No Deaths Yet—But Laurelton Bleeds Every Day

Mar 8 - Senator Comrie pushes a yellow alert for deadly hit-and-runs. Police would blast car details fast. The goal: catch fleeing drivers. The dead deserve justice. Streets remember.

Senate bill S 5588, sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie, was introduced on March 8, 2023. The bill sits at the sponsorship stage. It aims to 'establish a yellow alert system for law enforcement to publicize vehicle information in instances of hit-and-run accidents in which a person has been killed.' Comrie leads the charge. The alert would spread vehicle details after fatal hit-and-runs, aiming to help police track down drivers who flee. No safety analyst note is available. The bill targets the aftermath, not prevention. Vulnerable road users remain at risk until drivers are held to account.

• File S 5588, Open States, Published 2023-03-08

Mar 6 - State pushes a $1.2-billion tax break for Penn Station towers. Critics slam the deal as a handout to Vornado. Hundreds of homes and businesses face displacement. Promised funding for transit falls apart. The public gets risk. Developers get power.

On March 6, 2023, the debate over Gov. Hochul’s Penn Station redevelopment plan intensified. The $1.2-billion tax break, meant to spur ten new towers and fund a $20-billion transit overhaul, is under fire. The plan, pitched as a lifeline for Penn Station, now faces doubts about its ability to deliver. State officials admit the project will not fully fund the station. Developer Steve Roth, head of Vornado, is not required to build, putting revenue in doubt. Senator Leroy Comrie called for a reset, saying, “the GPP that’s been presented is not longer working.” Critics, including attorney Chuck Weinstock and policy analyst Rachael Fauss, argue the deal benefits Vornado, not the public. Hundreds of businesses and homes could be lost. The project’s value and feasibility remain in question. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• Gov. Hochul’s Penn Station Tax Giveaway Makes Less Sense Than Ever, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-06

Mar 4 - Two sedans slammed head-on in Queens. Both drivers hurt. Whiplash. Full-body trauma. Distraction behind the wheel. No one ejected. No pedestrians. Steel and glass, broken by inattention.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on on Merrick Boulevard in Queens just after midnight. Both drivers, a 56-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman, suffered whiplash and injuries to their entire bodies. Each was conscious and restrained by a lap belt. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both vehicles with front-end damage. The police report makes clear: distraction at the wheel led to pain and wreckage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4609908 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 3 - Council moves Intro 501-A forward. No more cash reward for reporting drivers blocking bike or bus lanes. The bill phases in citywide. Digital training and ID now required. Broader zones, stricter rules. Safety and accountability take center stage.

Intro 501-A, sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler, advanced in the City Council on March 3, 2023. The bill, now revised, drops the 25 percent bounty for citizen reporters. It requires digital training and valid New York identification. The rollout starts in Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, expanding citywide over three years. The Department of Transportation must create a mobile app and post signage in reporting zones. The bill doubles reporting zones around schools to 2,640 feet. Restler said, 'The updated version of this bill will prioritize safety by reducing the likelihood of conflict between neighbors while continuing to empower citizen enforcement across nearly the entirety of New York City.' Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers led the committee. Advocates like Transportation Alternatives and Bike New York support the bill, citing the need for civilian enforcement to keep streets safe for vulnerable users.

• ‘Citizen Reporting’ Bill Moves Forward, But Without the Bounty, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-03-03

Mar 3 - Council moves Intro 501 forward. No cash reward for reporting. Only trained New Yorkers can file. First, Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. Citywide in three years. Aim: stop blocked bike and bus lanes. Brooks-Powers leads. Restler pushes safety. Streets stay in focus.

Intro 501, a bill to let citizens report drivers blocking bike or bus lanes, advanced in the City Council on March 3, 2023. The Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), steered the revision. The bill, sponsored by Lincoln Restler, drops the 25 percent ticket bounty but expands reporting zones and phases in citywide coverage over three years. The matter summary states: 'A long-stalled bill that would allow people to report drivers who block bike or bus lanes is about to move forward in the City Council, but without its central feature: people who make complaints will no longer receive 25 percent of the resulting ticket revenue.' Restler said, 'My top priority is expanding street safety.' The bill now requires a digital training course and valid ID for complainants. Only unoccupied cars can be reported. The Department of Transportation must create a mobile app and post signage. Advocates support the bill, citing the need for civilian enforcement to protect vulnerable road users.

