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

Floods choked New York. Subways drowned. Buses stalled. Cars trapped in oily water. Streets became rivers. Emergency response lagged. The mayor stayed silent. Vulnerable New Yorkers—pedestrians, riders, workers—were left stranded, exposed, and waiting for help that never came.

On September 29, 2023, New York City faced a crippling extreme weather event. Streets, subways, and highways flooded. The MTA told riders to stay home. Buses filled with water. Cars were stranded on the FDR and Prospect Expressway. The event, documented by Streetsblog NYC, showed city systems overwhelmed. The matter summary reads: 'The BQE is flooded, neighborhoods are flooded, the MTA is literally telling people to not take the train, but New Yorkers have yet to hear from their mayor today.' No council bill or vote was involved. No council member stepped forward. The city’s emergency response faltered. Vulnerable road users—those on foot, on transit, in cars—bore the brunt. The mayor’s absence left the public in the dark as danger mounted.

• We Have the ‘End of Days’ Flooding Pics You Need Right Now, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-29

Floodwaters swallowed streets, trapped buses, and shut down trains. Cars bobbed in oily rivers. Pedestrians waded through chaos. Council Member Lincoln Restler called out the city’s slow response. Vulnerable New Yorkers paid the price. Leadership stayed silent. Danger surged.

On September 29, 2023, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) spotlighted the devastation as extreme flooding crippled New York City’s transit. The event, titled 'Extreme weather event (flooding) impacts on NYC transportation,' showed buses stranded, subways flooded, and streets impassable. Restler was mentioned as a key voice demanding action. The article’s summary reads: 'We Have the 'End of Days' Flooding Pics You Need Right Now.' The city’s emergency response faltered. The MTA and DOT failed to protect riders and walkers. Streets and drainage buckled. Leadership, including the mayor, stayed out of sight. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, transit riders, and cyclists—faced the brunt of systemic neglect. No safety analyst weighed in, but the images and accounts show a city unprepared for crisis.

• We Have the 'End of Days' Flooding Pics You Need Right Now, streetsblog.org, Published 2023-09-29

A 35-year-old woman was struck while crossing Victory Boulevard with the signal. The sedan driver failed to yield right-of-way during a left turn. The pedestrian suffered bruises and injuries to her knee and lower leg. The driver’s error caused the crash.

According to the police report, a 35-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Victory Boulevard at an intersection with the signal. The driver of a 2011 Honda sedan, traveling south and making a left turn, failed to yield right-of-way. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the primary contributing factor. The sedan showed no damage, and the driver was licensed in New York. The pedestrian was conscious and suffered moderate injuries. No other contributing factors such as helmet use or signaling were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4665393 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Port Authority will spend $8.3 million to study widening the Outerbridge Crossing. Critics warn more lanes mean more cars, not less congestion. Officials promise to consider a path for cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge remains dangerous for all who cross.

On September 22, 2023, the Port Authority approved an $8.3 million study to examine widening the Outerbridge Crossing, as required by a 2021 state law. The study, led by HDR, will look at expanding the bridge’s narrow lanes to meet federal standards and possibly adding more lanes. The matter summary states the goal is to 'relieve congestion and improve traffic flow.' State Senator Andrew Lanza pushed for the study, calling the bridge 'very narrow therefore very dangerous.' Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton acknowledged induced demand and said the study will consider all options, including a shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians. Former Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz opposed widening, urging investment in public transit instead. The study’s outcome could shape the future safety of vulnerable road users crossing between Staten Island and New Jersey.

• Madness: Port Authority Will Spend $8.3M to ‘Study’ Widening Outerbridge Crossing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-22

Attorney Adam White was arrested after exposing an obscured license plate. Cops charged him with criminal mischief. The DA dropped the case. White now sues the NYPD and city, demanding policy changes and damages. The suit targets retaliation against civilians reporting traffic misconduct.

On September 19, 2023, attorney Adam White filed a federal lawsuit against the NYPD, seven officers, and the City of New York. The case stems from a November 11, 2022 arrest after White removed a plastic cover from a license plate he believed was obscured to dodge traffic cameras. The complaint, citing false arrest and retaliation, states: "Mr. White now brings this suit seeking redress for the violations of his own rights, as well as seeking changes to Defendant City's policies and practices around responding appropriately, and without retaliation, to civilian complaints about illegal 'ghost cars,' 'ghost plates,' and other traffic misconduct." The suit names Sholem Klein, head of the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol, as the complainant who called police. The Brooklyn DA later dropped charges against White. The lawsuit seeks damages and policy reforms to protect civilians who report illegal traffic activity.

