Skip to content

Merry Christmas Chinatown

A Streetsblog tipster snapped this photo yesterday afternoon. Note the Starsky & Hutch-style siren on the dashboard of the SUV hanging off the back of that tow truck. The photographer reports that NYPD tow trucks have been racking up the hours in December clearing the streets of Chinatown, and as you can see in the photo above, they are finally "towing their own".

A Streetsblog tipster snapped this photo yesterday afternoon. Note the Starsky & Hutch-style siren on the dashboard of the SUV hanging off the back of that tow truck. The photographer reports that NYPD tow trucks have been racking up the hours in December clearing the streets of Chinatown, and as you can see in the photo above, they are finally “towing their own”.

When we last reported on the 5th precinct’s parking situation two weeks ago, placard abusers were filling up the empty parking spots as quickly as the tow trucks could clear them out. Now, the tipster claims that over 90% of placarded vehicles have been removed from Chinatown’s clogged streets. Ho ho ho!

Photo of Aaron Naparstek
Aaron Naparstek is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Streetsblog. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Naparstek's journalism, advocacy and community organizing work has been instrumental in growing the bicycle network, removing motor vehicles from parks, and developing new public plazas, car-free streets and life-saving traffic-calming measures across all five boroughs. He was also one of the original cast members of the "War on Cars" podcast. You can find more of his work on his website.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog New York City

DOT May Push Mamdani’s W. 72nd Street Bike Lane to Next Year Amid Lawsuit Threat

August 27, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines: Lehrer’s Essential Blindness Edition

August 27, 2026

In Her Own Words: ‘Nobody Is Envying Us Today, Zohran’

August 26, 2026

Mamdani BQE Plan Teases Brooklyn Third Av. Redesign Stalled by Adams

August 26, 2026

A Helmet Won’t Save Mayor Mamdani From a Car Crash

August 26, 2026
See all posts