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

State leaders urge passage of A4120/S1981 to slash driving by one-fifth. The bill aims to shift funding from highways to transit, cycling, and walking. Advocates say fewer cars mean fewer deaths. The clock ticks toward the session’s end.

Bill A4120/S1981, now before the New York State Legislature, seeks a 20% reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by 2050. The measure is championed by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and backed by a coalition of local officials. On May 15, 2024, a letter to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins called for swift passage before the session ends in June. The letter states, 'The state Legislature should pass the law before the end of this session in June, which could pivot transportation funding toward more beneficial uses like mass transit and biking and walking infrastructure.' Stewart-Cousins is mentioned as a key recipient. The bill would force agencies to prioritize projects for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders over highway expansion. Advocates argue this shift will save lives, cut pollution, and undo harms from car-centric planning.

• New York Pols Back Gounardes's Bill to Cut Driving by 20%, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-05-15

Albany lawmakers urge a 20% cut in driving by 2050. The bill would shift funds from highways to transit, biking, and walking. Electeds from Brooklyn to Buffalo back the move. Streets could change. Fewer cars. More space for people. Lives at stake.

Bill A4120/S1981 aims to cut vehicle miles traveled in New York by 20% by 2050. On May 15, 2024, more than a dozen local officials sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, urging passage before session’s end in June. The letter, organized by Local Progress, states: 'This means projects that expanded cycling infrastructure, pedestrian walkways, and public transit were prioritized over outdated highway expansions and lane widening.' State Senator Andrew Gounardes sponsors the bill. Alex Marion, Syracuse city auditor, signed on, saying, 'If we can reduce the vehicle miles traveled, we can look at the space of streets differently.' The bill would force planners to consider car miles in every project, shifting focus from car movement to safer, people-first streets. The policy could help undo decades of harm from highways that split communities and reinforce segregation.

• New York Pols Back Gounardes’s Bill to Cut Driving by 20%, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-15

A man on a bike slammed into a parked SUV’s door on Fulton Street. He flew forward, blood pooling, arm torn. The SUV stood still. The street did not. The cyclist wore no helmet. Metal and flesh collided. The city kept moving.

A 57-year-old man riding a bicycle was severely injured on Fulton Street near Rockwell Place in Brooklyn after striking the door of a parked SUV, according to the police report. The report states the cyclist 'hit a parked SUV’s door,' was 'ejected,' and landed hard, sustaining 'severe lacerations' to his arm. Blood pooled at the scene. The SUV was stationary at the time of the crash, with the point of impact listed as the 'left side doors.' The police report lists 'unspecified' as the contributing factor, offering no further detail on driver actions or dooring. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet, as noted in the report, but this detail is mentioned only after the account of the crash. The SUV sustained no damage. The incident underscores the persistent danger for cyclists navigating streets lined with parked vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4724820, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Gov. Hochul backs renewing New York City’s small red light camera program. She stops short of supporting expansion. The city’s power over street safety grows, but Albany holds the reins. Vulnerable road users wait as lawmakers debate control and coverage.

On May 10, 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul publicly supported reauthorizing New York City’s red light camera program, which is set to expire in December. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, would renew the program for six years and expand cameras from 150 to 1,325 intersections. Hochul, at a ceremony for 'Sammy’s Law,' said, 'local governments should be making these decisions,' but did not endorse the expansion. The Adams administration and DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez have pushed for more cameras. Hochul’s stance signals support for local control over traffic enforcement, but leaves the fate of a broader camera rollout uncertain. Vulnerable road users remain at risk while Albany debates the city’s authority to protect its streets.

• Gov. Hochul Backs Red Light Camera Renewal, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-05-10

A bus rolled east on Livingston Street. A baby girl crossed without a signal. The front of the bus struck her. She fell, crushed and silent. Her small form lay still as the bus showed no damage, the street marked by violence.

According to the police report, a bus traveling east on Livingston Street struck a baby girl who was crossing without a signal. The narrative states, 'The front struck her. She fell, crushed and silent. Her whole body broken. The bus showed no damage. The street held her small, still form.' The report lists the pedestrian's action as 'Crossing, No Signal, or Crosswalk' and her location as 'Not at Intersection.' Both contributing factors for the driver and the pedestrian are marked as 'Unspecified.' The bus was going straight ahead at the time of the crash, and the point of impact was the center front end. The baby girl suffered crush injuries to her entire body and was found unconscious. The report does not cite any specific driver errors or additional contributing factors, but the collision underscores the lethal risk posed by large vehicles to vulnerable pedestrians, especially children.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4722151, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Evening light on York Street. A head-on crash between an SUV and a motorcycle. The rider’s lower leg crushed, helmet intact. SUV’s front left mangled. Both vehicles eastbound. Steel and flesh meet, the city absorbs the pain.