• Cops Violated Lawyer’s Civil Rights During Infamous ‘Criminal Mischief’ Arrest: Suit, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-19

A box truck struck the left rear quarter panel of an SUV traveling south on Clove Road. The SUV driver, a 72-year-old man, suffered head injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inattention as the cause. Both vehicles moved straight ahead.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling south on Clove Road collided with the left rear quarter panel of a southbound SUV. The SUV driver, a 72-year-old man, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was restrained by a lap belt and harness. The report lists driver inattention or distraction as the contributing factor to the crash. Both vehicles were going straight ahead at the time of impact. The box truck struck the SUV with its right front quarter panel, causing damage to both vehicles. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4662280 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

The city missed legal targets for new bus and bike lanes. Officials dodged questions. Council grilled DOT. Advocates tracked the shortfall. Political meddling blocks safer streets. Vulnerable New Yorkers wait. Progress stalls. Danger stays.

On September 13, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s progress toward mandated bus and bike lane construction. The hearing, led by Transportation Committee chair Selvena Brooks-Powers, pressed DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for answers. The law requires 150 miles of protected bus lanes and 250 miles of protected bike lanes by 2026. In 2022, the city built only 4.4 miles of bus lanes and 26.3 miles of bike lanes, far short of the legal benchmarks. Councilmember Lincoln Restler criticized political interference, saying, 'We're at a point where it's all politics all the time, and we're failing to execute.' Advocacy groups confirmed the city lags behind. The administration’s refusal to track or disclose progress leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city’s failure to act keeps streets dangerous.

• City fails to monitor bus and bike lane construction progress after falling short of mandates last year, amny.com, Published 2023-09-13

Council grilled DOT for stalling on bus and bike lanes. Law demands these lanes. Streets stay deadly. Commissioner Rodriguez faced anger. Restler and others demanded answers. Riders and walkers pay the price for delay.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s failure to deliver required bus and bike lanes. The hearing, led by the Committee on Transportation, featured testimony from DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) and others criticized the agency for 'continuously falling behind on legally required bus and bike lanes.' The matter title reads: 'NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog.' Restler’s action was to publicly challenge DOT’s delays. No safety analyst note was provided, but the council’s frustration highlights the risk: every missed lane leaves vulnerable road users exposed.

• NYC Council members slam Transportation Department on bus, bike lane backlog, nydailynews.com, Published 2023-09-12

Councilmember Brooks-Powers slammed DOT for missing legal targets on bus and bike lanes. DOT leaders dodged numbers, citing delays and staff shortages. The hearing exposed deep rifts over accountability. Vulnerable road users wait as city agencies stall and argue.

On September 12, 2023, the City Council Transportation Committee, chaired by Selvena Brooks-Powers, held an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) compliance with the Streets Master Plan under Local Law 195. Brooks-Powers demanded specifics: 'DOT has struggled to meet its legal mandate. In 2021, DOT installed just 4.4 miles of bus lane—well below 20-mile requirement.' DOT officials, including Deputy Commissioner Eric Beaton and Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, refused to provide current figures, promising data next year. Brooks-Powers called this 'unacceptable.' She stressed, 'The 30 miles of bus lane and 50 miles of bike lanes is not a goal—it’s legal mandate.' The exchange revealed ongoing tension over DOT’s slow rollout and lack of transparency. Staffing shortages and council opposition to projects were cited as obstacles. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Brooks-Powers and DOT Exchange Testiness Over Agency’s Alleged ‘Master Plan’ Shortfalls, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-12

Maryland’s governor pushes a $4 billion highway expansion. Two new toll lanes in each direction. Only scraps for transit. Critics say it’s greenwashing. Black and brown communities bear the brunt. Lawsuits fly. The road grows wider. The danger remains.

"Gov. Moore, like his predecessor, can’t honestly sell the toll lane plan on its merits, so he has to fall back on smoke and mirrors. His administration is trying to dress up the project as primarily about public transit. But that’s just a marketing ploy and a distraction." -- Charles Fall

On September 11, 2023, Maryland’s Democratic Governor Wes Moore announced plans to continue a $4.032-billion highway expansion along interstates 495 and 270. The project, first championed by Republican Larry Hogan, adds two toll lanes each way, with just three percent of funds for sustainable transit. The official summary claims 'new improvements' and uses language of equity and sustainability. Advocates like Janet Gallant and Ben Crowther call it 'greenwashing' and a 'marketing ploy.' Brian O’Malley points to the climate crisis. Lawsuits challenge the plan, which critics say will worsen health and climate impacts, especially for Black and brown communities. The debate exposes a bipartisan pattern: leaders from both parties keep widening highways, ignoring the toll on vulnerable road users and communities.

