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

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 - A van turned left at rush hour. The scooter rider flew from his device. He died at the hospital. The street stayed open. The investigation continues.

According to amny (2025-06-30), Shaun Lagredelle, 39, was riding a stand-up scooter west on 116th Avenue when a Ford Transit van, driven by a 43-year-old woman, turned left onto Nashville Boulevard and struck him. Police said, "As the van attempted to turn left onto Nashville Boulevard, it collided with the scooter, immediately propelling Lagredelle off the device." Lagredelle suffered fatal injuries. No arrests have been made. The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is reviewing the case. The crash highlights ongoing risks at intersections for scooter riders.

• Scooter Rider Killed In Queens Collision, amny, 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 2025-11-03

Jun 24 - A pickup tore through Astoria. It struck Amanda Servedio, a cyclist with the right of way. She flew from her bike. The driver fled. Police found the truck later. Servedio died at Elmhurst Hospital. The city lost another rider.

Gothamist reported on June 24, 2025, that Bekim Fiseku was indicted for murder and manslaughter after fatally striking cyclist Amanda Servedio in Astoria. Prosecutors say Fiseku, fleeing police after an attempted burglary, sped through red lights and bike lanes, ultimately hitting Servedio at 37th Street and 34th Avenue. Surveillance captured the chase. The indictment states, 'The defendant allegedly led police on a 10-minute chase through the crowded streets.' Servedio, 36, was returning from a cycling event and had the right of way. Fiseku abandoned his truck and evaded arrest until February. The case highlights the lethal risk posed by reckless drivers and high-speed police pursuits on city streets.

• Cyclist Killed In Astoria Police Chase, Gothamist, Published 2025-06-24

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 2025-11-03

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 2025-11-03

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 2025-11-03

Jun 18 - A black SUV struck a man on 101st Avenue. The driver fled. The man lay unresponsive. Sirens cut the night. Medics rushed him to Jamaica Hospital. Police searched for answers. The street stayed silent. The danger did not.

ABC7 reported on June 18, 2025, that a man in his 50s was critically injured in a hit-and-run at 101st Avenue and 116th Street in Ozone Park, Queens. The article states, 'Police say the victim was struck by a black SUV traveling eastbound on 101st Avenue that kept going.' Officers found the man unresponsive; he was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition. The driver failed to remain at the scene, a violation of New York law. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians and the persistent problem of drivers fleeing crash sites in New York City.

• Hit-and-Run Leaves Pedestrian Critical in Queens, ABC7, Published 2025-06-18

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

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

Jun 15 - Two sedans crashed on 143rd Street. A driver and a passenger suffered chest injuries. Police cite driver inattention as the cause. Metal twisted. Pain followed.

Two sedans collided at 143rd Street and 110th Avenue in Queens. A 25-year-old driver and a 61-year-old passenger were injured, both reporting chest pain. According to the police report, 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' caused the crash. The impact struck the right side doors of one sedan. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report lists no other contributing factors. Both injured persons were conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4822819 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-11-03

Jun 13 - 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 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Lawmakers back speed cameras near Schenectady schools. The bill passed both chambers. Cameras catch drivers who endanger kids. The program ends in 2030. Streets near schools may get safer. The vote was not unanimous.

Senate Bill S 5677, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Schenectady,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. The Senate passed it on June 12, with primary sponsor James Tedisco (District 44) and co-sponsor Patricia Fahy (District 46) leading the push. The Assembly approved it on June 13. The bill sets up automated speed enforcement near schools and sunsets December 31, 2030. The measure aims to catch speeding drivers near children. Some lawmakers voted no, but most supported the move. No formal safety analyst note was provided, but the bill targets a known danger zone for vulnerable road users.

• File S 5677, Open States, Published 2025-06-13

Jun 13 - Senate and Assembly clear S 6815. MTA workers get a pass for driving in bus lanes while on duty. Law shields agency vehicles from tickets. Streets grow more crowded. Vulnerable users face more risk.

Bill S 6815, titled 'Relates to bus lane restrictions in New York city,' passed the Senate on June 12, 2025, and the Assembly on June 13, 2025. The bill states, 'it shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of a bus lane restriction ... when an employee of the metropolitan transportation authority is performing authorized duties.' Sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie and co-sponsored by Nathalia Fernandez, the measure exempts MTA employees from bus lane tickets while working. No safety analysis was provided. The bill opens bus lanes to more agency vehicles, crowding space meant for buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

• File S 6815, Open States, Published 2025-06-13