Friday’s Headlines: Let’s See Those Narrow Snowplows Edition

The storm as of 10 p.m. on Thursday. Photo: National Weather Service
The storm as of 10 p.m. on Thursday. Photo: National Weather Service

As we write this early on Thursday morning, we don’t know if we’re getting a snowpocalyse or a light dusting (a lot depends on that low pressure over Montréal, frankly), but one thing is sure: The Adams administration wants to make sure it’s ready.

By early afternoon on Thursday, the Department of Sanitation — fresh from its bruising encounter with Streetsblog last year — was tweeting images of its new fleet of (OK, 30) narrow snow plows for bike lanes, equipment that Streetsblog readers got a sneak peak of late last year, when Commissioner Ed Grayson promised his troops would do a better job this year of clearing snow from sidewalks, bus stops and bike lanes.

Expected temps by 1 p.m. on Friday will be too high for snow. Photo: National Weather Service
Expected temps by 1 p.m. on Friday will be too high for snow. Photo: National Weather Service

And the mayor’s press office says Adams will visit a Sanitation garage in Lower Manhattan at 6:45 a.m. for his usual pep talk.

Still, who knows? The snowsterical NY Post hyped the potential for flakes, as always, but the Times and Gothamist joined in, too. But our old man editor isn’t sure. He spent most of Thursday night refreshing the National Weather Service website.

The good news is that this seasonal weather event will almost certainly be over by 1 p.m., when anything white will turn clear, based on the expected temperature of 35 degrees (see photo, right).

But like rash opinions or Mookie Wilson, weather can swing wildly from one minute to the next, so check local listings as the day goes on.

Until then, here’s a roundup of yesterday’s top stories:

  • Let’s start with the story everyone was talking about from yesterday headlines: the only-in-New-York, rat-in-the-car story. Yes, there’s been an update — and it is absolutely delicious. (Nextdoor)
  • We’ve already mentioned that the Second Avenue Subway will be extended, but yesterday, Sen. Schumer said so again. (NYDN, amNY)
  • What did Mayor Adams tell cops in the 103rd Precinct last week when he spoke at a roll call? The Post got the video of the mayor, who was beaten by officers from that command when he was a teen, telling officers that he has their back … if they do their jobs honorably.
  • Speaking of the mayor and cops, several outlets covered his press conference yesterday, where Adams said he wanted cops to roam through the subway system asking straphangers, “How are you doing?” Streetsblog focused on Adams’s charm offensive; the Post, the News and the Times focused on efforts to help the homeless; Gothamist split the difference; the City focused on how Hochul and Adams appear to be working together, which is nice for a change.
  • Here’s a history of how we’ve paid for the subway. (Gothamist)
  • And finally, who wore it better: Miss America pageant contestant Merryn Roberts-Huntley or our old man editor? (Bike Portland)

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG