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

Governor Hochul offered New Jersey over $100 million to settle the congestion pricing lawsuit. Governor Murphy rejected the deal. Transit riders face higher fares and unreliable service. The legal fight drags on. Streets stay dangerous. Cars keep winning.

On December 18, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New Jersey rejected a 'very generous' settlement offer to end its lawsuit against New York’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, reported by Streetsblog NYC, centers on New York’s offer of over $100 million for New Jersey Transit, potentially as an annual payment from congestion toll revenue. Hochul said, 'We've made multiple offers to settle this lawsuit. Very generous offers.' New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy refused, risking further strain on NJ Transit, which recently raised fares 15 percent. Riders Alliance’s Betsy Plum called Murphy’s stance 'a stubbornness tax' paid by transit riders. Environmental advocates criticized Murphy for blocking improvements to public transportation. The congestion pricing program, set to be the nation’s first, remains tied up in court. No safety analyst has formally assessed the impact on vulnerable road users.

• NJ Refusing ‘Generous’ Congestion Pricing Lawsuit $ettlement, Hochul Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

MTA unveiled its final Queens bus overhaul. Seventeen new routes, more frequent service, but cuts on 29 lines. Rush routes aim to speed riders to trains. Public feedback starts January. MTA Board votes in winter. Rollout set for summer 2025.

The MTA announced its final Queens bus network redesign on December 18, 2024. The plan, now entering its last public feedback phase, will be reviewed by the MTA Board in early winter 2025 and implemented by late summer. The proposal includes over $30 million in new funding, 17 new local routes, and increased frequency for 17 lines, but also service reductions on 29 routes. The main highlight is the introduction of 'rush' routes to connect riders to rail faster. MTA Chair Janno Lieber said, 'Every change to a route has an impact on the schedule... and we did it.' Queens Borough President Donovan Richards voiced support, stating, 'I'm ready. We're ready.' The process began in 2019 and was shaped by extensive community input. No formal safety analysis was provided for vulnerable road users.

• The Queens Bus Redesign Is Finished. Probably, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-18

SUV driver lost consciousness on Forest Ave. Crashed into a parked SUV. Driver suffered head injury. Prescription medication listed as cause. Streets stayed dangerous. No one else hurt.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man driving a 2019 Buick SUV east on Forest Ave lost consciousness, then struck a parked 2012 Dodge SUV. The crash happened at 11:40 in Staten Island. The driver was restrained and suffered a head contusion. The report lists 'Prescription Medication' and 'Lost Consciousness' as contributing factors. No other injuries or driver errors were reported. No mention of helmet or signal use. Only the driver was hurt. The parked vehicle was unoccupied.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4779428 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Gov. Hochul hid her public schedule for months when she killed congestion pricing. Repeated records requests hit a wall. Advocates and legal experts say the secrecy blocks vital scrutiny. New Yorkers are left in the dark as drivers keep clogging city streets.

On December 16, 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office refused to release her daily schedule for April, May, and June—the months when she halted congestion pricing. Streetsblog filed two Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests (R001199-062024 and R001389-102924), both denied or delayed without reason. The matter centers on the governor's decision to 'pause congestion pricing,' a move that impacts every New Yorker who walks, bikes, or rides transit. Heather Murray of Cornell Law School called the delay 'unconscionable,' saying, 'Delaying release of these records for six months is tantamount to denial of the request and violates the Freedom of Information Law.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance urged Hochul to 'level with New Yorkers.' The governor's secrecy shields her from accountability as city streets remain dangerous for vulnerable road users.

• Gov. Hochul Won’t Reveal Public Schedule For Period When She Flopped on Congestion Pricing, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-16

A Staten Island cop drove drunk from a precinct party. Her car hit another, airbags burst, blood spilled. Three fellow officers rode with her. All face discipline. Two more NYPD drunk-driving arrests followed. System failed. Streets paid.

NY Daily News (2024-12-16) reports that NYPD Officer Diana Todaro was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing her car with three colleagues as passengers. The crash happened at Huguenot Ave. and Drumgoole Ave. West, Staten Island, after a precinct holiday party. Todaro admitted, "I had three or four drinks. My life is over." The impact triggered airbags and left her with a forehead gash. All three passengers, also officers, were placed on desk duty and may face charges for allowing Todaro to drive or being unfit for duty. The article notes this was one of three NYPD DWI arrests in four days, highlighting a pattern during holiday party season. The incident raises questions about internal discipline and the risks posed by impaired driving, even among law enforcement.

