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

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

Senate backs S 9718. Bill orders safe street design for all. Cyclists, walkers, and riders get new protections. Some senators vote no. The car’s grip loosens, but danger remains.

Senate bill S 9718, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' passed committee votes on May 28 and June 3, 2024. Primary sponsor Sean Ryan, with co-sponsors Liz Krueger, Monica Martinez, Jack M. Martins, Anthony H. Palumbo, and Julia Salazar, pushed the measure. The bill mandates street designs that protect everyone, not just drivers. Most senators voted yes, but a block of no votes showed resistance. The bill’s language centers vulnerable users. It marks a shift: streets must serve people, not just cars.

• File S 9718, Open States, Published 2024-05-28

A distracted SUV driver slammed into a slowing Jeep on Hylan Boulevard. A six-year-old girl in the back seat suffered neck abrasions. She was conscious and strapped in. Police blamed driver inattention.

According to the police report, two SUVs collided on Hylan Boulevard at 15:25. The Jeep was slowing or stopping when a following Acura SUV struck it from behind. The crash left a six-year-old girl in the Jeep with neck abrasions. She was seated in the left rear, conscious, and secured by a lap belt and harness. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor, showing the striking driver failed to pay attention. No other contributing factors or victim actions were noted. The impact damaged both vehicles and left a young passenger injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4720973 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 9877 seeks to kill congestion pricing. Sponsors want more MTA board seats and a forensic audit. No mention of safety for people on foot or bike. The car threat grows unchecked.

Assembly bill A 9877 was introduced on April 24, 2024. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill aims to repeal congestion pricing, add a new MTA board seat for each city borough, and force a forensic audit of the MTA. 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).' Assembly Members Michael Tannousis (primary), Mike Reilly, Samuel Pirozzolo, Michael Novakhov, Lester Chang, and Alec Brook-Krasny sponsor the bill. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided. The bill ignores the deadly risk cars pose to New Yorkers outside vehicles.

• File A 9877, Open States, Published 2024-04-24

Assembly bill A 9877 seeks to kill congestion pricing. Sponsors want more MTA board seats and a forensic audit. No mention of safety for people on foot or bike. The car threat grows unchecked.

Assembly bill A 9877 was introduced on April 24, 2024. It sits in the sponsorship stage. The bill aims to repeal congestion pricing, add a new MTA board seat for each city borough, and force a forensic audit of the MTA. 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).' Assembly Members Michael Tannousis (primary), Mike Reilly, Samuel Pirozzolo, Michael Novakhov, Lester Chang, and Alec Brook-Krasny sponsor the bill. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided. The bill ignores the deadly risk cars pose to New Yorkers outside vehicles.

• File A 9877, Open States, Published 2024-04-24

Two sedans collided at Ebbitts Avenue and Hylan Boulevard. A 37-year-old female driver suffered chest injuries and shock. The crash involved a failure to yield during a left turn, striking the left side of a northbound vehicle. Both drivers were licensed.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 9:44 AM on Staten Island at Ebbitts Avenue near Hylan Boulevard. A 37-year-old female driver, licensed in Florida, was making a left turn when she collided with a northbound Audi sedan. The point of impact was the left side doors of the Audi and the right front bumper of the Nissan. The contributing factor cited was 'Turning Improperly,' indicating a failure to yield or misjudgment during the turn. The female driver of the Nissan suffered chest injuries and was in shock, restrained by a lap belt and harness. The male driver of the Audi was licensed in New York and was traveling straight ahead. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4717694 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-03-27

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-03-20

Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks joined Staten Island leaders to denounce Manhattan’s congestion toll. They warned it would raise costs for working families and worsen air for minority neighborhoods. The MTA’s own study found pollution could rise in outer boroughs. The fight continues.

On March 14, 2024, Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (District 49) stood with Staten Island officials at a press conference to oppose New York’s congestion pricing plan. The event, covered by nypost.com, highlighted concerns that the $15 toll for driving south of 60th Street in Manhattan would, as Hanks said, 'have a negative impact in neighborhoods of color in the outer boroughs.' Hanks and others argued the plan would burden working residents and increase pollution in Staten Island’s minority communities. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s environmental assessment confirmed air quality could worsen in Staten Island, the Bronx, and New Jersey, even as it improves in Manhattan. The MTA pledged $130 million for clean-up, but local leaders remain unconvinced. Hanks’s opposition underscores the ongoing debate over who pays—and who suffers—when the city tries to curb car traffic.

