Blood on the Asphalt: Springfield Gardens Pays for City Hall’s Delay

Lawmakers back speed cameras near Kingston schools. Cameras catch drivers who speed. The bill passed both chambers. It sunsets in 2029. Children and families walk safer, but the fix is temporary.

Senate Bill S 8607, titled 'Establishes a school speed zone camera demonstration program in the city of Kingston,' passed the Senate on June 6, 2024, and the Assembly on June 7, 2024. The bill, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey, creates a camera program to catch speeding drivers near schools. The program ends December 31, 2029. The measure saw broad support in both chambers, but some lawmakers voted no. The bill aims to protect children and families on foot near schools, but its impact will end unless renewed. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8607, Open States, Published 2024-06-06

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-06-03

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Two vehicles crashed on South Conduit Avenue in Queens. The sedan driver suffered back injuries and shock. Police cited traffic control disregard as a key factor. Impact damaged the left side doors of the sedan and right front quarter panel of the SUV.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on South Conduit Avenue in Queens involving a 2014 SUV traveling east and a 2010 sedan traveling north. The sedan driver, a 46-year-old man, was injured with back trauma and experienced shock but was not ejected from the vehicle. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver error. The sedan sustained damage to its left side doors, while the SUV was damaged on its right front quarter panel. Both drivers were licensed and traveling straight ahead prior to impact. The report does not attribute any contributing factors to the victim's behavior, focusing solely on driver errors and systemic danger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4730668 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Two SUVs collided on 145 Avenue in Queens when one vehicle followed too closely and struck the other from behind. The driver of the struck vehicle, a 19-year-old man, suffered neck injuries and shock. Both vehicles were traveling southbound at the time.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:41 on 145 Avenue in Queens. Two SUVs, both traveling southbound, were involved. The first SUV was stopped in traffic when the second SUV, traveling behind it, failed to maintain a safe distance and rear-ended the first vehicle. The contributing factor cited was "Following Too Closely." The driver of the struck vehicle, a 19-year-old male, was injured with neck pain and shock and was wearing a lap belt and harness. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The point of impact was the center back end of the first SUV and the center front end of the second SUV. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash highlights driver error in maintaining safe following distances in traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4727913 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Council moves to light up step streets. At least 25 stairways each year will get new lamps. Dark paths become visible. Pedestrians gain ground. Shadows shrink. Danger loses its cover.

Int 0875-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure after introduction on May 16, 2024. The bill reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the installation of pedestrian lighting on step streets.' Prime sponsor Joann Ariola, joined by sixteen co-sponsors, pushes for at least 25 step streets to be lit each year until all are covered. Step streets are open-air staircases linking streets at different heights. The bill aims to strip darkness from these paths, making them safer for people on foot. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File Int 0875-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-05-16

Queens lawmakers demand more express buses before the $15 congestion toll hits. They say MTA left Queens behind. Riders in transit deserts face long, costly trips. Lawmakers call the exclusion unacceptable. They want fair service before new fees begin.

On May 16, 2024, ten Queens lawmakers, including Julia Salazar (District 18), urged the MTA to expand express bus service to Queens before the $15 Manhattan congestion toll starts. The group wrote to MTA chairman Janno Lieber, stating, "Express buses play a vital role in Queens’ public transit network and only stand to become even more pivotal in the near and distant future." They criticized the MTA for boosting express bus service in Brooklyn and Staten Island but not Queens, calling the exclusion "unacceptable." The lawmakers stressed that many southeast and northeast Queens residents lack subway access and rely on express buses to reach Midtown. They argued the 10 percent LIRR discount is no substitute for robust bus service. Salazar and her colleagues support congestion pricing but insist its success depends on expanded, equitable transit for all vulnerable riders.

