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

Diesel trucks choke New York streets. Pollution hits hardest in poor, Black, and Hispanic neighborhoods. The Advanced Clean Trucks rule promises cleaner air and fewer deaths. Industry fights back. Governor Hochul faces a choice: protect lives or bow to polluters.

This opinion, published November 6, 2024, urges Governor Hochul to uphold New York’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) standard and the Low NOx Heavy-Duty Omnibus standard. The piece warns, 'Delaying the implementation of any clean truck rule will likely result in the state losing hundreds of millions in health benefits and lead to additional air pollution-caused deaths.' The ACT, adopted in 2021, sets electric truck sales targets to cut deadly diesel pollution. The statement highlights the disproportionate harm to low-income communities of color, especially in the South Bronx, where truck exhaust drives high asthma rates. The author calls on Hochul to resist fossil fuel industry pressure and keep life-saving rules on track, stressing that clean truck standards are both feasible and vital for public health.

• Opinion: Clean Trucks Will Save Lives — If Gov. Hochul Stays the Course, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-06

A sedan traveling east struck a 40-year-old male pedestrian crossing Forest Avenue. The pedestrian suffered a head contusion and was conscious after impact. The crash involved driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way at an intersection.

According to the police report, a 2005 Audi sedan traveling east on Forest Avenue collided with a 40-year-old male pedestrian crossing at an intersection without a signal or crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained a head injury classified as a contusion and was conscious at the scene. The point of impact was the center front end of the vehicle, damaging the left front bumper. The report identifies driver inattention and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The pedestrian was not cited for any contributing behaviors. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and failure to yield to pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769126 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 56-year-old woman was injured at an intersection while crossing with the signal. The SUV driver, distracted and inattentive, hit her with the vehicle’s left front bumper. The pedestrian suffered abrasions and lower leg injuries but remained conscious.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old female pedestrian was crossing at an intersection on N Gannon Ave with the crossing signal when she was struck by a 2024 Jeep SUV traveling northeast. The impact occurred on the vehicle's left front bumper. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. The report explicitly cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor to the crash, repeated twice, indicating the driver failed to maintain attention. The driver was licensed in New Jersey and the vehicle was initially parked before the collision. The pedestrian’s crossing with the signal is noted but not listed as a contributing factor. The crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769153 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 66-year-old man suffered head injuries after being struck by an SUV on Lester Street in Staten Island. The pedestrian was injured outside an intersection while the SUV was traveling north. The driver held only a permit license at the time of impact.

According to the police report, a 66-year-old male pedestrian was injured when struck by a 2017 Jeep SUV traveling north on Lester Street in Staten Island around 8:30 p.m. The pedestrian was located outside an intersection and engaged in unspecified actions in the roadway. The impact occurred at the left front bumper of the Jeep, which was stopped in traffic prior to the collision. The pedestrian sustained head injuries classified as injury severity level 3 and was conscious with abrasions. The driver of the Jeep held a permit license from New Jersey. The report does not list specific contributing factors but notes the pedestrian’s actions as unspecified. No other driver errors or violations are explicitly cited in the data.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769224 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

SUV backed up on Forest Avenue. Struck a 71-year-old man outside the intersection. He suffered a head contusion. Driver’s view was blocked. Obstructed sightlines led to injury.

According to the police report, at 17:02 a licensed female driver reversed her SUV northbound on Forest Avenue and struck a 71-year-old male pedestrian who was not in the roadway. The man suffered a moderate head contusion. The point of impact was the center back end of the vehicle, damaging the right rear bumper. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, showing the driver’s visibility was impaired during the backing maneuver. No pedestrian actions contributed to the crash. The incident highlights the danger of obstructed sightlines when drivers reverse, especially for older pedestrians outside intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4769151 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 13-year-old girl died after an SUV struck her at W. 110th and Manhattan. She was walking to catch a bus for her birthday. The driver stayed. No arrest. The intersection is wide, with poor sight lines. Advocates blame city inaction.

