Port Richmond Bleeds While City Leaders Look Away

Eighteen out of twenty-four trees died on Sunset Park’s greenway. The city failed to maintain them. Agencies blamed each other. Residents suffer. No shade. No care. The greenway, meant for safety and respite, stands bare. Vulnerable road users pay the price.

This report details the collapse of tree maintenance along the Sunset Park Greenway, a project completed in 2022 on Second Avenue between 58th and 65th streets. The Department of Design and Construction managed the seven-year build, but its maintenance agreement with the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative expired in 2018. Since then, city agencies have passed responsibility back and forth. The Parks Department, now tasked with care, cites budget cuts and overworked staff. Mayor Adams slashed $20 million from the Parks budget, worsening the crisis. Katherine Walsh, Community Board 7 Transportation Committee chair, calls the neglect an equity issue, highlighting Sunset Park’s high pollution and health risks. Brian Hedden of the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative urges a citywide fix. The matter title: 'Dead Trees Highlight Multiple City Failures on Sunset Park Greenway.' No council bill number or formal vote is attached, but the story exposes systemic failure and its toll on vulnerable New Yorkers.

• Dead Trees Highlight Multiple City Failures on Sunset Park Greenway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-09-04

Hundreds will rally for subway elevators on September 8. Advocates blame Gov. Hochul’s congestion pricing pause for stalling $2 billion in accessibility upgrades. Riders and organizers will canvass stations, demanding funding and warning of deep cuts to ADA projects citywide.

On August 30, 2024, advocates announced a citywide protest and canvassing event for subway accessibility, set for September 8. The action responds to Governor Hochul’s indefinite pause on congestion pricing, which threatens $2 billion in elevator projects at 23 stations. Organizers cite the MTA’s legal mandate to make 95 percent of the subway accessible by 2055 and warn of a 30 percent cut to ADA spending without congestion pricing funds. Jeff Peters of the Center for Independence of the Disabled NY said, 'Congestion pricing would be used for just this situation.' Danna Dennis of Riders Alliance and Jessica Murray of Elevator Action Group joined calls for action. The protest highlights the direct link between transit funding and safe, accessible passage for all New Yorkers.

• They Want YOU: Massive Protest for Subway Elevators on Sept. 8, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-30

New York will close 71 streets to cars outside schools this fall. The city adds more car-free zones for kids. Streets once deadly will now be safer for walking, play, and learning. The move targets neighborhoods hit hardest by crashes.

On August 29, 2024, the Department of Transportation announced a record 71 school streets will close to cars this fall. The expansion, not tied to a specific council bill, builds on the Open Streets program, made permanent in 2021. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez said, 'We have created a new framework to give this space back to our school children.' Councilwoman Vickie Paladino celebrated the new open street at PS 129, calling it a win for safe pick-up, drop-off, and play. Funding comes from the Public Space Equity Program, with $30 million focused on under-resourced areas. Street Lab will provide programming and street furniture. The program responds to past investigations showing higher crash and injury rates outside schools, especially in poorer neighborhoods. The city will directly fund management and operations starting in 2025, aiming to make these safety gains permanent.

• More Safe School Streets Coming To NYC This Fall, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-29

A bus struck a 40-year-old bicyclist on Anderson Avenue. The rider was partially ejected, suffering abrasions and injuries to his elbow and lower arm. The bus driver was distracted. The cyclist was inexperienced and followed too closely.

According to the police report, a bus traveling south on Anderson Avenue collided with a bicyclist going straight ahead. The bus sustained damage to its left front bumper at the point of impact. The bicyclist, a 40-year-old male wearing a helmet, was partially ejected and suffered abrasions and injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor for the bus driver. Additionally, the bicyclist's inexperience and following too closely were noted as contributing factors. The bicyclist was unlicensed and injured but conscious at the scene. The collision highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving and the risks faced by vulnerable road users in interactions with large vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4750118 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

MTA leaders blasted the city for killing Fordham Road bus lane upgrades. Paint and ticket blitzes failed. Bus speeds barely moved. Riders remain stuck in traffic. Cars clog lanes. Promised fixes scrapped. Advocates demand real action. The city stalls. Riders suffer.

