Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Department of Sanitation

UPDATE: City Finally Removes Abandoned Car That Anonymous Greenpointer Turned into Art Statement

An abandoned car turned art project on Huron Street. Photo: Julianne Cuba.

An abandoned car is an eyesore — unless it's art!

A Greenpoint street artist got so fed up with an abandoned car parked on a local street that she turned the decaying chunk of metal into a statement — directed at the city for failing to do its job. 

The artist, who runs the blog New York Shitty, told Streetsblog that she just wants the city to come haul away the eyesore, which had been parked without any wheels in front of a laundromat on Huron Street for at least a month before it was finally later removed by the Department of Sanitation after an earlier version of this story was posted.

“Blast it on the Internet and shame the city into doing its damned job," the artist said.

But if neither the NYPD — which tickets and is responsible for removing illegally parked cars, or so it claims— or the Department of Sanitation — which is responsible for towing derelict cars such as ones with no plates — are capable of doing their jobs, then the eyesore should at least be turned into an art project.

"When is a stripped, abandoned car that’s been left on the street for over a month not a stripped, abandoned car that’s been left on the street for over a month?" the blogger wrote. "When it is called art!"

The woman behind New York Shitty emblazoned the graffiti-filled car with a plaque similar to ones found next to actual sculptures and paintings in museums.

"NYPD & Unknown Artists, Two Tired, 2019. Mixed Media. Gifted to the Greenpoint community courtesy of unknown benefactor, apathy and chronic ineptitude," the caption says.

One woman turned this abandoned car into art. Photo: Julianne Cuba.
One woman turned this abandoned car into art. Photo: Julianne Cuba.
One woman turned this abandoned car into art. Photo: Julianne Cuba.

Neither New York's Finest or New York's Strongest have the best track record of fulfilling their duties of removing abandoned cars from the street, whether they have license plates on them or not.

Streetsblog documented back in April how the NYPD doesn't actually respond to illegally parked cars to remove or ticket them, despite claiming it does.

DSNY said it removed the vehicle Wednesday morning, after Streetsblog's initial story had been posted. A spokeswoman said the agency tried twice before to remove the car but on the first attempt it was not at the location and on the second attempt, the owner had appeared and claimed it.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Likely Mayor Mamdani Supports Daylighting as DOT Digs In Heels

The next mayor will have to overcome a deeply entrenched bureaucracy opposed to the common-sense policy.

October 6, 2025

Under Pressure: Uber’s Navigation System Endangers the Public With Reckless Driving Directions

An Uber driver made an illegal u-turn and hit someone, but the in-app navigation told him to do it and the company won't give up the code.

October 6, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Trump Games Continue Edition

Trump restored some security grant for New York, but billions of dollars in grants remain on ice. Plus more news.

October 6, 2025

Friday Video: Meet the Subway’s Straphanger-Free Trains

We've all seen them. Now, thanks to YouTube's "Half as Interesting," we can tell you the purpose of each one.

October 3, 2025

The MTA Is Headed To The Lab To Design The Ridgewood Busway

A filthy private road underneath the elevated M tracks could become a gleaming bus-first corridor.

October 3, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Good News Edition

The Department of Transportation reports that traffic deaths are way down through the first three quarters of 2025. Plus other news.

October 3, 2025
See all posts