Blood on the Asphalt, Silence in City Hall

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 22 - A new bike lane in Long Island City pits safety against business. Five killed, 170 injured in five years. Councilwoman Julie Won backs the plan. Truckers and owners protest. DOT pushes forward. Streets stay deadly. Cyclists and pedestrians pay the price.

The controversy centers on a planned bike lane in Queens’ District 26, championed by Councilwoman Julie Won. The city aims to connect the Pulaski and Kosciuszko bridges via Borden, Starr, and Review avenues. The project, requested by local civic groups and the community board, follows five deaths—including two cyclists—and over 170 injuries on these roads in five years. Won stated, 'We need to do everything we can to ensure we don’t lose another life to a preventable death.' Thirty-two business owners petitioned DOT to halt the project, citing truck maneuvering dangers. DOT representative Vincent Barone called the route 'a critical gap' in the bike network and promised 'much-needed safety improvements.' The plan will take up to 15 feet from Review Avenue for a two-way bike path and buffer, leaving 22 feet for traffic. The fight underscores the city’s struggle to protect vulnerable road users in truck-heavy corridors.

• Planned new bike lane in industrial NYC neighborhood has business owners fuming: ‘Just not safe’, nypost.com, Published 2024-09-22

Sep 20 - Governor Hochul froze congestion pricing. The MTA lost billions. Subway and bus riders face crumbling service. Republicans claim victory. Democrats gain nothing. The city’s lifeline bleeds. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price while drivers dodge the toll.

On June 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul unilaterally paused New York’s congestion pricing law, first enacted in 2019 to fund the MTA’s $55 billion capital plan. The move slashed $15 billion from transit budgets, threatening repairs and upgrades. Hochul claimed to act for cost-of-living relief, but polling shows her approval at a record low. Republicans seized credit for the pause, while Democrats saw no political gain. Riders Alliance’s Danny Pearlstein called it sabotage: 'Governor Kathy Hochul took a gamble when she sabotaged our public transit system for political gain and she lost dearly.' The MTA now faces a $33 billion shortfall for its next plan. No new revenue source is in place. The legislature, as Rachael Fauss of Reinvent Albany notes, already did its job by passing the law. The pause leaves transit riders stranded, while car traffic and systemic danger persist.

• Hochul’s Congestion Pricing ‘Pause’ Tanked Her Polling, Hurt the MTA and Did Zilch for Democrats, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-20

Sep 20 - Transit agencies slash service. Riders lose lifelines. Streets fill with cars. Congestion rises. Pedestrians and cyclists face more danger. New York’s MTA repair plans gutted after congestion pricing dies. Leaders stall. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

This report, published September 20, 2024, details a wave of transit funding crises nationwide, with New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) at the center. The article, titled '‘Doom Loop’ Alert: Transit Systems are Suffering — And Too Many Are Cutting Service,' chronicles how pandemic relief funds are running dry, ridership lags, and costs soar. Governor Kathy Hochul killed congestion pricing, stripping the MTA of $1 billion a year. Now, the agency slashes repair programs. Streetsblog quotes transit leaders warning that service cuts mean crowded buses, more cars, and lost productivity. Council members and mayors in cities like Miami and Philadelphia face similar choices. The story makes clear: when transit fails, vulnerable road users—those who walk, bike, or rely on buses—face greater risk. The systemic danger grows as public transportation falters and streets fill with traffic.

• ‘Doom Loop’ Alert: Transit Systems are Suffering — And Too Many Are Cutting Service, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-20

Sep 12 - Car miles in New York City jumped 14 percent since 2019. Congestion is up. The city lags on bus and bike lanes. Governor Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing leaves streets clogged. Vulnerable road users face rising danger as cars reclaim the city.

A new Streetlight Data report, released September 12, 2024, shows car miles traveled in the New York City metro area rose 14 percent over five years. The report singles out New York: 'where congestion pricing was paused, stands out as the urban core with the biggest increase in both congestion and VMT among the top 25.' Governor Hochul’s decision to halt congestion pricing drew sharp criticism from advocates. Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director of Open Plans, called the move 'disastrous,' warning that abandoning congestion pricing is a 'dereliction of duty' on street safety. The report blames city inaction on bus and bike lanes for worsening gridlock. As driving surges, vulnerable road users face greater risk. The city’s failure to curb car use puts lives on the line.