On August 16, 2024, MTA officials sent a scathing letter to DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, criticizing the city’s decision to abandon plans to upgrade Fordham Road’s curbside bus lanes to offset bus lanes. The letter, signed by outgoing NYCT President Richard Davey and interim successor Demetrius Crichlow, called the city’s paint-and-enforcement approach a 'total bust.' The MTA cited new data showing bus speeds increased just 2–4 percent since October 2022—far below the 15 percent target. The matter summary reads: 'The Fordham Road project enjoys widespread support from transit advocacy groups, and Fordham Road bus riders, who have been enduring slow service for decades.' Council involvement is not specified, but the MTA’s letter and Riders Alliance’s Danny Pearlstein both demand stronger measures. The city’s inaction leaves Bronx bus riders stranded in slow traffic, with vulnerable road users paying the price for political compromise.

• FOIL’D: MTA Leadership Assailed DOT for Failing to Boost Fordham Road Bus Speeds, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-16

City law now forces DOT to reveal where bikes and scooters go. Streets and bridges, protected or not. Data goes public. Riders’ movement, danger, and safety projects laid bare. No more hiding the facts.

Int 0745-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was introduced April 11, 2024, and passed on August 15, 2024. The law orders the Department of Transportation to post current bicycle and micromobility ridership data online, updated monthly or at least yearly. The matter summary reads: 'requiring the department of transportation to provide information about bicycle and other micromobility device activity.' Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers led as primary sponsor, joined by Farías, Restler, Hudson, Schulman, and others. The law demands transparency on where riders travel and what DOT does to keep them safe. This opens the books on bike movement and exposes gaps in protection.

• File Int 0745-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-08-15

A new report finds alternatives to congestion pricing fall short. They raise less money, miss traffic cuts, and skip air quality gains. The MTA faces a funding gap. Modernization stalls. Riders and streets lose. Council Member Weprin is mentioned.

On August 11, 2024, Council Member David Weprin (District 24) was mentioned in a report examining alternatives to congestion pricing for MTA funding. The Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC) found that 'various proposals to replace the mass transit money lost from pausing congestion pricing either don’t raise the same revenue or fail to achieve other benefits such as reduced traffic from the Manhattan toll.' The report, reviewed by Weprin, details that none of the eight alternatives—ranging from payroll taxes to casino revenue—would match congestion pricing’s $1 billion annual yield or its bondable value. Lisa Daglian, PCAC’s executive director, said these options either fall short on funding or burden working New Yorkers, while missing out on cleaner air and less traffic. The MTA has suspended billions in modernization work. The pause leaves vulnerable riders and city streets exposed.

• How do MTA funding alternatives compare to congestion pricing? Not well, says a new report, amny.com, Published 2024-08-11

Governor Hochul halted congestion pricing, claiming sole authority. She called on lawmakers to fix the MTA’s $15-billion gap. Critics say she overreaches. Transit advocates warn: without tolls, transit funding collapses. The law stands. The pause endangers New Yorkers who rely on safe streets.

On August 2, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul publicly defended her June 5 decision to 'pause' New York’s congestion pricing law. Speaking at a Colorado think tank, Hochul insisted, 'Pause is a pause until I say it's not a pause.' She urged the state legislature to address the $15-billion MTA funding shortfall, stating, 'The legislature has to come back and find a solution.' Congestion pricing, passed in 2019, was designed to fund transit and reduce deadly traffic. Critics, including transit advocates and policy experts, challenged Hochul’s authority and accuracy, noting her claims about economic hardship and London’s tolls were misleading. Hochul’s unilateral move leaves the law in limbo and threatens the future of safe, reliable transit for millions of New Yorkers. No council members were directly involved in this executive action.

• Crazy Talk: In New Speech, Hochul Declares Dictatorial Powers, But Also Begs Legislature for Bailout, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-08-02

State Sen. Jeremy Cooney calls out Governor Hochul. He demands a 100-day plan to fill the $16.5 billion MTA gap left by her congestion pricing pause. Projects for safer, more accessible transit hang in the balance. Albany leaders mostly stay silent.

