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

Gov. Hochul faces pressure to let New York City charge for residential street parking. The plan targets illegal registrations, raises MTA funds, and could cut traffic. Critics say current rules reward fraud and endanger cyclists. Reform means fewer cars, safer streets.

On February 20, 2025, an editorial published by Streetsblog NYC called for Governor Hochul and state leaders to grant New York City the authority to create citywide, resident-only parking zones. The piece, titled 'Gov. Hochul Could Transform Our City with Parking Reform,' argues, 'With permission from the state, New York City could enact a citywide, resident-only parking system. Non-residents needn’t be banned from parking here, just charged for it, with the money going to the MTA.' The editorial highlights rampant illegal vehicle registrations and the dangers they pose, including uninsured cars and increased risk for cyclists. The proposal urges charging both residents and visitors for parking, with higher rates in dense, wealthy areas. The plan aims to reduce congestion, generate MTA revenue, and reclaim curb space for safer uses. No council member is directly named, as this is an opinion piece, but the call is clear: state action is needed to protect vulnerable road users and restore trust in public space management.

• Gov. Hochul Could Transform Our City with Parking Reform, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-20

SUV hit sedan’s rear on Forest Ave. Both driver and passenger suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited driver inexperience. Slippery pavement noted. Both victims stayed conscious. No ejections.

According to the police report, a westbound SUV struck the right rear bumper of a sedan near 1520 Forest Ave on Staten Island. The crash left the sedan’s 52-year-old male driver and 26-year-old female front passenger with back injuries and whiplash. Both were conscious and restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The report lists driver inexperience as a contributing factor, along with slippery pavement. The SUV’s left front bumper hit the sedan’s right rear. No ejections occurred. Police identified driver inexperience as a key cause, highlighting the risk inexperienced drivers pose in hazardous conditions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792963 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two vehicles crashed head-on and side-on at Maine Ave. Both drivers, women aged 57 and 61, suffered injuries and shock. The SUV struck the sedan’s right side, causing internal and visible injuries. Driver distraction was cited as a factor.

According to the police report, a 2017 Jeep SUV traveling south on Maine Ave collided with a 2010 Honda sedan traveling west. The SUV impacted the sedan’s right front quarter panel with its center front end, causing damage to the sedan’s right side doors. Both drivers, female and licensed in New York, were injured and experienced shock. The 61-year-old SUV driver sustained knee, lower leg, and foot injuries, while the 57-year-old sedan driver suffered neck injuries. Both occupants were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor, highlighting driver error as central to the crash. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792958 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 50-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash after his station wagon was struck from behind by an SUV traveling northeast on Victory Boulevard in Staten Island. The impact damaged the center back end of the station wagon.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Victory Boulevard in Staten Island at 3:01 PM. A 50-year-old male driver in a station wagon sustained neck injuries and whiplash, remaining conscious and not ejected from the vehicle. The report states the SUV, a 2021 model traveling northeast, struck the station wagon at the center back end. The SUV driver was licensed in New York and was the sole occupant. The report does not list any contributing factors or driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding. No victim behaviors were cited as contributing factors. The collision caused damage to the rear center of the station wagon, indicating a rear-end impact scenario.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793335 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

MTA’s bus-mounted cameras caught over 400,000 drivers blocking bus stops in five months. Tickets soared. Bus speeds rose. Crashes fell. Cameras now outpace NYPD enforcement. Repeat offenders dodge deterrence. Advocates push for tougher penalties. Streets clear, but danger lingers.

On February 13, 2025, the MTA reported results from its Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) expansion, which began in August 2024. The program, described as 'bus-mounted camera tickets to drivers who double-park along bus routes or park in bus stops,' has issued over 400,000 tickets in five months. The ACE system grew from 623 buses on 14 routes to 1,000 buses on 34 routes by November. MTA spokesperson Laura Cala-Rauch said the program 'is having a big impact on speeding buses and improving the quality of life for New Yorkers.' Data from Jehiah Czebotar shows cameras now issue 76.4% of bus lane and stop tickets—93% by December. Bus speeds rose 5%, crashes involving buses dropped 20%, and emissions fell up to 10%. Persistent violators remain, with some drivers racking up five tickets. Riders Alliance’s Danny Pearlstein called for escalating fines and legislative changes to target repeat offenders. The ACE program marks a shift toward automated, consistent enforcement, but loopholes for chronic blockers persist.