A head-on collision between a motorcycle and an SUV unfolded near 181 York Street in Brooklyn at 6:55 p.m., according to the police report. The report states both vehicles were traveling east when they collided. The motorcycle rider, a 40-year-old man, remained conscious but suffered a crushed lower leg. His helmet stayed on. The SUV’s front left quarter panel was severely damaged. Police cite 'Reaction to Uninvolved Vehicle' as the contributing factor, highlighting a systemic hazard where sudden, unpredictable roadway events can trigger violent impacts. No driver errors beyond this are listed in the report. The focus remains on the chain reaction that left a vulnerable rider injured, underscoring the persistent danger for those outside steel cages on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4721474, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A FLY WING, driven by an unlicensed man, crashed face-first into a slowing SUV on South Portland Avenue. Blood streaked the pavement. Speed and distraction ruled. No passengers. Only the sound of metal and skin in Brooklyn’s daylight.

According to the police report, a FLY WING vehicle operated by an unlicensed 31-year-old man crashed into the rear of a slowing SUV near 160 South Portland Avenue in Brooklyn at 13:57. The report states the driver struck the SUV 'face-first,' suffering severe facial bleeding. The police report lists 'Unsafe Speed' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The unlicensed status of the driver is explicitly noted. The SUV was slowing or stopping when it was hit, and the impact was to the center back end of the SUV. No passengers were involved. The narrative describes 'blood trailing down his chin,' underscoring the violence of the collision. The report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the unlicensed driver’s unsafe speed and inattention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716120, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A motorcycle tore into a turning car on Flatbush Avenue Extension. Metal crumpled. Blood streaked the rider’s leg. Deep gashes marked his flesh. No helmet. He stayed conscious as the city’s streets showed no mercy.

A 2020 Indian motorcycle collided with a car making a right turn on Flatbush Avenue Extension, according to the police report. The report states the motorcycle 'slammed into a turning car,' with the left front of the motorcycle crushed and the rider suffering severe lacerations to his leg. The police report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Passing Too Closely' as contributing factors. The rider, a 31-year-old man, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, as noted in the report. The narrative describes blood streaking his leg and deep gashes tearing the flesh, yet the rider remained conscious. The impact and injuries reflect the lethal consequences of driver inattention and distraction on New York City streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4716013, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Drivers rack up speed and red light camera tickets. No points. No suspensions. Gianaris backs a bill to yank registrations after five violations. Victims’ families and DOT demand action. The loophole leaves reckless drivers free to kill.

Queens Senator Michael Gianaris, with Assemblymember William Magnarelli, introduced a bill to suspend vehicle registrations after five speed or red light camera violations in one year. The measure remains in committee. The bill responds to a fatal flaw: 'We have no mechanism right now, under law, to crack down on extremely reckless drivers,' said Brooklyn State Sen. Andrew Gounardes. The current law lets drivers rack up dozens of camera tickets and keep driving, since no points are added to licenses. Gianaris’s bill aims to close this loophole. DOT and crash victims’ families, including Juliane Williams, whose daughter was killed by a speeding driver, press for stronger penalties and expansion of the red light camera program. The Dangerous Vehicle Abatement Program expired with little effect. The city’s vulnerable road users remain at risk while repeat offenders face few real consequences.

• FATAL FLAW: NYC reckless motorists can keep driving no matter how many speed camera tickets they get, amny.com, Published 2024-03-24

A 67-year-old man rode north on his e-bike along 6th Avenue. No car struck him. No metal bent. He was thrown from his seat. His body broke. He died there, alone on the Brooklyn pavement.

According to the police report, a 67-year-old man riding a 2022 MINAL e-bike northbound on 6th Avenue at 53rd Street in Brooklyn was killed. The report states, 'No crash marks. No bent metal. He was thrown from the seat. His body broke. He died there, alone on the pavement.' The vehicle sustained no damage, and there were no other vehicles or persons involved. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' There is no evidence of driver error by another party, nor are any victim behaviors cited as contributing factors. The report documents a solitary fatality, underscoring the vulnerability of e-bike riders on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4709147, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge remains a hazard. Activists want a road diet and protected bike lanes. The city has stalled. Council Member Brannan stays quiet. State Senator Gounardes backs the push. Advocates press on. Vulnerable lives hang in the balance.