• NYPD Officers Crash After Holiday Party, NY Daily News, Published 2024-12-16

The Hudson River Greenway uptown reopens next week after months of sinkhole repairs. The fix is temporary. Cyclists and pedestrians face the same dangers. Advocates demand a highway lane for bikes. The city delays. The threat remains. Lives hang in the balance.

On December 13, 2024, officials announced the reopening of the Hudson River Greenway between W. 181st and Dyckman streets after months of repairs. The Parks Department said, 'While durable repairs have been made, efforts are ongoing to address underlying challenges and create a stronger, safer greenway for New Yorkers.' The path, north of the George Washington Bridge, has collapsed twice in two years. Advocates like Allegra LeGrande and Ira Gershenhorn, along with former Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz, urge the city to convert a Henry Hudson Parkway lane into a protected bike path. They call this 'low-hanging fruit.' Instead, the city has forced cyclists onto dangerous, unprotected detours. The city’s refusal to provide a safe, direct route exposes vulnerable road users to ongoing harm. No council bill number applies; this is an urgent matter of infrastructure and safety, not legislation.

• Patch Job: Hudson River Greenway Uptown Returns Next Week, For Now, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-13

A sedan making a left turn struck an 80-year-old pedestrian crossing Jewett Ave outside a crosswalk. The impact caused a hip and upper leg injury, leaving the man bruised but conscious. Driver error in turning led to the collision.

According to the police report, at 19:50 a 2013 Kia sedan traveling north on Jewett Ave was making a left turn when it struck an 80-year-old male pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk. The point of impact was the vehicle's left front bumper, which sustained damage. The pedestrian suffered a contusion and injuries to his hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity 3, and remained conscious. The report lists no specific contributing factors for the driver but notes the pedestrian was crossing without a signal or crosswalk. The collision resulted from the vehicle's left turn maneuver intersecting with the pedestrian's path. No driver license issues were reported. The data highlights the dangers posed by turning vehicles to pedestrians crossing mid-block.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4778117 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council Member Paladino’s bid to ban e-bikes from city parks failed at Manhattan Community Board 2. Members called the bill vague, redundant, and unenforceable. Even e-bike skeptics dismissed it. The board demanded real solutions, not empty gestures or propaganda.

Bill number not specified. On December 10, 2024, Manhattan Community Board 2’s transportation and parks committees reviewed Council Member Vickie Paladino’s proposal to ban e-bikes from city parks. The committees voted overwhelmingly against it. The matter, described as an effort to 'make it more harmonious and safer for people in parks,' was criticized as 'not fleshed out.' Paladino, a Queens Republican, failed to provide data or address existing rules. Co-sponsor Gale Brewer admitted she signed on under pressure and doubted enforcement. Committee members Shirley Secunda, Susanna Aaron, Janet Liff, and Jeannine Kiely all voiced strong opposition, calling the bill redundant and inadequate. The Central Park Conservancy declined to endorse a ban, urging more protected bike lanes instead. The board found the proposal did nothing for safety and ignored systemic issues.

• ‘Not Fleshed Out’: Paladino’s E-Bike Ban Falls Flat at Manhattan Civic Panel, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-10

A 75-year-old woman broke both arms tripping over Christmas trees dumped on a sidewalk. Video shows others stumbling too. A jury awarded her $1.1 million. The article slams sidewalk dumping, calls for strict enforcement, and demands clear paths for pedestrians.

On December 9, 2024, Streetsblog NYC published a media advocacy piece on sidewalk obstruction and pedestrian safety. The article recounts the case of Barbara Hutson, who suffered two broken arms after tripping over Christmas trees left on a Manhattan sidewalk by Regis High School and a neighboring coop. The article states: 'This would not have happened if Regis and the coop had not left the trees to occupy 70 percent of the sidewalk width,' quoting Hutson’s lawyer, Adam White. Hutson sued and won a $1.1 million jury verdict. The piece highlights city code requiring a clear pedestrian passage and criticizes the city’s lax enforcement. The article urges residents and government to keep sidewalks clear, placing discarded trees in the curbside lane, not where people walk. No council bill was involved, but the advocacy centers the danger to pedestrians and the need for systemic change.