• NY’s congestion toll will discriminate against forgotten borough of Staten Island: local pols, nypost.com, Published 2024-03-14

A USPS truck turned left on Hylan Boulevard and hit a southbound sedan. The sedan driver suffered head injuries and bruises. Police cited driver inattention and distraction as key factors in the crash.

According to the police report, a USPS vehicle making a left turn on Hylan Boulevard struck a sedan traveling straight south. The sedan's left side doors took the impact from the USPS truck's left front bumper. The sedan driver, a 32-year-old man, was injured in the head and suffered contusions but remained conscious and was not ejected. Police listed 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the main contributing factor for both drivers. Both held valid New York licenses. The sedan driver wore a lap belt and harness. The crash highlights the danger of driver distraction during turning movements on busy city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4708641 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Council wants every e-bike and scooter tagged and tracked. Plates on wheels. Riders face new rules. Lawmakers say it’s about order. The bill sits in committee. Streets wait.

Int 0606-2024 was introduced on March 7, 2024, in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill, titled "A Local Law to amend the administrative code...requiring that every bicycle with electric assist, electric scooter and other legal motorized vehicle be licensed and registered," would force all e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar vehicles not covered by DMV rules to register with DOT and display visible plates. Council Member Inna Vernikov is the primary sponsor, joined by 26 co-sponsors including Holden, Farías, Riley, and others. The bill was laid over in committee and has not advanced. No safety analysis for vulnerable road users was provided.

• File Int 0606-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-03-07

Council wants DOT to check 100 speed camera spots a year for raised speed bumps. If possible, bumps go in within a year. DOT must track and report on driver behavior changes. No delay. No loopholes.

Int 0161-2024 sits in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced February 28, 2024, by Council Members Louis (primary), Carr, Ung, Holden, Ariola, Paladino, and Morano. The bill orders DOT to assess at least 100 speed camera locations each year for raised speed reducer feasibility. If feasible, DOT must install the bump within a year. The law demands annual reports on these checks and on shifts in dangerous driving at treated sites. The bill summary reads: 'requiring a raised speed reducer feasibility assessment at speed camera locations.' Council aims to force physical changes where cameras alone fail.

• File Int 0161-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2024-02-28

Assembly bill A 9219 lets drivers escape speed camera tickets if the notice has missing, wrong, or unreadable info. One error, and the violation vanishes. The bill stands at sponsorship.

Assembly bill A 9219, sponsored by Mike Reilly (District 62), sits at the sponsorship stage. The bill, introduced February 16, 2024, is in committee. It states: 'Permits a violation captured by a speed camera to be dismissed upon the application of the person alleged to be liable for such violation if any information that is required to be inserted in the notice of liability is omitted from such notice of liability, misdescribed or illegible.' No votes have been recorded. The bill focuses on procedural fairness for drivers, not on the safety of people outside the car. No safety analyst has assessed its impact on pedestrians or cyclists.

• File A 9219, Open States, Published 2024-02-16

Senate passes S 2714. Bill pushes complete street design. Aim: safer roads for all. Pedestrians, cyclists, and riders get space. Car dominance challenged. Lawmakers move to cut street carnage.

Senate bill S 2714, titled 'Enables safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing complete street design principles,' advanced through committee and passed several Senate votes, most recently on March 27, 2024. Sponsored by Timothy M. Kennedy with support from Jake Ashby, Jamaal Bailey, and others, the bill mandates street designs that protect everyone—not just drivers. The measure saw strong support but faced opposition from some senators. By requiring complete street principles, S 2714 aims to reduce danger for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. The bill marks a shift away from car-first planning, forcing cities to build streets for people, not just traffic.

• File S 2714, Open States, Published 2024-02-13

Eighteen lawmakers, including Joseph Borelli, sued to stop New York’s $15 congestion pricing. They claim the toll shifts pollution, burdens drivers, and fails communities with poor transit. The MTA defends the plan, saying it funds safer, less crowded streets.