On July 24, 2024, State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, new chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, issued a public demand for Governor Hochul to deliver a '100-day plan' to replace the $16.5 billion MTA funding shortfall caused by her cancellation of congestion pricing. In his op-ed, Cooney wrote, 'the time for debating the merits of congestion pricing has passed,' urging the governor to convene finance, labor, and passenger representatives to find a solution. Cooney’s push comes as the MTA faces threats to station accessibility, signal upgrades, and new trains and buses. Other Albany leaders, including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate President Andrea Stewart-Cousins, have offered little response. Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger called Hochul’s move illegal. The bill or action is not numbered, but the committee involved is the Senate Transportation Committee. No direct safety analyst note was provided, but the loss of funding jeopardizes projects vital to vulnerable road users.

• Hochul Must Put Up or Shut Up on Congestion Pricing, New Senate Transportation Chair Says, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-24

Senator Jeremy Cooney blasted Governor Hochul’s halt of congestion pricing. He called for a 100-day plan to fill the $16.5 billion MTA gap. The pause means fewer upgrades, dirtier buses, and stalled accessibility. Passengers and workers across New York pay the price.

On July 24, 2024, State Senator Jeremy Cooney, new chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, demanded action after Governor Hochul’s abrupt June 5 decision to pause congestion pricing. In an op-ed, Cooney wrote, “The time for debating the merits of congestion pricing has passed, what is most important is keeping our promise to the passengers and workers impacted across the state.” He urged Hochul to deliver a 100-day plan to replace the $16.5 billion MTA shortfall, either by alternative funding or reinstating tolls. Cooney warned that the pause means less expansion, less accessibility, dirtier buses, older trains, and outdated signals. The impact hits every region, but especially vulnerable transit riders who rely on safe, modern service.

• Hochul Must Put Up or Shut Up on Congestion Pricing, New Senate Transportation Chair Says, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-07-24

Gov. Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing slams the brakes on 23 planned subway elevators. Disabled New Yorkers are stranded. The city’s promise of mobility is broken. Crowded stations stay deadly. Lawmakers offer no fix. Riders wait. Danger remains.

On July 23, 2024, advocates condemned Governor Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing, a move that halted funding for 23 new subway elevators. The action, detailed in 'Disabled NYer’s are Victims of Gov. Hochul’s Congestion Pricing Pause,' leaves tens of thousands without access. Michelle Alcaraz and Ray Ray, both disabled New Yorkers, are forced to travel far from home or avoid transit altogether. The MTA’s $16 billion in scheduled repairs, including crucial accessibility upgrades, is now in limbo. Joe Rappaport of the Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled called on the governor and legislature to restore funding, warning that the lack of elevators treats disabled riders as 'second-class citizens.' The pause keeps stations dangerous for parents, caregivers, and the disabled. Lawmakers have yet to offer a solution.

• Disabled NYer’s are Victims of Gov. Hochul’s Congestion Pricing Pause, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-23

DOT aims to extend protected bike and bus lanes on Third Avenue in Harlem. The corridor is deadly—430 injuries in four years. Some want parking. Others want safety. The design is not final. DOT returns to the board in fall.

On July 5, 2024, the Department of Transportation proposed extending the 'complete street' redesign of Third Avenue from 96th to 128th Street in Harlem. The plan, discussed before the Community Board, would add a bus lane and a protected bike lane. DOT calls the corridor a Vision Zero Priority Corridor, citing 430 injuries from 2019 to 2023, including deaths and serious harm to cyclists and pedestrians. DOT's Rosy Doud said, 'We’re really seeing a need here to make some safety improvements.' Board member Kenneth Crouch supported protected lanes, while Chair Jose Altamirano pushed to limit parking loss. Delivery worker Naquan described drivers 'always trying to run me off the road.' The design is not final. DOT will return in the fall for further review.

• DOT Plans Third Avenue Complete Street Expansion in Harlem, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-07-05

Albany stalls. The MTA faces a $15 billion hole. Lawmakers argue over reviving congestion pricing with a lower toll. Transit hangs in the balance. Streets stay clogged. Riders and walkers wait for answers. No fix. No funding. Danger lingers.

