Another Child Dead. Leaders Shrug. How Many More Before They Act?

Sep 1 - The driver of an unlicensed sedan rear-ended an SUV on Forest Ave in Staten Island. A 55-year-old man complained of head pain and whiplash and remained conscious. Police listed driver inattention/distraction.

The driver of a sedan rear-ended a westbound SUV at 1360 Forest Ave in Staten Island. One driver, a 55-year-old man, suffered head pain and complained of whiplash; he was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, contributing factors were listed as "Driver Inattention/Distraction." The report also notes the sedan driver was unlicensed and the SUV driver was licensed. Damage recorded shows center front damage to the sedan and center back damage to the SUV, consistent with a rear-end impact. Police documented driver inattention/distraction and operation by an unlicensed driver as the recorded errors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4839000 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 29 - The driver of a southbound sedan hit a standing scooter at Forest Ave and Marianne. The 34-year-old rider was ejected and suffered an arm fracture. He remained conscious. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction by the driver.

The driver of a sedan traveling south on Forest Avenue struck a standing scooter at Marianne Street. The scooter rider, a 34-year-old man, was ejected and sustained a fracture to his elbow/lower arm and remained conscious. According to the police report, the contributing factor was "Driver Inattention/Distraction." Police logged damage to the sedan’s right-front bumper and to the scooter’s center front end. The scooter was recorded as going straight ahead; the sedan made impact at the right front. The rider is listed as injured and ejected with an elbow/arm fracture.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838644 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 28 - Two sedans met hard on Victory Blvd at Lester. Steel buckled. Airbags burst. A driver and three children were hurt. Another driver was injured. Police cite distraction for both. A routine street became a crash site.

Two sedans collided at Victory Blvd and Lester St in Staten Island. A 71-year-old driver and a 40-year-old driver were injured. Three child passengers, ages 10, 7, and 5, were also hurt. According to the police report, contributing factors were “Driver Inattention/Distraction” for both vehicles. The listed driver errors were distraction and inattention. Impact points show a center-front hit to one car and a left-front quarter strike to the other, consistent with a forceful intersection crash. Airbags deployed in the injured vehicles. No pedestrian or cyclist was reported struck. The record does not list any other contributing factors beyond distraction.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4838749 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 19 - Two high-profile office dining spots — Lodi at Rockefeller Center and Three Eighty Ate at Citigroup’s Tribeca headquarters — will close this fall. Workers lose desk-side restaurants. Buildings lose a perk. Streets lose foot traffic tied to those lunchtime crowds.

Bill/Bureau: Not a bill — a business closure report. Date: 2025-08-19. Source: Crain’s New York Business. Matter title quoted: "Two restaurants-as-amenities in Midtown and Tribeca to shutter this fall." No council bill number or committee applies. Assembly Member Charles Fall is mentioned noting Midtown restaurant amenity closures affecting tenants. The report records layoff filings and shuttering this fall. Safety impact: none recorded; no safety analyst note provided. The coverage centers on tenant amenities, employee layoffs, and commercial turnover rather than traffic-safety measures.

• Two restaurants-as-amenities in Midtown and Tribeca to shutter this fall, Crain's New York Business, Published 2025-08-19

Aug 10 - A right-turning sedan hit a left-turning sedan at Neal Dow Ave and Seward Pl. A 57-year-old front-seat passenger suffered a back contusion. Police cited failure to yield and driver inexperience.

Two sedans collided at Neal Dow Ave and Seward Pl in Staten Island. One driver made a right turn and struck a vehicle making a left turn. A 57-year-old front-seat passenger suffered a back contusion and was listed as injured. According to the police report, the contributing factors were "Failure to Yield Right-of-Way" and "Driver Inexperience." Police recorded failure to yield by the driver. The report notes driver inexperience. The injured passenger was a front-seat occupant and wore a lap belt, per the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4834777 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 9 - Coney Island casino plan means thousands more cars. Roads will clog. Parking will vanish. Environmental review shows danger for anyone not behind the wheel.

