Rosedale Bleeds While Leaders Hide: Demand Safe Streets Now

A sedan struck the rear of a pickup truck while both made right turns on Laurelton Parkway. Two women in the sedan suffered head injuries and whiplash. The sedan’s defective brakes contributed to the crash. Both occupants were conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old female driver and a 21-year-old female front passenger in a 2020 Jeep sedan were injured when the sedan rear-ended a 2017 Toyota pickup truck on Laurelton Parkway. Both vehicles were traveling northeast and making right turns. The sedan’s driver suffered head injuries and whiplash, as did the passenger. Both occupants were conscious and wearing lap belts. The report lists "Brakes Defective" as a contributing factor for the sedan driver. The pickup truck had one male occupant who was not injured. The impact was at the center front end of the sedan and the center back end of the pickup truck.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4554002 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Fifteen Queens officials urge state and city to fund a study for QueensLink. They want trains running where weeds grow. They reject inflated costs. They say transit equity matters. They press for action, not delay. Riders wait. Streets stay dangerous.

On August 5, 2022, fifteen elected officials and two community board chairs from Queens signed a letter demanding Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams fund an environmental impact study (EIS) for the QueensLink subway expansion. The proposal, discussed in the City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, seeks to restore service on the abandoned LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch, connecting Rego Park and Ozone Park. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, committee chair, emphasized, 'Transportation equity is a major issue in our city that must be confronted.' The letter criticizes the MTA’s previous cost estimates and compares QueensLink’s need to the state-backed Interborough Express. Supporters argue that if the state can spend $1 billion widening the Van Wyck Expressway, it can fund a study for transit. The EIS would include community engagement to address local concerns. The push is clear: more transit, fewer cars, safer streets for all.

• A Dozen-Plus Electeds Back QueensLink Subway Expansion, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-05

A new crosswalk and four-way stop sign now stand at Surf Avenue and West 37th Street. Years of community pressure forced action. The intersection, deadly for seniors and pedestrians, finally gets protection. Council and DOT responded. Locals, especially elders, celebrate the change.

On July 26, 2022, Councilmember Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Transportation Chair, joined Councilmember Ari Kagan and DOT officials at Surf Avenue and West 37th Street. The matter: 'Surf Avenue gets new crosswalk and four-way stop sign, creating a safer intersection for seniors.' Kagan’s office led the push, with Brooks-Powers elevating the issue. Kagan said, 'It was one of the most dangerous intersections in Coney Island, not just for pedestrians but for drivers as well.' The crossing serves the Scheuer House senior facility. Community Board 13 and local groups demanded action. Brooks-Powers praised the advocacy: 'Now, your residents will be able to cross the street safely!' The intersection, once life-threatening, now offers basic protection for the city’s most vulnerable.

• Surf Avenue gets new crosswalk and four-way stop sign, creating a safer intersection for seniors, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2022-07-26

Two sedans crashed on Hook Creek Boulevard in Queens. The driver and front passenger of one vehicle suffered head and leg injuries. The crash involved a left turn and a vehicle going straight. Both occupants were conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Hook Creek Boulevard in Queens. One driver was making a left turn while the other vehicle was traveling straight. The point of impact was the left front quarter panel of the turning vehicle and the left front bumper of the other. The driver of the turning vehicle suffered a head injury and concussion, while the front passenger sustained abrasions to the knee and lower leg. Both occupants were conscious and not ejected. The report lists "Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle" as a contributing factor, indicating driver error related to responding to other traffic. No other driver errors or victim factors were specified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4548970 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 20-year-old male driver suffered head injuries and whiplash in a crash involving multiple sedans on 243 Street. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. Police cited driver inattention as a contributing factor.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on 243 Street involving several sedans. The injured party was a 20-year-old male driver who sustained head injuries and whiplash but was not ejected from the vehicle. He was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time. The report lists driver inattention and distraction as the primary contributing factors to the crash. Multiple vehicles were involved, with damage noted on the center back and front ends of the sedans. No other injuries or victims are reported. The driver was conscious throughout the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4547521 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Two Queens council members want the city to scrap Jamaica’s busways. They say bus lanes hurt drivers and businesses. Riders say commutes barely improved. DOT stands firm. The fight pits car convenience against safer, faster transit for thousands.

