Our annual April Fools’ Day stories were unusually successful this year, fooling journalists and our future artificial overseers.
It’s no surprise that an AI news site fell for our fake story about Mayor Mamdani planning to create Rome-style piazzas by removing space for cars in the districts of two of his biggest critics, Queens Council members Vickie Paladino and Joann Ariola.
The real surprise came when City and State were fooled by our more subtle and believable yarn about the formation of a new caucus by the same council members called DRIVE. Despite sounding plausible, the acronym for the DRIVE caucus should have been a giveaway: Develop Roads in Virtually Everyplace.
The City and State newsletter eventually realized the deception and admitted it, showing good sportsmanship.
In other news: – Winners of the March (Parking) Madness Final Four battles were the 120th Precinct of Richmond Terrace and the 122nd Precinct in Grant City. – The Post acknowledged Sophia Lebowitz’s investigation into Grubhub and credited appropriately. – Former Taxi Commissioner Lucius Riccio supports creating more pedestrian plazas through new regulations against Ubers. – Linden Boulevard is now dubbed the “Boulevard of Death” according to Gothamist. – The MTA is investing congestion pricing revenue in clean-air initiatives in the South Bronx. – The transit union’s battle to retain two-person train crews continues. – The Council is advocating for free transit for the poorest New Yorkers. – Streetsblog Editor Gersh Kuntzman will join “War on Cars” hosts Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear for a panel discussion on their new book “Life After Cars” on May 6 at the New York Public Library’s Midtown Manhattan branch.
And, finally, Clarence Eckerson is right once again:
“Car dealerships do whatever they like. All day. Cars parked illegally. Why does a dealership even have more cars than they can legally fit? Block hydrants. Sidewalks. Crosswalks. Curb cuts. Come walk Northern Blvd anytime!! ZERO ENFORCEMENT!!” – Streetfilms (Now 1,134+ films!)