On July 2, 2024, state lawmakers, including Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47), debated the future of congestion pricing and MTA funding. The matter, reported as 'MTA in dark over Gov. Hochul’s talks to revive congestion pricing with lower tolls,' highlights confusion and division. Hoylman-Sigal supports lowering the toll, saying, 'The goal should be mend it don’t end it.' He urges keeping the program alive to save mass transit. Sen. Liz Krueger is open to tweaks if goals are met. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow opposes any revival. The MTA faces a $15 billion shortfall after the program’s pause. Policy experts warn that lowering the toll could weaken congestion relief and transit funding. No clear plan exists. Vulnerable road users remain at risk as gridlock and uncertainty persist.

• MTA in dark over Gov. Hochul’s talks to revive congestion pricing with lower tolls: ‘I don’t know anything’, nypost.com, Published 2024-07-02

City Council raised Fair Fares eligibility. Now, more low-income New Yorkers get half-price MetroCards. The move adds $10 million to the program. Over one million people now qualify. Councilmember Brannan calls it a step for equity. Advocates want more.

On June 28, 2024, the City Council expanded the Fair Fares MetroCard program, raising eligibility from 120% to 145% of the federal poverty line. The change, part of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, was championed by Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan. The bill increases access for individuals earning up to $21,837 and families of four earning $45,240. The council added $10 million in funding, bringing the total to over $100 million annually. Brannan and economist James Parrott wrote, 'By expanding the reach of Fair Fares, we can ensure that all New Yorkers—particularly those who are already struggling during a crisis of affordability—can fully participate in the economic, social, and cultural opportunities of our city.' The expansion boosts eligibility from 932,000 to just over 1 million people. Advocates and Speaker Adrienne Adams say it is a win, but still short of the 200% threshold they seek.

• First On amNY: Eligibility for city’s half-price MetroCard program boosted to 145% of federal poverty line in city budget: sources, amny.com, Published 2024-06-28

Governor Hochul halted congestion pricing. The MTA slashed $16 billion in upgrades. Subway signals, elevators, new trains, and electric buses now wait. Riders face old, broken systems. Promised fixes vanish. Vulnerable New Yorkers lose safe, reliable transit. The crisis deepens.

On June 26, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul announced an 'indefinite pause' on congestion pricing, derailing the $40-billion 'Fast Forward' plan for subway and bus improvements. The MTA board approved the pause, forcing a $16 billion cut in capital spending. Projects delayed include modern signals, station accessibility, new trains, and electric buses. The plan, crafted by former NYC Transit President Andy Byford, aimed to fix decades of neglect. Byford said, 'The Fast Forward plan we created in 2018 is as necessary today as it was then.' MTA board member Norman Brown lamented, 'We're turning the clock back.' The pause leaves vulnerable riders—especially low-income New Yorkers—exposed to unreliable, unsafe transit. No new funding is secured. The system’s future hangs in the balance.

• Hochul’s Congestion Pricing ‘Pause’ Kicks Transit Fixes to the Next Crisis, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-26

DOT will build nearly a mile of protected bike lanes on Seventh Avenue in Dyker Heights. The stretch is notorious for speeding, crashes, and one recent fatality. The plan adds sidewalk space, bus islands, and closes slip lanes. Some locals protest lost parking.

On June 24, 2024, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) announced plans to install protected bike lanes on Seventh Avenue in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. The project, pitched as a school safety upgrade, will replace painted bike lanes with a two-way protected lane, add sidewalk extensions, and close two slip lanes. DOT cited 110 injury crashes and one fatality in four years along the corridor. The redesign also includes concrete bus boarding islands and pedestrian improvements near schools and hospitals. DOT staffer Alex Ussery said, 'We’ve received some concerns from the community and various elected officials specifically regarding safety around students.' Community board attendees voiced anger over the loss of 28 parking spots, but some residents and advocates praised the safety upgrades, calling them 'desperately needed.' Installation will begin this summer and finish in the fall. No council member directly sponsored or voted on this DOT action.

• Protected Bike Lanes Are (Finally) Coming To Car-Centric Dyker Heights, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-24

New Yorkers packed the MTA Board meeting. They slammed the Governor’s pause on congestion pricing. The move guts $15 billion from transit upgrades. Projects for elevators and ramps stall. Disabled riders, seniors, and veterans lose out. Politicians split. Riders left stranded.

