Injured, Ignored, and Waiting: Oakwood Deserves Safe Streets Now

A 35-year-old woman driving a sedan suffered neck injuries in a collision on Hylan Blvd. An SUV making a left turn failed to yield right-of-way, striking the sedan head-on. The sedan driver was conscious and restrained, treated for whiplash.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 7:35 on Hylan Blvd involving a 2024 SUV making a left turn westbound and a 2012 sedan traveling southbound. The SUV driver failed to yield right-of-way and was inattentive, causing a center front-end collision with the sedan. The sedan driver, a 35-year-old woman, was wearing a lap belt and harness and was not ejected. She sustained neck injuries described as whiplash and was conscious at the scene. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors, emphasizing driver error as the cause. No victim behaviors were noted as contributing factors in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801073 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A police cruiser swerved from a U-turning car and crashed into a building. Two officers went to the hospital. The street bore the scars. Metal, glass, brick—shattered. Sirens cut the air. The city’s danger showed, again.

ABC7 reported on March 15, 2025, that two NYPD officers crashed their cruiser into a building at Victory Boulevard and Montgomery Street in Staten Island. The officers were responding to a call about a man with a gun. According to the article, 'another vehicle attempted to make a U-turn, causing the police cruiser to swerve to avoid a collision.' Both officers were hospitalized and are expected to recover. The crash highlights the risks of sudden maneuvers and U-turns on busy city streets. No bystanders were reported injured. The incident underscores the persistent dangers posed by unpredictable driver actions and the high stakes of emergency response in dense urban environments.

• Police Cruiser Slams Into Staten Island Building, ABC7, Published 2025-03-15

A sedan making a left turn on Guyon Ave crashed due to defective brakes. The driver, a 25-year-old man, suffered upper arm injuries and shock. The vehicle’s right front bumper was damaged, highlighting mechanical failure as the key factor.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 11:45 PM on Guyon Ave when a 2017 sedan, traveling north and making a left turn, collided due to defective brakes. The driver, a 25-year-old male occupant, was injured with upper arm trauma and experienced shock. The report explicitly lists 'Brakes Defective' as the primary contributing factor twice, indicating mechanical failure led to the loss of vehicle control. The vehicle sustained damage to the right front bumper at the point of impact. The driver was properly restrained with a lap belt and harness and held a valid New York license. No pedestrian or cyclist was involved, and no victim behaviors contributed to the crash. This incident underscores the systemic danger posed by vehicle maintenance failures rather than driver error or victim actions.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798731 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A car struck Chaosheng Wu, 80, as he crossed Hylan Boulevard. He died at the hospital. The driver stayed. Police probe speed and signals. Dongan Hills mourns its first traffic death of the year. The street remains dangerous.

Gothamist reported on March 10, 2025, that an 80-year-old man, Chaosheng Wu, was killed crossing Hylan Boulevard at Benton Avenue in Staten Island. The crash happened at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Police said a 65-year-old woman driving a 2008 Ford Edge hit Wu as he crossed from the east. Wu was pronounced dead at Staten Island University North Hospital. The driver remained at the scene. No arrests were made. Police are 'still investigating how fast the woman was driving and what the traffic signals at the intersection were displaying at the time.' Wu's death marks the first traffic fatality this year in the 122nd Precinct. The incident highlights ongoing risks for pedestrians on busy city streets.

• Elderly Pedestrian Killed on Hylan Boulevard, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-10

A wooden board flew off a truck on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. It smashed through a car’s windshield. Glass rained down on the family inside. The driver, shaken but steady, steered blind and pulled over. No one reported injuries. Danger passed, barely.

The New York Post (March 9, 2025) reports a near-disaster on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. High winds sent a wooden board flying from a pickup truck into David Deng’s windshield. Dashcam footage shows the board shattering glass across Deng and his family. Deng told the outlet, "I was in complete shock," and described glass covering their clothes and seats. The truck driver had stopped earlier, apparently trying to secure the load. The incident highlights the risk of unsecured cargo on city bridges. No police report was filed at the time. The event underscores the persistent threat loose debris poses to all road users.