On February 4, 2024, Council Member Joseph C. Borelli (District 51) joined seventeen other lawmakers in a federal lawsuit to block New York City’s $15 congestion pricing toll for Midtown Manhattan. The suit, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, argues the toll 'is a detriment to those that will be affected by this toll, environmentally and financially,' and claims it will shift traffic and pollution to other neighborhoods. Other plaintiffs include State Senators James Skoufis, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Iwen Chu, Monica Martinez, and Assemblymembers Aileen Gunther, Jamie Williams, and David Weprin. The MTA, backed by Governor Hochul, says the toll will raise $1 billion yearly for transit upgrades, promising safer, less congested streets and better transit for the majority who rely on public transportation. The case highlights the political and environmental battle over how to fund and shape New York’s streets.

• 18 NY lawmakers join suit to block $15 congestion toll, nypost.com, Published 2024-02-04

Senate passes S 6808. The bill creates first responder safety zones. It sets speed limits in these zones. Lawmakers act after crashes and close calls. The vote is strong. The danger is real. The streets demand change.

Senate bill S 6808, titled 'Relates to establishing first responder safety zones and setting speed limits in such safety zones,' moved through committee and passed multiple Senate votes between May 2023 and March 2024. Primary sponsor John Mannion led the push, joined by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Iwen Chu, and Pamela Helming. The bill aims to carve out protected zones for first responders and lower speed limits in those areas. The measure passed with broad support, reflecting urgency after repeated crashes near emergency scenes. The bill’s text and votes show lawmakers responding to the deadly toll of reckless driving near first responders. Vulnerable road users—pedestrians, passengers, and responders—stand in harm’s way. The bill targets that risk.

• File S 6808, Open States, Published 2024-01-30

Senator Lanza pushes to kill congestion pricing. Streets may see more cars, more chaos. The bill strips a key tool for safer, calmer roads. Vulnerable New Yorkers face greater risk.

Senate Bill S 8149, sponsored by Andrew J. Lanza of District 24, seeks to repeal congestion pricing. Introduced on January 9, 2024, the bill is at the sponsorship stage. The measure's title is blunt: 'Repeals congestion pricing.' Lanza stands as the primary sponsor. If passed, this repeal would remove a policy designed to limit car traffic in crowded city streets. No safety analyst has yet weighed in, but the move threatens to flood roads with more vehicles, putting pedestrians and cyclists in harm’s way.

• File S 8149, Open States, Published 2024-01-09

A crash involving a box truck and multiple sedans injured ten occupants. The collision occurred on Bishop Street. All injured suffered whiplash. The driver was aggressive, leading to the impact.

A crash on Bishop Street in Staten Island involved a box truck and several sedans, resulting in ten occupants being injured. According to the police report, the contributing factor was 'Aggressive Driving/Road Rage.' All injured individuals, including a 58-year-old male passenger and children aged 4, 5, 8, and 9, suffered whiplash. The report does not specify further driver errors or contributing factors beyond aggressive driving. No victims were blamed in the incident.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4691158 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 14-year-old girl crossing against the signal was struck on Hylan Boulevard. The vehicle hit her on the right side doors. She suffered a shoulder and upper arm contusion. The driver was speeding. The girl remained conscious after the crash.

According to the police report, a 14-year-old female pedestrian was injured while crossing against the signal at an intersection on Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island. The vehicle struck her on the right side doors. The pedestrian sustained a contusion and bruise to her shoulder and upper arm and was conscious at the scene. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor for the driver. The pedestrian's action of crossing against the signal is noted but not blamed. No other driver errors or safety equipment details were provided.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4686948 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

An SUV rear-ended a stopped car on Hylan Boulevard. The driver in the struck vehicle suffered back injuries and whiplash. Police cited improper lane usage. The victim was restrained and conscious.

According to the police report, a northbound SUV rear-ended a stopped vehicle on Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island. The 53-year-old male driver of the struck car suffered back injuries and whiplash. He was wearing a lap belt and harness, remained conscious, and was not ejected. Police listed "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" as a contributing factor. The impact was to the center back end of the stopped vehicle. No other contributing factors or victim errors were noted. The crash involved multiple SUVs and a sedan, but only the rear-ended driver was injured.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4679192 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04