On February 26, 2024, activists renewed calls for the Department of Transportation to extend the Fourth Avenue redesign into Bay Ridge. The campaign, led by Bike South Brooklyn, the Bay Ridge Environmental Group, and Transportation Alternatives, demands a 'better, safer Fourth Avenue' with a road diet and protected bike lanes. Council Member Justin Brannan, who represents Bay Ridge, has a mixed record—once supportive, now silent as his term ends. State Senator Andrew Gounardes supports the redesign, citing risks to pedestrians and cyclists: 'the design of the street puts your safety at risk.' The DOT has not proposed changes south of Sunset Park, leaving Bay Ridge exposed. Advocates vow to keep fighting for safety, regardless of political will.

• Activists Renew Push For Redesign of Fourth Ave. in Bay Ridge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-26

Lawsuits stall congestion pricing. Disabled riders lose. Elevators and upgrades freeze. Streets choke. Politicians demand action. Money for accessibility dries up. The city’s most vulnerable wait. Wheelchair users, seniors, parents, all stuck. The system fails those who need it most.

On February 23, 2024, at a press conference, Brooklyn State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon condemned lawsuits blocking the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. The matter, titled 'Congestion Pricing Opponents Are Blocking Disabled Access to Mass Transit, Politicians Charge,' highlights how legal challenges from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, the United Federation of Teachers, and others have forced the MTA to halt critical accessibility upgrades. Gounardes declared, 'That’s not gonna happen if the money’s not there.' The MTA earmarked $6 billion for accessibility, aiming to make 70 stations ADA accessible and modernize 78 elevators. Disability advocates like Elizabeth Valdez and Joe Rappaport stressed that most disabled New Yorkers rely on subways and buses, not private cars. Christopher Schuyler noted congestion pricing would speed up paratransit and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Without funding, the city’s most vulnerable remain stranded.

• Congestion Pricing Opponents Are Blocking Disabled Access to Mass Transit, Politicians Charge, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-23

A truck hit a woman crossing Sutton Street in Greenpoint. She lies in critical condition. The driver, with a long record of violations, faces charges. Council Member Restler and others demand safer streets, calling out reckless driving and deadly intersections.

On February 23, 2024, Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33) joined other officials in a public statement after a truck struck a pedestrian at Sutton Street and Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint. The incident left a 49-year-old woman in critical condition. The driver, Stanley Manel, was arrested and charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care. The officials' statement read: 'We’re deeply saddened and outraged at the news of yet another pedestrian being struck by an unsafe driver in Greenpoint.' Restler and colleagues highlighted the intersection's dangers and the driver's history—35 tickets since 2019, including 26 speed camera violations. They urged support for bills requiring speed control devices for repeat offenders and for Sammy’s Law, which would let NYC set its own speed limits. The group called on the Department of Transportation to install raised crosswalks and daylighting to protect pedestrians.

• Driver arrested after crash that left Greenpoint pedestrian in critical condition, brooklynpaper.com, Published 2024-02-23

A bill from Sen. Gounardes orders New York to cut driving by 20 percent by 2050. Fewer cars, fewer deaths. The plan would save nearly 600 lives a year from crashes. Active travel rises. Streets grow safer. Pollution drops. Wallets breathe easier.

Senate Bill S1981A, proposed by State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, demands a 20-percent reduction in vehicle miles traveled statewide by 2050. The bill, backed by New Yorkers for Transportation Equity, was introduced last year and is under consideration. The measure’s summary promises to 'improve air quality and reduce fatal crashes.' Gounardes, representing Brooklyn’s western edge, champions the shift: 'A new approach will not only protect our climate, but also make New York a safer, more affordable place to live.' Analysis from the Rocky Mountain Institute projects 593 fewer traffic deaths each year, with thousands more lives saved through active transportation. The bill’s focus is clear: less driving, more safety, cleaner air, and real savings for families.

• Bill to Cut Vehicle Miles in New York Would Also Reduce Traffic Deaths, Costs and Pollution, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-22

A 56-year-old man died behind the wheel on 82nd Street. His sedan crashed into a parked Toyota. The front end crumpled. He wore no seatbelt. Metal folded, and the street fell silent. He never stepped out. The impact ended everything.

According to the police report, a 56-year-old man driving a sedan on 82nd Street crashed into the rear of a parked Toyota. The report states the sedan 'slammed into the back of a parked Toyota.' The front end of the sedan folded in, trapping the driver inside. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, as noted in the narrative. The crash resulted in the apparent death of the driver, who 'never got out.' The police report lists the contributing factor as 'Unspecified,' and no driver errors are explicitly cited in the available data. The parked Toyota was unoccupied at the time of the collision. The report does not mention any actions by other road users or any additional contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4703200, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Senator Gounardes pushes a bill to slash car trips statewide. Advocates demand less driving, more transit. Highway funds feed car dominance. The law would force state projects to cut vehicle miles. Vulnerable road users stand to gain. Albany stalls. Streets stay deadly.

