Blood on the Asphalt, Silence in City Hall

Council Member Gale Brewer slams the MTA’s 20-Year Needs Assessment. She says it clings to old tracks and tired fixes. Expansion is missing. Integration is ignored. Brewer calls for bold, regional action. The city’s future rides on more than patchwork repairs.

On December 12, 2023, Council Member Gale A. Brewer (District 6) publicly criticized the MTA’s 20-Year Needs Assessment. The critique, titled 'Raising the Regional Bar: Why the MTA 20-Year Needs Assessment Inevitably Falls Flat,' argues the plan 'fails to accomplish its stated mission of bringing the New York region into the 21st century.' Brewer points out the assessment’s focus on maintenance over expansion, noting the lack of major projects and regional integration. She urges the MTA, NJ Transit, Amtrak, and others to cooperate for a seamless, world-class network. Brewer’s stance: the city needs more than cosmetic fixes and must aim for true transit growth. No direct safety impact assessment was provided.

• Raising the Regional Bar: Why the MTA 20-Year Needs Assessment Inevitably Falls Flat, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-12-12

Congress moves to set lithium-ion battery standards. Delivery workers still pay for safety. Sixteen dead, 253 fires this year. City backs the bill. Tech giants resist supplying safe batteries. Workers face high costs. Danger persists on city streets.

On December 11, 2023, a congressional panel advanced the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, introduced by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx). The bill, supported by the city and FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to create federal safety standards for micromobility batteries. The matter summary states the bill aims to 'protect against the risk of fires.' Torres and advocates like Ligia Guallpa of the Worker's Justice Project pushed for app-based companies to supply certified batteries, but tech giants oppose this. Kavanagh said, 'A strong federal standard for lithium-ion batteries is required to ensure public safety.' Despite new laws, the cost of safe batteries—up to $5,000—still falls on low-paid delivery workers. Sixteen people have died in 253 battery fires this year. The city passed a buyback program for faulty batteries, but it has not started. The burden remains on the most vulnerable.

• Feds One Step Closer to Requiring Safety Standards for Lithium-ion Batteries, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-12-11

The MTA board locked in congestion pricing. Drivers face a $15 toll below 60th Street. Officials warn: change one piece, the plan unravels. Lawsuits loom. Public hearings are required, but major tweaks are off the table. Vulnerable road users wait.

On December 8, 2023, the MTA board approved its congestion pricing plan. The plan, now entering a 60-day public review, sets a $15 daytime toll for drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The matter, titled 'Don’t expect changes to MTA's congestion pricing even after final public review,' underscores the board's resistance to major changes. MTA Chair Janno Lieber said, 'If you change one aspect – the whole thing starts to unravel or fall apart.' Council Member Robert F. Holden was mentioned in the discussion. The board is reconsidering tolls on school buses, but most exemptions are opposed. Lawsuits from New Jersey officials threaten delays. The plan’s fate hangs on legal and public scrutiny, but for now, the structure stands.

• Don’t expect changes to MTA's congestion pricing even after final public review, gothamist.com, Published 2023-12-08

A 67-year-old man was struck by a driverless sedan on Staten Island near 29 City Boulevard. The pedestrian suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. The vehicle was parked before the incident and showed no damage after the crash.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old male pedestrian was injured by a driverless, runaway sedan on Staten Island near 29 City Boulevard. The pedestrian was not in the roadway when the incident occurred but sustained fractures and dislocations to his knee and lower leg. The vehicle involved was a 2022 Chevrolet sedan, which was parked before the crash and showed no damage afterward. The report lists 'Driverless/Runaway Vehicle' as the primary contributing factor. No driver errors such as failure to yield or intoxication were noted. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. No safety equipment or other contributing factors were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4685133 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 42-year-old man driving a 2009 SUV on Lafayette Avenue suffered whiplash after a steering failure caused a crash. The vehicle struck an object front-center. The driver was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected.

According to the police report, a 42-year-old male driver in Staten Island experienced a steering failure while driving north on Lafayette Avenue in a 2009 SUV. The vehicle impacted an object at the center front end, causing damage and injuring the driver. The driver was restrained with a lap belt and harness and was not ejected from the vehicle. The report lists 'Steering Failure' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. No other driver errors or victim actions were noted. The driver complained of whiplash, and injury severity was recorded as moderate.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4682762 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 36-year-old woman driving a 2024 Honda sedan on Cheshire Place suffered a head contusion. The crash occurred during a right turn. Another vehicle was passing improperly. The driver was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness.