• Loose Board Smashes Car Windshield On Bridge, New York Post, Published 2025-03-09

Assemblymember Tannousis moves to kill congestion pricing. The bill calls for an MTA audit and board shakeup. No mention of street safety. Vulnerable road users left exposed.

Bill A 6680 was introduced in the Assembly on March 6, 2025, sponsored by Michael Tannousis (District 64). The bill seeks to repeal congestion pricing, expand the MTA board, and require a forensic audit. The matter title reads: 'Relates to repealing congestion pricing (Part A); commissioning an independent audit of the metropolitan transportation authority (Part B); and conducting an environmental impact study (Part C).' The bill is at the sponsorship stage. Tannousis leads the charge against congestion pricing, a move that could increase car traffic and danger for pedestrians and cyclists. No safety analysis was provided.

• File A 6680, Open States, Published 2025-03-06

A 14-year-old girl crossing Mc Cully Ave away from an intersection was struck by a vehicle. The driver’s inattention caused a severe abdominal and pelvic injury. The pedestrian suffered fractures and dislocations but remained conscious after impact.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing Mc Cully Ave in Staten Island at 7:25 AM. The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk when the collision occurred. The report identifies 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor, cited twice, indicating the driver failed to maintain attention while going straight ahead. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries to the abdomen and pelvis, including fractures and dislocations, and was conscious following the crash. No other contributing factors such as pedestrian error or safety equipment were noted. The vehicle involved was unspecified in type and had no occupants other than the driver. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving to vulnerable pedestrians outside designated crossing areas.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4796463 - 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

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

Assembly bill A 4147 orders bold yellow signs near speed cameras. Signs must stand within fifty feet. Drivers get clear warning. Sponsors push for visibility. No mention of direct safety gains for walkers or riders.

Assembly bill A 4147 was introduced on January 31, 2025, now in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Relates to requirements for signs providing notice of the use of a photo speed violation monitoring system,' demands that warning signs be primarily yellow and placed within fifty feet of speed cameras. Assembly Members Mike Reilly (primary sponsor), Michael Novakhov, and Joe DeStefano back the measure. The bill aims for clearer notice to drivers. There is no analyst note on its impact for vulnerable road users.

• File A 4147, Open States, Published 2025-01-31

Assembly bill A 4214 lets drivers escape speed camera tickets if paperwork is sloppy. Missing, wrong, or unreadable info means no fine. Vulnerable road users lose a layer of protection.

Assembly bill A 4214, sponsored by Mike Reilly (District 62) with Michael Novakhov and Joe DeStefano, sits at the sponsorship stage. Introduced January 31, 2025, it reads: 'Permits a violation captured by a speed camera to be dismissed...if any information...is omitted...misdescribed or illegible.' The bill weakens speed camera enforcement by letting drivers dodge tickets on technicalities. No safety analyst has weighed in, but the measure chips away at a tool that slows cars and shields people on foot and bike.

• File A 4214, Open States, Published 2025-01-31

Two SUVs crashed on Hylan Blvd at midday. Both drivers suffered head injuries and shock. Police cited driver inattention and failure to yield. Metal twisted. Lives jarred. The street stayed open.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided at 12:24 PM on Hylan Blvd near Tysens Lane in Staten Island. Both drivers, a 67-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, were injured, suffering head trauma and shock. The male driver was cited for 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' Both wore lap belts and were not ejected. The impact crushed the right front of the man's SUV and the left front of the woman's. Both vehicles were moving straight before the crash. The report lists no other contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4789419 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans collided on Ebbitts Street, Staten Island, causing neck injuries to both female occupants. Both drivers were distracted, leading to impact on the right side doors and front center ends. Both occupants suffered whiplash but remained conscious.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 10:30 on Ebbitts Street in Staten Island involving two sedans traveling south and east. The point of impact was the right side doors of one vehicle and the center front end of the other. Both drivers were cited for Driver Inattention/Distraction as contributing factors. The female driver of the Hyundai sedan and her female passenger, both 49 years old, sustained neck injuries described as whiplash. Both occupants were conscious and restrained by lap belts. The report highlights driver distraction as the primary cause, with no mention of victim fault or pedestrian involvement.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4788541 - 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 crossings for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, forces the Department of Transportation to install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. The bill, sponsored by Farah N. Louis (primary) and co-sponsored by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, Ariola, and others, passed on March 15, 2025. The law demands annual reporting on compliance and reasons for any delay. The matter title reads: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Quick, visible lines cut confusion and protect people crossing or riding. The law took effect immediately.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-01-08

