Rockaway Bleeds While City Sleeps

A sedan traveling north struck its right rear bumper. Two male passengers, ages 25 and 38, suffered head injuries and were semiconscious. The crash occurred on Beach 69 Street. Police cited traffic control disregard as a factor.

According to the police report, a 2018 sedan with a New Jersey registration was traveling north on Beach 69 Street in Queens when it was involved in a collision. The driver, holding a New York permit license, was making a straight movement when the right rear bumper was impacted. Two male occupants, a 25-year-old front passenger and a 38-year-old right rear passenger, were injured with head trauma and were semiconscious after the crash. Both were not ejected from the vehicle. The police identified 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim factors were listed in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4558398 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers sped through Queens after vowing to slow down. Cameras caught her three times in three months. She leads the transportation committee. Seventeen tickets in eleven months. Twenty-seven Queens crash deaths this year. No comment from her.

On August 17, 2022, Councilwoman Selvena N. Brooks-Powers of District 31, chair of the City Council’s transportation committee, was reported for repeated speeding violations. The matter, titled 'Queens councilwoman hasn’t stopped speeding through NYC despite pledge to do better,' details that Brooks-Powers was caught by city speed cameras on April 24, June 23, and July 22, despite a public promise to 'do better' after 17 prior tickets in 11 months. She has praised speed cameras as vital for protecting 'motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.' Nearly all violations occurred in Queens, where 27 people died in car crashes this year as of July 31. Brooks-Powers’ record now qualifies her for the dangerous vehicle abatement program, which can mandate a safety course or impoundment. She did not respond to requests for comment.

• Queens councilwoman hasn’t stopped speeding through NYC despite pledge ‘to do better’, nypost.com, Published 2022-08-17

Turning parking into greenspace means fewer floods, safer streets. Asphalt traps water. Storms turn roads into rivers. Bioswales and trees soak up rain, protect homes, keep subways dry. The city must swap pavement for life. Action saves lives, not parking.

On August 16, 2022, the Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, discussed flood prevention. An opinion from a Transportation Alternatives staffer urged the Council to 'transform impervious driving lanes into green climate solutions.' The piece calls for bioswales and greenspace in place of parking, citing the deadly floods after Hurricane Ida. It highlights that 72 percent of city land is impervious, worsening flash floods. The author presses city leaders, including Mayor Eric Adams, to repurpose street space for climate resilience, referencing the NYC 25x25 challenge. The message is clear: 'Our streets can become the solution to climate change and flooding.' No council vote occurred, but the advocacy pushes for urgent, systemic change to protect New Yorkers from future storms.

• OPINION: Want to Prevent Flooding? Turn ‘Parking’ Into Greenspace, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-08-16

A 46-year-old woman driving a sedan suffered back injuries and whiplash after an SUV rear-ended her on Beach Channel Drive. The SUV was stopped in traffic. The sedan showed no damage. Driver distraction caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 46-year-old female driver of a 2018 sedan was injured when a 2022 SUV stopped in traffic struck her vehicle from behind on Beach Channel Drive. The sedan driver suffered back injuries and whiplash but was not ejected and remained conscious. The SUV sustained damage to its center back end, while the sedan showed no damage. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as a contributing factor. Both drivers were licensed. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and harness. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4553849 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

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

A sedan turning left on Beach Channel Drive was struck by an eastbound SUV. The sedan’s driver, a 29-year-old woman, suffered neck injuries and whiplash. Police cited failure to yield right-of-way as the cause. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female driver in a 2021 sedan was injured when her vehicle was struck by a 2018 SUV on Beach Channel Drive in Queens. The sedan was making a left turn westbound when the SUV, traveling eastbound, collided with its right front quarter panel. The driver of the sedan suffered neck injuries and whiplash but was conscious and not ejected. The report lists failure to yield right-of-way as a contributing factor. The SUV driver was going straight ahead. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front ends. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and harness at the time of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4549498 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

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

Two motorcycles tore down Beach Channel Drive. Both hit a sedan. Metal twisted. One rider, thrown, died on the street. Another ejected, hurt. The sedan driver had no license. Speed ruled the moment. Lives changed in seconds.

