Sep 26 - 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 2024-09-26

Sep 14 - Two SUVs collided on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. The driver making a left turn was injured, suffering hip and upper leg contusions. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained left-side damage in the crash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:04 AM on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. A 28-year-old female driver of a 2020 Nissan SUV was making a left turn when her vehicle's left front bumper struck the left side doors of a 2019 Honda SUV traveling straight south. The injured driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained contusions to her hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the collision. Both vehicles suffered damage primarily to their left sides. There is no indication of victim fault or contributing victim behavior in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4755593 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 12 - City Council pulled the jaywalking bill before a vote. Advocates warned new language could blame pedestrians for crashes. The bill would have let people cross mid-block, but now demands they yield to drivers. Racial bias in enforcement remains unaddressed.

On September 12, 2024, the City Council delayed action on a bill to legalize jaywalking. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, passed the Transportation Committee but was withdrawn before a full Council vote. The bill’s summary stated it would 'legalize crossing outside crosswalks and require a pedestrian education campaign.' Advocates objected to last-minute changes that would force pedestrians to yield to drivers, fearing it could criminalize those struck by cars. Narcisse highlighted 'systemic bias in how these laws are enforced.' Committee Chair Selvena Brooks-Powers said, 'There is little evidence to support the claim that criminal or civil offenses for jaywalking change pedestrian behavior or increase pedestrian safety,' and noted racial disparities in ticketing. The NYPD and DOT opposed the bill, citing safety concerns. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with advocates demanding stronger protections for pedestrians.

• Council Balks on Legalizing ‘Jaywalking’, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

Sep 11 - A deadly seven-way tangle in the Rockaways will get $25 million in upgrades. Protected bike lanes. Bigger pedestrian islands. Raised crosswalks. City officials promise change after 112 crashes since 2019. Construction starts 2027. No more waiting for blood on the asphalt.

The planned overhaul targets the chaotic intersection of Beach 35th Street, Seagirt Boulevard, Rockaway Freeway, and Beach Channel Drive. Announced September 11, 2024, the $24.8 million project includes protected bike lanes, expanded sidewalks, and safer crossings. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards pledged $500,000, saying, "We're not waiting until someone loses their life to take action." Since 2019, 112 crashes have injured 54 people here—five of them pedestrians. The intersection currently favors cars, forcing pedestrians on long detours. The redesign will dead-end Beach 35th Street, add raised bike lanes, and expand pedestrian space. Final design is due next year, with construction set for 2027 and completion by 2029. The project includes a $2.6 million federal grant and is tied to Edgemere sewer upgrades.

• Chaotic Rockaways Intersection to Get Bike and Pedestrian Upgrades in 2027, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-11

Sep 10 - A motorcycle driver was ejected and injured after defective brakes caused a crash on Mott Avenue in Queens. The rider, wearing a helmet, suffered abrasions and abdominal-pelvic injuries. The vehicle's undercarriage was damaged in the impact.

According to the police report, a 31-year-old male motorcycle driver was injured and ejected due to defective brakes while traveling northwest on Mott Avenue in Queens at 11:59. The report states the primary contributing factor was 'Brakes Defective,' which led to the crash. The driver, who was wearing a helmet, sustained abrasions and injuries to the abdomen and pelvis. The motorcycle's undercarriage was damaged at the point of impact. The driver was licensed in New York and was going straight ahead before the crash. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were cited in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4754813 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 10 - 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

Sep 3 - A Ford pickup slammed into a parked SUV on Beach 19th. The woman inside, forty-five, died in her seat. Police cite driver distraction. The truck showed no damage. The road stayed quiet, but the toll was final.

According to the police report, a Ford pickup truck struck a parked SUV near 233 Beach 19th Street in Queens at 3:45 p.m. The SUV's occupant, a 45-year-old woman, was killed in the crash. The report states, 'A Ford pickup struck a parked SUV. The woman inside, 45, wore no seatbelt. She died there, still in her seat.' Police list 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor in the collision. The pickup truck showed no damage, while the SUV was struck on the left rear quarter panel. The woman was not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The deadly impact underscores the consequences of driver distraction on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4753464 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Sep 3 - 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

