Fatal Legionnaires’ Outbreak, E-Bike Crashes Spur 3 New Bills From UES Lawmaker

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Following a deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak in the neighborhood this summer and a rise in e-bike and e-scooter collisions, Upper East Side Councilmember Virginia Maloney introduced three bills Thursday to make the city's air and intersections safer.

The new bills from the councilmember would require more frequent cooling tower cleanings, create a citywide Legionnaires’ disease awareness campaign and put "Look Up" safety reminders at hundreds of intersections.

The measures follow a recent Legionnaires’ outbreak on the Upper East Side that resulted in 92 confirmed cases and seven deaths, according to city health officials.

"Seven New Yorkers lost their lives during the Legionnaires’ outbreak in my district, and hundreds more New Yorkers have been involved in e-bike and e-scooter collisions this year," Maloney said. "Those numbers demand action."

New Cooling Tower Regulations

One bill would require building owners to clean cooling towers at least three times a year, with at least one cleaning taking place in June or July.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which thrive in humid environments such as cooling towers.

Cooling towers help air-condition buildings by cycling warm air through a chamber of water, creating conditions where the bacteria can grow.

The summer cleaning requirement is intended to boost maintenance during warmer months, when conditions can increase the risk of bacterial growth, according to Maloney’s office.

On the Upper East Side, 34 cooling towers tested positive for live Legionella bacteria this summer.

Public Awareness Campaign

A second measure would require the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to launch a public awareness campaign about Legionnaires’ disease, including information about symptoms, risks, prevention and treatment.

The campaign would also provide information to New Yorkers during active outbreaks.

In July, Maloney said her office heard from residents who were unsure whether it was safe to leave their homes, whether immunocompromised family members should go outside and what precautions they should take.

"In public health emergencies, those questions should never go unanswered," Maloney said. "Public health depends on public trust, and trust depends on timely and transparent communication."

Pedestrian Safety

Maloney’s third bill turns to street safety, requiring the Department of Transportation to install “Look Up” reminders near crosswalks at at least 500 intersections citywide.

At least 50 would be installed in each borough, including 200 near schools. The DOT would also provide schools with street-safety educational materials.

The proposal comes as e-bike and e-scooter collisions have increased 28 percent compared with last year, according to Maloney’s office. More than 500 e-bike collisions have been recorded in the city so far in 2026, her office said.

The council is scheduled to hold an oversight hearing on e-bike and e-scooter safety Sept. 30, with city agencies, advocates, workers and transportation and public safety experts expected to discuss additional measures to reduce crashes.

"These bills are about prevention: keeping our cooling towers safer, making sure New Yorkers have the information they need during a public health emergency, and giving pedestrians another tool to stay alert on increasingly busy streets," Maloney said.

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.