On July 18, 2022, Council Members Nantasha Williams and Selvena Brooks-Powers opposed the city’s pilot busways on Archer and Jamaica avenues. The Department of Transportation (DOT) launched the one-year, 24/7 busway pilot to speed up commutes for over 250,000 daily bus riders. Williams called her district a 'car community' and argued, 'there's only one metric of success for the bus lane and not looking comprehensively at how it's actually impacting the community.' Brooks-Powers claimed, 'People cannot access our local businesses.' Both members urged the city to end or shorten the pilot, citing business and driver complaints. DOT and transit advocates countered that bus speeds improved. The DOT plans to continue the pilot and survey businesses and riders at its end. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Two Queens Pols Want City to Eliminate the Jamaica Busways, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-18

Two Queens council members want the city to scrap Jamaica’s busways. They say bus lanes hurt drivers and businesses. Riders say commutes barely improved. DOT stands firm. The fight pits car convenience against safer, faster transit for thousands.

On July 18, 2022, Council Members Nantasha Williams and Selvena Brooks-Powers opposed the city’s pilot busways on Archer and Jamaica avenues. The Department of Transportation (DOT) launched the one-year, 24/7 busway pilot to speed up commutes for over 250,000 daily bus riders. Williams called her district a 'car community' and argued, 'there's only one metric of success for the bus lane and not looking comprehensively at how it's actually impacting the community.' Brooks-Powers claimed, 'People cannot access our local businesses.' Both members urged the city to end or shorten the pilot, citing business and driver complaints. DOT and transit advocates countered that bus speeds improved. The DOT plans to continue the pilot and survey businesses and riders at its end. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Two Queens Pols Want City to Eliminate the Jamaica Busways, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-18

A 2022 SUV made a left turn on 245 Street in Queens and struck a parked 2007 sedan. Three female occupants in the SUV, including two children, suffered head injuries and shock. All wore lap belts. The sedan was unoccupied.

According to the police report, a 2022 SUV traveling south on 245 Street was making a left turn when it collided with a parked 2007 sedan facing north. The impact occurred at the SUV's center front end and the sedan's left front quarter panel. Three occupants in the SUV—a 49-year-old female driver, a 10-year-old female front passenger, and an 8-year-old male rear passenger—were injured with head trauma and reported pain or nausea. All were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The parked sedan had no occupants at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543493 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 21-year-old female driver was injured when a convertible and an SUV collided on Laurelton Parkway. The SUV overturned. The driver was incoherent and suffered injuries to her entire body. The crash involved improper lane usage by one vehicle.

According to the police report, the crash on Laurelton Parkway involved a convertible and a station wagon/SUV traveling southwest. The SUV overturned after impact, causing injury to its 21-year-old female driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness. The driver was incoherent and sustained injuries to her entire body. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor, indicating a driver error related to lane control. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The collision caused significant vehicle damage, with the SUV overturning and the convertible sustaining front-end damage.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544184 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

A 38-year-old woman was struck while crossing 248 Street in Queens. She suffered bruises and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The sedan involved was parked before impact. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene.

According to the police report, a 38-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing 248 Street in Queens outside a crosswalk or signal. She sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The vehicle involved was a 2010 Honda sedan, which was parked prior to the collision and was struck at its center back end. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The pedestrian was conscious and treated for moderate injuries. No helmet or signaling factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542815 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Transit groups and Queens leaders urge the MTA to fix its bus redesign. They want faster service, all-door boarding, and better outreach. They demand equity and safer conditions for drivers. The MTA has not answered. Riders wait. Danger lingers.

On June 29, 2022, a coalition of transit advocacy groups and Queens officials sent a letter to the MTA regarding the proposed Queens bus redesign. The matter, titled 'Transit Advocates to MTA: Queens Bus Redesign Needs Some Key Tweaks,' calls for five improvements: more frequent service, all-door boarding, better driver conditions, multilingual outreach, and equity transparency. Borough President Donovan Richards and groups like Riders Alliance, Straphangers Campaign, and Transportation Alternatives led the push. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance said, 'We are trying to be responsible by saying the bus design simply needs some improvements.' Advocates stress that redesigns must reduce racial inequity and expand access for marginalized communities. The MTA has not yet responded to these urgent demands.

