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

Tuesday’s Headlines: That’s Just Sick Edition

Cops and firefighters are not raising their hands.

The big story of Monday was the fact that thousands of city workers called in sick rather than accept the city mandate that they get vaccinated, which is really not that much to ask if you want to continue, you know, serving the public.

There was wall-to-wall coverage:

    • The Daily News focused on the 2,000 firefighters who called in with the vaccine flu. The paper also looked at cops who have suddenly found God ... to avoid the jab.
    • The Post provided a broad overview of the 10,000-plus workers who have not gotten vaccinated, but also let the NYPD spin its way out of the fact that 15 percent of the force still hasn't gotten vaccinated.
    • The Times and Gothamist put the number at closer to 9,000.

In other news:

    • The must-click story of the day was from the Times, which ran photos of Soviet-era subway stations that will make every New Yorker drool (which we can do because our platforms are such a mess). Why can't we have nice things and the Evil Empire can?
    • The Daily News and the Post had a great story about a Mustang owner who left his car idling in a driveway only to have it swiped. The muscle car owner was so desperate to get his wheels back that he told told cops there was a 7-year-old boy with Down syndrome in the back seat. Cops did indeed find the car thief quickly — but it's unclear if the lie about the back-seat hostage speeded the police effort. That's worth a follow up: How quickly does the NYPD solve car thefts normally vs. when they believe a kid is in the back seat?
    • The Times has finally started covering the cabbie hunger strike.
    • Our friend John Massengale had a great op-ed in the Daily News about the future of city streets (better without cars!) that featured a nice mention of a plan by our parent company, Open Plans, to create an Office of Public Space Management.
    • Hey, Chuck Schumer — get us off fossil fuels. (amNY)
    • And, finally, maybe restaurants will spark a bike-parking revolution (because we know the city certainly isn't):

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

EXCLUSIVE: Mamdani Halts NYPD’s Criminal Crackdown on Cyclists, Ending Harsher Treatment of Bicyclists Than Car Drivers

Cops will no longer write criminal summonses to cyclists for minor traffic offenses starting on Friday, March 27, City Hall said.

March 18, 2026

Council Leaders Push DOT In Both Directions On Streets Master Plan Goals

Transportation Chair Shaun Abreu is passionate about bus lanes and bike lanes. Finance Chair Linda Lee? Not so much.

March 18, 2026

Albany Pols Seek Transparency From Insurance Giants As Hochul Pushes Premium Cuts

Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Sen. Jamaal Bailey have stepped up their oversight of — and concern about — Gov. Hochul's auto insurance scheme.

Mayor Mamdani’s Daylighting Budget Covers Tiny Fraction of the City

The funding is nowhere near enough to bring daylighting citywide as Mayor Mamdani promised to do on the campaign trail.

March 18, 2026

Wednesday’s Headlines: Speeding is No Joke Edition

Our editor-in-chief has some choice words for the New York Post in our latest video. Plus the news.

March 18, 2026

MTA’s Lieber Asks City to Put More Cops on Bus Lane Enforcement

Lieber told City Council members he wants more "dedicated funding for traffic enforcement to keep the [bus] lanes clear of private vehicles."

March 17, 2026
See all posts