• Why Democrats and Republicans Alike Keep Expanding Highways, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-11

Philadelphia spends $18 million to give 22,000 city workers unlimited SEPTA rides. The move aims to boost hiring, cut traffic, and help the environment. Other cities eye the model, but face hurdles. Riders, not drivers, stand to gain.

On September 7, 2023, Philadelphia announced an $18 million program to provide over 22,000 public employees with all-access transit passes on SEPTA. The policy, led by Mayor Jim Kenney, is a pilot to support hiring, retention, sustainability, traffic safety, and equity. Kenney called it 'an opportunity to boost the city’s hiring and retention efforts, and support our goals of sustainability, traffic safety, and equity.' Project manager Sandi Ramos highlighted the program’s savings for workers and its equitable impact. Council Member Charles Allen in D.C. and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have pushed similar ideas, but funding and jurisdictional issues stall progress elsewhere. The program’s focus is clear: more transit riders, fewer cars, safer streets. No direct safety analyst note was provided, but the policy centers vulnerable road users by shifting trips from cars to transit.

• Philly Gives City Workers Free Transit. Can Other Cities Follow?, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-09-07

An SUV struck an 11-year-old boy riding an e-scooter. The boy was partially ejected and suffered abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The crash damaged the SUV’s left front bumper and the scooter’s right side doors.

According to the police report, a 2022 Chevrolet SUV traveling north collided with an e-scooter also heading north on Bryson Avenue. The SUV impacted the scooter’s right side doors with its left front bumper. The e-scooter rider, an 11-year-old boy, was partially ejected and sustained abrasions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The boy was conscious but injured. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not identify any driver errors or helmet use. The SUV driver was licensed and driving straight ahead. The crash caused damage to both vehicles. No blame is assigned to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4658230 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Two sedans crashed head-on at Watchogue Road near Crystal Avenue. Both drivers were men, licensed in New York. One driver, 60, suffered back injuries and shock. The crash involved left front bumper impacts and center front end damage to both vehicles.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Watchogue Road near Crystal Avenue. Both drivers were traveling straight ahead when their vehicles struck each other on the left front bumpers. One driver, a 60-year-old man, was injured with back trauma and internal complaints, experiencing shock. He was wearing a lap belt and was not ejected. The report lists driver inexperience and unsafe speed as contributing factors. Both drivers were licensed in New York. The crash caused center front end damage to both vehicles. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657501 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A sedan stopped in traffic was rear-ended on Willow Road East. The driver and front passenger, both female, suffered whiplash and upper arm injuries. Alcohol and driver distraction contributed to the crash. Both occupants were conscious and restrained.

According to the police report, a 2010 Honda sedan stopped in traffic on Willow Road East was struck in the center back end by another vehicle making a right turn. The sedan carried two occupants: a 56-year-old female driver and a 19-year-old female front passenger. Both were injured, sustaining whiplash and upper arm injuries, and remained conscious. The driver and passenger were properly restrained with lap belts and harnesses. The report lists alcohol involvement and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors. The crash caused damage to the sedan's center back end. No ejections occurred. The report does not specify the other vehicle's type or driver details.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4657502 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

Delivery workers ride mopeds on dangerous streets. Tech giants profit. City infrastructure lags. Cars and trucks kill most. Enforcement is scattershot. Officials call for safe lanes, charging stations, and real accountability. The crisis demands a fix beyond punishing workers.

This policy debate, published August 23, 2023, analyzes New York City’s 'moped crisis.' The article, reviewed by Streetsblog NYC, highlights systemic failures: unsafe streets, lack of charging infrastructure, and tech companies shifting risk onto underpaid delivery workers. Council Member Alexa Aviles urges rapid expansion of e-bike charging stations and blames corporate greed. State Senators Jessica Ramos and Brad Hoylman-Sigal call for industry accountability and a standardized, safe delivery vehicle. The matter summary states, 'The city needs a systemic fix, justice for workers and accountability by tech giants.' Advocacy groups reject punitive crackdowns on workers, pushing instead for expanded bike lanes and public infrastructure. The piece concludes that only a multi-pronged, structural approach—never just enforcement—will protect vulnerable road users and delivery workers alike.

