Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Polly Trottenberg

Tuesday’s Headlines: The Trottenberg Files Edition

12:03 AM EST on November 24, 2020

Here’s the bulging Trottenberg file from the Streetsblog filing cabinet.

Our entire day was jolted from a slow morning coffee into a full caffeine blitz after Dana Rubinstein's Times exclusive about the sudden long-expected resignation of Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

We quickly slowly banged out our 3,300-word magnum opus about Trottenberg's legacy at DOT, while scribes all over town weighed in on the Vision Zero commish:

    • Gothamist's Chris Robbins offered a critical look that definitely emphasized the increase in road fatalities these last two years.
    • The Daily News played it straight.
    • The Post played castrato.
    • Like Streetsblog, the Wall Street Journal emphasized the "mixed results" of the Vision Zero program.
    • Mark Hallum at amNY alluded to Trottenberg's likely role in a Biden administration.
    • And, of course, the Staten Island Advance had to put in a gratuitous criticism of speed cameras, one of Trottenberg's great achievements.

In other news:

    • Very early on Tuesday morning, news broke that David Dinkins, the city's first (and still only) Black mayor, had died. Rest in power, mayor (NYDN, NY Times). His successor, Rudy Giuliani — who during his campaign against Dinkins led a racist police rally at City Hall where Dinkins was taunted as a "washroom attendant" — had the audacity to share his condolences on Twitter.
    • N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy slapped back at Master Builder Andrew Cuomo over the Big Dog's suggestion that commuters and Amtrak don't really need new tunnels under the Hudson River because a simple slapdash repair job is all that's required. For once, we're siding with Joisey. (NY Post)
    • The Post had more about the drunk and unlicensed driver who killed a Brooklyn pedestrian.
    • Great news for Mayor de Blasio (and our cheap, unstylish editor): Astor Hair has been saved! (NYDN, NY Post)
    • And finally, the day ended with some good news for Corey Johnson, who spent most of Monday in a complete panic that was unrelated to Trottenberg's resignation:

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

We Have the ‘End of Days’ Flooding Pics You Need Right Now

It's bad out there. How bad? Here is a citywide roundup from our staff ... and our friends on social media.

September 29, 2023

Labor Gains: Judge Tosses App Giants’ Suit to Stop Deliverista Minimum Wage

Justice Nicholas Moyne cleared the way for a long-delayed wage hike for workers who brave dangerous roads to bring food directly to New Yorkers.

September 29, 2023

Fed Up Bronxites Tell Mayor To Forget About Bus Ride Invitation After Fordham Road ‘Betrayal’

"I really would think that our mayor would be a little bit more active and speak with us, because he hasn't really made any time with riders. We're not the enemy. We just want better bus service."

September 29, 2023

City Pays $150K to Settle Suit Over Cops Who Harassed Man Who Reported Police Parking Misconduct

Justin Sherwood and his lawyer will pocket $152,000 to settle his federal civil rights suit against the city and several officers who harassed him following his 311 calls.

September 28, 2023
See all posts