""This intersection was designed to be dangerous, and it's time for the city to prioritize New Yorkers instead of falling even further behind on the daylighting promises it made when another child was killed only a year ago."" -- Charles Fall

On November 4, 2024, a fatal crash claimed the life of 13-year-old Niyell McCrorey at W. 110th Street and Manhattan Avenue. The incident, reported by Streetsblog NYC, highlights a dangerous intersection: wide, two-way, with cars parked to the corner and no daylighting. Transportation Alternatives, represented by Philip Miatkowski, condemned the city for failing to deliver promised safety upgrades, stating, "This intersection was designed to be dangerous." Niyell is the 15th child killed by drivers this year, the second-highest toll since Vision Zero began. Advocates demand urgent action to protect vulnerable pedestrians and end the city's deadly neglect.

• Slaughter of the Innocents: SUV Driver Kills Upper West Side Teen, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-04

Roadside dining sheds fall. Cars reclaim the curb. Restaurants balk at new rules, costs, and storage. Streets once alive with people now serve as free parking. The city’s new code ends a brief era of public space for people.

On November 4, 2024, New York City enforced new outdoor dining regulations, requiring restaurants to remove pandemic-era dining sheds unless they met updated design standards. The measure, shaped by a Council law passed last year, forced all businesses to clear curbside setups by November 29. The Department of Transportation banned enclosed structures, allowing only temporary, open designs. As the city’s Dining Out NYC program shifts to seasonal operation, many owners, like John Kastanis of Casita and Jerry Hsu of Alimama Tea, chose to dismantle their sheds early, citing high fees and storage hurdles. Fred Kent, co-founder of the Placemaking Fund, lamented, “We’ve lost a whole era that could have been evolved into something far more significant for neighborhood main streets to thrive.” The curb returns to cars, erasing space once claimed by pedestrians and diners.

• Parking? Lots! Outdoor Dining Structures Are Coming Down Across the City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-04

Two SUVs collided on N Gannon Ave. Metal slammed metal. A 24-year-old woman suffered a back bruise. Police blame driver distraction. Streets remain dangerous for all inside cars.

According to the police report, two Ford SUVs crashed on N Gannon Ave near Woolley Ave. Both vehicles traveled west when they struck each other, one at the left front quarter, the other at the right front bumper. A 24-year-old female driver was injured with a back contusion. She was conscious and not ejected. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the cause for both drivers. No other factors were cited. This crash shows how distraction behind the wheel leads to injury, even for those inside vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4770460 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

MTA scraps its plan to run the Interborough Express on city streets. Instead, it will study tunneling under All Faiths Cemetery. Advocates cheer. The move keeps trains off dangerous roads. The future of the project hangs on funding.

On October 30, 2024, the MTA announced it will abandon the street-running segment of the Interborough Express (IBX) light rail project. The agency now plans to study a tunnel under All Faiths Cemetery at Metropolitan Avenue. MTA President of Construction and Development Jamie Torres-Springer said, "We're looking at a tunnel at Metropolitan Avenue, which will allow us to avoid street running to make the [Interborough Express] faster and more reliable." Transit advocates, including Blair Lorenzo of the Effective Transit Alliance, praised the decision, calling it a win for speed and reliability. The MTA will assess expanding the existing freight tunnel or building a new one. The engineering and environmental review will take about two years. Funding for the IBX remains uncertain, as MTA CEO Janno Lieber warned that expansion projects could be at risk if the 2025-2029 capital plan falls short. The move removes a threat to vulnerable road users by keeping trains off city streets.

• Tunnel Vision! MTA Abandons Flawed Plan To Run IBX Partly on Street, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-30

DOT’s Smart Curbs pilot drags its feet. Free parking remains king. Promised microhubs for deliveries delayed. Only a sliver of free spaces become paid. Advocates call the effort timid. The city leaves most curb space untouched. Vulnerable users wait.

The Department of Transportation’s Smart Curbs pilot, updated October 29, 2024, aims to convert free parking to paid meters and add delivery microhubs on the Upper West Side. The plan, first proposed in June, promised about 200 new metered spots and 27 loading zones, but only 175 free spaces—one-tenth of the area’s 1,700—will be removed. Microhubs, meant to reduce double-parking and delivery chaos, are delayed until next year. DOT spokespersons Vin Barone and Mona Bruno confirmed most changes are just reassignments, not true removals of free parking. Carl Mahaney of StreetopiaUWS called the slow pace disappointing: “We’ve been super eager to see these changes, see what their impact is and start measuring and observing, so it’s a little disappointing.” Parking expert Donald Shoup urged the city to reinvest meter revenue locally, but DOT declined. The pilot leaves most curb space for cars, not people. Vulnerable road users see little relief.