On August 9, 2025, an environmental impact assessment flagged the proposed Coney Island casino as a threat to street safety. The report, filed with the casino’s license bid, warns: 'The proposed Coney Island casino would likely clog local roads with heavy traffic and overwhelm public parking.' Reporter Kirstyn Brendlen covered the findings. No council members sponsored or voted, but the review shows the casino could bring thousands of cars daily. The safety analyst notes: increased car traffic and parking demand will heighten risks for pedestrians and cyclists, discourage active transportation, and undermine street safety and equity. The system tips toward drivers. The vulnerable pay the price.

• Proposed Coney Island casino could bring heavy traffic, overwhelm parking, according to environmental impact study, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-09

Aug 8 - DOT drops speed limit, narrows lanes, and adds barriers at Canal Street after deadly crash. Pedestrians and cyclists get overdue protection. Full redesign still lags.

On August 8, 2025, the NYC DOT announced new safety measures at the Manhattan Bridge's Canal Street terminus. The agency will lower the speed limit from 35 to 20 mph, narrow two travel lanes, and install concrete barriers after a driver killed a cyclist and pedestrian. David Meyer reported the announcement. No council member sponsored or voted. DOT says it will fast-track community engagement for a full redesign. Lowering speed limits reduces crash severity and likelihood, especially for pedestrians and cyclists near busy bridge exits, and follows best safety practices.

• Friday’s Headlines: Fixing Canal Street Edition, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-08

Aug 7 - Kea Wilson spotlights Canada’s safer roads. U.S. deaths climb. Canada cuts bloodshed. Enforcement works there. Politics block change here. Vulnerable users pay the price.

On August 7, 2025, Kea Wilson published a policy analysis in Streetsblog NYC. The piece, 'Northern Disclosure: Canada’s Road Laws Could Help Save U.S. Lives,' reviews a study showing Canada’s enforcement—like speed cameras and seat belt laws—cuts road deaths. Wilson urges the U.S. to learn from Canada but notes political barriers. No council bill or vote is attached. The statement is too vague to assess specific safety impacts, as it does not identify which Canadian roadway laws would be implemented or how they would affect pedestrians and cyclists. Vulnerable road users remain exposed while proven fixes stall.

• Northern Disclosure: Canada’s Road Laws Could Help Save U.S. Lives, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-08-07

Aug 6 - A sedan hit a 66-year-old man on Forest Ave. He suffered a back contusion and remained conscious. According to the police report, the driver committed Unsafe Speed. The pedestrian was not in the roadway.

A sedan traveling north on Forest Ave hit a 66-year-old man. He suffered a back contusion and was conscious at the scene. According to the police report, the crash was caused by "Unsafe Speed." Police recorded Unsafe Speed as the contributing factor by the driver. The report notes the pedestrian was not in the roadway when struck. The vehicle is listed as a 2009 Toyota sedan. No other contributing factors are recorded in the report. The collision left the pedestrian injured and underlines the role of speed in this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833282 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 4 - Two SUVs collided at N Gannon Avenue and Bradley Avenue. A 44-year-old woman driving one SUV suffered knee, lower-leg and foot injuries and reported pain and shock. Police cited Driver Inattention/Distraction for both drivers.

Two sport-utility vehicles crashed at N Gannon Avenue and Bradley Avenue. According to the police report, both drivers were going straight when the crash occurred. The 44-year-old woman driving one SUV suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg and foot and complained of pain and shock; she was not ejected and wore a lap belt and harness. The other driver was not seriously hurt. Police list “Driver Inattention/Distraction” as the contributing factor for both vehicles. Points of impact were the left-front bumper on one SUV and the right-front bumper on the other. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4833040 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Aug 4 - A hotel awning crashed down at Clark Street station. Years of leaks, rot, and stench warned locals. No one fixed it. The city let danger fester. Pedestrians faced the risk. No injuries, but trust is broken.

