Bay Street bleeds: four deaths, hundreds hurt, and the clock keeps going

Dec 27 - Two men suffered whiplash injuries in a Staten Island crash involving two sedans. The impact struck the left front bumpers as both vehicles traveled straight. Unsafe speed by one driver contributed to the violent collision and injuries.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Tompkins Avenue in Staten Island at midnight. Both vehicles were traveling straight ahead when the collision occurred at their left front bumpers. The driver of one sedan, an 18-year-old male, was cited for unsafe speed, a key contributing factor to the crash. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and sustained whiplash injuries. A 44-year-old male passenger in the other sedan also suffered whiplash and a head injury. Neither occupant was ejected from their vehicles. The report lists no contributing factors related to the victims. The crash demonstrates the dangers posed by excessive speed in multi-vehicle collisions, resulting in serious injuries to vehicle occupants.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4782492 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Dec 23 - 2024 saw bold moves and setbacks for street safety. Congestion pricing staggered forward. Pedestrian braking tech became law. Atlanta banned right-on-red. Cities poured millions into transit. Yet, the death toll from cars barely budged. Streets remain dangerous. The fight continues.

This is a year-in-review, not a single bill, but it covers major 2024 policy actions. Streetsblog’s December 23, 2024 recap highlights the struggle to end car carnage. The piece notes, 'America's first-ever congestion pricing program had been paused at the 11th hour... brought back in November, though in a sadly diminished form.' USDOT approved a rule for automatic pedestrian emergency braking in new cars. Atlanta passed a right-on-red ban. St. Louis invested $300 million in sustainable transport. Canadian leaders pushed for high car registration fees to fund transit. No single council member is named; instead, the review tracks national and local leaders’ actions. The article underscores that, despite new laws and investments, systemic danger remains. Streetsblog’s coverage centers the ongoing risks to pedestrians and cyclists, showing that progress is slow and incomplete.

• Streetsblog Year in Review: The Biggest Sustainable Transport News of 2024, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-23

Dec 18 - MTA greenlights $1.27 billion for new subway cars. Fares will jump to $3 per ride. Council Member Holden calls the hikes and congestion tolls a scam. Riders face higher costs as the agency touts safety and reliability. Critics see waste, not progress.

On December 18, 2024, the MTA approved a $1.27 billion purchase of 435 new subway cars and a fare hike to $3 per ride. The move comes weeks before new congestion tolls hit Manhattan. The matter, titled 'MTA plans fare hike as it OKs $1.27B train car purchase weeks before new congestion toll: ‘Keep the grift alive’,' drew fire from Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30), who called the fare and toll hikes a 'scam' and accused the MTA of mismanagement. Holden’s comments echo broader council criticism of the MTA’s spending and question the effectiveness of congestion pricing. MTA officials defend the investment, citing improved reliability and safety with the new R211 cars. No independent safety analyst has assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The bill’s status is an approved agency action, not a council vote.

• MTA plans fare hike as it OKs $1.27B train car purchase weeks before new congestion toll: ‘Keep the grift alive’, nypost.com, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 18 - Governor Hochul offered New Jersey over $100 million to settle the congestion pricing lawsuit. Governor Murphy rejected the deal. Transit riders face higher fares and unreliable service. The legal fight drags on. Streets stay dangerous. Cars keep winning.

On December 18, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New Jersey rejected a 'very generous' settlement offer to end its lawsuit against New York’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, reported by Streetsblog NYC, centers on New York’s offer of over $100 million for New Jersey Transit, potentially as an annual payment from congestion toll revenue. Hochul said, 'We've made multiple offers to settle this lawsuit. Very generous offers.' New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy refused, risking further strain on NJ Transit, which recently raised fares 15 percent. Riders Alliance’s Betsy Plum called Murphy’s stance 'a stubbornness tax' paid by transit riders. Environmental advocates criticized Murphy for blocking improvements to public transportation. The congestion pricing program, set to be the nation’s first, remains tied up in court. No safety analyst has formally assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• NJ Refusing ‘Generous’ Congestion Pricing Lawsuit $ettlement, Hochul Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 18 - MTA unveiled its final Queens bus overhaul. Seventeen new routes, more frequent service, but cuts on 29 lines. Rush routes aim to speed riders to trains. Public feedback starts January. MTA Board votes in winter. Rollout set for summer 2025.