Bill to reduce vehicle miles traveled by 20 percent by 2050, introduced by State Senator Andrew Gounardes (District 26), is backed by advocates and the New Yorkers for Transportation Equity coalition. Announced February 6, 2024, the bill would require transportation officials to align projects with the goal of fewer car trips. Gounardes said, "We fundamentally want to be shifting how we think about transportation infrastructure." The measure responds to data showing over 90 percent of infrastructure funds go to roads, not transit. Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance called for an "about-face," noting highway projects have torn apart poor communities and endangered pedestrians and cyclists. The bill sits before the state legislature. No direct safety analyst assessment, but advocates stress the law would shift funding from car-centric projects to transit and greenways, reducing systemic danger for vulnerable road users.

• State Must Cut Car Trips by 20%: Advocates, streetsblog.org, Published 2024-02-06

State Sen. Gounardes pushes a bill to slash car trips by a fifth by 2050. Advocates say New York spends billions on roads while traffic deaths climb. The law would force highway projects to prove they cut driving, not fuel it.

State Sen. Andrew Gounardes introduced a bill requiring New York to reduce vehicle miles traveled by 20 percent by 2050. The bill, modeled after Minnesota law, is not yet passed or assigned to a committee. It would amend the state’s climate law, forcing transportation officials to align highway projects with the goal of fewer car trips. Gounardes warns, 'If we’re just going to use that money to double down on the transportation of the past, on just purely automobile usage, we’re making a great mistake.' Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance says the bill is about shifting priorities to climate and equity. Advocates note that over 90 percent of recent infrastructure funds went to roads, not transit. The measure would require revisions or offsets for projects that don’t cut driving. Gov. Hochul’s office declined comment. The bill aims to halt the cycle of road expansion, rising traffic, and mounting deaths.

• State Must Cut Car Trips by 20%: Advocates, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-02-06

Steel met flesh on Union Street. An 83-year-old man, crossing with the light, was struck by a turning taxi. Blood pooled. His head split. The cab did not stop. The street did not forgive.

An 83-year-old man was seriously injured at the intersection of Union Street and 6th Avenue in Brooklyn when a taxi making a right turn struck him as he crossed with the signal. According to the police report, the pedestrian was 'crossing with the light' when the collision occurred. The report cites 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The narrative describes the aftermath: 'Steel meets flesh. He falls. Blood pools on the pavement. Head split. Eyes open. The cab did not stop.' The victim suffered a severe head injury and was conscious at the scene. The police report makes clear the driver failed to yield to a pedestrian lawfully crossing, underscoring the persistent danger faced by New York City’s most vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699808, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

A Genesis SUV turned left through a red. A moped rider, unlicensed and unprotected, was thrown and crushed. Blood pooled. A leg shattered. The street did not forgive. The law was ignored. The city bore witness.

According to the police report, a Genesis SUV made a left turn on Carroll Street near Bond Street, disregarding traffic control. At the same moment, a moped was making a right turn. The SUV's driver, licensed, ignored the light, as stated in the report: 'The light was ignored.' The moped rider, a 20-year-old man, was unlicensed and wore no safety equipment. The report details that the rider was ejected and suffered crush injuries to his leg. The contributing factors listed include 'Traffic Control Disregarded' and 'Turning Improperly.' The SUV's left front bumper struck the moped's center front end. The police report paints a stark scene: 'Blood pooled. A leg shattered.' The crash underscores the lethal consequences when drivers disregard traffic signals and turn improperly.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4699806, NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-06-15

Albany weighs bills A5259 and S2812 to keep and expand red-light cameras past December. Assembly Member Dinowitz and Senator Gounardes push for more cameras. DOT data shows fewer violations and crashes. Advocates demand action. The cap leaves neighborhoods exposed. Lives hang in the balance.

Bills A5259 and S2812 face debate in the New York State legislature. If lawmakers fail to act, the city’s red-light cameras—now capped at 150 intersections—will shut off December 1, 2024. The matter, described as 'reauthorize and expand the city's red-light camera program,' is championed by Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and Senate co-sponsor Andrew Gounardes. Dinowitz, the sponsor, urges expansion, stating, 'We should have red-light cameras on every intersection.' Gounardes expects a review and expansion. DOT data backs them: violations and rear-end crashes have dropped at camera sites. Residents like Amy Bettys call the cap dangerous. Advocacy groups support the bills, though they are not a top priority. Dinowitz stresses automated enforcement is vital with limited police. The bills await committee action. Vulnerable road users face risk if the program lapses.

• Better Red Than Dead: Albany Takes Up Camera Reauthorization, Expansion, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2024-01-25