• Transit Advocates to MTA: Queens Bus Redesign Needs Some Key Tweaks, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-29

City leaders struck a budget deal. $53 million goes to the Streets Master Plan—far less than the Council wanted. Advocates call it a step, not a leap. The mayor and speaker skipped safety talk. Streets still wait for real protection.

On June 13, 2022, the City Council and Mayor Adams reached a budget agreement, allocating $53 million in operating funds for the Department of Transportation for the fiscal year starting July 1. This is a down payment on the mayor's promised $904 million for the Streets Master Plan, but falls short of the Council's $3.1 billion ask to double the plan's targets. The plan mandates 250 miles of protected bike lanes, 150 miles of dedicated bus lanes, and new public plazas. The official matter summary notes, 'the agreement provided far less for street safety projects than the Council originally sought.' Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Adams announced the deal, but neither mentioned street safety in their press conference. Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, chair of the Transportation Committee, did not comment. Advocates praised the funding as a significant step, but stressed the need for strong implementation to protect vulnerable road users.

• THE HANDSHAKE: Budget Deal Seals Big Funding for Safety … But Much Less Than the Council Sought, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-13

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-06-02

Albany passed A 8936. Cities get more state cash if they build complete streets. Lawmakers want safer roads. The bill sailed through both chambers. Money now follows safety.

Bill A 8936, titled 'Relates to complete street design features and funding of construction and improvements at a municipalities' expense,' passed the Assembly on May 23, 2022, and the Senate on June 1, 2022. The bill boosts state funding for transportation projects when municipalities add complete street features. Assemblymember Fahy led as primary sponsor, joined by Hunter, Seawright, Woerner, and others. The Assembly and Senate both voted yes, with broad support. The law aims to push cities to design streets for everyone—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—by tying state dollars to safety upgrades.

• File A 8936, Open States, Published 2022-06-01

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-31

A southbound SUV crashed into a parked sedan on 243rd Street in Queens. The sedan’s driver lost consciousness and suffered injuries. The sedan was hit on its left front bumper, the SUV damaged on its right side doors. No ejections reported.

According to the police report, a 2018 Nissan SUV traveling south struck a parked 2018 BMW sedan on 243rd Street in Queens. The sedan’s male driver was injured and unconscious after the collision. The SUV impacted the sedan’s left front bumper with its right side doors. The report lists "Lost Consciousness" as a contributing factor but does not specify driver errors. The sedan driver was not ejected and had no visible complaints. No other contributing factors or helmet use were noted. The crash highlights the dangers posed by moving vehicles striking stationary cars and the severe injuries that can result.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4531961 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-13

Council passed Albany’s speed camera expansion. Cameras now run all day, every day. Seven members opposed. Supporters cited lives lost when cameras slept. Opponents called it a tax. The vote followed a deadly year. Danger stalks city streets, especially near schools.

On May 26, 2022, the New York City Council voted 43-7 to approve Albany’s extension and expansion of the city’s speed camera program. The measure, handled by the Transportation Committee, allows speed cameras to operate 24/7. The matter summary: 'The City Council approved Albany's extension and expansion of New York's speed camera program, allowing cameras to operate 24/7, but not before several council members voiced opposition.' Chairwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers urged action, saying, 'We must use all the tools at our disposal.' Council Members Joan Ariola, Vickie Paladino, and David Carr opposed, calling cameras a financial burden. Eric Dinowitz defended the program: 'If you don't want a speeding ticket, don't speed.' The vote came after a year of high road deaths, with special risk near schools.

• Amid Epic Crisis of Road Deaths, Some Members of the City Council Still Oppose Speed Cameras, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-26

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-25

Senate passed S 5602 to keep school zone speed cameras running longer. More eyes on reckless drivers. Lawmakers push back against speeding near kids. The vote was clear. The danger remains.

Bill S 5602, titled 'Relates to the hours of operation of a school zone speed camera demonstration program,' passed the Senate on May 25, 2022, and the Assembly on June 2, 2022. The bill extends the hours that speed cameras operate in New York City school zones. Primary sponsor: Senator Gounardes, with co-sponsors Biaggi, Cleare, Gianaris, Hoylman, Jackson, Kavanagh, Krueger, Myrie, Persaud, Ramos, Rivera, and Sepulveda. The measure saw strong support in both chambers, despite some opposition. The bill aims to keep cameras watching when children are at risk. More enforcement, more accountability. The fight for safer streets continues.

• File S 5602, Open States, Published 2022-05-25