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

Tuesday’s Headlines: Lots of Trash Talk Edition

Garbage bags clutter a sidewalk in the Financial District. File Photo

Wow, we didn't think our little exclusive yesterday about the Sanitation Department hiring the international consulting firm McKinsey to investigate how the city can better deal with garbage was going to make such a, well, stink — but boy did it ever!

The story was straightforward enough: McKinsey — which has a bit of a checkered past, but is certainly no fly-by-night firm — was selected to do a full study of New York's garbage problem, especially the streetscape part, where every day at 5 o'clock, the sidewalks become impassible because every building sets out its garbage for collection.

As Ratso Rizzo might say, "I'm walking' heah!"

Well, our readers made it very clear that they don't like this $4-million consultancy one bit! Here are a few things we heard on the Twitter:

It went on like that all day — with lots of people positing that it's awfully weird for the city to have to study how to do something better (getting trash away from pedestrians in sealed containers) that it's been doing badly for decades. The good news is that people are reading our exclusives!

In other news:

    • We're not going to get into a whole debate about subway crime for a second day, but this story of the neon green unitard-wearing crew that beat up two women is crazy. (NYDN, NY Post)
    • Bookmark this site — Law Enforcement Lookup — because you can use it to check the disciplinary record of cops. (Gothamist covered)
    • The LIRR's third-track expansion is done, making possible better commutes, especially when the MTA brings LIRR service to Grand Central. (NYDN, NY Post, amNY)
    • Speaking of the MTA, Ross Barkan had a look at the agency's troubled finances. (Crain's)
    • Colin Jost and Pete Davidson have given their Staten Island ferry boat the auspicious name, "Titanic 2." (NY Post)
    • Several outlets covered the indictment of the driver who allegedly sped through a red light and caused a crash that killed two men in Inwood in August. (Streetsblog, NYDN)
    •  If this spellbinding story about the sham of Brooklyn Community Board 1 District Manager Gerald Esposito's surprise "retirement" — and the golden parachute that went along with it — doesn't prompt immediate action to reform community boards, we don't know what will. (The City)
    • Speaking of shams, here's some ugly nepotism at the MTA. (NY Post)
    • The city made a detail-free announcement that it will create charging hubs and rest areas for delivery workers, which amNY, Crain's and Gothamist covered far too credulously. Our coverage pointed out what was missing and who won't like it. The City also covered.
    • Damn competitors! We asked the Department of Environmental Protection on Sept. 27 for details of its noise camera pilot program. We were put on the back burner, and now we know why: Hell Gate got the scoop. You win some, you lose some.
    • We were very excited to see that the DOT is going to pour two concrete pedestrian islands and paint four new crosswalks at New Utrecht and 10th avenues in Brooklyn (DOT presentation), but kinda sorta couldn't believe that it takes the agency 18 months to do something so basic. See the timeline below:
Graphic: DOT
Graphic: DOT
Graphic: DOT
    • Finally, rain, rain go away (especially since the Braves lost last night — ya gotta believe). (Gothamist)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Thursday’s Headlines: Gateway ‘Terminator’ Edition

President Trump abruptly announced he'd "terminated" the Gateway Tunnel project while taking aim at Chuck Schumer. Plus more news.

October 16, 2025

Trump’s Electrification Cuts are Short-Sighted: Report

EV infrastructure is far more valuable to the nation's prosperity and jobs market than the White House believes, according to a new report.

October 16, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: Another Highway Boondoggle Erased Edition

Maybe the worm has turned on these awful boondoggles? Plus other news.

October 15, 2025

Book Excerpt Special: ‘War on Cars’ Hosts Explore Life After the Automobile

...and why it's so urgent that we work for a better future.

October 15, 2025

State Pauses Billion-Dollar Route 17 Expansion in Hudson Valley

One of the biggest highway boondoggles in the state may finally die a merciful death, thanks to Gov. Hochul.

October 14, 2025

Delivery Workers Continue Push For Deactivation Protections

Delivery workers put pressure on the City Council to pass a bill that would give them "just cause" protections.

October 14, 2025
See all posts