The MTA announced its final Queens bus network redesign on December 18, 2024. The plan, now entering its last public feedback phase, will be reviewed by the MTA Board in early winter 2025 and implemented by late summer. The proposal includes over $30 million in new funding, 17 new local routes, and increased frequency for 17 lines, but also service reductions on 29 routes. The main highlight is the introduction of 'rush' routes to connect riders to rail faster. MTA Chair Janno Lieber said, 'Every change to a route has an impact on the schedule... and we did it.' Queens Borough President Donovan Richards voiced support, stating, 'I'm ready. We're ready.' The process began in 2019 and was shaped by extensive community input. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• The Queens Bus Redesign Is Finished. Probably, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

Dec 16 - Gov. Hochul hid her public schedule for months when she killed congestion pricing. Repeated records requests hit a wall. Advocates and legal experts say the secrecy blocks vital scrutiny. New Yorkers are left in the dark as drivers keep clogging city streets.

On December 16, 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office refused to release her daily schedule for April, May, and June—the months when she halted congestion pricing. Streetsblog filed two Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests (R001199-062024 and R001389-102924), both denied or delayed without reason. The matter centers on the governor's decision to 'pause congestion pricing,' a move that impacts every New Yorker who walks, bikes, or rides transit. Heather Murray of Cornell Law School called the delay 'unconscionable,' saying, 'Delaying release of these records for six months is tantamount to denial of the request and violates the Freedom of Information Law.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance urged Hochul to 'level with New Yorkers.' The governor's secrecy shields her from accountability as city streets remain dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Gov. Hochul Won’t Reveal Public Schedule For Period When She Flopped on Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-16

Dec 16 - A Staten Island cop drove drunk from a precinct party. Her car hit another, airbags burst, blood spilled. Three fellow officers rode with her. All face discipline. Two more NYPD drunk-driving arrests followed. System failed. Streets paid.

NY Daily News (2024-12-16) reports that NYPD Officer Diana Todaro was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing her car with three colleagues as passengers. The crash happened at Huguenot Ave. and Drumgoole Ave. West, Staten Island, after a precinct holiday party. Todaro admitted, "I had three or four drinks. My life is over." The impact triggered airbags and left her with a forehead gash. All three passengers, also officers, were placed on desk duty and may face charges for allowing Todaro to drive or being unfit for duty. The article notes this was one of three NYPD DWI arrests in four days, highlighting a pattern during holiday party season. The incident raises questions about internal discipline and the risks posed by impaired driving, even among law enforcement.

• NYPD Officers Crash After Holiday Party, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-16

Dec 13 - The Hudson River Greenway uptown reopens next week after months of sinkhole repairs. The fix is temporary. Cyclists and pedestrians face the same dangers. Advocates demand a highway lane for bikes. The city delays. The threat remains. Lives hang in the balance.

On December 13, 2024, officials announced the reopening of the Hudson River Greenway between W. 181st and Dyckman streets after months of repairs. The Parks Department said, 'While durable repairs have been made, efforts are ongoing to address underlying challenges and create a stronger, safer greenway for New Yorkers.' The path, north of the George Washington Bridge, has collapsed twice in two years. Advocates like Allegra LeGrande and Ira Gershenhorn, along with former Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz, urge the city to convert a Henry Hudson Parkway lane into a protected bike path. They call this 'low-hanging fruit.' Instead, the city has forced cyclists onto dangerous, unprotected detours. The city’s refusal to provide a safe, direct route exposes vulnerable road users to ongoing harm. No council bill number applies; this is an urgent matter of infrastructure and safety, not legislation.

• Patch Job: Hudson River Greenway Uptown Returns Next Week, For Now, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-13

Dec 10 - A sedan struck a 17-year-old girl on Gordon Street. She suffered head injuries. The car hit her with its right front bumper. No driver errors listed. The street offered no crosswalk or signal.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling north on Gordon Street in Staten Island struck a 17-year-old female pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk or signal. The impact came from the vehicle’s right front bumper, damaging the right front quarter panel. The pedestrian sustained a head contusion and was conscious at the scene. The driver, a licensed male, was going straight ahead. The police report lists all contributing factors as unspecified. No driver errors or victim behaviors are cited. The crash happened away from an intersection, underscoring the risks faced by pedestrians where there are no crosswalks or signals.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777896 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Dec 10 - Council Member Paladino’s bid to ban e-bikes from city parks failed at Manhattan Community Board 2. Members called the bill vague, redundant, and unenforceable. Even e-bike skeptics dismissed it. The board demanded real solutions, not empty gestures or propaganda.

