Wednesday’s Headlines: Day of Atonement Edition
Today is the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur when even the non-faithful take a moment to take stock. We all have sins for which to atone — but for now, let's focus on the media's transgressions. Oh, and Alec Baldwin's, too.
By
Streetsblog
1:30 AM EDT on October 9, 2019
Look, we all have sins to atone for. Our editor specifically wants to apologize for how he stunk up the ice at Abe Stark on Tuesday night. Our copy desk will spend Yom Kippur atoning for all the tpyos in our stories. And our reporters will beg forgiveness for only being shortlisted for a Pulitzer this year (next year, guys, next year!).
What does everyone else have to atone for? Let us review yesterday’s news:
- Americans in general need to atone for believing falsely that our country can’t be a sustainable transportation paradise like Amsterdam. After all, as City Lab showed in a deep dive, there was an American anti-car movement long before the Dutch version took hold in the 1970s.
- Mara Gay on the Times editorial board is clearly atoning for the Metro section’s ongoing pro-car bias. “New York’s car culture makes no sense,” she says in a sprightly video and opinion piece. “Only 16 percent of our bike lanes are protected. I think we can do better.” (Well, walk over and tell Metro Section editor Cliff Levy to stop ordering up stories calling minor pro-bike or pro-transit improvement a “war” on cars.)
- The SI Advance need not fully atone, but should at least have a little shame to follow us on the Goethals Bridge bike path story (own backyard, people!)
- Gov. Cuomo thinks your subway motorman/woman needs to atone for driving that train so slowly. (NYDN)
- Some ferry captain should atone for giving Alec Baldwin and his family special preference on a Staten Island-bound boat. (NYDN)
- The MTA should atone for taking seriously some Queens residents’ call for spending billions to add some LIRR stations to the few areas of the borough already well served by transit. (MTA)
- Lots of people — unnamed in the Tribeca Trib article — need to atone for their reckless parking psychosis on Vestry Street.
- And finally, you should atone if you don’t agree that Bronx Borough Historian Lloyd Ultan is a national local treasure. (Mayor’s Office via Twitter)
This piece was the work of the Streetsblog staff.
Read More:
More from Streetsblog New York City
Opinion: Sean Duffy’s ‘Golden Age’ of Dangerous Streets
Sean Duffy is calling for a "golden age" of civility in American travel. He should start by ending barbaric policies that get people killed on the ground and in the skies.
Ethan Andersen
December 15, 2025
‘I’m Always on the Bus’: How Transit Advocacy Helped Katie Wilson Become Seattle’s Next Mayor
"I really think that our public transit system is such a big part of people's daily experience of government," says the incoming mayor of the Emerald City.
December 12, 2025
Watchdog Wants Hochul To Nix Bus Lane Enforcement Freebies for MTA Drivers
Lawmakers think the bill prevents MTA employees from getting a "slap in the face" for doing their jobs, but it could open the door to abuse.
December 11, 2025
More Truck Routes Are Coming To A Street Near You
The DOT wants to rein in freight trucks by adding more than 45 miles to the city’s existing network of truck routes.
December 11, 2025
Upstate County’s New Bus Service Will Turn A Transit Desert Into A Rural Network
Jefferson County was one of the few counties in New York without a bus service. Now job seekers and students will have previously unfathomable options in their North Country communities.
December 11, 2025
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.