Another Body, Another Excuse: Who Pays for Senate District 26’s Deadly Streets?

A BMW struck a northbound cyclist at 78th Street and 3rd Avenue. The rider flew. His head split. Blood pooled. The bike lay crushed. The car’s front end crumpled. The cyclist, 39, was conscious but badly hurt. Night. Brooklyn. Metal and flesh.

A BMW sedan hit a northbound cyclist at the corner of 78th Street and 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the crash happened at 1:55 a.m. The cyclist, age 39, was thrown from his bike. His head was severely lacerated. Blood pooled on the street. The BMW’s front end crumpled. The bike was crushed. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. Police list 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' and 'Unspecified' as contributing factors. The report notes the cyclist wore no helmet, but this is mentioned only after the crash details. No injuries were reported for the BMW’s driver or passenger. The scene was chaos. The toll was clear.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4545941, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Drunk drivers who kill a parent may pay child support for up to 18 years. Lawmakers Gounardes and Meeks push bills to force accountability. Few drivers face these charges now. The aim: make killers pay, not just serve time.

Senate bill, drafted by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Demond Meeks, would require convicted drunk drivers who kill a custodial parent to pay child support until the victim’s children turn 18. The proposal, announced July 8, 2022, mirrors a Tennessee law. The bill targets drivers convicted of vehicular manslaughter (first or second degree) or aggravated vehicular homicide. Gounardes said, 'If you drive recklessly, you are going to be held accountable.' He stressed the lack of accountability and financial compensation for victims’ families. The bill is limited to drunk drivers for now, but Gounardes hopes to expand it to all reckless drivers who kill. Few drivers are convicted under these charges in New York City. The measure sends a clear message: kill a parent, pay for it—literally and for years.

• Drunk Drivers Who Kill Could Be Paying for their Crime for Almost 20 Years, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-07-08

A sedan door swung open on Flatbush. The e-bike rider slammed into steel. Her helmet stayed on. Her leg split open. Blood ran on the street. She stayed conscious. The city kept moving.

A 31-year-old woman riding an e-bike southbound on Flatbush Avenue collided with the left-side door of a parked sedan. According to the police report, 'A sedan door swung open. Metal met flesh. Her helmet held. Her leg split. Blood pooled on the pavement. She stayed awake.' The crash left her with severe lacerations to her lower leg and foot. No driver errors were listed in the data. The report notes she wore a helmet, which remained on during the impact. The street did not stop for her pain. No other injuries were reported.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4542615, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A forklift reversed on Court Street. The driver did not see the woman. She was struck. Her knee split open. Blood pooled on the pavement. She stayed conscious, lying still in the morning light. Driver inattention marked the scene.

A 52-year-old woman was struck by a forklift backing south on Court Street near Hamilton Avenue in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'The driver didn’t see her. She was 52. Her leg split open at the knee. Blood pooled on the pavement. She stayed conscious, lying still in the early morning light.' The pedestrian suffered severe lacerations to her knee and lower leg. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor. The forklift driver, a 59-year-old man, was licensed and uninjured. No other contributing factors were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4544037, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

An e-bike struck a sedan at 3rd Avenue and 52nd Street. The rider flew off, leg shattered, paralyzed, helmet on. Brakes failed. The street stayed hard and unforgiving. Metal met flesh. The system failed the vulnerable.

An e-bike rider collided with a sedan at the corner of 3rd Avenue and 52nd Street in Brooklyn. The crash left the 27-year-old e-bike rider ejected, suffering a shattered leg and reporting paralysis. According to the police report, 'The brakes had failed.' The e-bike's defective brakes are listed as a contributing factor. The rider was wearing a helmet, as noted in the report. The sedan driver, a 37-year-old man, was not reported injured. Both vehicles were traveling straight before the collision. The crash underscores the danger when mechanical failure meets city speed and steel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4541853, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Governor Hochul signed the bill. Speed cameras in New York City now operate around the clock. No more nighttime gaps. Deborah Glick backed the measure. The law aims to slow cars, protect people, and keep streets safer for everyone.