• Cycle of Rage: Here’s Why Your Dead Christmas Tree Should Be in the Road, Not on the Sidewalk, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-09

A 29-year-old man crashed his sedan on the SI Expressway west exit ramp. He suffered a neck bruise. Police cite driver inexperience. No other people were hurt.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old male driver crashed a 2017 Infiniti sedan on the SI Expressway west exit ramp at 6:29. He was the only person injured, suffering a neck contusion. The car struck with its center front end. The report lists "Driver Inexperience" as a contributing factor. The driver was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. No other errors or victim actions are noted. This crash shows the danger when drivers lack experience on fast-moving ramps.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4777312 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 56-year-old woman suffered hip and upper leg injuries after a sedan struck her at an intersection. The driver was making a left turn and failed to pay attention. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when the collision occurred.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of Clove Road and W Raleigh Avenue in Staten Island around 6:20 AM. The pedestrian was crossing with the signal when a 2023 Nissan sedan, traveling west and making a left turn, struck her with the vehicle's left front bumper. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, repeated twice, indicating a clear failure by the driver to maintain focus. The pedestrian sustained abrasions and injuries to her hip and upper leg but remained conscious. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. No pedestrian behaviors were listed as contributing factors. The collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving in intersections where pedestrians have the right of way.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776658 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

DOT built just 5.3 miles of new bus lanes in 2024. The law demands 30. Commissioner Rodriguez called it a great job. Critics slammed the city for falling short. Riders wait. Streets stay clogged. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

On December 4, 2024, DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez defended the agency’s bus lane record before critics. The Streets Master Plan requires 30 new miles of bus lanes each year. In 2024, DOT delivered only 5.3 miles—just 17 percent of the legal mandate. Rodriguez claimed, “We are doing a great job,” citing national comparisons and blaming delays on community board processes and local opposition, especially around the 96th Street project. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie condemned the city’s self-praise and legal failure. The matter title reads: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement. Several projects are planned for 2025, but completion is uncertain. The city’s slow pace leaves bus riders and other vulnerable road users exposed to dangerous, congested streets.

• DOT Commish: ‘We Are Doing A Great Job’ … Falling Short of Bus Lane Requirement, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-12-04

Two SUVs crashed on Forest Ave. A 17-year-old passenger was hurt. Police cite failure to yield. Metal twisted. The street stayed open. The young woman bled from her knee and leg.

According to the police report, a 2021 Jeep SUV turned left from Llewellyn Place onto Forest Ave and struck a 2023 Ford SUV heading straight east. The crash happened at 16:27 in Staten Island. Police list 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as a contributing factor. A 17-year-old female passenger in the Ford suffered abrasions to her knee and lower leg. She was conscious and wore a lap belt. Both drivers were licensed. The Jeep's front end and the Ford's left front bumper took the hit. No driver injuries were reported. The report does not cite any contributing factors related to the victim.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4776001 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council moves to gut parking reforms in City of Yes. Car-centric districts win. Fewer homes, more cars, less safety. The plan shrinks. Streets stay dangerous. The promise of safer, denser neighborhoods slips away in committee rooms.

Bill: City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. Status: Awaiting City Council committee vote as of November 20, 2024. The proposal, described as 'a zoning initiative aiming to eliminate costly parking mandates citywide,' faces heavy opposition from council members in low-density, car-dependent districts. Progressive members like Lincoln Restler, Carlina Rivera, Tiffany Cabán, and Shahana Hanif support full removal of parking mandates. But the Council is set to weaken the bill, keeping parking minimums in many areas. This move will slash the number of new housing units and keep dangerous car volumes on city streets. Experts warn that keeping parking mandates will limit housing growth and keep neighborhoods unsafe for those outside cars. The compromise falls short of the original vision for safer, more walkable streets.

• Council Likely To Weaken Mayor’s ‘City Of Yes’ Pro-Housing Zoning Plan, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-20

City data shows open streets thrive. Storefronts fill up. Pedestrians and cyclists bring life and cash. Cars do not. Vacancy rates drop where traffic is banned. Volunteers keep these corridors alive, but city support lags behind their success.