"Our NYC Buildings engineers are now on site conducting additional inspections of the collapsed awning, and a second similar awning at the building on Clark Street, which is showing similar signs of poor maintenance." -- James S. Oddo

On August 4, 2025, a hotel awning collapsed outside the Clark Street subway station in Brooklyn Heights. The incident, reported by Barbara Russo-Lennon and Lloyd Mitchell, followed 'years of visible disrepair, foul smells and water leaks.' Council Member Lincoln Restler confirmed no timeline for reopening. The Department of Buildings cited the owners for 'Failure to maintain' and ordered demolition. DOB Commissioner James Oddo said engineers are inspecting a second awning showing 'poor maintenance.' The collapse put pedestrians in harm's way. As safety analysts note, such failures in busy areas raise the risk of injury or death for vulnerable road users and discourage walking, undermining city safety goals.

• ‘Not surprised’: Locals say neglect to blame in Clark Street station awning collapse, Brooklyn Paper, Published 2025-08-04

Jul 28 - The driver of a pick-up truck turned right and collided with several southbound vehicles stopped on Jewett Ave at Forest Ave. Two male drivers were injured—one with a chest contusion, another with a concussion. Police recorded alcohol involvement.

The driver of a pick-up truck made a right turn and collided with multiple southbound vehicles that were stopped in traffic on Jewett Ave at Forest Ave in Staten Island. Two drivers were hurt: a 46-year-old man suffered a chest contusion and a 32-year-old man suffered a concussion. According to the police report, “Alcohol Involvement” and multiple “Other Vehicular” factors contributed to the crash. The report notes the pick-up’s pre-crash movement as making a right turn and several southbound vehicles stopped in traffic. Multiple buses, SUVs and a sedan show point-of-impact and damage consistent with a multi-vehicle collision.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831750 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 25 - A driver in an SUV and a driver in a sedan collided at Leonard Avenue and Clinton B Fisk Avenue. An eight-year-old rear passenger and the SUV driver suffered whiplash. Police logged driver inattention and unsafe speed.

A driver in an SUV and a driver in a sedan collided at Leonard Avenue and Clinton B Fisk Avenue on Staten Island. An eight-year-old boy, a left-rear passenger, and the SUV driver, a 56-year-old woman, suffered whiplash. According to the police report, both drivers were inattentive and distracted. Police recorded Driver Inattention/Distraction and Unsafe Speed as contributing factors. The report lists front-end damage to both vehicles after the impact. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and both injured occupants were conscious at the scene.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831156 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 20 - A 26-year-old woman driving a 2023 sedan was injured on Clove Road when a driver in another vehicle hit the sedan’s center back end as she made a right turn. She sustained a head injury and complained of whiplash.

According to the police report, the driver of a 2023 ACUR sedan, a 26-year-old woman, was making a right turn on Clove Road near Howard Avenue when a driver in another vehicle hit the sedan’s center back end and damaged the right rear bumper. The sedan driver suffered a head injury and complained of whiplash; she was conscious and not ejected. Police recorded no contributing driver errors. The report lists all contributing factors as "Unspecified." No pedestrians or cyclists were involved and no other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829326 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 17 - Two box trucks crashed at Jewett Ave and Post Ave in Staten Island. A 20-year-old driver suffered a fractured leg and dislocation. Police recorded Traffic Control Disregarded and Driver Inattention/Distraction.

Two box trucks collided on Jewett Avenue at Post Avenue in Staten Island. A 20-year-old man driving one truck was injured; police logged a knee/lower-leg/foot fracture and dislocation. According to the police report, both "Traffic Control Disregarded" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" contributed to the crash. Police recorded center-front-end damage to both trucks. Vehicle records show both drivers were going straight ahead before the impact. The report lists no other contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved; one person was hurt and others in the vehicles were shaken.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829599 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 17 - Mayor Adams stalled Third Avenue’s redesign. He once called it urgent. Now, cyclists and walkers face the same deadly street. Cars dominate. Promises break. Blood stains linger.