• ‘Citizen Reporting’ Bill Moves Forward, But Without the Bounty, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-03-03

Feb 24 - A driver killed 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun at a Queens intersection. City workers made minor fixes. Council members demanded daylighting and real barriers. DOT resisted, citing flexibility. Advocates want curb extensions. The city’s slow action leaves streets deadly.

On February 24, 2023, Council Members Julie Won, Tiffany Cabán, and Selvena Brooks-Powers sent a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) after a driver killed Dolma Naadhun. They demanded daylighting, neckdowns, speed bumps, stop signs, and reflective markings at Newtown Road intersections. The lawmakers wrote, “Nothing can bring back Dolma Naadhun, but we can prevent further loss of life so that no family must experience the loss of a loved one.” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez opposed a Council bill mandating 100 daylighted intersections per year, arguing for flexibility and physical infrastructure in daylit spaces. Advocates and experts agree: daylighting without barriers is flawed. They call for curb extensions to slow drivers and protect people. Residents remain frustrated by the city’s slow, limited response after repeated deaths and injuries.

• R.I.P. DOLMA: A Deep Dive on DOT’s Daylighting Dilemma, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-24

Feb 22 - A 53-year-old woman driving a sedan eastbound on Merrick Boulevard was struck on the left front bumper by an SUV making a left turn northbound. She suffered a head injury and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. Both drivers were licensed.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling east on Merrick Boulevard was hit on its left front bumper by an SUV making a left turn northbound. The sedan's 53-year-old female driver sustained a head injury and whiplash, remaining conscious and inside the vehicle. The SUV showed no damage. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any clear driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. Both drivers were licensed and operating their vehicles legally. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no safety equipment details were noted. The collision's impact point and vehicle movements suggest a conflict during the SUV's left turn maneuver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4607766 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 14 - DOT missed safety targets. Council pressed for action. DOT balked, citing staff shortages. Council demanded more. Advocates called bills weak. Streets remain dangerous. No relief for pedestrians or cyclists. City government stalls. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

At a February 14, 2023 City Council oversight hearing, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez admitted the agency failed to meet last year’s street safety benchmarks. The hearing, led by Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, reviewed a slate of bills requiring reflective materials, school safety signs, daylighting, bollards, and more frequent fatality studies. Rodriguez said DOT supports the intent but opposes the bills, citing staffing shortages and a need for flexibility. Brooks-Powers expressed disappointment: 'It sounds, unfortunately, like DOT is not supporting any of the bills.' Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized city austerity and shrinking staff. Advocates, including Amy Cohen, said the bills 'don’t go nearly far enough.' The hearing exposed deep gaps between Council ambition, DOT capacity, and the urgent need for safer streets.

• DOT to Council: Don’t Ask Us To Do More After We Failed to What You Mandated Us To Do Last Year, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-02-14

Feb 14 - City Council grilled DOT on street safety. Commissioner Rodriguez rejected new bollards, signs, and speed bumps. Advocates demanded action after 255 deaths. Council and DOT agreed only on a 5 mph limit for Open Streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers remain at risk.

On February 14, 2023, the City Council’s Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31), held a hearing on a slate of street safety bills. The matter, titled 'DOT chief pushes back on City Council’s latest street safety proposals,' saw Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez oppose mandatory installation of bollards, safety signs near schools, reflective curbs, and speed bumps near senior centers. Brooks-Powers opened the hearing noting, 'It sounds, unfortunately, like DOT doesn’t support any of the bills that we’re looking to discuss today.' Street safety advocates, including Priscilla Afokoba and Amy Cohen, spoke in favor of the proposals, citing the 255 people killed by motorists in the previous year. The only consensus: a resolution to urge Albany to reduce the speed limit to 5 mph on Open Streets, with Governor Hochul signaling support. The hearing highlighted deep divides between the Council and DOT on protecting pedestrians and cyclists.