Bill number not specified. On December 10, 2024, Manhattan Community Board 2’s transportation and parks committees reviewed Council Member Vickie Paladino’s proposal to ban e-bikes from city parks. The committees voted overwhelmingly against it. The matter, described as an effort to 'make it more harmonious and safer for people in parks,' was criticized as 'not fleshed out.' Paladino, a Queens Republican, failed to provide data or address existing rules. Co-sponsor Gale Brewer admitted she signed on under pressure and doubted enforcement. Committee members Shirley Secunda, Susanna Aaron, Janet Liff, and Jeannine Kiely all voiced strong opposition, calling the bill redundant and inadequate. The Central Park Conservancy declined to endorse a ban, urging more protected bike lanes instead. The board found the proposal did nothing for safety and ignored systemic issues.

• ‘Not Fleshed Out’: Paladino’s E-Bike Ban Falls Flat at Manhattan Civic Panel, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-10

Dec 9 - A distracted driver failed to yield right-of-way, crashing into another vehicle on Van Duzer Street. The sedan driver suffered chest injuries and shock. Both vehicles sustained front-end damage in this Staten Island crash during evening hours.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Van Duzer Street in Staten Island at 17:32. The 57-year-old female driver of a 2023 Hyundai sedan was injured, sustaining chest trauma and shock. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors attributed to the sedan driver. The collision involved a 2011 Nissan SUV traveling north, which struck the sedan's right front quarter panel with its right front bumper. The sedan driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. Both vehicles sustained damage to their right front areas. The report highlights driver errors—specifically inattention and failure to yield—as the cause, with no contributing victim behaviors noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777681 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Dec 9 - A 75-year-old woman broke both arms tripping over Christmas trees dumped on a sidewalk. Video shows others stumbling too. A jury awarded her $1.1 million. The article slams sidewalk dumping, calls for strict enforcement, and demands clear paths for pedestrians.

On December 9, 2024, Streetsblog NYC published a media advocacy piece on sidewalk obstruction and pedestrian safety. The article recounts the case of Barbara Hutson, who suffered two broken arms after tripping over Christmas trees left on a Manhattan sidewalk by Regis High School and a neighboring coop. The article states: 'This would not have happened if Regis and the coop had not left the trees to occupy 70 percent of the sidewalk width,' quoting Hutson’s lawyer, Adam White. Hutson sued and won a $1.1 million jury verdict. The piece highlights city code requiring a clear pedestrian passage and criticizes the city’s lax enforcement. The article urges residents and government to keep sidewalks clear, placing discarded trees in the curbside lane, not where people walk. No council bill was involved, but the advocacy centers the danger to pedestrians and the need for systemic change.

• Cycle of Rage: Here’s Why Your Dead Christmas Tree Should Be in the Road, Not on the Sidewalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-09

Dec 4 - DOT built just 5.3 miles of new bus lanes in 2024. The law demands 30. Commissioner Rodriguez called it a great job. Critics slammed the city for falling short. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On December 4, 2024, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the agency’s bus lane record before critics. The Streets Master Plan requires 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles—just 17 percent of the legal mandate. Rodriguez claimed, “We are doing a great job,” citing national comparisons and blaming delays on community board processes and local opposition, especially around the 96th Street project. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie condemned the city’s self-praise and legal failure. The matter title reads: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement. Several projects are planned for 2025, but completion is uncertain. The city’s slow pace leaves bus riders and other vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous, congested streets.

• DOT Commish: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

Nov 26 - A bus backing unsafely hit a parked station wagon on Staten Island. A 12-year-old passenger in the SUV suffered a head injury and whiplash. The impact was on the left front bumper of the SUV and the right rear bumper of the bus.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Waverly Place near Van Duzer Street in Staten Island at 10:30 AM. The bus was backing when it struck a parked 2023 Chevrolet SUV. The point of impact was the bus's right rear bumper and the SUV's left front bumper. The report cites 'Backing Unsafely' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error on the bus operator's part. A 12-year-old female occupant in the rear of the SUV was injured, sustaining a head injury and whiplash. She was conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. The bus had four occupants and a licensed female driver from New York. The SUV was unoccupied at the time of impact except for the injured passenger.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4774849 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Nov 20 - Council moves to gut parking reforms in City of Yes. Car-centric districts win. Fewer homes, more cars, less safety. The plan shrinks. Streets stay dangerous. The promise of safer, denser neighborhoods slips away in committee rooms.

Bill: City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. Status: Awaiting City Council committee vote as of November 20, 2024. The proposal, described as 'a zoning initiative aiming to eliminate costly parking mandates citywide,' faces heavy opposition from council members in low-density, car-dependent districts. Progressive members like Lincoln Restler, Carlina Rivera, Tiffany Cabán, and Shahana Hanif support full removal of parking mandates. But the Council is set to weaken the bill, keeping parking minimums in many areas. This move will slash the number of new housing units and keep dangerous car volumes on city streets. Experts warn that keeping parking mandates will limit housing growth and keep neighborhoods unsafe for those outside cars. The compromise falls short of the original vision for safer, more walkable streets.