According to the police report, a 36-year-old female driver was injured in a collision on Cheshire Place, Staten Island. She was driving a 2024 Honda sedan northbound and making a right turn when the crash occurred. The driver sustained a head injury described as a contusion and was conscious at the scene. The report lists "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor, indicating the other vehicle's improper passing maneuver played a role. The driver was restrained by a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other vehicles sustained damage, and no other occupants were involved. The report does not list any contributing factors related to the injured driver.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681806 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A motorcycle struck the right side of an SUV on Saint Pauls Avenue. Two men were ejected from the motorcycle. The 17-year-old driver suffered abrasions and leg injuries. His 21-year-old passenger was unconscious with head trauma. Both were unhelmeted.

According to the police report, a 2023 Taizhou motorcycle collided with a 2021 Volkswagen SUV on Saint Pauls Avenue, Staten Island. The motorcycle driver, 17, and his 21-year-old passenger were both ejected. The driver sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The passenger suffered internal head injuries and was unconscious. The report lists 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The motorcycle driver was unlicensed and neither occupant wore safety equipment. The SUV driver was licensed and making a right turn when the motorcycle struck the vehicle's right side doors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4681108 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Portland’s council slammed the brakes on the Gorham Connector. They demand transit options get a fair shot before bulldozers roll. Critics say the highway will fuel sprawl, worsen air, and ignore climate goals. The Turnpike Authority pushes ahead. Lives hang in the balance.

On November 16, 2023, the Portland City Council unanimously passed a resolution targeting the Gorham Connector highway project. The matter, described as a call to 'stop its work on the highway until rapid transit options have been properly examined,' urges the Maine Turnpike Authority to pause construction. Council members cited climate change and Maine’s emissions goals, demanding transit and land-use reforms come first. The council’s action follows a 2012 study warning that new roads alone won’t fix traffic. Local groups like GrowSmart Maine and businesses such as Smiling Hill Farm oppose the project, fearing it will worsen sprawl and pollution. Despite council opposition and federal funding for transit studies, the Turnpike Authority continues land acquisition and environmental reviews. Vulnerable road users face increased risk if the highway moves forward without transit alternatives.

• Highway Boondoggles 2023: The Pain in Maine Falls Mainly in … Gorham, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-16

New York calls its buses rapid, but the lanes clog with cars. Riders wait. Promises break. Advocates demand real bus rapid transit: center lanes, fast boarding, tough enforcement. Without action, the city’s buses crawl. Vulnerable riders pay the price in time and danger.

This Streetsblog NYC analysis, published November 13, 2023, examines New York’s failure to deliver true Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The article, titled 'Want More Rapid Bus Transit? Build Real Bus Rapid Transit,' criticizes Mayor Adams for not following through on campaign pledges to expand bus lanes and implement full BRT. Advocates like Annie Weinstock and JP Patafio argue that dedicated center-running lanes, off-board fare collection, and strict enforcement are needed to speed up buses and protect riders. The piece notes, 'Current bus lanes, like on Utica [Avenue], really it’s almost like a parking lot, because they cover the plates and there’s no enforcement.' The report highlights that without strong leadership and commitment, bus riders—often the city’s most vulnerable—remain exposed to slow service and street danger. No council bill number or committee is attached; this is a policy analysis and advocacy call to action.

• Want More Rapid Bus Transit? Build Real Bus Rapid Transit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-13

Brad Hoylman-Sigal calls for new laws on e-bikes. He says streets brim with fast machines. Pedestrians, especially elders and children, face rising risk. The council member demands action. He wants rules to protect those on foot. The city must not wait.

On November 12, 2023, Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47) publicly called for legislation to regulate motorized two-wheelers, including e-bikes. The editorial, titled 'Hitting the brakes on e-bikes: New York needs legislation to regulate motorized two-wheelers,' stresses, 'the vulnerable pedestrian, especially seniors and kids, must remain king and queen. Do more to protect them.' Hoylman-Sigal is mentioned as a key advocate. The statement supports both regulation of e-bikes and greater protection for pedestrians. No formal bill has been introduced yet, and no committee has taken up the matter. The editorial highlights the urgent need for city action to shield those most at risk on New York’s streets.