• Queens lawmakers demand more MTA bus service to Manhattan before $15 congestion toll begins, nypost.com, Published 2024-05-16

Four vehicles collided on Belt Parkway around 12:30 a.m. A 37-year-old male driver suffered knee and lower leg injuries. Police cite driver inattention and distraction as key factors in the crash, which caused significant side and front-end damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at approximately 12:30 a.m. involving four vehicles traveling westbound: a 2014 Dodge pick-up truck, two station wagons/SUVs (2019 Toyota and 2020 Kia), and a 2023 Dodge sedan. The point of impact included right side doors, right rear bumper, center front end, and center back end damage. A 37-year-old male driver, who was an occupant in one of the vehicles, sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report identifies "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor to the crash. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights systemic danger from driver distraction on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724326 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

City officials defend curbside EV charging. Critics warn it locks in car dominance. Council members slam DOT for slow bus and bike lane rollouts. Advocates demand space for people, not cars. The city plans 10,000 new chargers. Streets stay dangerous.

At a May 9, 2024 City Council budget hearing, DOT Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton argued that New York’s widespread free on-street parking justifies dedicating curb space to electric vehicle (EV) charging. Beaton testified, 'Half of our vehicles are stored on the street overnight.' The Adams administration aims to install up to 10,000 curbside chargers over the next decade. Council Transportation Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers and Council Member Lincoln Restler criticized DOT for failing to meet bus and bike lane expansion mandates. Sara Lind of Open Plans countered, 'DOT and the administration are fully capable of changing the status quo and rethinking curb parking.' Advocates warned that more EV chargers could block future sidewalk, bike lane, or outdoor dining expansions. The hearing exposed a city stuck in car-first policy, with vulnerable road users left waiting for safer streets.

• DOT Official: All Our Free Parking Justifies Keeping Curb Space for EVs, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-09

Mayor Adams backs lower speed limits but calls crashes ‘accidents.’ He urges drivers to slow down, yet hedges on citywide changes. The Council and DOT hold the power. Advocates say language matters. Streets remain deadly. Action lags. Lives hang in balance.

On May 8, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams publicly supported lowering speed limits after the passage of 'Sammy’s Law,' which allows New York City to reduce limits to 20 mph on most roads. The law, passed in the state budget, excludes wide, multi-lane roads in the outer boroughs. Adams said, 'I do believe as New Yorkers we need to slow down,' but repeatedly referred to preventable crashes as 'accidents,' a term advocates reject for removing driver responsibility. The City Council must legislate any citywide speed limit change, while the Department of Transportation (DOT) can adjust limits on specific streets after community input. Council Transportation Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers and Speaker Adrienne Adams pledged to 'collaborate and negotiate' with City Hall. Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi stressed the need for street redesign and legal reform, noting, 'This is not a problem that goes away on its own.' Despite new authority, the Adams administration has lagged on safe street infrastructure. The city faces its deadliest start to a year in the Vision Zero era, with 60 killed in the first quarter.

• Adams Backs Lower Speed Limits, Calls Crashes ‘Accidents’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-08

Albany passed Sammy’s Law. The city can now set lower speed limits. Lawmakers carved out wide roads, leaving many deadly corridors untouched. Advocates fought for years. Families of crash victims cheered. The fight for safer streets is not over.

Sammy’s Law, passed on April 22, 2024, as part of New York’s $273-billion state budget, grants New York City the authority to set its own speed limits on most roads. The bill, long blocked by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, finally moved forward under Governor Kathy Hochul’s push. The measure, described as 'a significant legislative achievement,' excludes roads outside Manhattan with three or more travel lanes in one direction—a concession to car-centric lawmakers. The law requires community board notification and comment, but their input is only advisory. Families of road violence victims and street safety advocates celebrated the win. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, Transportation Chair, conditioned her support on street redesigns in underserved neighborhoods. The law’s carve-out leaves many of the city’s deadliest roads unchanged, withholding proven safety benefits from major thoroughfares.

• Behind the Scenes: How Gov. Hochul Got ‘Sammy’s Law’ Over the Finish Line, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-04-22

Council orders swift removal of abandoned and unplated cars. Streets clear in 72 hours. Police target vehicles with missing or fake plates. Fewer hazards for those on foot and bike.