• Report Shows Double-Digit Increase in Post-Pandemic Driving, Counter to Regional Goal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-12

Sep 4 - Eighteen out of twenty-four trees died on Sunset Park’s greenway. The city failed to maintain them. Agencies blamed each other. Residents suffer. No shade. No care. The greenway, meant for safety and respite, stands bare. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

This report details the collapse of tree maintenance along the Sunset Park Greenway, a project completed in 2022 on Second Avenue between 58th and 65th streets. The Department of Design and Construction managed the seven-year build, but its maintenance agreement with the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative expired in 2018. Since then, city agencies have passed responsibility back and forth. The Parks Department, now tasked with care, cites budget cuts and overworked staff. Mayor Adams slashed $20 million from the Parks budget, worsening the crisis. Katherine Walsh, Community Board 7 Transportation Committee chair, calls the neglect an equity issue, highlighting Sunset Park’s high pollution and health risks. Brian Hedden of the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative urges a citywide fix. The matter title: 'Dead Trees Highlight Multiple City Failures on Sunset Park Greenway.' No council bill number or formal vote is attached, but the story exposes systemic failure and its toll on vulnerable New Yorkers.

• Dead Trees Highlight Multiple City Failures on Sunset Park Greenway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-04

Aug 30 - Hundreds will rally for subway elevators on September 8. Advocates blame Gov. Hochul’s congestion pricing pause for stalling $2 billion in accessibility upgrades. Riders and organizers will canvass stations, demanding funding and warning of deep cuts to ADA projects citywide.

On August 30, 2024, advocates announced a citywide protest and canvassing event for subway accessibility, set for September 8. The action responds to Governor Hochul’s indefinite pause on congestion pricing, which threatens $2 billion in elevator projects at 23 stations. Organizers cite the MTA’s legal mandate to make 95 percent of the subway accessible by 2055 and warn of a 30 percent cut to ADA spending without congestion pricing funds. Jeff Peters of the Center for Independence of the Disabled NY said, 'Congestion pricing would be used for just this situation.' Danna Dennis of Riders Alliance and Jessica Murray of Elevator Action Group joined calls for action. The protest highlights the direct link between transit funding and safe, accessible passage for all New Yorkers.

• They Want YOU: Massive Protest for Subway Elevators on Sept. 8, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-30

Aug 29 - New York will close 71 streets to cars outside schools this fall. The city adds more car-free zones for kids. Streets once deadly will now be safer for walking, play, and learning. The move targets neighborhoods hit hardest by crashes.

On August 29, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a record 71 school streets will close to cars this fall. The expansion, not tied to a specific council bill, builds on the Open Streets program, made permanent in 2021. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez said, 'We have created a new framework to give this space back to our school children.' Councilwoman Vickie Paladino celebrated the new open street at PS 129, calling it a win for safe pick-up, drop-off, and play. Funding comes from the Public Space Equity Program, with $30 million focused on under-resourced areas. Street Lab will provide programming and street furniture. The program responds to past investigations showing higher crash and injury rates outside schools, especially in poorer neighborhoods. The city will directly fund management and operations starting in 2025, aiming to make these safety gains permanent.

• More Safe School Streets Coming To NYC This Fall, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-29

Aug 23 - Two sedans crashed on Bard Avenue. One driver suffered an upper arm injury. Police cite improper lane use during a U-turn. Metal twisted. The injured driver stayed conscious. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sedans collided at 16:17 on Bard Avenue in Staten Island. A Chrysler making a U-turn northbound struck a southbound Toyota going straight. The impact hit the Chrysler's left front and the Toyota's right front. The report lists 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as a contributing factor, showing driver error in lane control during the U-turn. The Chrysler driver, a 26-year-old woman, was injured in the upper arm and remained conscious at the scene. No ejection occurred. Both drivers held valid New York licenses. The report does not list any victim actions as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750187 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 21 - A sedan struck parked SUVs on Staten Island, injuring its female driver. The impact damaged the sedan's right front bumper and left neck injury left the driver incoherent. Police cite illness as a contributing factor in the crash.

According to the police report, at 14:48 on Staten Island near Castleton Avenue, a 40-year-old female sedan driver was injured in a collision involving two parked SUVs. The sedan was traveling straight ahead when it impacted the center back end of one SUV and the left rear bumper of another. The driver sustained a neck injury and was incoherent at the scene. The sedan's right front bumper was damaged. The report lists 'Illness' as a contributing factor, indicating a possible medical condition affecting the driver's control. No other driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding were noted. The driver was restrained with a lap belt and the airbag deployed. There is no indication of victim fault or pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750185 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 17 - A 22-year-old female driver suffered full-body injuries and whiplash after her sedan struck an object head-on on Howard Avenue. Slippery pavement contributed to the crash, causing significant front-end damage and a severe impact on the driver.

