Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Barack Obama

Reason to Like Rahm Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff

Spotted in today's Times story on Barack Obama's emergency economic agenda:

Mr. Obama is coordinating with Congressional Democrats behind thescenes on the stimulus plans, which would include more joblessbenefits, food stamps, aid to financially strapped states and cities,and spending for infrastructure projects that keep people at work. His chief liaison has been Mr. Emanuel.

"Youdon't ever want a crisis to go to waste; it's an opportunity to doimportant things that you would otherwise avoid," Mr. Emanuel said inan interview. "In 1974 and 1978 we never dealt with it, and ourdependence on foreign oil never changed."

Good stuff, except for that "foreign" part.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Queens Pol Trolls Her Own Constituents From Her Ticket-Covered Lincoln As They March For Car-Free Parks

Queens Council Member Joann Ariola mocked her own constituents in an "adolescent" and "antagonistic" move just because some people want a car-free park.

February 9, 2026

Snow Problem: Can New York City Handle Big Winter Storms Anymore?

There are eight million people in the big city. And 32 million opinions on the Mamdani administration's response to its first snow crisis.

February 9, 2026

Video: Another Way The Snow Reveals Our Misallocation of Public Space

New Yorkers barely use their cars and, instead, use them to seize public space.

February 9, 2026

Monday’s Headlines: Bureaucratic Morass Edition

Restaurants hoping to set up in the city's open streets hit a bureaucratic snag — but DOT said a solution is coming. Plus more news.

February 9, 2026

Andy Byford’s ‘Trump Card’ On Penn Station Keeps Wrecking New York’s Infrastructure Projects

What will become of the Amtrak executive's plans for Penn Station under President Trump?

February 6, 2026

FLASHBACK: What Happened To Car-Free ‘Snow Routes’ — And Could They Have Helped City Clear the Streets?

Remember those bright red signs that banned parking from snow emergency routes? Here is the curious story of how New York City abandoned a key component of its snow removal system.

February 6, 2026
See all posts