• ACE In The Hole: MTA’s Bus-Mounted Cameras Nab Over 400K Bus Stop Blockers, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-13

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

A sedan veered on Forest Ave, struck two SUVs. Alcohol and unsafe lane change led to impact. The sedan driver suffered back injury and whiplash. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a sedan changing lanes on Forest Ave collided with two SUVs making left turns. The crash happened at 8:35. The sedan’s driver, a 37-year-old woman, was injured with back pain and whiplash. The report lists 'Unsafe Lane Changing' and 'Alcohol Involvement' as contributing factors. The sedan hit the rear of one SUV and the front of another. The driver was not ejected and remained conscious. Damage centered on the sedan’s front and the SUVs’ ends. Systemic danger and driver error shaped this crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792372 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Member Carmen De La Rosa’s bill, Intro 1050, would gut injury insurance for taxi and app drivers. Victims of traffic violence would face crushing medical bills. Survivors, like Lauren Pine, say $50,000 coverage vanishes in days. Council hears pleas to reject the cut.

Intro 1050, introduced by Council Member Carmen De La Rosa (D-Inwood), is under City Council review. The bill would cut the required minimum personal injury protection insurance for yellow cabs, liveries, and app-based drivers from $200,000 to $50,000. At a recent hearing, Lauren Pine, a nurse and crash survivor, testified: 'The minimum $50,000 no fault insurance was exhausted within the first week or so of my hospitalization.' Pine urged the Council to oppose the bill, warning that victims of traffic violence would be left financially devastated. Transportation Alternatives’ Ben Furnas also opposed the bill, stating, 'This legislation will ultimately make it more expensive and difficult to access care, treatment, and support after a traffic crash.' The bill is generating support among some council members, but advocates and survivors demand the Council maintain current coverage to protect crash victims.

• Opinion: Weakening Injury Insurance Coverage for Cabbies Will Harm Victims of Road Violence, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-12

Albany leaders tried to delay an upstate special election, risking democracy to bargain over congestion pricing. Governor Hochul put the bill on hold. The editorial backs congestion pricing but slams the move to silence 800,000 New Yorkers. Power games, real stakes.

On February 12, 2025, an editorial targeted a special election bill pushed by State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. The bill, introduced late Friday, would let Governor Hochul delay a congressional special election until November 4, leaving nearly 800,000 upstate residents without representation. The editorial quotes, 'wiping out congressional representation for so many people for so long is unfair and undemocratic and unconstitutional.' Stewart-Cousins is mentioned as a key player. Hochul requested the bill be put on hold, pausing the plan. The editorial supports congestion pricing, noting it has 'successfully reduced Midtown and Downtown traffic,' but condemns using democracy as a bargaining chip. No direct safety impact for vulnerable road users is assessed, but the piece underscores the importance of congestion pricing for safer, less crowded streets.

• Don’t swap democracy to save tolls: Kill the special election scam regardless of congestion pricing, nydailynews.com, Published 2025-02-12

Two sedans collided on Victory Blvd at 6:31 AM, striking the right side doors of one vehicle. A 63-year-old female passenger suffered a head contusion. Police cited traffic control disregard as the primary driver error causing the crash.

According to the police report, at 6:31 AM on Victory Blvd near Bradley Ave, two sedans traveling west and south collided. The impact occurred on the right side doors of the westbound Audi, which had one male driver and two occupants. The southbound Toyota struck the Audi with its right front bumper. The collision injured a 63-year-old female passenger seated in the right rear of the Audi, who sustained a head contusion and was conscious after the crash. The police report identifies 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the contributing factor, indicating a failure by one or both drivers to obey traffic signals or signs. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted. The injured passenger was not ejected and was not using any safety equipment.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791885 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senator Lanza pushes S 4705 to kill congestion pricing. Streets risk more cars, more chaos. Vulnerable New Yorkers face louder, deadlier roads. The city’s shield cracks.