According to the police report, a 22-year-old female driver operating a 2024 Honda sedan on Howard Avenue in Staten Island lost control due to slippery pavement conditions. The vehicle was traveling southwest, going straight ahead, when it impacted an object with its center front end. The driver, who was wearing a lap belt and harness, sustained injuries to her entire body, including whiplash, and remained conscious after the crash. The report lists 'Pavement Slippery' as a contributing factor, highlighting hazardous road conditions that led to the loss of vehicle control. There is no indication of victim error or other contributing factors beyond the slippery surface. The crash caused significant damage to the sedan's front end, emphasizing the severity of the impact.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4749158 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 16 - MTA leaders blasted the city for killing Fordham Road bus lane upgrades. Paint and ticket blitzes failed. Bus speeds barely moved. Riders remain stuck in traffic. Cars clog lanes. Promised fixes scrapped. Advocates demand real action. The city stalls. Riders suffer.

On August 16, 2024, MTA officials sent a scathing letter to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, criticizing the city’s decision to abandon plans to upgrade Fordham Road’s curbside bus lanes to offset bus lanes. The letter, signed by outgoing NYCT President Richard Davey and interim successor Demetrius Crichlow, called the city’s paint-and-enforcement approach a 'total bust.' The MTA cited new data showing bus speeds increased just 2–4 percent since October 2022—far below the 15 percent target. The matter summary reads: 'The Fordham Road project enjoys widespread support from transit advocacy groups, and Fordham Road bus riders, who have been enduring slow service for decades.' Council involvement is not specified, but the MTA’s letter and Riders Alliance’s Danny Pearlstein both demand stronger measures. The city’s inaction leaves Bronx bus riders stranded in slow traffic, with vulnerable road users paying the price for political compromise.

• FOIL’D: MTA Leadership Assailed DOT for Failing to Boost Fordham Road Bus Speeds, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-16

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 14 - A female driver struck two parked SUVs on Howard Avenue, Staten Island, injuring herself and a front-seat passenger. Both suffered whiplash and full-body injuries. The crash unfolded at dawn, spotlighting driver inattention as the root cause.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 6:04 AM on Howard Avenue, Staten Island. A 44-year-old female driver, licensed in New York, was driving eastbound when she collided with two parked SUVs, damaging the left front and rear quarter panels. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both the driver and a 27-year-old female front passenger were injured, sustaining whiplash and injuries to their entire bodies. Both occupants were conscious and restrained with lap belts and harnesses at the time of the crash. The driver’s error—failure to maintain attention—directly led to the collision with stationary vehicles, causing significant injury. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4747803 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 11 - A new report finds alternatives to congestion pricing fall short. They raise less money, miss traffic cuts, and skip air quality gains. The MTA faces a funding gap. Modernization stalls. Riders and streets lose. Council Member Weprin is mentioned.

On August 11, 2024, Council Member David Weprin (District 24) was mentioned in a report examining alternatives to congestion pricing for MTA funding. The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC) found that 'various proposals to replace the mass transit money lost from pausing congestion pricing either don’t raise the same revenue or fail to achieve other benefits such as reduced traffic from the Manhattan toll.' The report, reviewed by Weprin, details that none of the eight alternatives—ranging from payroll taxes to casino revenue—would match congestion pricing’s $1 billion annual yield or its bondable value. Lisa Daglian, PCAC’s executive director, said these options either fall short on funding or burden working New Yorkers, while missing out on cleaner air and less traffic. The MTA has suspended billions in modernization work. The pause leaves vulnerable riders and city streets exposed.

• How do MTA funding alternatives compare to congestion pricing? Not well, says a new report, amny.com, Published 2024-08-11

Aug 3 - Seven Staten Island leaders want Norman Brown off the MTA board. Brown questioned new railcars for the borough after lawmakers opposed congestion pricing. Officials call his stance bureaucratic ignorance. The fight spotlights power struggles over transit and rider needs.

On August 3, 2024, seven Staten Island officials, including Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli (District 51), called for the removal of MTA board member Norman Brown. Their letter to Governor Hochul followed Brown’s June comments suggesting Staten Island lose its promised 75 new R211S railcars because local lawmakers opposed congestion pricing. The letter, signed by Assemblymen Sam Pirozzolo, Michael Tannousis, Michael Reilly, Borough President Vito Fossella, State Senator Andrew Lanza, Councilman David Carr, and Borelli, called Brown’s remarks 'a masterclass in bureaucratic ignorance.' Brown said he would welcome removal. The new railcars would replace aging trains from the 1970s. The matter exposes deep rifts over transit funding and priorities, with Staten Island riders caught in the crossfire.