On June 24, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill extending and expanding New York City's speed camera program. The measure, sponsored by Assemblymember Deborah Glick (District 66) and Senator Andrew Gounardes, allows speed cameras to operate 24/7 in up to 750 school zones. The bill was set to expire but now runs through July 1, 2025. The matter summary states: 'New York City is now able to operate its speed cameras 24 hours a day.' Glick, who sponsored the bill, dismissed criticism that cameras are a cash grab, saying, 'The city isn't in the car with you... If you don't want to get a ticket, don't speed.' Mayor Eric Adams called the cameras a deterrent, not a punishment. Advocates say the law will slow cars and protect pedestrians, especially children. The bill passed just before the legislative session ended, closing a deadly loophole in city enforcement.

• NYC speed cameras can now operate 24/7, gothamist.com, Published 2022-06-24

Governor Hochul signed a bill making school zone speed cameras run all day, every day. No more gaps. Crashes and injuries near schools drove the change. The law dropped tougher penalties, but sponsors vow to keep fighting. Streets stay dangerous. Cameras now never sleep.

On June 24, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill expanding New York City's school zone speed camera program to operate 24/7, year-round. The bill, sponsored by Assembly Member Deborah Glick and State Senator Andrew Gounardes, was passed after statistics showed rising crashes and injuries near schools. The matter summary: 'The city's school zone speed cameras will now operate 24/7 year-round.' Hochul cited student deaths and the need for constant protection. Mayor Adams called the program a national model, noting, '72 percent of fatalities have been happening when the cameras were off.' The bill was weakened from its original form, dropping escalating fines and stricter penalties for repeat offenders due to City Council concerns. Glick and Gounardes pledged to push for stronger measures. A separate bill to expand red light cameras failed. The new law closes deadly loopholes but leaves enforcement gaps for repeat offenders.

• Hochul Signs Speed Camera Bill, Citing Streetsblog’s Coverage of Unsafe School Streets, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-24

A sedan turned left at Tillary and Adams. The driver failed to yield. The car’s bumper struck a 72-year-old woman crossing with the signal. Blood pooled. She lay semiconscious, head bleeding, beneath the car. The street did not forgive.

A 72-year-old woman was struck while crossing Tillary Street at Adams Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn failed to yield the right-of-way and hit her as she crossed with the signal. The impact was to her head, causing severe bleeding and leaving her semiconscious beneath the vehicle. The driver, a 39-year-old man, was licensed and remained at the scene. The police report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the contributing factor. The woman’s injuries were serious. No other contributing factors were noted.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4540149, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A sedan turned left on 5th Street. A cyclist rode straight. Steel struck flesh. The man flew, face-first to the pavement. Blood pooled. He was 58. He stayed conscious. The driver failed to yield. Distraction played its part.

A crash at the corner of 5th Street and 4th Avenue in Brooklyn left a 58-year-old cyclist injured. According to the police report, a sedan making a left turn struck the cyclist, who was traveling straight. The impact ejected the cyclist, causing severe bleeding from the face. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The sedan's driver was licensed and uninjured. The cyclist was conscious at the scene. No helmet use or signaling is cited as a factor. The crash highlights the danger when drivers fail to yield and lose focus.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4537823, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Albany extended 24/7 school-zone speed cameras for three years. Lawmakers failed to pass Sammy’s Law and other vital safety bills. Advocates called the session a partial victory, but vulnerable road users remain at risk. Progress, but not enough. Streets stay dangerous.

The 2022 New York State legislative session ended on June 6, 2022. Lawmakers extended and expanded New York City’s school-zone speed camera program to operate 24/7 for three more years. The bill passed, but was watered down from its original form. Other key street safety bills, including 'Sammy’s Law'—which would let NYC set its own speed limits—did not advance. Senator Andrew Gounardes called the speed camera win 'monumental,' while Senator Brad Hoylman said, 'not as much as any of us would have wanted to see, but for the first time, speed cameras are normalized.' Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives voiced disappointment over the failure of Sammy’s Law, calling it a top priority for Families for Safe Streets. Several other bills to protect pedestrians and cyclists stalled or died in committee. The session brought some progress, but left many dangers unaddressed.

• THE ALBANY REPORT: A Historic, Yet Deeply Disappointing, Glass-Half-Empty Legislative Session, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-06

Albany lawmakers extended 24/7 speed cameras but stalled on key safety bills. Local control over speed limits failed. Some progress, much disappointment. Vulnerable road users remain exposed. Council Member Adrienne Adams was mentioned. The fight for safer streets continues.