• Council Likely To Weaken Mayor’s ‘City Of Yes’ Pro-Housing Zoning Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-20

Nov 18 - City data shows open streets thrive. Storefronts fill up. Pedestrians and cyclists bring life and cash. Cars do not. Vacancy rates drop where traffic is banned. Volunteers keep these corridors alive, but city support lags behind their success.

On November 18, 2024, the Department of City Planning released a report titled 'Storefront Activity in NYC Neighborhoods.' The analysis, covered by Streetsblog NYC, finds that open streets—car-free corridors—have about half the vacant storefronts of car-filled streets. The report states: 'vibrant public spaces are key to the success of local businesses.' City officials like Ya-Ting Liu, chief public realm officer, and volunteers such as Alex Morano and Brent Bovenzi, praised the program's impact. Bovenzi noted, 'the program is shrinking because too much of the burden falls upon volunteer labor.' The Open Streets program, now permanent, covers over 130 locations but relies heavily on volunteers. Advocates urge the city to invest more, as the data shows people-centric design drives economic recovery and safer, more vibrant neighborhoods.

• Car-Free Streets are Good For Business, Yet Another Report Shows, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-18

Nov 18 - City Council passed a bill to clean up battered newsracks. Erik Bottcher led the charge. The law forces owners to post contact info and lets DOT set strict standards. The goal: clear sidewalks, fewer obstacles, safer passage for all.

On November 18, 2024, the City Council approved a bill regulating sidewalk newsracks. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Erik Bottcher (District 3), passed through committee and aims to address neglected, broken, and obstructive newspaper boxes. The bill summary states it will 'establish clear guidelines and help ensure that our local publications get to maintain their newsracks while also helping to alleviate sidewalk congestion.' Bottcher’s action brings new requirements: owners must display contact information, and the Department of Transportation gains authority to set size, shape, and material standards. Sandra Ung, another council member, noted that without oversight, newsracks become a blight. The law seeks to reduce sidewalk clutter, making streets less hazardous for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

• ‘Ugly’ NYC sidewalk newspaper boxes will get much-needed makeover under new City Council bill, nypost.com, Published 2024-11-18

Nov 14 - Jessica Scarcella-Spanton led Staten Island and Brooklyn politicians in a rally against congestion pricing. They gathered at the Verrazano Bridge, denouncing the plan as a burden on working-class commuters. The coalition promised fierce resistance, demanding the governor keep the program paused.

On November 14, 2024, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (District 23) led a bipartisan rally against the revival of congestion pricing. The event, held at the Verrazano Bridge, included U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Council Member Joe Borelli, and others. The group opposed Governor Hochul's plan to re-implement congestion pricing, which would charge vehicles entering lower Manhattan. The rally's matter title: 'Staten Island, Brooklyn pols rally against congestion pricing as Hochul considers reviving program.' Scarcella-Spanton pledged to 'fight tooth and nail until congestion pricing is dead.' Brooklyn Assembly Member Jaime Williams and others condemned the plan as unfair to transit deserts and working-class communities. No safety analyst assessment was provided regarding the impact on vulnerable road users.

• Staten Island, Brooklyn pols rally against congestion pricing as Hochul considers reviving program, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-11-14

Nov 13 - Council bill targets shuttered schools. Annual study flags closed sites. Speed cameras pulled from dead zones. Streets lose watchful eyes. Vulnerable walkers and riders left exposed.

Int 1106-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, by Council Members Chris Banks (primary), Kamillah Hanks, Frank Morano, and David M. Carr. The bill orders the city to study which schools have closed each year and to remove speed cameras from those erased school zones. The matter title reads: 'Annual study to identify non-operational schools and the subsequent removal of speed cameras from eliminated school speed zones.' If passed, the law would strip cameras from streets where schools once stood, erasing a layer of protection for people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1106-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Nov 9 - A sedan traveling south on Broad Street struck a 24-year-old male driver in Staten Island. The driver, uninjured but in shock, was not wearing safety equipment. The vehicle impacted with its left front bumper after being parked prior to the crash.

According to the police report, a 24-year-old male driver was involved in a crash on Broad Street, Staten Island, at 14:45. The vehicle involved was a 2008 Toyota sedan traveling south. The sedan had been parked before the crash and struck the driver with its left front bumper. The driver was not ejected and suffered unspecified injuries, with an injury severity rating of 3 and was reported to be in shock. The driver was not using any safety equipment at the time. The report does not list any contributing driver errors or victim behaviors as factors in the crash. The impact and resulting shock highlight the dangers posed by vehicle movements even from parked positions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770727 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17