Aug 27 - 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

Aug 23 - A male pedestrian crossing Cornaga Avenue in a marked crosswalk was struck by a westbound SUV. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, resulting in a contusion to the pedestrian’s elbow and lower arm. The pedestrian remained conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a male pedestrian was injured while crossing Cornaga Avenue at a marked crosswalk without a signal. The collision occurred at 1:59 PM in Queens. The vehicle involved was a 2019 Toyota SUV traveling westbound, driven by a licensed male driver. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The point of impact was the center front end of the SUV, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and bruising to the elbow and lower arm but remained conscious. No pedestrian behaviors were cited as contributing factors. This incident highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in areas with pedestrian crossings.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 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

Aug 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

Aug 13 - An SUV making a left turn on red collided with a sedan traveling straight on Seagirt Boulevard in Queens. The sedan’s front passenger, a 33-year-old woman, suffered back injuries and whiplash. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage on impact.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 8:40 PM on Seagirt Boulevard in Queens. The SUV driver was making a left turn on red when the collision happened. The sedan was traveling straight ahead when struck. The front passenger of the sedan, a 33-year-old woman, was injured with back trauma and whiplash, remaining conscious and not ejected. The report cites 'Other Vehicular' factors contributing to the crash, highlighting the SUV driver's error in turning on red. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front bumpers, indicating a direct impact. No victim behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The report emphasizes driver error as the cause, with no blame placed on the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747770 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 9 - Two passengers suffered neck injuries in a rear-end crash on Beach 13 Street in Queens. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts. The SUV struck the sedan from behind while traveling westbound, causing whiplash but no vehicle damage.

According to the police report, at 3:55 PM on Beach 13 Street in Queens, a 2019 SUV traveling westbound struck the rear of a stopped 2004 sedan also heading west. The impact was to the center front end of the SUV and the center back end of the sedan. The sedan carried two male occupants, aged 44 and 18, both passengers wearing lap belts. Both suffered neck injuries described as whiplash and were conscious after the crash. The report lists no specific contributing factors or driver errors, but the collision dynamics indicate a failure to maintain safe distance or attention by the SUV driver. Neither vehicle sustained damage. The report does not attribute any fault or contributing factors to the passengers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4746745 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 9 - 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

Aug 4 - A northbound SUV making a left turn struck a northbound sedan on Central Avenue. The sedan driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered neck injuries. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 17:35 on Central Avenue when a northbound station wagon/SUV was making a left turn and collided with a northbound sedan traveling straight ahead. The point of impact was the left front bumper of the sedan and the right front bumper of the SUV. The sedan driver, a 27-year-old male occupant, was injured with neck trauma and reported internal complaints but was conscious and not ejected. The police report identifies 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor, indicating the SUV driver did not yield to the sedan. No other contributing factors were specified. The vehicles involved sustained damage to their front quarter panels. The incident highlights driver error in yielding during turning maneuvers.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4745872 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 31 - A 79-year-old man crossing Dix Avenue was struck by a backing SUV. The vehicle hit him with its left rear bumper, causing contusions and arm injuries. Driver inattention and unsafe backing led to the collision at a Queens intersection.

According to the police report, a 79-year-old male pedestrian was injured while crossing Dix Avenue at an intersection in Queens. The crash occurred at 12:35 PM when a 2014 Kia SUV, traveling southwest, was backing up and struck the pedestrian with its left rear bumper. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand but remained conscious. The vehicle sustained damage to its center back end. The driver was licensed and the sole occupant of the SUV. The collision highlights the dangers posed by driver errors during vehicle backing maneuvers in areas with pedestrian activity.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744383 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 30 - A drug-impaired driver struck a parked sedan in Queens. The collision damaged both vehicles and left the driver injured and incoherent. Police identified illegal drug use as a key factor in the crash, highlighting the dangers of impaired driving.

According to the police report, at 11:42 AM in Queens, a 25-year-old male driver was operating a 2004 Mazda sedan westbound when he collided with a parked 2019 Kia sedan on Collier Avenue. The point of impact was the Mazda's right front bumper against the Kia's left rear quarter panel, causing damage to both vehicles. The driver, who was the sole occupant, was injured and incoherent at the scene. The report explicitly cites illegal drug use as the contributing factor to the crash, listing 'Drugs (illegal)' twice under contributing factors. This impairment led to the failure to maintain control and resulted in the collision with the parked vehicle. No other driver errors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744664 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 24 - 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

Jul 22 - 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