On Beach Channel Drive near Beach 45th Street in Queens, two motorcycles crashed into a sedan. According to the police report, both motorcycles were traveling at unsafe speed. The impact demolished both bikes. A 38-year-old man riding without a helmet was ejected and killed after his head struck the ground. Another motorcyclist, age 33, was also ejected and suffered internal injuries. The sedan driver, a 52-year-old man, was injured and complained of pain. The police report notes the sedan driver was unlicensed. The only contributing factor listed is 'Unsafe Speed.' The absence of a helmet is noted for the rider who died, but the primary cause remains unsafe speed and the presence of an unlicensed driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546808 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 12-year-old girl was struck while crossing Beach 51 Street in Queens. The driver hit her with the right front bumper, causing abrasions and injuries to her knee and lower leg. Unsafe speed was a factor in the crash.

According to the police report, a 12-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Beach 51 Street and Beach Channel Drive in Queens. She was crossing with the signal when a vehicle traveling east struck her with its right front bumper. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted. The vehicle was going straight ahead at the time of impact. The pedestrian was conscious after the collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4546156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

A 2021 SUV turning left hit a southbound sedan on Beach 69 Street in Queens. Both drivers were injured, suffering bruises and contusions. Unsafe speed and improper lane usage contributed. The front passenger in the SUV also sustained leg injuries.

According to the police report, a 2021 Subaru SUV traveling north on Beach 69 Street made a left turn and collided with a southbound sedan. The impact occurred at the right front bumpers of both vehicles. The SUV carried two occupants: a 20-year-old male driver and a 44-year-old male front passenger. Both were injured with contusions and bruises; the passenger suffered knee and lower leg injuries. The sedan had no occupants. The report lists driver errors including unsafe speed and improper passing or lane usage. Limited view also contributed to the crash. Both injured occupants wore lap belts and harnesses. No victims were ejected. The crash highlights risks from driver errors and limited visibility at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545796 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

Two SUVs crashed on Rockaway Freeway in Queens. One driver made a right turn; the other went straight. The front passenger in the turning vehicle suffered knee and lower leg abrasions. Police cited unsafe speed and traffic control disregard as causes.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided on Rockaway Freeway in Queens. One SUV was traveling straight east; the other was making a right turn eastbound. The front passenger in the turning SUV, a 68-year-old man, was injured with abrasions to his knee and lower leg. He was conscious and wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists unsafe speed and traffic control disregard as contributing factors. The impact occurred at the center front end of one vehicle and the center back end of the other. Both drivers were licensed. The crash caused significant front-end damage to both SUVs.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4543250 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

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

An e-bike rider was injured and ejected after a collision with an SUV on Beach 94 Street in Queens. The bike struck the SUV’s left front bumper. The rider suffered abrasions and leg injuries. Driver distraction and failure to yield were factors.

According to the police report, a 33-year-old male e-bike rider was injured and ejected in a crash with a 2020 Toyota SUV on Beach 94 Street, Queens. The collision occurred when the e-bike struck the SUV’s left front bumper, damaging the SUV’s center front end and the bike’s right side doors. The rider sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The e-bike rider was not wearing any safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and traveling north, while the e-bike rider was traveling east, both going straight ahead before impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540476 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

An e-bike making a right turn struck a sedan stopped in traffic on Beach 59 Street in Queens. A 6-year-old passenger in the sedan was ejected and suffered facial contusions. The e-bike driver was unlicensed. The sedan’s left front bumper was damaged.

According to the police report, an e-bike traveling north on Beach 59 Street made an improper right turn and collided with a westbound sedan stopped in traffic. The impact occurred at the sedan's left front bumper. A 6-year-old male passenger in the sedan was ejected and sustained facial contusions, classified as injury severity 3. The e-bike driver was unlicensed, and the contributing factor listed was 'Turning Improperly.' The sedan had two occupants, and the injured passenger was not using any safety equipment. The collision caused damage to the left front bumper of the sedan and the center front end of the e-bike.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4535858 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-07

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