On June 24, 2024, the MTA Board heard public testimony and political debate on the fallout from Governor Hochul’s indefinite pause of congestion pricing, which was set to begin June 30. The meeting focused on the loss of funding for transit accessibility. The matter, described as 'New Yorkers decry loss of congestion pricing money for accessible transit to MTA Board,' drew sharp criticism from disability advocates and riders. State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, representing District 23, praised the Governor’s pause, calling congestion pricing 'the wrong plan for my constituents.' The pause leaves a $15 billion hole in the MTA’s capital budget, halting upgrades like elevators and ramps at dozens of stations. Advocates warned that without this funding, disabled New Yorkers, seniors, and veterans remain shut out of the subway. The MTA faces a federal mandate to make 95% of stations accessible by 2055, but these projects now stall. Riders demanded action. Politicians offered little hope.

• New Yorkers decry loss of congestion pricing money for accessible transit to MTA Board, amny.com, Published 2024-06-24

DOT wants a two-way busway on Tremont Avenue. Cars and taxis must turn off. Buses crawl at 4.5 mph here. Most travelers ride the bus. Council members urge careful planning. Committee backs the plan. DOT will study traffic and consult the community.

On June 18, 2024, the Department of Transportation proposed an 11-block, 0.6-mile two-way busway on Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. The plan, discussed in the Municipal Services Committee, would force cars and taxis to turn off, leaving the lane for buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles. The matter summary notes, 'The Bx36 bus, which travels this corridor, is among the slowest in the Bronx, with speeds dropping to as low as 4.5 miles per hour.' Council Members Pierina Sanchez and Oswald Feliz, who represent the area, expressed cautious optimism and called for community engagement. Committee Chair Lucia Deng reported, 'There was zero pushback on the concept of busways or bus lanes.' The committee even pushed for a longer route. DOT will conduct further analysis and present detailed plans to local boards in the fall. No formal safety assessment for vulnerable road users was provided.

• City Proposes Short Busway For Clogged Cross-Bronx Roadway, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-06-18

After congestion pricing’s defeat, Assemblyman Gary Pretlow pushes casinos to fill the MTA’s budget gap. An editorial slams the plan, calling it reckless and corrupt. The piece urges Governor Hochul to hold the line. Riders and streets remain at risk.

On June 15, 2024, an editorial criticized a push by Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (District 89) to use casino licenses as a quick fix for lost MTA revenue after congestion pricing failed. The editorial, titled 'After congestion toll win, Gov. Hochul must say ‘No’ to casino-crutch revenue plan,' warns that casino funding is unreliable and prone to corruption. Pretlow, along with state Sen. Joe Addabo, is vocal about expediting casino approvals. The editorial quotes, 'The MTA may need cash, but ramming through casino deals... has got to be among the worst ideas yet.' It urges Governor Hochul to reject the casino plan, praising her past opposition to congestion pricing rollbacks. No direct safety analysis was provided, but the editorial highlights systemic risk: without stable transit funding, vulnerable road users face greater danger from increased car traffic and unreliable public transit.

• After congestion toll win, Gov. Hochul must say ‘No’ to casino-crutch revenue plan, nypost.com, Published 2024-06-15

Angry Brooklynites rallied at Broadway Junction. They blasted Governor Hochul for halting congestion pricing. Signs demanded clean air and fast trains. Council Member Lincoln Restler called it betrayal. Protesters warned: more cars, less transit, and vulnerable riders left behind.

On June 10, 2024, Council Member Lincoln Restler joined a protest in District 33 against Governor Kathy Hochul’s indefinite delay of congestion pricing. The rally, organized by Riders Alliance, gathered outside Broadway Junction. Protesters held signs reading, 'Don’t cancel @ 11th hour' and 'clean air, fast trains. Fund the MTA.' The matter, titled 'Brooklynites fume over congestion pricing delay: Kathy Hochul has betrayed us,' saw Restler declare, 'Kathy Hochul has betrayed us.' He called for more frequent buses, reliable trains, and less car dependence. Demonstrators warned that the delay defunds the MTA, threatens service for those without cars, and puts Black, Brown, and low-income communities at risk. State Sen. Jabari Brisport urged Hochul to reinstate the plan. No safety analyst assessment was provided.

• Brooklynites fume over congestion pricing delay: ‘Kathy Hochul has betrayed us’, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-06-10