Int 0857-2024, now at the Mayor's desk, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 18, 2024. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code... in relation to vehicles reported as abandoned to the department of sanitation.' Sponsored by Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (primary) and co-sponsored by over a dozen council members, it forces the Department of Sanitation to remove derelict vehicles within 72 hours and empowers NYPD to tow cars with missing or obscured plates or stickers. The law aims to clear street hazards fast, reducing risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

• File Int 0857-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-18

Council orders DOT to reveal bike and micromobility numbers. Streets and bridges get counted. Riders’ paths mapped. City must show where safety fails and where it works. Data goes public. No more hiding the truth.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and became law September 14, 2024, as Local Law 88. The law’s title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Schulman, Hudson, Restler, and others. The law forces DOT to publish monthly and annual data on bike and micromobility use, plus crash and safety project details. The city must show where riders go, where danger lurks, and what it does to fix it. The mayor returned the bill unsigned, but it stands.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-04-11

Two SUVs collided on Belt Parkway at 2:05 a.m. One driver suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cite unsafe speed as the cause. Both vehicles struck on their right side doors, revealing a violent side impact on a high-speed road.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 2:05 a.m. Two station wagons/SUVs traveling west collided, both sustaining damage to their right front quarter panels and right side doors. The driver of one SUV, a 56-year-old male occupant, was injured with back pain and whiplash but was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report explicitly cites "Unsafe Speed" as the contributing factor to the collision. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved. The crash involved two licensed drivers operating SUVs going straight ahead. The violent side impact on the right side doors indicates a failure to control speed under conditions that led to the collision. The report does not list any victim behaviors as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716751 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

Councilman Robert Holden blasts NYC’s congestion pricing plan. He warns the Upper West Side is turning into a commuter parking lot. Critics say the $15 toll will push traffic and pollution into outer neighborhoods. Residents and officials voice anger and frustration.

""In our effort to reduce congestion in the central business district, we’re going to allow increased congestion in our neighborhoods, in our communities?"" -- Khaleel Anderson

On April 6, 2024, Councilman Robert F. Holden (District 30) criticized New York City’s congestion pricing plan, which will charge drivers $15 to enter below 60th Street. The matter, titled 'NYC’s Upper West Side already becoming commuter parking lot for congestion-pricing evaders,' highlights growing concern that the plan will shift traffic and pollution to neighborhoods like the Upper West Side, Kew Gardens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. Holden said, 'You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this out: if you are going to charge people $15 to go below 60th, those people will look for alternatives.' Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, a supporter, admitted, 'It’s going to get worse once there’s a charge at 60th Street—no doubt about it.' Councilwoman Lynn Shulman backs a residential permit parking pilot to address spillover. Community leaders say residents were not consulted. No formal safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• NYC’s Upper West Side already becoming commuter parking lot for congestion-pricing evaders, nypost.com, Published 2024-04-06

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

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

A box truck, barreling at unsafe speed, struck a sedan on Nassau Expressway. The unlicensed truck driver killed a 68-year-old man. The impact left the victim’s body shattered. The parked Honda beside them never moved. The road stayed silent.

According to the police report, a 68-year-old man driving a sedan was killed when a box truck struck his vehicle on Nassau Expressway near Kennedy. The crash occurred at 5:39 a.m. The report states the truck driver was unlicensed and traveling at unsafe speed, both listed as contributing factors. The narrative describes the victim’s body as 'shattered' by the impact. The truck’s right front quarter panel struck the sedan, while a parked Honda SUV nearby remained untouched. The police report highlights 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, with no mention of any actions by the victim contributing to the crash. The focus remains on the unlicensed status of the truck driver and the excessive speed, underscoring systemic danger on city expressways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4719034 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05

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

A 64-year-old man was struck while crossing Brewer Boulevard with the signal. The driver failed to yield right-of-way, hitting the pedestrian in the face and causing a severe fracture and dislocation. The victim remained conscious after the impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Brewer Boulevard in Queens at 12:48 PM. The pedestrian, a 64-year-old male, was crossing the street at an intersection with the signal when he was struck by a vehicle traveling straight ahead. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian at the center front end. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating driver error. The pedestrian sustained a fractured and dislocated facial injury but remained conscious. No other contributing factors related to the pedestrian were noted. The driver’s failure to yield right-of-way directly led to the collision and the pedestrian’s injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4714560 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-05