Republican lawmakers blasted MTA chief Janno Lieber. They called for his resignation. They slammed the new $9 congestion toll. They dismissed claims of safer subways. They warned of more taxes. Riders and walkers remain caught in the crossfire.

""We are asking for something that we believe is very necessary for the well-being of the people of the state of New York, especially for those who live in the MTA region. We believe that under these circumstances it is very warranted."" -- Andrew Lanza

On January 8, 2025, Republican state legislators, including Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (District 9), held a press conference demanding the resignation of Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Janno Lieber. The lawmakers, joined by Senators Steven Rhoads and Bill Weber, criticized Lieber for 'losing the trust of commuters' and downplaying subway crime. They condemned the new $9 congestion pricing toll for Midtown, with Weber calling it 'tone deaf' and demanding repeal. The event summary reads: 'GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees.' The lawmakers oppose further taxes and fees to close the MTA’s $33 billion gap. No safety analyst assessed the impact on vulnerable road users. The debate leaves the city’s most exposed—pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders—uncertain and unprotected.

• GOP pols push MTA boss to resign after brushing off transit crime as New York braces for even more taxes, fees, nypost.com, Published 2025-01-08

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

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

A sedan struck a 26-year-old man in a marked crosswalk on Hylan Blvd. The impact left him with arm injuries and in shock. Police cite the driver’s obstructed view as a key factor.

According to the police report, a 26-year-old male pedestrian was crossing Hylan Blvd in a marked crosswalk near Guyon Ave when a northbound sedan hit him with its right front bumper. The man suffered injuries to his elbow, lower arm, and hand, and was left in shock. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' as a contributing factor, showing the driver’s limited visibility played a central role. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal but within the crosswalk. No other pedestrian-related factors were cited. The driver was licensed. The crash resulted in serious injury to the pedestrian.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4764194 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council ends jaywalking penalties. Pedestrians now cross anywhere, any time. No summons. Law strips drivers of excuses. Streets shift. Power tilts to people on foot.

Int 0346-2024, now enacted, rewrites New York’s pedestrian rules. The bill, heard by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, passed on September 26, 2024, and became law on October 26, 2024. Its title: “A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to pedestrian crossing guidelines and right of way.” Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-sponsored by Narcisse, Won, Hanif, Hudson, and Restler, the law lets pedestrians cross streets anywhere, even against signals. No more tickets for crossing outside crosswalks. The Department of Transportation must educate all street users on new rights and responsibilities. The law removes a tool police used to target walkers. It shifts blame from people on foot to the system and those behind the wheel.

• File Int 0346-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-09-26

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal stands firm. He says New York needs congestion pricing. The governor paused the $15 toll. Lawmakers debate lower fees and exemptions. The MTA’s future hangs in the balance. Vulnerable road users wait for action. Streets stay dangerous.

On August 22, 2024, State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (District 47) joined the debate over New York’s congestion pricing plan. The original $15 toll was paused by Governor Hochul in June. Now, officials consider a lower toll or alternatives to fund the MTA. Hoylman-Sigal said, 'we need congestion pricing.' The matter, titled 'MTA boss ‘thrilled’ Kathy Hochul eyeing lower congestion toll after NY gov indefinitely paused controversial scheme,' highlights the urgency of MTA financing. Assemblywoman Deborah Glick noted Hochul’s commitment to a replacement plan. The bill’s status remains in flux, with no committee or vote recorded. The safety impact for vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, passengers—was not assessed. The city’s most at-risk remain exposed as leaders argue over dollars and cars.

• MTA boss ‘thrilled’ Kathy Hochul eyeing lower congestion toll after NY gov indefinitely paused controversial scheme, nypost.com, Published 2024-08-22