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

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-10

A woman stepped down from a car on 147th Road. An SUV tore into her right leg. Flesh ripped. She stayed conscious. The driver sped off, leaving blood and silence behind.

According to the police report, a 30-year-old woman was injured on 147th Road near 235th Street in Queens when she exited a vehicle and was struck by a 2023 Toyota SUV. The report states the SUV hit her right leg, causing severe lacerations, but she remained conscious at the scene. The driver did not stop after the impact. The police report explicitly lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor for the crash. The vehicle sustained no damage and continued eastbound, according to the report. The victim was not at an intersection and was getting on or off a vehicle at the time. The focus remains on the driver's failure to yield, as cited by police.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4757610 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A motorcyclist suffered back abrasions and partial ejection in a Queens crash. The collision involved improper lane usage by the motorbike driver. Both vehicles traveled south on 150 Street when impact occurred at the left front bumper of the motorcycle.

According to the police report, a crash occurred on 150 Street in Queens involving a 2024 motorbike and a 2017 SUV, both traveling south. The motorbike driver, a 26-year-old male, was partially ejected and sustained back abrasions, classified as injury severity level 3. The report cites 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as the contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating driver error by the motorcyclist. The motorbike driver was unlicensed and not using any safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and had no cited violations. Impact occurred at the left front bumper of the motorbike and the center front end of the SUV. The collision highlights the dangers posed by improper lane usage and unlicensed operation in Queens traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4758934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Parking mandates choke streets, raise rents, and trap New Yorkers in car dependence. Council Member Marmorato and Borough President Richards defend these rules, blocking safer, more vibrant neighborhoods. Ending mandates means more housing, cleaner air, and safer streets for people, not cars.

This opinion, published September 3, 2024, in Streetsblog NYC, calls out Council Member Kristy Marmorato and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for defending parking mandates. Richards opposes lifting mandates in Queens, citing poor transit. Marmorato lobbied to restore mandates in a Bronx rezoning near new Metro North stations, arguing, 'We live in a transit desert where cars are a necessity for daily activities.' The editorial rebukes this logic, stating, 'We should not cling to parking mandates when we know they encourage car ownership, make streets less vibrant, increase rents, and pollute our air.' The piece urges officials to break the cycle of car-first policy, invest in transit, and end mandates that block affordable housing and safer streets. No safety analyst assessment was provided, but the editorial centers the harm parking mandates inflict on vulnerable road users and the city’s livability.

• Opinion: It’s Time to Say ‘No’ to Car Drivers and ‘Yes’ to Ending Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-03

A 16-year-old unlicensed moped driver was ejected and injured after crashing while making a right turn at unsafe speed. The impact struck the left side doors, causing abrasions and lower leg injuries. The driver was conscious but hurt.

According to the police report, a 16-year-old male moped driver, unlicensed and traveling west on 147 Avenue, was making a right turn when the crash occurred at 2:41 AM. The vehicle impacted the left side doors, resulting in the driver being ejected from the moped. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash. The driver sustained abrasions and injuries to the knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity level of 3. The driver was conscious at the scene but was not wearing any safety equipment. No other vehicles or pedestrians were involved. The crash highlights the dangers of unlicensed operation and excessive speed on mopeds.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754419 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on Southern Parkway. Four men suffered neck injuries. Police cite driver inattention and inexperience. Metal twisted. Whiplash complaints. All stayed conscious. The road did not forgive mistakes.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle crash struck Southern Parkway in Queens at 16:45. Two sedans collided, leaving four men, ages 17 to 80, with neck injuries and whiplash. All were conscious and wore lap belts. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Driver Inexperience' as primary causes. One driver held only a permit. Impact points hit rear and front ends, showing a chain reaction. No one was ejected. The police report underscores how distraction and inexperience behind the wheel led to injury and chaos on the road.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4751602 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Queens Borough President Richards backs Adams’s housing plan but blocks citywide parking reform. He wants parking mandates gone in dense, transit-rich hubs but kept in car-dependent outer Queens. The split stance leaves vulnerable road users exposed in sprawling, car-heavy neighborhoods.

On August 27, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a statement on Mayor Adams’s ‘City of Yes’ zoning proposal. Richards supports removing parking mandates in high-density, transit-rich areas—like downtown Jamaica, Flushing, and Long Island City—saying, “Parking mandates in major transit hubs... should be eliminated, in order to increase housing opportunities there.” But he opposes ending parking mandates citywide, insisting they remain in low-density, outer transit-oriented development areas (OTODAs) due to infrequent Long Island Rail Road service and car dependence. Richards claims, “This is the reality of living in a transit desert.” The move splits the city, keeping car-centric policies in place for much of Queens. Housing advocates and the mayor’s office argue that citywide parking reform is needed to spur housing and reduce car reliance, but Richards’s stance preserves systemic danger for vulnerable road users in sprawling neighborhoods.

