Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Today's Headlines

Tuesday’s Headlines: The Real Ghost Car Crackdown Edition

More ghost cars are being towed away. Plus other news.

File art: Gersh Kuntzman|

Ghost cars in the pound.

Remember how we've been critical of the city's "effort" to get ghost cars off the street? Well, here's some good news: The Sanitation Department's new "ghost car" task force — a joint operation with the previously sclerotic NYPD — is showing initial promise.

In just 20 days from Sept. 9 through Oct. 6, the new task force towed away 1,428 cars, or roughly 71 per day. (A top Sanitation official had told me at the Sept. 18 unveiling that ghost cars "are everywhere," as if I didn't know that!).

Here's how the first 1,348 of those cars broke down (the deeper analysis lags the total count):

Of course, there's so much more work left to do. For one thing, the Sanitation Department said that a high percentage of the seized cars were later claimed by their owners, who suddenly came up with the paperwork in question. The agency has previously been undermined by owners who suddenly "claim" the vehicle. Eventually, these scofflaws will learn that getting towed ends up costing hundreds of dollars.

But scammers are always one step ahead of the po-po. Even I, a newly anointed fake chaplain, know that, as you can see by this video:

In other news from a slow day in the livable streets day:

  • Speaking of ghost cars, the MTA's car seizures still seem to be mostly about unpaid tolls. (Newsday)
  • Set your calendars! The hearing on the merits of the pro-congestion pricing lawsuit will be heard in state Supreme Court on Oct. 18, per Dave Colon.
  • Mayor Adams had a closed-door meeting with the poohbahs of Fifth Avenue (we're not making that up! It was on his schedule). We're concerned that Hizzoner is about to water down the redesign of Fifth Avenue, which only two years ago was a pretty good plan that City Hall touted with nice renderings.
  • The New Yorker did a long profile of Ingrid Lewis-Martin that did not mention her terrible record on street-safety projects. But in a nice little detail, the Eric Lach piece also called Lewis-Martin a "Christian chaplain," but as Streetsblog reported on Sunday, that could mean almost anything. (Remember, mainstream media — we have her resume, if you want to see it.)
  • Despite the reforms, there's still a lot of garbage in the trash business. (Gothamist)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Monday’s Headlines: ‘We Speak English in America’ Edition

Read that talk bubble. That's really what the cop said to a man under arrest. Plus other news from a busy weekend.

May 12, 2025

Cyclist Launches Class Action Suit For Bogus NYPD Red Light Tickets

The NYPD keeps ignoring a law that allows cyclists to pass through a red light on the "Walk" sign. Now, someone is making a federal case about it.

May 12, 2025

Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss the Death of Outdoor Dining

We asked, will you commit to expanding both Open Streets and outdoor dining in the roadway. And here's what they said...

Car Harms Monday: ‘Car Brain’ is the Demon Spawn of Car Dependency

Our policies, our budgets and our cultural narratives assume everyone can and does drive. That's car brain.

May 12, 2025

Zohran Mamdani Wants to Take a Free Bus … Straight to Gracie Mansion

So let's talk about the candidate's fare-free bus policy.

May 12, 2025
See all posts