The 2022 New York State legislative session reviewed transportation and street safety policy, with Council Member Adrienne Adams (District 28) mentioned in coverage. Lawmakers extended New York City's school-zone speed camera program for three years, allowing 24/7 operation—a win for street safety. The bill, however, was watered down. Other measures under the 'Crash Victims Rights and Safety Act' saw mixed results: some passed, like upstate towns setting 25 mph speed limits and increased complete streets funding; others, like 'Sammy's Law' for NYC speed limits and expanded safe passing for cyclists, stalled. The matter title called the session 'historic, yet deeply disappointing.' Adams was not a sponsor but was referenced in the debate. Advocates and senators voiced frustration at the lack of progress on local speed limit control and measures against repeat reckless drivers. The session left vulnerable road users without key protections.

• THE ALBANY REPORT: A Historic, Yet Deeply Disappointing, Glass-Half-Empty Legislative Session, streetsblog.org, Published 2022-06-06

A man on an e-scooter sped north on 4th Avenue. He blew past traffic control. The front smashed. His head split open. Blood pooled on the street. He sat alone, stunned, as morning broke over Brooklyn.

A 28-year-old man riding an e-scooter north on 4th Avenue at 37th Street in Brooklyn suffered a severe head injury after disregarding traffic control, according to the police report. The report states, “A man rode north on an e-scooter, no helmet, no license. He struck something hard. The front crumpled. His head split. Blood poured.” The e-scooter’s center front end was damaged. The rider was unlicensed and wore no helmet. Police list 'Traffic Control Disregarded' as the main contributing factor. A pedestrian was present at the intersection, crossing with the signal, but was not reported injured. The crash left the rider in shock, bleeding heavily in the early morning light.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4534153, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

State Senate passed bill to run speed cameras all day, every day. The vote was 51 to 12. Cameras now catch speeders at night and on weekends. Most deaths happen off-hours. Expansion aims to cut deadly crashes citywide.

On May 31, 2022, the State Senate approved a bill to extend and expand New York City's speed camera program. The measure passed 51-12 and now moves to the Assembly. The bill allows cameras to operate 24/7 in nearly 2,000 locations across 750 school zones until July 1, 2025. The matter summary states, 'The proposal to extend New York City's speed camera program for another three years and expand it to run every day and around the clock easily passed.' Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsored the bill, saying, 'We are going to see a marked reduction in traffic violence on our streets at a time when traffic deaths are at their highest in a decade.' Simcha Felder, Democrat from District 44, voted against. The expansion targets off-hours, which account for 59% of traffic deaths. Speeding dropped 72% and deaths fell 55% where cameras operated. The city pushed for this as fatalities rose under Mayor Adams. Some penalties for repeat speeders were removed during negotiations.

• State Senate votes to approve 24-hour speed cameras in NYC, amny.com, Published 2022-06-01

The State Senate backed Sen. Gounardes’s bill to run speed cameras nonstop in city school zones. The vote was 51-12. Supporters cited lives lost to speeding. Opponents called it a cash grab. The Assembly must act before the session ends.

Bill S. (no number given) passed the New York State Senate on June 1, 2022, by a 51-12 vote. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, reauthorizes and expands New York City’s school-zone speed camera program to operate 24/7. The measure was debated in the Senate, with Sen. Robert Jackson and Gounardes defending it: 'Cars speeding in New York kill New Yorkers, injure New Yorkers.' Gounardes called the cameras 'life-saving.' Opponents, including Sen. Andrew Lanza, dismissed the program as a 'cash register.' Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives said, 'When New York City’s speed safety cameras turn off, speeding increases and crashes rise.' The bill awaits Assembly action before the legislative session ends.

• State Senate Overwhelmingly Supports 24/7 Speed Cameras for the City, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-06-01

A man on a bike hit a parked sedan on Fulton Street. He flew off, landed hard. Blood spilled from his arm. Flesh torn, pain sharp. He stayed awake. The street was cold, silent. The car did not move.