• Queens BP Says ‘Yes’ to Adams Zoning Plan, But ‘No’ to Ending Costly Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-27

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: '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, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: '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, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A 2023 Lincoln SUV traveling east struck another vehicle from behind on South Conduit Avenue in Queens. Four occupants suffered neck injuries with whiplash. All were conscious and restrained by lap belts. The impact damaged the center back end of the SUV.

According to the police report, a 2023 Lincoln SUV was traveling eastbound on South Conduit Avenue when it struck the center back end of another vehicle. The SUV driver, a 35-year-old male, was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead at the time of the crash. The collision caused neck injuries and whiplash to all four occupants of the SUV, including the driver and three passengers aged 14 to 44. All occupants were conscious and wearing lap belts, and none were ejected. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not specify driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. The crash caused damage to the center back end of the SUV. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746991 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards rejects citywide parking reform. He backs lifting mandates in dense, transit-rich zones but blocks changes in car-dependent areas. Civic leaders echo him. The move keeps cars central, leaving pedestrians and cyclists exposed.

On August 9, 2024, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards issued a public statement opposing the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity rezoning as it relates to eliminating mandatory parking requirements citywide. Richards said, "You can't use the one-size-fits-all approach here. There are really parts of Queens that are transit deserts." He supports removing parking mandates only in high-density, transit-rich areas, not in low-density, car-dependent neighborhoods. Community board leaders and civic groups in Queens joined him, arguing the reform threatens their way of life. Richards's stance contrasts with Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx officials, who support ending parking minimums. The decision preserves car dominance in Queens, leaving vulnerable road users at risk and blocking safer, people-first streets.

• ‘City of No’: Queens Borough President Suddenly Joins ‘Suburban’ Crowd Demanding More Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-09

Governor Hochul’s halt on congestion pricing guts $12 billion in MTA contracts. Thousands of jobs vanish. Local companies lose out. Lawmakers in affected districts stay silent or cheer. Trains and buses face deep cuts. Riders, workers, and streets pay the price.

On July 24, 2024, Governor Hochul’s official pause on congestion pricing triggered a $12 billion loss in MTA contracts, according to a Reinvent Albany report. The move slashes funding for the 2020-24 MTA capital plan, which was to be partly paid by congestion pricing. The report highlights that many companies losing contracts are in districts represented by lawmakers who either support the pause or have stayed silent. Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick called congestion pricing 'simply another tax' and demanded repeal. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow praised the pause, saying it allows time to address 'communities' concerns.' Frank Russo, president of Ozone Park Lumber, warned, 'You can't just say, 'We're not going to buy supplies and equipment.'' Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany said, 'Congestion pricing is an economic booster.' The pause means less money for transit, fewer jobs, and more risk for vulnerable road users who rely on safe, reliable public transportation.

• Hochul’s Congestion Pricing ‘Pause’ Will Cost Area Companies Billions, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-24

A man drowned off Rockaway Beach. He is the fifth this summer. Council Member Justin Brannan and others call for more lifeguards, longer hours, and more pools. The city refuses. Drones and patrols replace real protection. Swimmers keep dying.

On July 22, 2024, after a fifth drowning at a New York City beach, Council Member Justin Brannan (District 47) joined other officials to demand urgent action. The group called for expanded lifeguard hours, more staff, and new public pools. The Adams administration rejected these measures, relying instead on NYPD drones and Parks Enforcement Patrols. The matter, described as 'Body found in fifth apparent drowning off NYC beach as pols call for more lifeguard hours,' highlights the deadly gap in city safety policy. Brannan, along with Council Member Shekar Krishnan and Borough Presidents Donovan Richards and Antonio Reynoso, urged the city to extend the beach season, increase lifeguard shifts, and offer universal swimming lessons. The city has only 870 lifeguards, far short of the 1,500 needed. Vulnerable swimmers remain at risk while officials debate. The toll mounts.

