Yearning for the robo cop

And the simpler times that came along with it. #98

Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference Thursday evening at the Times Square subway station to announce a new “co-response” program focused on those experiencing mental health challenges in the subway.

When I got to the precise location I was brought back to the last time I was there, in September 2023, when the mayor was introducing us to a robot cop.

As the mayor spoke Thursday, I reflected on the last year like in a movie montage. Professional and personal memories floated through my head; sadly Winnie Greco was in many of them. Back in the present, it was difficult to hear the mayor and other speakers because the sound was bad and also there was a barrage of hecklers from across the station who yelled things like “booo” and “resign” and “bro you’re guilty!” Afterwards we chased the mayor out to ask him about the feds raiding the school safety officer’s headquarters in Long Island City and about who will replace his interim police commissioner, who was also there and not speaking. Reporters yelled, DCPI officials shoved us, we yelled some more. Last night and this morning there was more reporting about more investigations and potentially shady real estate deals. How much longer can this all last, I thought, and then remembered it will likely keep going and going.

Despite polling from last week that found most want the mayor to resign, Mayor Adams isn’t going willingly. And he also wants everyone to know a mass exodus of his closest aides is normal, fine even. The schools chancellor might write a book. Another staffer was arrested. Cuomo lurks. I wish the mayor’s press office could answer emails back. At least 14 people are confirmed dead in Hurricane Milton’s destruction. The news every day is worse and worse, and there’s a presidential election coming up and then a primary and a snowstorm probably, all lurking in the future.

It makes me miss the robo cop.

Other interesting reads (catching up over two weeks)

A great profile of Ingrid Lewis-Martin [POLITICO]
A top NYPD official got a lot of money in overtime [NY POST]
High-wage workers continue to do better and better here [THE CITY]
The Randall’s Island tents are coming down [THE CITY]
The city cracks down on vending near Kingsbridge Armory [THE CITY]

Sign up for THE CITY’s daily newsletter, SCOOP, to get more emails.

🎧LISTEN🎧
We again tried to make sense of everything on FAQ [ FAQ]
I was also on Errol Louis’s podcast last week. [NY1]

Here’s a little of what I’ve been listening to lately:

”Taped in Front of a Live Studio Audience” by Damien Jurado
”Zé e Paraná” by Azymuth
”Shiny Penny People” by Ghost Rodeo
”The Sorrow That Comes With Loving You” by Rubblebucket

My sister, brother-in-law and I went with my nephew last week to see Vampire Weekend at Madison Square Garden. Riordan’s musical tastes are very diverse (he’s now deep into a Beatles rabbit hole) and he also loves Vampire Weekend. He lasted nearly the entire concert, but did fall asleep towards the end (he’s 9 and it was late, I almost did too.)

The opener was Billy Joel cover band Turnstiles, which people initially thought was Turnstile when the bill was announced earlier in the year. I’d be happy for either but I do love Billy Joel and it was amazing to see the joy from Turnstiles at getting to play the Garden.

In honor of my love of Billy Joel, here’s Vampire Weekend covering one of my favorite Billy songs, which we got to see live:

And don’t forget: LET’S GO METS! I’m manifesting a Subway Series, and revenge for 2000. Here’s a shirt from my collection from the 1998 inter-league play series, which I think my dad bought from some guy along the Belt Parkway.

Thanks for reading!