Senate bill S 4705, sponsored by Andrew J. Lanza (District 24), seeks to repeal congestion pricing. The bill, introduced on February 11, 2025, is at the sponsorship stage. The measure’s title is blunt: 'Repeals congestion pricing.' Lanza’s move would scrap a system designed to cut car traffic and crashes. No safety analyst has weighed in, but repealing congestion pricing means more cars, more risk, and more danger for people on foot and bike. The bill’s progress threatens hard-won protections for New York’s most vulnerable.

• File S 4705, Open States, Published 2025-02-11

Two SUVs crashed on Victory Boulevard. Both drivers injured. Prescription medication and distraction listed as causes. Metal twisted. System failed. No pedestrians involved.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on Victory Boulevard in Staten Island at 14:40. The 40-year-old male driver suffered shoulder and upper arm injuries and whiplash. The 52-year-old female driver sustained chest injuries and whiplash. Both wore lap belts and harnesses. The report lists 'Prescription Medication' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors for the male driver. The female driver’s contributing factors are unspecified. The impact damaged the left front bumpers of both vehicles. The data highlights driver error tied to medication and distraction. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4792213 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 58-year-old woman driving east on Forest Ave suffered facial abrasions after a collision. According to the police report, alcohol involvement and driver distraction contributed to the crash. The sedan’s right front bumper was damaged in the impact.

According to the police report, a 58-year-old female driver was injured in a crash on Forest Ave at 1:30 PM. The report identifies alcohol involvement and driver inattention or distraction as contributing factors to the collision. The vehicle, a 2013 sedan traveling east, sustained damage to its right front bumper. The driver was conscious and suffered abrasions to her face but was not ejected from the vehicle. The driver held a valid New York license. The report does not list any pedestrian or cyclist involvement or victim behaviors contributing to the crash. The collision highlights the dangers posed by impaired and distracted driving on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4791884 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Bus speeds crawl. Promised bus lanes never come. Mayor Adams broke his pledge. The city built just 9.6 miles in two years. Riders wait. DOT blames funding. Council law ignored. Streets stay deadly. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

This report, released February 7, 2025, by the Independent Budget Office, exposes the city’s failure to meet the Streets Master Plan law (passed in 2019) mandating 150 miles of new bus lanes. The IBO states: 'It will be virtually impossible for the city to meet the City Council's required 150 miles of new bus lanes at the pace Mayor Adams is going.' Mayor Adams, who took office in 2022, has slowed or killed key bus projects, including the Fordham Road busway. DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno claims the agency is building protected lanes and using cameras for enforcement, but admits resources are tight. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has called for compliance but not funded it. Riders Alliance spokesman Danny Pearlstein blames hiring freezes and political interference for 'broken promises and neglected legislation.' The report shows that while DOT’s budget grew, staffing for bus lane expansion fell. Bus speeds remain stuck at 8.1 mph. The city’s inaction leaves millions of bus riders—often the city’s most vulnerable—stranded and exposed.

• Report: Efforts to Speed Up Bus Speeds Have Stalled … Like Bus Speeds, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-02-07

Senator Gounardes calls for a new tax to save the subway. Riders face crumbling platforms and broken trust. The MTA pleads for billions to repair old lines. Critics demand audits, not taxes. The system teeters. Riders wait. Danger grows.