• Body found in fifth apparent drowning off NYC beach as pols call for more lifeguard hours: ‘Going to get worse’, nypost.com, Published 2024-07-22

A station wagon SUV and a sedan crashed head-on on 144 Avenue in Queens. The SUV driver suffered a head contusion but remained conscious. Police cited traffic control disregard as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, at 3:25 AM on 144 Avenue in Queens, a collision occurred involving a 2012 Ford SUV traveling east and a 2022 Mercedes sedan traveling north. Both vehicles struck each other at their center front ends. The SUV driver, a 29-year-old male, was injured with a head contusion but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt. The report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating a failure to obey traffic signals or signs by one or both drivers. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The SUV sustained center front end damage, while the sedan's left front bumper was damaged. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4742683 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on Belt Parkway at 1:00 a.m. The impact struck the center back end of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. A 41-year-old male driver suffered a neck contusion and remained conscious after the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway at 1:00 a.m. involving two sedans traveling westbound. The collision was caused by a 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle,' indicating driver error in responding to traffic conditions. The impact was at the center back end of a 2015 BMW and the center front end of a 2017 Lexus. The injured party was a 41-year-old male driver, who sustained a neck contusion and remained conscious. The report lists no contributing factors from the victim or other parties. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The crash highlights the dangers of driver reaction errors on high-speed roadways, resulting in injury without ejection or loss of consciousness.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Four occupants suffered neck, back, and head injuries in a multi-vehicle crash on Belt Parkway. Police report cites following too closely and unsafe speed as primary driver errors. All victims were conscious and restrained, with no ejections reported.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Belt Parkway around 12:59 a.m. involving multiple sedans and an SUV. The primary contributing factor was 'Following Too Closely,' with additional driver errors including 'Unsafe Speed.' Four occupants were injured: three drivers and one front-seat passenger. Injuries included whiplash to the neck and back, and a concussion to the head. All occupants were conscious and wearing lap belts and harnesses, with no ejections reported. Vehicle damage was noted on right and left side doors and bumpers, indicating side and rear impacts. The report explicitly identifies driver errors as the cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the victims. This collision highlights the dangers of tailgating and speeding on high-speed roadways.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4743076 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Queens council members slammed the City of Yes plan. They called new housing near transit a threat. They fought against ending parking mandates. Most public testimony backed the reforms. But Queens officials stood firm, defending car-centric streets and single-family homes.

On July 11, 2024, the City Council held a hearing on the City of Yes zoning reforms. The proposal aims to increase housing near transit, allow mixed-use zoning, and eliminate parking mandates. Council Members Joann Ariola and Vicki Paladino led opposition, calling the plan an 'unmitigated disaster' and disputing housing data. Ariola argued, 'That's what they bought in the suburbs for.' Other Queens officials and residents echoed fears for single-family homeowners and suburban 'character.' In contrast, Borough President Donovan Richards's spokesperson and some residents supported the reforms, citing the city's affordability crisis. The majority of public testimony favored the proposal, but entrenched opposition from Queens officials remains strong. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• ‘Suburban’ Queens Stalwarts Take Hard Line Against Housing — To Rest of City’s Detriment, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-11

Two sedans collided on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. A 14-year-old girl in the back seat was hurt. Driver inattention caused the rear-end crash. The street stayed quiet, but the impact was sharp.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling eastbound on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens collided just after midnight. One sedan struck the other at the center back end. Driver inattention and distraction are listed as the contributing factors. A 14-year-old female passenger in the right rear seat suffered facial abrasions. She was conscious, not ejected, and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Both drivers held valid licenses or permits. No other contributing factors are noted. The crash shows the danger of distraction behind the wheel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4738150 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 71-year-old man crossing North Conduit Avenue away from an intersection suffered severe leg injuries after a westbound SUV struck his right side. The pedestrian was conscious but fractured and dislocated his lower leg, knee, and foot in the impact.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old male pedestrian was crossing North Conduit Avenue outside of a crosswalk or signal when he was hit by a westbound 2018 Dodge SUV. The point of impact was the vehicle's right side doors, causing damage there. The pedestrian suffered a fracture, dislocation, and distortion to his knee, lower leg, and foot, with an injury severity rated at 3. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report lists no specific driver contributing factors, but the pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk, indicating the collision occurred outside a controlled crossing. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face when crossing mid-block and the risks posed by vehicle right-side impacts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4737962 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan overturned on Belt Parkway at 4:45 AM. The 21-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited unsafe speed and fatigue as contributing factors. The driver was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle.

According to the police report, a 21-year-old male driver was involved in a crash on Belt Parkway at 4:45 AM. The vehicle, a 2006 sedan traveling eastbound, overturned after the driver was operating at an unsafe speed. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Fatigued/Drowsy' as contributing factors to the crash. The driver, who was licensed in New York, was conscious after the crash and sustained neck injuries consistent with whiplash. He was not ejected from the vehicle. The point of impact and vehicle damage were both described as 'Overturned.' The report does not indicate any pedestrian or cyclist involvement or victim behaviors contributing to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4736814 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04