Friday’s Headlines: Ghost Tags in the News Edition

Our investigative reporter Jesse Coburn came home from vacation in the containerized trash paradise of Trieste, Italy, to discover that his deep coverage of the temporary tag black market had created quite a stir (beyond winning him a Silurians Award, as we might have mentioned yesterday):

• The Queens Chronicle‘s editorial page, which describes itself as “probably the most pro-automobile opinion page in a general interest newspaper in the city,” nonetheless cheered Coburn’s work as “recent remarkable reporting in Streetsblog.”
• Jalopnik gave Coburn’s coverage the aggregation treatment.
• Coburn’s words are so quotable that even the police department in the New Jersey town of Glen Rock is reciting them. As quoted by Tap Into Fair Lawn, Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann said, “Drivers use fake and fraudulent temporary tags for a variety of reasons, including to drive without car insurance; to avoid sales tax on car purchases and bills for tolls and tickets; and to commit more serious crimes in cars with license plates that aren’t connected to their name and address. Fake and fraudulent temporary tags have been used during robberies, shootings, and hit-and-runs.” Wow, that’s identical to what Coburn wrote in one of his follow-ups:

In other news from yesterday:

• Council Member Lincoln Restler is trying to raise the fines for repeatedly ignoring alternate-side-of-the-street parking rules that are causing many streets to remain unswept due to cars that never move. (NYDN)
• In case you missed it, Gothamist had a doorstop of a report on the MTA’s crushing debt. This fiscal cliff is still looming, people.
• EMTs are upset that delivery workers may soon — allegedly — make more than starting emergency technicians. Perhaps, but EMTs get health benefits, days off, sick days and don’t have to lay out $1,000 for a bike or moped to do their work. That said, starting EMTs obviously deserve to make more than $40,000 per year. (NYDN, NY Post)
• Maybe Carl Heastie should consider Sammy’s Law for the suburbs, given how wildly residents of Sprawlville speed. (NY Post)
• A promising Access-a-Ride program will be expanded, but the cost to users will rise. (The City)
• The MTA also took heat at the first fare hike public hearing, but what did you expect? (amNY)

Have a great weekend everyone.