"I understand the public would be frustrated by this [tax], But they're going to be a lot more frustrated when the transit system simply falls apart and there's nothing we can do to fix it." -- Charles Fall

On February 6, 2025, the council debated funding for the MTA’s $65 billion capital plan. The matter, titled 'To fund NYC subway fixes, MTA must undo decades of distrust,' highlights deep public frustration. State Senator Andrew Gounardes, representing District 26, argued for a new tax to prevent the transit system’s collapse, stating, 'they're going to be a lot more frustrated when the transit system simply falls apart.' The debate included calls for audits and cost reductions from Rep. Mike Lawler, while MTA Chair Janno Lieber promised to prioritize repairs over expansion. The committee has not yet voted. Riders voiced anger over high fares and little visible improvement. The debate exposes years of deferred maintenance and political neglect, leaving vulnerable New Yorkers at risk as the city’s transit backbone erodes.

• To fund NYC subway fixes, MTA must undo decades of distrust, gothamist.com, Published 2025-02-06

Council watered down the City of Yes plan. Parking mandates remain in many areas. Housing stays costly. Streets stay carved for cars. Vulnerable road users get no relief. The fight over parking and safety continues. No victory for people on foot or bike.

This opinion piece, published January 27, 2025, criticizes the City Council's compromise on the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity (COYHO) zoning amendments. The Council, after pressure from housing opponents, reinstated parking requirements in many transit-served neighborhoods, despite the City Planning Commission's push to eliminate them citywide. The matter, as described, states: 'Anyone not supporting the elimination of parking mandates is only perpetuating our city's housing crisis.' Planning expert Eric Kober, the author, argues the Council's move blocks housing growth and contradicts city policies to reduce car use. Council members' actions—passing a diluted version of COYHO—leave vulnerable road users exposed. The compromise preserves car dominance, keeps streets dangerous, and stalls progress for safer, people-first neighborhoods.

• OPINION: Candidates Must Pledge to Strengthen ‘City of Yes’ to End Parking Mandates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-27

A boy walked a rural Georgia highway. He made it home safe. Police arrested his mother. The road lacked sidewalks. Drivers sped by. The system blamed the parent, not the dangerous street. Advocates call for safer roads, not more punishment.

On January 27, 2025, media reported the arrest of Brittany Patterson after her 10-year-old son walked alone along Mineral Bluff Highway, Georgia. The case is not a council bill, but a flashpoint in the debate over child independence and pedestrian safety. Prosecutor Emma Harper said the arrest was due to the boy walking on 'a busy highway with no sidewalk.' The matter highlights how parents, not road designers or drivers, face consequences when children navigate unsafe streets. Advocates, including Lenore Skenazy and attorney David DeLugas, condemned the criminalization of parents and called for accountability in road design. Streets like Mineral Bluff Highway, with high speeds and no sidewalks, endanger all pedestrians. The story underscores a systemic failure: dangerous roads persist, while parents and children bear the risk and blame.

• A Child Went For a Walk on a Rural Highway Alone. His Mom Got Arrested For It., Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-01-27

Council wants every cyclist in New York to wear a helmet. No helmet, pay a $50 fine. The bill targets riders not already covered by other laws. Debate now sits with the transportation committee.

Bill Int 1173-2025, now in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was introduced January 23, 2025. The bill states: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of New York, in relation to requiring bicyclists to wear protective headgear.' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams leads as primary sponsor, joined by Council Members Holden, Vernikov, Narcisse, Moya, Schulman, Louis, Hanks, Brannan, and Zhuang. The measure would fine cyclists up to $50 for riding without a helmet, unless already required by other laws. The bill awaits further action in committee.

• File Int 1173-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-23

A distracted driver struck a 56-year-old woman walking outside an intersection on Jewett Avenue. She suffered a fractured hip and upper leg, leaving her in shock. The crash exposed dangers of driver inattention and pedestrian confusion in shared spaces.

According to the police report, a pedestrian was injured at 15:30 on Jewett Avenue after being struck by a vehicle traveling straight ahead. The 56-year-old female pedestrian suffered a fractured and dislocated upper leg and hip, resulting in shock. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. Additionally, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was noted but does not mitigate the driver's responsibility. The pedestrian was outside an intersection at the time of impact. The vehicle involved was unspecified in type and had one occupant. This incident underscores the critical role of driver focus and the systemic dangers posed by distracted driving in urban environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4785843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04