Articles by Joan Lowy and Jonathan Lemire

Trump Transportation Chief’s Record Signals Slowdown in Safety Regulation

Elaine Chao’s record as secretary of labor suggests she’d have a light hand when it comes to safety regulation as head of the Transportation Department and would seek to shift responsibility from the federal government to states where possible. President-elect …

Manhattan Crane Collapse Investigation May Take Weeks

It may take weeks to determine why a huge construction crane that was being lowered during strong winds came crashing down onto a street last Friday, Feb. 5, killing a pedestrian and crushing a row of parked cars, New York …

NYC Mayor de Blasio Defends Traffic Safety Plan Despite Recent Deaths

Three people, including a child, crushed by a car that plowed into a group of trick-or-treaters. An 84-year-old woman run over by a charter bus that never stopped. A grandmother struck by a taxi driver finishing a 16-hour shift. Since …

GOP Candidate Rubio Criticizes Gov’t Regulation of On-Demand Economy

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio vowed to cap the number of regulations government can impose on businesses, particularly “on-demand” startups like Uber and Airbnb that he considers models for a changing national economy. Speaking in New York City on Oct. …

Death Toll From Legionnaires’ Disease Up to 12, NYC Mayor Says

Two more people in the Bronx have died of Legionnaires’ disease, bringing the total of fatalities to 12 in the largest outbreak of the disease in New York City history, officials said Monday. There are now 113 reported cases of …

Despite Truce, Uber Agreement Keeps Tensions High at NYC City Hall

The deal that, for now, decided the ride-hailing behemoth Uber’s future in New York City began with a phone call to Rome. New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito on Tuesday, July 21, called Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was …

NYC, Uber Reach Deal: No Cap on Company During 4-Month Study

Uber cars can continue to be a growing presence on the streets of New York City now that an agreement has been reached between the ride-hailing company and the city. Just before a City Council vote that could have capped …

Dispute Simmering Between Uber, de Blasio Over Access to NYC Streets

A dispute is simmering between the ride-booking service Uber and New York Mayor Bill de Blaiso’s City Hall, an increasingly pitched disagreement playing out on smartphones, over the airwaves and in the press over a fundamental question: Who controls access …

N.Y. to Get Nearly $1B Federal Loan to Make Commuter Rail Safer

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the nation’s largest commuter rail network, is on track to receive a nearly $1 billion federal loan for safety improvements meant to avoid a repeat of a 2013 derailment that killed four people, New York Gov. …

NYC Mayor: Someone May Have ‘Inappropriately’ Tapped Gas Line

Someone may have improperly tapped a gas line before an explosion that leveled three apartment buildings and injured nearly two dozen people, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday, March 27, as firefighters soaked the still-smoldering buildings …