• DOT’s Upper West Side ‘Smart Curbs’ Struggles to Claw Back Free Parking, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-29

The MTA will tunnel the IBX light rail under All Faiths Cemetery, dropping a street-running plan. Council Member Holden, once opposed, now backs the project. The move keeps trams off busy roads, sparing pedestrians and cyclists from new risks.

On October 29, 2024, the MTA announced it will route the Interborough Express (IBX) through a tunnel beneath All Faiths Cemetery in Queens, abandoning a previous plan to run trams on local streets. The project, covered in committee and public statements, is described as 'transformative for so many New Yorkers.' Council Member Robert F. Holden (District 30), who represents the area, had threatened to oppose the IBX if it included street-running. After the MTA’s shift to tunneling, Holden stated, 'Addressing the biggest issue by forgoing light rail on 69th Street is crucial to earning our support.' The plan eliminates a dangerous section where trams would have mixed with cars, reducing exposure for pedestrians and cyclists. The MTA has issued a request for proposals to design the line and guide it through federal review. The $5.5 billion project’s funding remains uncertain, but the tunnel plan removes a major safety concern for vulnerable road users.

• MTA looking to dig tunnel underneath Queens cemetery for IBX light rail project, amny.com, Published 2024-10-29

A 26-year-old man suffered severe whole-body injuries and shock after being struck while crossing at an intersection on Staten Island. The vehicle was traveling north, going straight, with unspecified driver errors contributing to the crash.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old male pedestrian was injured at an intersection on Windsor Road, Staten Island, at 12:58 PM. The pedestrian was located in the roadway and suffered injuries to his entire body, resulting in shock. The vehicle involved was traveling north, going straight ahead. The report lists the pedestrian's contributing factors as unspecified and does not specify any driver errors or vehicle details. However, the lack of detailed contributing factors suggests driver error cannot be ruled out. The pedestrian was not reported to have any visible complaints or safety equipment, and no blame is assigned to him. The crash highlights the dangers pedestrians face even at intersections when vehicles fail to yield or exercise caution.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4768062 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans slammed head-on on Clove Road. Both drivers injured—back, chest, whiplash, internal pain. Police cite fatigue and physical disability. Metal twisted. No one ejected. System failed them.

According to the police report, two sedans collided head-on at 17:15 on Clove Road, Staten Island. Both drivers, a 60-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman, suffered injuries—chest trauma, back pain, whiplash, and internal complaints. The report lists 'Fatigued/Drowsy' and 'Physical Disability' as contributing factors. Both vehicles struck left front bumpers, confirming a direct frontal impact. No passengers were present. Neither driver was ejected; both remained conscious. The police report does not mention any victim actions as contributing factors, focusing on driver fatigue and disability as the causes behind the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4767258 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on Post Avenue near Jewett Avenue at 11:41 p.m. One driver, a 21-year-old male, suffered a shoulder injury. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained left-side damage in the collision.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 23:41 on Post Avenue near Jewett Avenue involving two sedans. One vehicle was making a right turn while the other was traveling straight westbound. The point of impact was the left side doors of both vehicles. The report lists unsafe speed as a contributing factor to the collision. A 21-year-old male driver was injured, sustaining a shoulder contusion and bruising. He was conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report does not indicate any contributing factors related to the victim's behavior. The crash resulted in damage to the left side doors of both sedans. The data highlights driver error in speed management as a key cause of the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4766988 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Alex Morano calls out City Hall for failing to daylight intersections. He cites a child’s death and demands state action. The mayor’s promises fall short. Exemptions leave pedestrians exposed. Morano urges lawmakers to enforce daylighting everywhere. Lives hang in the balance.

On October 25, 2024, Alex Morano published an opinion piece demanding an end to New York City’s exemption from state daylighting law. The article, titled 'It’s Past Time to Daylight Every Corner in New York City,' criticizes Mayor Adams’s pledge to daylight 1,000 intersections per year as inadequate and misleading. Morano references the death of Kamari Hughes as a tragic example of the city’s failure. He writes, 'New York City should no longer be an exception when it comes to intersection safety.' Morano urges state lawmakers to enforce daylighting standards citywide, arguing that the current exemption leaves pedestrians at risk. He calls for universal daylighting, citing benefits like stormwater mitigation and safer community spaces. The piece is a direct challenge to City Hall’s slow pace and lack of legal accountability.