• Hitting the brakes on e-bikes: New York needs legislation to regulate motorized two-wheelers, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-11-12

A 13-year-old boy suffered bruises and leg injuries after an SUV struck him on Staten Island. The pedestrian was not in the roadway. The vehicle hit with its right front bumper while making a right turn. The boy remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 13-year-old male pedestrian was injured on Staten Island near 175 Beach Street. The pedestrian was not in the roadway when the collision occurred. The driver, a licensed female operating a 2022 SUV, was making a right turn when the vehicle's right front bumper struck the boy. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot but remained conscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors beyond the collision details. The pedestrian's contributing factors are marked as unspecified. No helmet or signaling issues were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4678935 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Older adults die first in disasters. Heat, floods, storms hit them hardest. The pattern is clear. The toll is high. No change in twenty years. The system fails them. The city looks away. The danger grows. The deaths mount.

On November 9, 2023, the Talking Headways Podcast spotlighted the deadly impact of climate emergencies on older adults. Danielle Arigoni, managing director at the National Housing Trust, discussed her book, 'Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation.' She said, 'time and time again, older adults are the majority of deaths in disasters.' The episode detailed how, from Hurricane Katrina to the Lahaina wildfires, seniors bear the brunt of heat, floods, and storms. Host Jeff Wood pressed on the need for policy that protects the vulnerable. The discussion made clear: the system ignores the predictable, mounting toll on older adults. No council bill or vote was involved, but the call for action was urgent. The city cannot keep looking away.

• Talking Headways Podcast: Aging Adults and Climate Emergencies, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-09

Council Member Chi Ossé condemned DOT for stalling the Bedford Avenue protected bike lane. The lane, long promised and long dangerous, remains unbuilt. Ossé demanded action. Cyclists keep dying. DOT offered no timeline. The city’s failure leaves lives at risk.

""The bike lane has strong community support, and its benefits are obvious. This failure is yet another glaring example of the administration falling far behind on its commitments to develop bicycle infrastructure in our city."" -- Charles Fall

On November 2, 2023, Council Member Chi Ossé publicly criticized the Department of Transportation for delaying the protected bike lane project on Bedford Avenue. The project, which was supposed to upgrade a painted lane to a parking-protected lane, has been pushed to at least next spring. Ossé wrote to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, calling the delay 'unacceptable' and demanding a firm installation date. He stated, 'The Bedford Avenue bike lane has been unacceptably dangerous since it was first laid, and for years, the people of my district have been promised that it would be protected.' Advocacy groups, including Transportation Alternatives, echoed his frustration, citing record cyclist deaths and urgent need for safety. The DOT has not responded to requests for comment. The delay highlights the city’s repeated failures to deliver promised street safety improvements.

• Council Member Chi Ossé Blasts DOT For Delaying — And Maybe Killing — Bedford Ave Bike Lane, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-02

Mayor Adams shrugged off legal targets for new bike and bus lanes. He told DOT staffers he cares more about community input than hard numbers. His stance leaves city law unmet. Advocates warn: vague promises, little accountability, danger for those outside cars.

On November 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams dismissed the city’s legal requirements to build 50 miles of protected bike lanes and 30 miles of bus lanes each year, as mandated by the Streets Master Plan. In a closed-door meeting with the Department of Transportation, Adams said, "My legacy is not how many bike miles I do. My legacy is not how many bus lanes I do." He signaled a shift from measurable safety benchmarks to a focus on community input, a move DOT staffers called "extremely micromanaged." Adams’s administration has failed to meet even the minimum legal standards for new lanes. A mayoral spokesman claimed the city still delivers "safe, efficient streets," but advocates say Adams’s approach relies on vague metrics and lacks accountability. No council members are directly involved; this is a mayoral policy stance. The result: fewer protected spaces for vulnerable road users, more risk on city streets.

• Adams Dismisses Bus, Bike Lane Mile Requirements At DOT Meeting, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-11-01

An 82-year-old woman crossing against the signal was struck by a sedan traveling east on Forest Avenue. The driver was inattentive. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and was semiconscious with a concussion. The sedan’s right front bumper was damaged.

