on Union Hall Street in Queens was struck by a northbound 2023 Honda SUV. He was left unconscious with chest abrasions. Police list his location as 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Not at Intersection' and action as 'Other Actions in Roadway.' The driver was going straight ahead. Impact point was undercarriage. The SUV showed no damage and had one occupant. No driver errors were specified in the report. Contributing factors are listed as 'Unspecified.'

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828620 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jul 17 - Council raised pay for grocery deliveristas. EMTs now earn less. Delivery workers face city streets daily. Council chose their risk. First responders left behind.

On July 17, 2025, the NYC Council passed a bill raising minimum pay for app-based grocery delivery workers to $21.44 per hour. The bill, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, matches earlier raises for restaurant deliveristas. The matter summary: 'the NYC Council approved on Monday a pay increase for app-based grocery-delivery workers.' Speaker Adrienne Adams and Justin Brannan backed higher EMT pay, but the bill leaves FDNY EMTs earning less than delivery workers. Safety analysts found no direct impact on pedestrians or cyclists: 'The pay increase for app-based delivery workers does not directly affect the safety of pedestrians or cyclists, nor does it impact street design, mode shift, or driver accountability.'

• FDNY EMT outrage: First responders now earn less than grocery delivery workers after NYC Council vote, AMNY, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 15 - Adams pushed a 15 mph e-bike cap. The hearing spiraled into calls for licensing. Riders and advocates warned: this won’t make streets safer. Focus drifted from real threats. Danger remains.

On July 15, 2025, City Hall held a public hearing on Mayor Adams’s proposed 15 mph e-bike speed limit. The session, covered by Kevin Duggan, quickly shifted to e-bike licensing and registration. The matter, described as 'a public hearing about the mayor's proposed speed limit devolved into a debate about e-bike licensing,' saw no council member take a clear stance. Advocates warned that focusing on licensing distracts from proven safety measures and burdens vulnerable users. The safety analyst noted this shift risks real harm, pulling attention from systemic fixes that protect walkers and riders.

• E-Bike Fans and Foes Agree: Adams’s 15 MPH Speed Limit Won’t Make Streets Safer, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-15

Jul 14 - City debates capping e-bike speeds at 15 mph and closing wage loopholes for delivery workers. No clear safety gain for cyclists or pedestrians. Lawmakers stall on holding app companies accountable.

On July 14, 2025, City Council and DOT held hearings on e-bike speed limits and delivery worker wages. The DOT proposed a 15 mph cap on e-bikes. Speaker Adrienne Adams led a council vote to expand minimum wage laws to grocery delivery apps. Streetsblog NYC reported, 'Monday is a big day for the future of e-bikes in the Big Apple.' Michael Replogle warned the speed cap would 'roll back decades of gains to grow cycling.' A draft bill for app company accountability remains stalled. The safety impact is unclear: 'No direct safety impact on pedestrians and cyclists can be determined.'

• Monday’s Headlines: E-Bike Regulations Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-14

Jul 10 - Council ends Instacart loophole. All app delivery workers get minimum wage. Bills target pay, tips, and safety. Workers risk streets for every order. Law brings fairer pay, not safer roads.

On July 10, 2025, the City Council advanced Intro 1133 and 1135 to close the Instacart loophole and regulate app-based delivery. The bills, led by Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Sandy Nurse, and Shaun Abreu, require all apps to pay minimum wage and restore upfront tipping. The matter summary: 'regulate the app-based delivery industry.' Sophia Lebowitz supported the action. Advocates say the package strengthens 2023's pay law. A safety analyst notes: mandating minimum wage improves labor conditions but does not directly affect safety, mode shift, or street equity for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Council To Close Instacart Loophole, Pass Delivery Industry Regulation Bills, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-10

Jul 9 - Council backs daylighting. Speaker Adams stalls. Cars block corners. Sightlines stay blind. Pedestrians risk death. Safety waits. Power plays out. Danger wins.

On July 9, 2025, the City Council considered Introduction 1138 in committee. The bill, sponsored by Julie Won, bans parking within 20 feet of intersections and orders DOT to install barriers at 1,000 corners yearly. The measure, described as a way to 'improve pedestrian safety by increasing visibility at intersections,' has majority support. Speaker Adrienne Adams refuses to bring it to a vote. Advocates and two dozen Community Boards demand action. Safety analysts say daylighting removes visual obstructions, proven to cut crashes and protect walkers and cyclists citywide. The bill sits. Streets stay deadly.

• Universal Daylighting Has Majority Support on the City Council — Will Speaker Adams Give It a Vote?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 9 - A battery exploded. Fire roared. Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, was trapped in smoke and flame inside a Queens pizzeria. She died from her burns. Lithium-ion danger struck again. Four others escaped.

According to the New York Post (2025-07-09), Yuet Kiu Cheung, 76, died after an e-bike battery exploded inside Singas Famous Pizzeria in Flushing, Queens. The FDNY described a 'blowtorch effect' that trapped Cheung as she tried to escape the bathroom. The article notes, 'These fires are treacherous. They move very quickly.' This was the first fatal lithium-ion battery fire in NYC for 2025, with officials citing a rising trend in such incidents. The battery was stored outside the bathroom, highlighting risks of indoor storage and the need for stronger safety measures.