• DOT chief pushes back on City Council’s latest street safety proposals, gothamist.com, Published 2023-02-14

Feb 14 - Council pressed DOT on slow safety progress. Adams administration rejected bills for traffic calming, daylighting, and crash studies. Council vowed to push forward. DOT blamed staff cuts. Advocates demanded hard fixes. Streets stay deadly. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 14, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on a package of street safety bills. Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers led the debate. The Adams administration, represented by DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, opposed the bills, arguing, 'Streets are dynamic and conditions are constantly changing. We need to be nimble.' The bills would require DOT to install traffic calming near senior centers, daylight intersections, add school safety signs, study and install bollards, and increase crash reporting. Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized the mayor’s budget cuts, saying they undermine safety goals. Brooks-Powers pledged to advance the bills, stressing the need for hard infrastructure, especially in Black and Brown neighborhoods. DOT admitted it is behind on bus and bike lane targets. No formal safety analyst assessment was provided, but advocates insist better design saves lives.

• DOT honchos grilled on street safety progress as Adams admin announces opposition to Council bills, amny.com, Published 2023-02-14

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 3 - Senator Comrie backs bill to cut motorcycle congestion fees in half. Central business district. Motorcycles pay less. Cars still crowd streets. Danger for walkers and riders remains.

Senate bill S 4102, sponsored by Senator Leroy Comrie (District 14), was introduced on February 3, 2023. The bill sits at the sponsorship stage. It authorizes the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority to impose congestion pricing for motorcycles in the central business district at half the rate of other vehicles. The bill summary states: 'Authorizes the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority to impose tolls and fees for congestion pricing for motorcycles in the central business district in the amount of half of the charges for the tolls and fees of other vehicles.' No safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The measure offers a break for motorcycles, but the threat to pedestrians and cyclists in crowded streets persists.

• File S 4102, Open States, Published 2023-02-03

Jan 27 - City Council grilled the Adams administration on street carnage. The hearing exposed failures: missed targets for protected bike lanes, bus lanes, and safety investments. Council members called for real infrastructure, not just enforcement. Advocates demanded accountability and action for vulnerable New Yorkers.

On January 27, 2023, the City Council’s Transportation Committee held an oversight hearing on street safety and Vision Zero implementation. The hearing, led by Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, questioned whether Mayor Adams is honoring his pledge to end road violence. The matter focused on the administration’s failure to meet Council-mandated benchmarks in the NYC Streets Plan, especially protected bike lanes and bus lanes. Brooks-Powers stated, 'No New Yorker should have to fear for their life while crossing or using our streets.' She stressed that enforcement alone is not enough, demanding equitable infrastructure in neglected neighborhoods. Advocacy leaders like Elizabeth Adams and Sara Lind echoed the call for physical changes and accountability. The hearing marked a rare moment of scrutiny, with advocates welcoming the Council’s push for real safety measures for all road users.

• Council Wants Answers from Adams Administration on Road Violence Epidemic, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-27

Jan 26 - Assembly bill A 2610 targets bus lane cheaters. Sponsors back cameras and owner liability. The goal: keep bus lanes clear, speed up buses, cut crashes. No votes yet. The fight for safer streets rolls on.

Assembly bill A 2610, now in sponsorship, aims to extend bus rapid transit camera enforcement. The bill, titled "Relates to owner liability for failure of operator to comply with bus operation-related local law or regulation traffic restrictions," was introduced January 26, 2023. Primary sponsor Alicia Hyndman leads, joined by Deborah Glick, Sarahana Shrestha, Manny De Los Santos, Zohran Mamdani, and others. The bill would hold vehicle owners liable for bus lane violations and expand photo enforcement. No votes have been recorded. The measure seeks to keep bus lanes clear, speed up transit, and reduce risk for those outside cars.

• File A 2610, Open States, Published 2023-01-26

Jan 25 - Councilmember Brooks-Powers calls a hearing on hidden license plates. Drivers hide plates to dodge cameras. City Hall claims enforcement, but plates stay covered. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price. The city’s promise rings hollow. Action, not words, saves lives.

