We had more people in our office watching that tremendous Mets game than Mayor Adams had at his side at his weekly off-topic presser, which, as a solo act, was a visible reminder of how isolated he is right now. The Gothamist headline said it all, "Indicted and in crisis, Mayor Eric Adams is suddenly alone." (The City also covered.)
Well, maybe he's not that alone. It was funny to read the oh-so-convincing statement that Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez sent over to Gothamist for a different story about whether Mayor Adams can still run the city. Rodriguez's take? He said he's “laser focused on delivering for New Yorkers every day.” Good to know.
In other news from an Amazin' day:
- Both the Times and Streetsblog covered the bizarre story of the cop who harassed a 311 caller by making crank calls with gay smears and, yes, dolphin sounds. But the difference in the coverage was clear: The Gray Lady was forced to credit Streetsblog for Jesse Coburn's seminal (and award-winning coverage) of NYPD harassment of 311 complainants. "Streetsblog, an online news organization, had been publishing stories about the allegations," The Times reported.
- Speaking of Coburn, he just landed a plum job at ProPublica. We're proud of him ... and accept his thanks!
I'll always be grateful to @StreetsblogNYC and @GershKuntzman for letting me chase big stories. Still have one more of those in the works—stay tuned.
— Jesse Coburn (@Jesse_Coburn) October 1, 2024
- Queens NIMBYs are jumping on Mayor Adams's corruption crisis to claim that his City of Yes zoning is also corrupt — which is what the Post does. (Meanwhile, amNY did what it does ... and gave Mayor Adams a pro-City of Yes op-ed.)
- Here's a Mets playoff angle we didn't anticipate — but, again, that's what the Post does.
- Let's get ready to compooooooost. (NY Post)
- As we mentioned yesterday, the DOT has begun work on the 96th Street bus lane. (amNY, West Side Rag)
- The MTA talked up its new accessible entrance to Grand Central Madison. (Gothamist)
- The Times brings you inside the school bus mess.
- Out-of-towners often ask me, "What happened to Rudy Giuliani?" Mostly, I point out that the man that most Americans see as some sort of hero was actually always an authoritarianism-leaning thug. Now, his daughter, Caroline, sets the record straight — begging the nation to not let Donald Trump do to the country what he did to Rudy. (Vanity Fair)