• Opinion: It’s Past Time to Daylight Every Corner in New York City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-25

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says the MTA cannot borrow its way out. More debt means higher fares or slashed service. Riders face the threat. Congestion pricing was key. Now, the gap grows. The system’s future hangs on real funding, not empty promises.

On October 23, 2024, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a report warning the MTA against borrowing to fill massive holes in its 2020-2024 and 2025-2029 capital plans. The report, not tied to a council bill but crucial for transit policy, states: 'The MTA can't take on any more debt to fill the hole...without dramatically jacking up fares or cutting service.' DiNapoli’s analysis shows that borrowing $15 billion now, plus $13 billion more for the next plan, would force a 16 percent fare hike by 2037. He notes the MTA’s finances are already strained by weak real estate taxes and slow ridership recovery. DiNapoli opposes fare hikes and service cuts, backing congestion pricing and state support instead. He stresses that without new, reliable revenue, vulnerable riders will pay the price. The warning is clear: more debt means danger for those who depend on transit.

• MTA Can’t Borrow Its Way Out Of Hochul’s Capital Plan Gaps: Comptroller, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-23

A sedan hit a parked SUV on Slosson Avenue. The driver, a 27-year-old man, suffered knee and leg abrasions. Both vehicles took front-end damage. Police cite driver error. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a northbound sedan struck a parked southbound SUV on Slosson Avenue in Staten Island at 1:30 PM. The sedan driver, a 27-year-old man, was injured with abrasions to his knee and lower leg. Both vehicles sustained damage to their front ends. The police report lists unspecified driver errors as contributing factors. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and no victim fault is indicated. The sedan driver was conscious and not ejected. This crash underscores the risk posed by driver mistakes, even when one vehicle is stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4765457 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 31-year-old man driving a 2017 Hyundai sedan on Staten Island suffered chest injuries in a crash caused by driver inattention. The vehicle struck an unspecified object or vehicle, damaging the sedan’s front end. The driver remained conscious but bruised.

According to the police report, at 5:50 AM on Staten Island near 141 Maine Avenue, a 31-year-old male driver operating a 2017 Hyundai sedan traveling north was involved in a crash. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The sedan’s center front end sustained damage, indicating a frontal collision. The driver was not ejected and remained conscious but suffered a chest contusion and bruising. The report does not specify other vehicles or objects involved but notes the presence of an unspecified vehicle or object. The driver held a valid New York license and was slowing or stopping before impact. No victim behaviors or pedestrian involvement were reported as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764495 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A sedan traveling south on Jewett Avenue crashed due to outside car distraction. The 41-year-old female driver suffered a back contusion but remained conscious and restrained by a lap belt and harness. The crash caused front-end vehicle damage.

According to the police report, a 41-year-old female driver was operating a 2021 sedan southbound on Jewett Avenue at 9:00 AM when the crash occurred. The report identifies 'Outside Car Distraction' as the contributing factor, indicating driver error. The driver was injured with a back contusion but was conscious and secured by a lap belt and harness. The vehicle sustained damage to the center front end, consistent with a frontal collision. No other vehicles or pedestrians were reported involved. The driver's distraction was the sole cited cause, with no contributing factors attributed to the victim or other road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4763796 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Electric cars are not the clean break promised. A new NBER study finds EVs only 10 percent less harmful than gas vehicles. Heavier batteries mean deadlier crashes. Smokestack pollution from charging outweighs tailpipe gains. The toll on life and air remains high.

On October 15, 2024, researchers from Duke, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the University of Chicago published a working paper through the National Bureau of Economic Research. The report, titled 'The Effects of 'Buy American': Electric Vehicles and the Inflation Reduction Act,' analyzes the full societal costs of electric vehicles (EVs) versus gasoline vehicles (GVs). The study finds, 'U.S. electric vehicles are only slightly less harmful to the environment and society than conventional gasoline cars.' The analysis aggregates climate damage, crash deaths, and pollution. It reveals that EVs’ heavier weight leads to more fatal crashes, and their battery production is energy-intensive. Charging EVs on carbon-heavy grids causes six times more harmful pollution than gas tailpipes. The authors conclude that, factoring in all harms, EVs are only 10 percent less damaging than GVs. The report urges policymakers to reconsider subsidies and warns that the real-world toll of cars—electric or not—remains immense.

• EVs — What Are They Good For?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-10-15