On January 25, 2023, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (District 31) announced a forthcoming NYC Council hearing on obscured license plates and enforcement. The hearing, date not yet set, follows mounting evidence that drivers—including law enforcement—deface or cover plates to evade speed and toll cameras. The matter, described as a public safety issue, exposes a gap in city enforcement. Brooks-Powers’s action responds to calls for accountability, as highlighted in the article: 'there will be a hearing on obscured plates.' Despite City Hall’s claim that 'obscuring and defacing license plates is against the law' and that enforcement is increasing, the streets tell a different story. Unreadable plates let reckless drivers escape detection. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—face greater risk. The city’s failure to act leaves them exposed.

• The End of ‘Criminal Mischief’? A Reflection on Three Months of Field Work, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-01-25

Jan 25 - Council eyes crackdown on drivers hiding plates. Lawmakers plan a hearing. Defaced plates dodge cameras, shield reckless drivers. City Hall claims action, but enforcement lags. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price. The system protects the powerful, not the people.

On January 25, 2023, Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers announced an upcoming hearing on enforcement against obscured license plates. The hearing, not yet scheduled, follows months of reporting by Gersh Kuntzman, who documented widespread plate defacement by drivers—including law enforcement and public officials—to evade speed and toll cameras. The article quotes Brooks-Powers: 'there will be a hearing on obscured plates.' Kuntzman urges expansion of Council Member Lincoln Restler’s Intro 501, which would let the public report illegal plates via 311. City Hall claims it is 'strengthening enforcement,' but Kuntzman’s reporting shows little follow-through. The lack of action lets reckless drivers escape accountability, undermining automated enforcement and endangering vulnerable road users. The system’s failure leaves pedestrians and cyclists exposed while drivers hide in plain sight.

• The End of ‘Criminal Mischief’? A Reflection on Three Months of Field Work, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-25

Jan 25 - Advocates call on Mayor Adams to back open streets, curb car use, and fund transit. They urge permanent outdoor dining, end to parking mandates, and more space for people. The message is clear: put safety and public space before cars.

On January 25, 2023, advocates released a statement ahead of Mayor Adams’s State of the City address. The statement, titled 'What the Livable Streets Movement Wants from Thursday’s State of the City Address,' urges the city to prioritize open streets, permanent outdoor dining, and public transit. The group calls for eliminating parking mandates and expanding Summer Streets to Brooklyn and Queens. They demand automated curb enforcement and a reduction in the city’s vehicle fleet. Borough Presidents Antonio Reynoso and Donovan Richards support the Summer Streets expansion. The statement insists, 'Leadership should be celebrating [public transit] and investing in it above all else.' The advocates reject half-measures and marketing campaigns. They want policies that move people out of cars and reclaim streets for vulnerable road users.

• What the Livable Streets Movement Wants from Thursday’s State of the City Address, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-25

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 23 - A 33-year-old woman driving a sedan in Queens suffered back injuries and whiplash. She was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The crash involved multiple parked vehicles and occurred during a right turn on 222 Street.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old female driver was injured in a collision on 222 Street in Queens. She was driving a 2010 Infiniti sedan eastbound and making a right turn when the crash occurred. The vehicle struck the center back end of a parked Audi sedan and also involved damage to other parked vehicles, including a Ford pickup truck. The driver suffered back injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. She was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The crash caused center front end damage to the Infiniti and rear-end damage to the parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4600130 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jan 12 - Mayor Adams’s budget keeps Fair Fares funding flat at $75 million. No new money. Low-income riders still face strict limits. The city holds back while transit costs rise. Council leaders stay silent. Riders wait. The gap between need and help widens.

Bill: Mayor Adams’s 2023 preliminary budget. Status: Proposed, under Council review. Committee: City Council Budget. Key dates: Announced January 12, 2023; hearings and negotiations run until June 30. The budget 'does not increase funding for Fair Fares, the city’s half-price MetroCard program for very low-income transit riders.' Adams holds funding at $75 million, below pre-pandemic levels. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers did not comment. Adams claims fiscal discipline is key, despite calling Fair Fares 'transformative.' The program’s strict eligibility leaves out many struggling New Yorkers. As subway fares rise, the city’s refusal to expand Fair Fares keeps transit out of reach for thousands.

• Transit Equity? Adams Budget Adds No New Funds for Fair Fares Discount Program, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-01-12