• Staten Island pols urge Hochul to yank MTA board member who recommended stripping borough of new railcars, nypost.com, Published 2024-08-03

Aug 3 - Seven Staten Island leaders want Norman Brown off the MTA board. Brown questioned new railcars for the borough after lawmakers opposed congestion pricing. Officials call his stance bureaucratic ignorance. The fight spotlights power struggles over transit and rider needs.

On August 3, 2024, seven Staten Island officials, including Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli (District 51), called for the removal of MTA board member Norman Brown. Their letter to Governor Hochul followed Brown’s June comments suggesting Staten Island lose its promised 75 new R211S railcars because local lawmakers opposed congestion pricing. The letter, signed by Assemblymen Sam Pirozzolo, Michael Tannousis, Michael Reilly, Borough President Vito Fossella, State Senator Andrew Lanza, Councilman David Carr, and Borelli, called Brown’s remarks 'a masterclass in bureaucratic ignorance.' Brown said he would welcome removal. The new railcars would replace aging trains from the 1970s. The matter exposes deep rifts over transit funding and priorities, with Staten Island riders caught in the crossfire.

• Staten Island pols urge Hochul to yank MTA board member who recommended stripping borough of new railcars, nypost.com, Published 2024-08-03

Aug 2 - Governor Hochul halted congestion pricing, claiming sole authority. She called on lawmakers to fix the MTA’s $15-billion gap. Critics say she overreaches. Transit advocates warn: without tolls, transit funding collapses. The law stands. The pause endangers New Yorkers who rely on safe streets.

On August 2, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul publicly defended her June 5 decision to 'pause' New York’s congestion pricing law. Speaking at a Colorado think tank, Hochul insisted, 'Pause is a pause until I say it's not a pause.' She urged the state legislature to address the $15-billion MTA funding shortfall, stating, 'The legislature has to come back and find a solution.' Congestion pricing, passed in 2019, was designed to fund transit and reduce deadly traffic. Critics, including transit advocates and policy experts, challenged Hochul’s authority and accuracy, noting her claims about economic hardship and London’s tolls were misleading. Hochul’s unilateral move leaves the law in limbo and threatens the future of safe, reliable transit for millions of New Yorkers. No council members were directly involved in this executive action.

• Crazy Talk: In New Speech, Hochul Declares Dictatorial Powers, But Also Begs Legislature for Bailout, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-02

Jul 31 - SUV and motorcycle collided during lane change. Motorcycle driver, 19, suffered neck abrasions. Police cite unsafe lane changing and improper passing. SUV rear quarter panel damaged. High-speed danger, no victim fault.

A motorcycle and an SUV collided on the Staten Island Expressway at 7:00 PM. The 19-year-old motorcycle driver was injured, suffering neck abrasions but remained conscious and was not ejected. According to the police report, both vehicles were changing lanes when the motorcycle struck the SUV's right rear quarter panel. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Passing or Lane Usage Improper' as contributing factors. The SUV, driven by a licensed woman with three occupants, was damaged but no one else was hurt. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4744677 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 24 - State Sen. Jeremy Cooney calls out Governor Hochul. He demands a 100-day plan to fill the $16.5 billion MTA gap left by her congestion pricing pause. Projects for safer, more accessible transit hang in the balance. Albany leaders mostly stay silent.

On July 24, 2024, State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, new chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, issued a public demand for Governor Hochul to deliver a '100-day plan' to replace the $16.5 billion MTA funding shortfall caused by her cancellation of congestion pricing. In his op-ed, Cooney wrote, 'the time for debating the merits of congestion pricing has passed,' urging the governor to convene finance, labor, and passenger representatives to find a solution. Cooney’s push comes as the MTA faces threats to station accessibility, signal upgrades, and new trains and buses. Other Albany leaders, including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate President Andrea Stewart-Cousins, have offered little response. Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger called Hochul’s move illegal. The bill or action is not numbered, but the committee involved is the Senate Transportation Committee. No direct safety analyst note was provided, but the loss of funding jeopardizes projects vital to vulnerable road users.

• Hochul Must Put Up or Shut Up on Congestion Pricing, New Senate Transportation Chair Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-24