• E-Bike Battery Blast Kills Woman In Queens, New York Post, Published 2025-07-09

Jul 7 - BMW hit divider, flew across highway, struck two cars. Fire followed. Two young lives ended. Others hurt. Concrete, speed, and steel left scars in Queens dawn.

NY Daily News (2025-07-07) reports a BMW crashed into a concrete divider on Queens' Belt Parkway, then vaulted over the highway, hitting two vehicles. The BMW caught fire. Driver Noah Thompson, 24, and passenger Jewel Perez, 22, died after hospital transport. Three other BMW passengers and two other drivers survived with minor or stable injuries. Police noted, "No one in the BMW was wearing a seat belt." Authorities sought a warrant to test the driver's blood for alcohol. The crash highlights high-speed risks and the dangers of divided highways.

• BMW Crash Kills Two on Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-07-07

• Fatally Injured Teenager Is Discovered on Top of a N.Y.C. Subway Car, The New York Times, Published 2025-07-04

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 30 - Council orders swift removal of abandoned, derelict cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. No plates, no stickers, no excuses. Police and sanitation must act. Safer crossings for all who walk, ride, or wait.

Bill Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council on June 30, 2025. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation," requires the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours of report. The NYPD must tow cars lacking valid plates or stickers. Prime sponsor Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led, joined by Crystal Hudson, Amanda Farías, Lincoln Restler, and others. The law targets street hazards, clearing blocked sightlines and crosswalks. It aims to cut risks for pedestrians and cyclists by removing abandoned vehicles fast.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 29 - A moped and sedan collided on Sutphin Blvd. Two riders were ejected, suffering head injuries. Police cite traffic control ignored and alcohol. The street ran red. Metal met flesh. Blood on the pavement.

A moped and a sedan crashed on Sutphin Boulevard at Tuskegee Airmen Way in Queens. Two moped riders were ejected and injured, both suffering head wounds. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Alcohol Involvement' contributed to the crash. The moped passenger had severe bleeding. The moped driver and passenger were not using safety equipment. The sedan driver was licensed and uninjured. The report lists driver errors but does not blame those hurt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 23 - A pickup fleeing police struck Amanda Servedio on her bike. The crash hurled her thirty feet. She died at the scene. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, ran. Police chased him through residential streets. Eight months later, they made an arrest.

According to NY Daily News (2025-06-23), Amanda Servedio, 37, was killed when a Dodge Ram pickup, fleeing NYPD officers, struck her at 37th St. and 34th Ave. in Queens. The driver, Bekim Fiseku, was wanted for burglary and had tape over his license plate. Police chased him nearly a mile through residential streets. A witness said, "She went airborne. She flew like 30 feet. It was a lot of force." The article highlights concerns about NYPD's pursuit tactics, quoting the victim's father: "It was probably not the place to be doing a high-speed chase, in the residential neighborhood." Fiseku faces murder and manslaughter charges. The case raises questions about the risks of police chases in dense city neighborhoods.

• Police Chase Ends With Cyclist Killed, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-23

Jun 22 - A pickup and sedan collided on 110 Ave. Two men hurt. Police cite improper turning. Metal crushed. Pain followed. Streets stay dangerous.

A pickup truck and a sedan crashed at 143-47 110 Ave in Queens. Two men were injured: a 27-year-old driver with a back contusion and a 32-year-old rear passenger with pain and nausea. According to the police report, the crash was caused by 'Turning Improperly.' Both vehicles were traveling east. The report lists no other contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The force of the crash left metal twisted and people hurt. Streets remain hazardous for all.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4823044 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 20 - A distracted driver slammed into a standing vehicle on Lux Road. Head injury. Abrasion. Unsafe speed and inattention marked the crash.

A 30-year-old male driver was injured in a crash on Lux Road at Remington Street in Queens. According to the police report, the driver struck a standing vehicle while heading west. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The driver suffered a head abrasion but remained conscious. No other injuries were reported. The police report does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors in this incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822382 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 19 - An SUV and a sedan collided at 108 Ave and 164 Pl. One passenger suffered a leg injury. Police cite traffic control disregarded. Metal struck metal. Streets failed to protect. The system let danger through.

A crash involving a BMW SUV and a sedan occurred at the intersection of 108 Avenue and 164 Place in Queens. According to the police report, 'Traffic Control Disregarded' was listed as a contributing factor. The collision left an 18-year-old female passenger with a knee and lower leg injury. Both vehicles were traveling straight before impact, with the SUV striking the sedan's right rear bumper. The report does not specify which driver disregarded traffic control, but the systemic failure is clear. No helmet or signal use was listed as a factor. The crash highlights the ongoing risk to passengers when drivers ignore basic rules.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4821080 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-18

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 16 - White Plains gets speed cameras near schools. Lawmakers move fast. Most vote yes. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. Program ends 2030. Streets may slow. Danger faces children every day.

Senate Bill S 7678, sponsored by Shelley Mayer, establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in White Plains. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2025, and the Assembly on June 16, 2025. The matter reads: 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of White Plains; repeals authorization of program December 31, 2030.' Mayer led the push. Most senators and assembly members voted yes. The bill aims to catch speeding drivers near schools, a known threat to children and families. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 7678, Open States, Published 2025-06-16

Jun 16 - 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 2025-06-16