On November 18, 2024, the Department of City Planning released a report titled 'Storefront Activity in NYC Neighborhoods.' The analysis, covered by Streetsblog NYC, finds that open streets—car-free corridors—have about half the vacant storefronts of car-filled streets. The report states: 'vibrant public spaces are key to the success of local businesses.' City officials like Ya-Ting Liu, chief public realm officer, and volunteers such as Alex Morano and Brent Bovenzi, praised the program's impact. Bovenzi noted, 'the program is shrinking because too much of the burden falls upon volunteer labor.' The Open Streets program, now permanent, covers over 130 locations but relies heavily on volunteers. Advocates urge the city to invest more, as the data shows people-centric design drives economic recovery and safer, more vibrant neighborhoods.

• Car-Free Streets are Good For Business, Yet Another Report Shows, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-18

City Council passed a bill to clean up battered newsracks. Erik Bottcher led the charge. The law forces owners to post contact info and lets DOT set strict standards. The goal: clear sidewalks, fewer obstacles, safer passage for all.

On November 18, 2024, the City Council approved a bill regulating sidewalk newsracks. The measure, sponsored by Council Member Erik Bottcher (District 3), passed through committee and aims to address neglected, broken, and obstructive newspaper boxes. The bill summary states it will 'establish clear guidelines and help ensure that our local publications get to maintain their newsracks while also helping to alleviate sidewalk congestion.' Bottcher’s action brings new requirements: owners must display contact information, and the Department of Transportation gains authority to set size, shape, and material standards. Sandra Ung, another council member, noted that without oversight, newsracks become a blight. The law seeks to reduce sidewalk clutter, making streets less hazardous for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

• ‘Ugly’ NYC sidewalk newspaper boxes will get much-needed makeover under new City Council bill, nypost.com, Published 2024-11-18

Two sedans slammed together on Willowbrook Road. A driver took a hit to the neck. Whiplash followed. Metal twisted at the front ends. Both cars moved west. One merged. The other went straight.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on Willowbrook Road at 5:10 p.m. Both vehicles traveled west. One driver merged while the other continued straight. The impact struck the right front quarter panel of the merging sedan and the left front bumper of the other. A 54-year-old male driver suffered neck injuries and whiplash. He wore a lap belt and harness, stayed conscious, and was not ejected. Both drivers held New York licenses. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the injured driver. No specific driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding are named.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4772175 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council bill targets shuttered schools. Annual study flags closed sites. Speed cameras pulled from dead zones. Streets lose watchful eyes. Vulnerable walkers and riders left exposed.

Int 1106-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, by Council Members Chris Banks (primary), Kamillah Hanks, Frank Morano, and David M. Carr. The bill orders the city to study which schools have closed each year and to remove speed cameras from those erased school zones. The matter title reads: 'Annual study to identify non-operational schools and the subsequent removal of speed cameras from eliminated school speed zones.' If passed, the law would strip cameras from streets where schools once stood, erasing a layer of protection for people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1106-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Council bill targets shuttered schools. Annual study flags closed sites. Speed cameras pulled from dead zones. Streets lose watchful eyes. Vulnerable walkers and riders left exposed.

Int 1106-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, by Council Members Chris Banks (primary), Kamillah Hanks, Frank Morano, and David M. Carr. The bill orders the city to study which schools have closed each year and to remove speed cameras from those erased school zones. The matter title reads: 'Annual study to identify non-operational schools and the subsequent removal of speed cameras from eliminated school speed zones.' If passed, the law would strip cameras from streets where schools once stood, erasing a layer of protection for people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1106-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-11-13

Governor Hochul slashes NYC’s congestion toll to $9. The move aims to beat a federal block but guts traffic reduction. Streets will see less relief. The plan leaves vulnerable road users exposed. The city trades speed and safety for political timing.

On November 8, 2024, Governor Hochul proposed lowering New York City’s congestion pricing toll from $15 to $9. The plan, a policy proposal to adjust congestion pricing, comes as officials rush to implement it before a new presidential administration can intervene. The original $15 toll, crafted by the Traffic Mobility Review Board and approved by the MTA Board, promised strong traffic reduction and included credits and caps. The $9 version, previously reviewed in environmental assessments, may lack those protections. Economist Charles Komanoff warns, 'You lose other benefits. Most noticeably, you don’t get the immediate traffic speed gain that a $15 toll would give.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes urges swift action, saying, 'The time to commit to better public transit, less traffic and cleaner air is now.' The lower toll is projected to improve traffic speeds by only 6.4 percent, far less than the 17 percent expected from the original plan. With less traffic reduction, streets remain dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Analysis: Hochul’s $9 Congestion Toll May Stave Off Trump, But Won’t Reduce Traffic as Much, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-11-08