A 27-year-old man riding a bike crashed into a parked sedan near 733 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the cyclist was ejected and suffered severe lacerations to his arm. The sedan was parked at the time of the crash. No contributing driver errors were listed in the report. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted after the absence of driver errors. Two occupants were inside the sedan but were not injured. The street was quiet after the impact, the cyclist conscious but hurt. The report lists all contributing factors as unspecified.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532206, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Yamaha struck a Toyota’s side near 72nd Street. Steel twisted. Blood spilled. The young rider’s leg split open. Dusk fell hard. Inexperience and speed ruled the crash. The road stayed silent. No mercy. Only pain.

A motorcycle and a sedan collided on Shore Road near 72nd Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, a Yamaha motorcycle struck the side of a Toyota sedan. The 21-year-old motorcycle rider suffered severe lacerations to his leg but remained conscious. The crash involved five people, including a 7-year-old passenger in the sedan. The police report lists 'Driver Inexperience' and 'Unsafe Speed' as contributing factors. The motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet. The impact left steel bent and blood on the road. No pedestrians were involved. The data shows systemic danger when speed and inexperience meet on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532188, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A 25-year-old man walked near 2nd Avenue. A driver, distracted, struck him with the front bumper. The impact crushed his shoulder. No warning. The street emptied. Pain and silence followed. The driver failed to yield.

A 25-year-old pedestrian suffered crush injuries to his shoulder when a vehicle struck him on 2nd Avenue near 45th Street in Brooklyn. According to the police report, the driver was distracted and failed to yield the right-of-way. The impact came from the left front bumper, leaving the man conscious but injured. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. No information is provided about the vehicle type or the driver's identity. The police report does not mention any actions by the pedestrian that contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4532589, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Lexus SUV struck a 22-year-old man on Shore Road. The right front bumper hit his head. Blood spilled. He stayed conscious. The driver was distracted. The SUV rolled on, unmarked. The man did not.

A 22-year-old pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding after a Lexus SUV hit him with its right front bumper near 71st Street on Shore Road in Brooklyn. According to the police report, 'The driver was distracted.' The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. The pedestrian remained conscious despite the impact and heavy bleeding. The SUV showed no damage. No other injuries were reported. The data does not mention any helmet or signal use as a factor. The crash underscores the danger when drivers lose focus, leaving vulnerable road users to bear the brunt.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4533791, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Albany passed a bill letting New York City run speed cameras all day, every day. Lawmakers cut tougher penalties for repeat offenders. Advocates called the final bill a win, but mourned lost safety measures. Vulnerable road users remain exposed to reckless drivers.

On May 23, 2022, the New York State legislature passed a bill allowing New York City to operate speed cameras 24/7. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick, originally included tougher measures: escalating fines, registration suspensions, and insurance reporting for repeat speeders. These provisions were stripped during negotiations, leaving only the round-the-clock camera operation. Assembly Member Glick said, 'keeping the cameras on 24/7 was that hill.' Mayor Eric Adams called it 'a major victory for New Yorkers that will save lives.' Advocacy groups and lawmakers voiced frustration at Albany’s reluctance to adopt stronger safety tools. The final law removes blackout periods for cameras, but leaves dangerous drivers with fewer consequences. The bill passed despite disappointment over its dilution, exposing the limits of legislative action for street safety.

• Anatomy of a Sausage: How a Great Bill Got Gutted in Albany’s Mediocrity Factory, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2022-05-23

Andrew Gounardes backs a deal to keep speed cameras on in 750 school zones at all hours. Crashes spike at night and on weekends. Cameras catch reckless drivers. Fewer end up in the ER. The fix is partial, but it will save lives.

On May 21, 2022, State Senator Andrew Gounardes endorsed a legislative deal to allow speed cameras in 750 New York City school zones to operate 24/7. The measure, awaiting City Council and state approval, aims to keep cameras running nights and weekends—when 41% of crashes occur. The matter summary states: 'the Legislature is poised to do the right thing and allow the speed cameras...to keep operating around the clock.' Gounardes, a key advocate, joins Mayor Adams and crash victims’ families in support. The endorsement highlights that automated enforcement cuts reckless driving and reduces injuries. The deal falls short by lacking escalating penalties for repeat speeders and lasting only three years. Still, keeping cameras on at all hours is the most important fix, targeting the deadliest times for vulnerable road users.

• Yes, we cam: A deal on NYC traffic enforcement speed cameras will save lives, nydailynews.com, Published 2022-05-21