Sounds like things are going well over at the Department of Labor.
Incredible reporting from Rebecca Davis O'Brien:
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/u...

Inside the NYC Power Stations That Keep Trains Moving — or Bring Them to a Halt (Gift Article) Transit officials are spending billions of dollars to upgrade New York City’s aging electrical substations, the mostly invisible backbone of the subway system.

When your subway commute is really bad, it's probably because of an issue in one of these hidden rooms. Take a look at one of NYC's 1930s-era substations, and the high-tech replacements the governor is funding
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Infrastucture porn was the original headine

World Cup Transit Prices Are Set: $150 by Train and $80 for Shuttles

NJT confirms our reporting and adds another doozy: train trips from NY to NJ for World Cup games will cost $150 round trip; a limited number of shuttle bus tickets will cost $80; and if you manage to find parking at the nearby mall, it’s $225 and up

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/17/n...

Trump Administration Will Release 2nd Ave. Subway Funding, in Reversal

The Trump admin has agreed to pay for its share of the Second Avenue Subway extension, after the MTA sued them for ~$60M and breach of contract
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/n...

Taking the Train to a Single World Cup Match Could Cost $150

NEW: Rail tickets to and from the FIFA World Cup games in Jersey could actually cost closer to $150, more than 10 times the typical cost, and higher than what's previously been reported
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/n...

SANTA-CON in the Post tomorrow, right?

Thousands of N.Y.C. Doormen Seeking Better Pay Are Set to Vote on Strike

Three groups you never piss off: sanitation, nurses and doormen
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/n...

Hochul Proposes Tax on N.Y.C. Second Homes That Are Worth $5 Million

BREAKING: Hochul will formally propose a yearly tax surcharge on second homes in NYC that are worth $5 million or more, she said on Tuesday.

The exact cost of the surcharge has not yet been ironed out, but the governor hopes to raise $500M annually that would be used to address the city's deficit.

Mamdani Embraces 20-Year-Old Plan to Create A Car-Free Link Between Prospect Park And Grand Army Plaza - Streetsblog New York City Grand Army Plaza will become a grander plaza that's fully connected to Prospect Park, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

Some interesting history in Streetsblog’s take, by @davecolon.bsky.social
Mike Flynn, the new DOT commish, was part of the movement to pedestrianize the area 20 years ago

nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/04/13/m...

doesn't look like the city is doing a news conference today, but they confirmed our reporting with a press release this morning

Can This Chaotic Brooklyn Plaza Be Car-Free? Mamdani Says Yes.

Exclusive: Mayor Mamdani's DOT is planning to eliminate car traffic on one end of Grand Army Plaza, reconnecting its famous arch to Prospect Park. free link:
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/n...

Yep. And if a strike does happen, the LIRR workers whose unions have already signed contracts will be in the odd position of showing up to work, with no trains in service

The 5 unions threatening to strike include engineers, electricians signalmen and a few other critical roles. While they rep about half of the LIRR workforce, they could shut down the whole operation, if they strike

Long Island Rail Road Strike Looms, as M.T.A. and Unions Reach Impasse

A strike could shut down the Long Island Rail Road, America’s busiest passenger rail service, on May 16, if the MTA and labor can’t come to an agreement.

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/n...

How to Build a Rest Stop for Delivery Workers in a Hurry

“This is all like synchronized swimming,” Mr. Mansylla said. “To build a structure in New York City in, what, 48 hours? That’s as fast as it gets.”

This is a real thing that the president wrote

Natalie Burdick on Instagram: "just one woman, 86lbs of potato salad, and a dream 💛 #432parkavenue #nyc #architecture #songwriter #nycskyline" 30K likes, 263 comments - natalieburdick on March 30, 2026: "just one woman, 86lbs of potato salad, and a dream 💛 #432parkavenue #nyc #architecture #songwriter #nycskyline".

If I’m only ever remembered for inspiring 432 Park TikToks, I’m fully ok with it

www.instagram.com/reel/DWhbxCQ...

nine inch nails pretty freight machine

Best railcar graffiti I've ever seen

Gonna frame it

The Bar Is Open Again on the Staten Island Ferry

After a 7 year drought, beers are back on the Staten Island Ferry. I was there to witness history. Photos by the amazing Todd Heisler

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/n...

Before the LaGuardia Crash, Why Didn’t Truck 1 Stop?

The New York Times used air traffic control audio, flight data and surveillance footage to reconstruct the nine seconds before the incident, the first fatal crash at LaGuardia in more than three decades.

Those nine seconds were critical.

METS

New York City’s Population Flat After Drop in Immigration

New York is great because of immigrants

"The drop-off in migration from abroad was the largest in the country and — along with more New Yorkers leaving for other places — halted the recent growth of the city’s population and blunted its post-pandemic recovery."
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/n...

Take the L, my guy

It is a train line. It was the LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch until 1962.

Here are the 20 stations where MTA has installed new fancy faregates

Lots of subway trains are elevated in NY. We note that this is a subway proposal (for an M extension) because reactivating LIRR on these tracks requires very different math

Lots of subway trains are elevated in NY. We note that this is a subway proposal (for an M extension) because reactivating LIRR on these tracks requires very different math

Should These Abandoned Tracks Become a Park or a Train Line? Or Both?

Should these abandoned railroad tracks in central Queens become a park? A train line? New report out today argues that both are possible at a lower price, with bigger benefits, than the MTA thinks. Will Mayor Mamdani, who supported it last year, back the idea now?
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/n...