Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Today's Headlines

Friday’s Headlines: Astoria Borealis Edition

SB Donation NYC header 2

Yes, everyone was freaked out about that weird blue light that turned Astoria into the set for "E.T. 2: The Return" (or not), but within a few minutes, we learned that it was just a small explosion that was not, in fact, set by Queens Community Board 2 to protest the Hoyt Avenue bike lane.

Meanwhile, here's two more reminders: Have a great weekend and click on that yellow box above to make a tax-deductible donation to keep the lights on at Streetsblog for another year.

Here's the (non-explosion) news:

    • It's pretty sick when the city has to hire crossing guards — er, pedestrian safety managers — so grown-ups can get safely across car-choked streets. Unfortunately, the Times story reads like a light feature about a minor inconvenience rather than a stinging indictment of a mayor (Bill de Blasio) who won't solve the problem (cars). It's time to hold the mayor accountable for allowing suburbanites and New Jerseyans to terrorize city pedestrians. The story did not even mention congestion pricing.
    • The Wall Street Journal's Paul Berger has crunched the numbers to report what the NYPD and City Hall has been saying for weeks: Traffic deaths are going to hit record lows this year. (WSJ)
    • You really can't beat this Gothamist headline, "MTA Admits That 'Good Service' Depends On Your Definition Of 'Good.'"
    • Look at how beautiful New York is before the cars all mess it up every day. (Gothamist)
    • Is it us, or did the Times publish an op-ed that basically capitulated to the Yellow Vests?
    • So, a Bronx assemblyman implicated in a racially charged school segregation scandal admitted that he has never hired a black staffer during 25-year career (NYDN), which prompted the tweet of the day from Charlie Komanoff about the Assembly Member, Jeffrey Dinowitz.
    • The Straphangers Campaign gives us its annual "year-in-review" of a lousy 2018. (NY Post)
    • And, finally, need any more evidence that some drivers are real jerks? (Ottawa Citizen)
    • Oh, and one more thing. We also liked this tweet from Joe Nickol:
    • And Justin Brannan brought this one to our attention:

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Beach Reading: Zohran Mamdani’s Answers to Streetsblog’s Mayoral Candidate Survey

Spend the holiday weekend with Zohran Mamdani's answers to Streetsblog's mayoral candidate questionnaire.

July 4, 2025

Friday Video: Why NYC Needs ‘Low-Traffic Neighborhoods’

London's Church Street, like so many of our business corridors, was choking on cars — until the advent of the low-traffic neighborhood.

July 4, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: E-Bikes in Parks … Permanently Edition

The Parks Department will permanently allow e-bikes in city parks following a two-year pilot. Plus more news.

July 4, 2025

Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway

The highly-anticipated 34th Street busway may not happen under Mayor Adams after all, sources said.

July 3, 2025

Manhattan DA Says Alleged Central Park Hit-and-Run Cyclist Didn’t Flee, Drops Charges

Prosecutors said the 30-year-old cyclist "remained on the scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics to arrive to treat the injured person."

Sean Duffy’s ‘Great America Road Trip’ Wants You to Drive to Central Park

Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" encourages Americans to drive to sites in the most transit-rich and car-choked parts of the country.

July 3, 2025
See all posts