Questioning Blakeman’s LIRR Savings Without Union Cuts
I look forward to Bruce Blakeman's plan on how to cut LIRR costs without reining in union costs or how to raise new revenues to cover the higher union costs.
January Mental-Health Transports Plummet Under New Mayor
Interestingly, or not, Mamdani hasn't updated this dashboard on mental-health transports since his first month in office ... for January, the only month of data we have under the new mayor, they were way down. @bstettin https://t.co/hTUkYfAKaG https://t.co/zMMgJi23sZ
New Yorker Dodges Brinks Facts to Protect Its Own
Even in discussing a supposedly fictionalized account, the New Yorker cannot bring itself to properly lay out the facts of the 1981 Brinks robbery, because the perpetrators were from the same milieu as New Yorker readers and writers. The passive...
Not Anti-Transit: Labor Costs Make System Unsustainable
For all the people saying he's anti-transit or doesn't understand externalities, he's not anti-transit (or, at least, he doesn't say anything in this video that's anti-transit), and one of the externalities here is labor costs that are multiple times the...
NYC Subway Stair Pushes Cause Murders; Barriers Won’t Help
We have had at least three NYC subway murders by stair pushing since 2020. Many NYC Dem electeds want platform barriers (ignoring fact that most of Europe doesn’t have em and yet still has minimal transit violence), but what will...
Tie Budget Growth to Increases in Regulated Rents
This is a good idea. Hold local and state budget growth to the rise in regulated rents.
Mamdani Inherits Crisis, Must Address Past Gaslighting
Yes, he did. And that's why I'm not knee-jerk all, this is Mamdani's fault. It *will* be Mamdani's fault, if he doesn't have a press conference tomorrow to say exactly what he is going to do about it. But he...
Road Safety Hinges on Design, Not Autonomous Cars
Once again, Waymo and/or its competitors will slot into whatever vehicle-control regime a particular city/ state government has devised. Waymo by itself is not going to make complex urban transportation systems safer or not. What makes city roads safer is...
Palm Beach Offers Occasional Arts, Not Weekly Cultural Fix
Based on my 30 hours in Palm Beach two months ago, I am now an expert on Palm Beach. So I will point one thing out: the opera and museum there are sufficient arts/culture for most people; if you don't...
Rent Caps Below Inflation Threaten Regulated‑Unit Owners
The rent guidelines board has officially voted to consider a range of 0-2 percent for one year lease and 0-4 percent for two year lease for final vote next month. Inflation is inching toward 3.5 percent. Win for Mamdani politically...
Vote Enables Two-Year Rent Freeze, Boosting Voter Support
So this vote means a rent freeze for two-year leases is possible. Mamdani didn’t get his tax hikes but, in an environment of rising inflation and rising costs for owners, he may well get the rent freeze on a final...
Mamdani's Rent Freeze Decision Awaits Preliminary Vote
We are about to learn if Mamdani is getting is rent freeze or not. (The preliminary vote is a preview of the final vote next month.) https://t.co/SzhWXXgLyD
Median Rents Far Below $5k; No Housing Crisis
You see, again, these are the median rents. And yes, the market-rate one is higher, but it is not $5k. Do not let "crisis" hype lead us into bad ideas, like universal rent stabilization. There is no "crisis" here. On...
M23 Bus Mostly Free; Few Paid, OMNY Complaint Ignored
The M23 bus was "free" for many people yesterday -- I think about 1/10 people boarding in the rear door paid. One lady made a big show about how her OMNY card wasn't working ... she should get a TONY.
Mayor and Speaker Oppose City Control of Transit
Both the mayor and the speaker right now are walking arguments against city control of transit ...