• The Moped Crisis — An Analysis: The City Needs a Systemic Fix, Justice for Workers and Accountability by Tech Giants, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-23

A 17-year-old female driver suffered whiplash and full-body injuries in a crash involving an SUV and a sedan. The collision struck the SUV’s left front bumper and the sedan’s center front. Unsafe speed and other vehicular factors contributed.

According to the police report, a collision occurred on Derby Court involving a 2021 SUV traveling east and a 2012 sedan traveling south. The 17-year-old female driver of the SUV was injured with whiplash and full-body trauma but was not ejected. The report lists 'Other Vehicular' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The SUV was struck on its left front bumper, and the sedan sustained damage to its center front end. Both drivers were licensed. The report highlights driver errors related to unsafe speed and other vehicular factors, with no mention of victim fault or protective equipment failures.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4656137 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A Toyota turned left on Forest Avenue. A Ford came straight. Metal crashed. Glass burst. The Toyota driver, a 26-year-old woman, bled from the head. Her view was blocked. Alcohol lingered. Both cars crumpled. Time stopped.

A crash unfolded at Forest Avenue and Decker Avenue. According to the police report, a Toyota sedan turned left while a Ford SUV drove straight. The two vehicles collided, shattering glass and crumpling metal. The 26-year-old woman driving the Toyota suffered severe head lacerations. Police noted her view was obstructed and alcohol was involved. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. Driver inattention and distraction also played a role. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left both vehicles damaged and the Toyota driver injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4654934 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

The city’s KSI metric counts bodies, not danger. Thirty-seven killed on the Upper West Side in a decade. Streets stay deadly. A new, community-centered metric maps risk before blood is spilled. DOT must act before the next crash, not after.

On August 17, 2023, a Streetsblog NYC policy critique challenged the Department of Transportation’s reliance on the KSI (Killed or Severely Injured) metric. The article, titled 'Beyond KSI: How DOT Can Identify Unsafe Streets Before Tragedy Strikes,' exposes how KSI misses hidden dangers and fails to prevent future deaths. No council bill number is attached; this is a public call to action, not legislation. The critique highlights that, despite 37 road deaths on the Upper West Side in ten years, DOT’s 2023 plan ignored these corridors. The author mapped safety features and hazards, proposing a new, proactive metric based on accessibility, comfort, and livability. The piece urges DOT to shift from counting casualties to preventing them, stating, 'we need a different metric to fix the underlying problem of safety on city streets—one that is community-centered and doesn’t reduce our assessment of a certain street’s needs to grim numbers.'

• Beyond ‘KSI’: How DOT Can Identify Unsafe Streets Before Tragedy Strikes, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-17

A sedan struck a 30-year-old man walking off the roadway on Victory Boulevard. The pedestrian suffered a fractured knee and lower leg injuries. The driver, a permit holder, failed to yield and showed inexperience. No vehicle damage was reported.

According to the police report, a 2006 Toyota sedan driven by a female with a learner's permit struck a 30-year-old male pedestrian not in the roadway on Victory Boulevard, Staten Island. The pedestrian sustained a fractured knee, lower leg, and foot injuries. The report lists driver inexperience and failure to yield right-of-way as contributing factors. The driver was entering a parked position at the time of impact. The vehicle showed no damage. The pedestrian was conscious and injured but not ejected. The crash highlights driver errors without attributing fault to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4653117 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-06

A dump truck driver turned right, struck Mariano Leonardo Victoriano on his e-bike, and fled. No charges. The Bronx bleeds: 21 cyclists dead this year, the most since Vision Zero began. Protected bike lanes are rare. City promises, broken. Cyclists pay.

""The administration cannot fall further behind on the NYC Streets Plan’s legal requirements to build protected places for people to bike in every neighborhood of our city."" -- Charles Fall

On August 9, 2023, a cyclist was killed by a hit-and-run dump truck driver in Council District 17, Bronx. The incident marks the 21st cyclist death this year, the highest since Vision Zero began in 2014. The matter highlights that only 1.64% of district streets have protected bike lanes, far below the city average. Jada Yeboah, Bronx/Uptown Organizer for Transportation Alternatives, condemned the city's failure: "Inaction is killing New Yorkers of color." She demanded Mayor Adams meet legal requirements for protected bike lanes, noting only five miles have been built in the Bronx out of 50 required citywide this year. The Bronx ranks third in traffic fatalities, eighth in injuries among 51 districts. The city's inaction leaves cyclists exposed. The toll mounts.

• UPDATE: Another Cyclist — 21st of the Year — Has Been Killed by a Driver, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2023-08-09