On July 17, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams delayed Brooklyn’s Third Avenue safety redesign. The project, once 'at the top of our list,' now sits idle. Streetsblog NYC reported the mayor’s reversal. No council vote or committee action is recorded. Adams’s move keeps pedestrians and cyclists exposed to known hazards. A safety analyst notes: Delaying redesign postpones critical improvements, keeps dangers in place, and discourages walking and biking. The city’s inaction leaves Third Avenue deadly for all outside a car.

• Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-17

Jul 16 - Ex-Commissioner Tom Donlon says Adams insiders fueled deadly NYPD chases. Cyclists, kids, and bystanders paid. Streets turned chaotic. Policy ignored. Trust shattered. Vulnerable road users left exposed.

""The NYPD is led by the best, brightest and most honorable professionals in the nation — and their results speak for themselves: crime continues to fall across the city, with shootings at the lowest level in recorded history. We will respond in court, where we are confident these absurd claims will be disproven."" -- Charles Fall

On July 16, 2025, former NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon filed a civil racketeering suit, alleging 'deadly and unconstitutional high-speed vehicle chases' under Mayor Adams. The complaint, reported by Streetsblog NYC, claims the NYPD's Community Response Team operated as a rogue unit, answerable only to City Hall, with Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry allowing reckless pursuits. Donlon cites deaths and injuries, including cyclist Amanda Servedio. The suit alleges 398 crashes and 315 injuries in 2024—a 47% jump. Donlon's allegations highlight how high-speed chases increase risk to pedestrians and cyclists, introducing unpredictable, dangerous driving and eroding public trust in safe, equitable enforcement. No council bill or committee action is tied to this event.

• Former NYPD Boss Says Deadly High Speed Chases Were Result Of ‘Rogue’ Adams Insiders, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-07-16

Jul 15 - Two vehicles collided at Victory Blvd and Bryson Ave. A 76-year-old woman driving a sedan suffered a head injury and shock. Police listed no driver errors. Both drivers were licensed; the injured driver wore a lap belt.

Two vehicles — a sedan and an SUV — collided at Victory Blvd and Bryson Ave in Staten Island. The driver of the sedan was going straight ahead. The driver of the SUV was slowing or stopping. According to the police report, "a 76-year-old woman driving one car suffered a head injury and was in shock." The injured person was the sedan driver. Police recorded no driver errors or contributing factors in the report. The report notes the sedan sustained right front quarter-panel damage and the SUV left front quarter-panel damage. Both drivers were licensed. The injured driver was reported using a lap belt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4829595 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 15 - Two SUVs collided on Forest Avenue. One driver suffered facial injuries. Police cite following too closely and distraction. Metal struck metal. Streets stayed dangerous.

Two SUVs crashed on Forest Avenue at Dubois Avenue in Staten Island. According to the police report, a Mazda SUV was struck from behind by a Porsche SUV. The 33-year-old woman driving the Mazda suffered facial injuries. Police list 'Following Too Closely' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The report does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash left one driver hurt and exposed the risks of inattention and tailgating on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4828033 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-17

Jul 14 - Council bill lets ambulettes drive and double-park in bus lanes. More vehicles in bus lanes mean more risk for people walking, biking, and waiting at curbs. Danger grows where curb chaos reigns.

Bill Int 1339-2025 sits with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since July 14, 2025. The bill, titled 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...exempting ambulettes from certain bus lane restrictions and allowing them to double park to assist passengers,' would let ambulettes drive, stop, and double-park in bus lanes to help passengers. Council Member Julie Menin sponsors, joined by Linda Lee, Frank Morano, Eric Dinowitz, Lynn C. Schulman, Kamillah Hanks, Carlina Rivera, and Chris Banks. Allowing more vehicles to double-park and block bus lanes increases risk for pedestrians and cyclists at the curb. The city’s most vulnerable will face more conflict and less safe space.

• File Int 1339-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-07-14