According to the police report, an 82-year-old female pedestrian was injured after being hit by a sedan on Forest Avenue near Bard Avenue. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the collision occurred. The driver, a licensed female operating a 2008 Nissan sedan traveling east, was found to be inattentive and distracted. The point of impact was the sedan’s right front bumper, which sustained damage. The pedestrian suffered a head injury and was semiconscious with a concussion. Driver inattention and distraction were cited as contributing factors. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4675545 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

An SUV hit an 82-year-old woman in a Forest Avenue crosswalk. She suffered head wounds. The driver did not stop. The woman died. Blood marked the street. The Nissan’s front end bore the impact. The city lost another pedestrian.

An 82-year-old woman was killed while crossing Forest Avenue near Bard Avenue. According to the police report, the SUV struck her head-on in the crosswalk, causing fatal head injuries and internal bleeding. The driver did not stop after the crash. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The Nissan SUV’s center front end showed damage from the impact. The woman never regained consciousness. No other contributing factors were cited in the report. The crash marks another deadly toll for pedestrians on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4673459 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A Ford SUV struck a Volkswagen sedan on Castleton Avenue. The sedan driver, making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way. Both drivers injured. A 12-year-old passenger suffered shoulder abrasions. Impact damaged front ends of both vehicles.

According to the police report, a 2020 Ford SUV traveling west on Castleton Avenue collided with a 2015 Volkswagen sedan making a left turn eastbound. The sedan driver, a 49-year-old woman, failed to yield right-of-way, causing the crash. The SUV struck the sedan's right front bumper with its left front bumper. The sedan driver sustained a concussion and head injury, while a 12-year-old passenger in the SUV suffered abrasions to the shoulder and upper arm. Both occupants were conscious and wearing lap belts. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. No other driver errors or victim factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4674293 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A 68-year-old woman died after an SUV ran her down in a chaotic Williamsburg intersection. Police blamed her for tripping. The driver, with a record of speeding and red-light violations, faced no charges. Blood stained the street. The system failed again.

On October 19, 2023, police responded to a fatal crash at Broadway and Flushing Avenue in Williamsburg. The NYPD said a 68-year-old woman 'tripped and fell in front of an SUV driver who then ran right over her, dragging her body across a notoriously treacherous intersection.' The driver, a 72-year-old woman, did not stop until witnesses intervened. Despite the Jeep’s record—two school-zone speeding tickets and a red-light violation since August—police let her go without charges. The NYPD blamed the victim, Aurora Soto, for her own death. Streetsblog reports this is part of a 'long and sordid history of victim-blaming.' The intersection has seen 197 crashes and 49 cyclist and pedestrian injuries since 2019. The Department of Transportation did not comment.

• Police Blame Woman for Her Own Death After She Trips in Front of SUV, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-19

Mayor Adams slammed his own DOT’s outreach, stalling bike and bus lane projects. He says communities need more input. Advocates warn this lets small groups block life-saving changes. The city falls behind on safety targets. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

On October 17, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams made a public statement criticizing the Department of Transportation’s community outreach for street redesigns. No council bill number applies; this is a mayoral policy stance. Adams said, “We have not done a good job of speaking to long-term residents on how they want the shaping of their streets to change.” He announced a new door-to-door engagement strategy on Underhill Avenue, after stalling a bike network project for over a year. Adams’s comments came as he defended delays and rollbacks of approved street safety improvements, citing the need for more community input. Advocates like Jon Orcutt (Bike New York) and Juan Restrepo (Transportation Alternatives) condemned the mayor’s approach, warning it gives veto power to small groups and leaves the city “rudderless” on street safety. DOT outreach has dropped to its lowest since Vision Zero began. The city is on pace to miss its bike and bus lane goals for the second year running. Vulnerable road users face continued danger as life-saving projects stall.

• Mayor Adams Blasts Mayor Adams’s DOT Community Outreach Efforts, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-10-17

Box truck turned too fast. It struck a parked pickup. The pickup’s driver, a 55-year-old woman, suffered knee and leg injuries. Unsafe speed fueled the crash. Metal bent. Pain followed.

According to the police report, a box truck making a right turn on Lafayette Avenue in Staten Island hit a parked pickup truck. The pickup’s driver, a 55-year-old woman, was injured in her knee and lower leg and was semiconscious after the crash. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The box truck’s right rear bumper and the pickup’s center back end were damaged. A sedan going straight was also involved, striking with its right front bumper, but no injuries were reported from that vehicle. The injured woman was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4671156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06